Costco starts selling an AI smartphone gimbal on member-only shelves, indicating a new push into camera tech

Costco Wholesale has begun offering a new category of gadgetry on its member-only shelves in the United States: a smartphone gimbal designed to track subjects using artificial intelligence. The product, Hohem’s iSteady M7 AI tracking smartphone gimbal, is being sold through Costco’s membership channel at a member price, the report said.

A smartphone gimbal is a handheld stabilizer that helps smooth out video and reduces shake when filming. In the case of Hohem’s model, the central pitch is AI tracking, which is meant to keep a person or subject centered in the frame as the phone moves, a feature aimed at consumers who want more polished video without learning complex shooting setups.

The iSteady M7 is positioned as Hohem’s first entry into U.S. membership retail through Costco, suggesting the retailer’s expanding willingness to trial and distribute electronics focused on consumer content creation. The report frames the launch as a milestone for Hohem as it reaches a mainstream, high-volume buyer base that typically expects lower prices in exchange for membership access.

Costco’s model has long emphasized private label and tightly curated inventories, but it also uses limited-time assortment drops to test demand in categories that are not purely consumables. The introduction of a branded camera accessory aligns with that approach, where a single product can generate measurable sell-through without committing to a broad electronics line.

For shoppers, the practical question is whether Costco’s member pricing changes the buying calculus versus other channels for gimbals, accessories, and mobile video tools. The report indicates that the iSteady M7 is offered at a Costco member price in the U.S., but it does not provide the full price point, contract terms, or whether the item is available across all warehouses or in limited locations.

For Costco, adding a gimbal with AI tracking also speaks to a broader retail trend, as consumers increasingly use smartphones as primary cameras. Retailers that can package emerging “everyday creator” technology into familiar shopping experiences can capture demand that might otherwise flow to specialty camera shops or e-commerce marketplaces.

The company did not disclose, in the reported item, any details about inventory duration, expected sales targets, or whether the partnership with Hohem includes future models or expanded accessories. The report also did not state whether Costco is treating the iSteady M7 as a test item for broader rollout or as a longer-term fixture in its seasonal electronics assortment.

What to watch next is whether Costco expands beyond the iSteady M7 into additional Hohem products, such as companion accessories or follow-on gimbals, and whether customer adoption indicates stronger pull from smartphone video creation consumers. Another key datapoint will be whether the rollout proves localized or nationwide and how pricing and availability compare with other retail channels for AI-tracking gimbals.