DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal-camera was a category-defining digital camera. Two years since its launch, everybody from vloggers to professional movie makers proceed to add how-to guides and gushing evaluations to YouTube. When the Osmo Pocket 4 landed on the FCC on the finish of 2025 (adopted by a credible leak), creator boards and Reddit threads began to chatter with pleasure. Over the next months the Pocket 4 leaked again and again, to the purpose the place there’s little or no that somebody with a passing curiosity and an web connection doesn’t already know in regards to the digital camera. However DJI selected at the moment to present us the official reveal, so we’re right here with the total evaluation which, remarkably, does comprise some surprises.
DJI/Engadget
The Osmo Pocket 4 remains to be the perfect pocket-friendly vlogging digital camera you should buy. With glorious picture high quality, improved photographs, glorious stabilization and professional D-Log mode, it’s extremely straightforward to document all the pieces from easy vlogs to close cinematic-quality video. The excessive stage of portability and glorious battery life make this a straightforward digital camera to succeed in for no matter you’re filming.
- Wonderful picture high quality
- Improved low-light efficiency
- Onboard storage
- Modular equipment
- Nonetheless solely 3K in portrait mode
- No mud or water safety because of the gimbal
- No optical zoom
What’s new
For many who have been ready for official, confirmed specs and knowledge, right here’s a rundown of the headline new options of the Osmo Pocket 4. The digital camera remains to be 4K, however comes with an up to date 1-inch CMOS sensor that DJI says is sweet for one more two stops of low mild efficiency (for a complete of 14). The digital camera retains the 20mm equal, f/2.0 lens however squeezes in an improved max framerate of 240 fps (up from 120 fps) for as much as 10x slow-mo. The Pocket 4 can even shoot in full, excessive dynamic vary 10-Bit D-Log, upgraded from the extra light-weight D-Log-M out there on the Pocket 3. Shutter speeds are actually expanded and go proper all the way down to 1/4 for excessive mild results.
{Hardware} adjustments are few, however do embrace two new buttons beneath the 2-inch show. One is a devoted zoom button and the opposite you possibly can assign a operate from a choice of widespread duties — rotating the gimbal, toggling recording presets and so forth. You’ll be able to assign as much as three totally different controls to this button by way of single, double and triple clicks. There’s additionally 107GB of inner storage. You’ll be able to nonetheless use SD playing cards, however you don’t must if you happen to don’t wish to.
That zoom, DJI states, is sweet for 2x “lossless” zoom whereas capturing in 4K and 4x in 1080p. The Pocket 3’s 2x Mid-Tele zoom needed to be activated first, however now you should use lossless zoom any time and/or whereas utilizing ActiveTrack face-tracking. It’s out there in Portrait mode, too, however if you happen to’ll must have the display screen within the horizontal place to entry the buttons, which implies your viewfinder/preview will likely be teeny-tiny because it’s rescaled for 16:9.
DJI Osmo Pocket 4 (James Trew for Engadget)
DJI has added on-camera “Movie Tones” that are related, functionally, to movie simulations seen on Fujifilm cameras. There are six to select from at launch and embrace refined and not-so-subtle stylized coloration tones that apply totally different “moods” to your movies with out having to manually coloration grade or use a LUT after the actual fact. As for nonetheless pictures, there’s an on-screen button for “Reside” photographs just like what you may discover on an iPhone. Reside photographs have been sorta-kinda attainable on the Pocket 3, however they’re slightly bit simpler this time round.
Lots of DJI drones embrace Gesture Management, which helps you to begin/cease recording and interact ActiveTrack from a distance, and that’s new on the Pocket 4 too.
On the audio aspect of issues, the Pocket 4 now has “audio zoom,” so if in case you have two individuals in a scene and do an in depth up on certainly one of them, the amount of their voices will likely be boosted. It’s slightly crude, nevertheless it may very well be helpful in sure conditions. The Pocket 4 can even document spatial audio by way of the three onboard microphones, good for stay music and different conditions the place sound placement may matter.
Lastly, the Pocket 4 has a modular element. At launch, there’s a magnetic fill mild that clips onto the gimbal and could be configured by way of the digital camera menus. It’s included within the creator combo and opens the door for different modular equipment, although it’s restricted to issues that may sit on the gimbal with out inflicting issues. A shotgun-style microphone, for instance, may very well be attainable.
The show and controls on the Osmo Pocket 4 (James Trew for Engadget)
Battery life additionally will get a slight increase over the Pocket 3 with a 1,545mAh cell — which is nearly a 20 p.c enhance. That interprets to an additional half-hour or so of recording time for a median of two and a half hours at 4K, extra if you happen to shoot in decrease resolutions or are utilizing the digital camera for photographs.
What we don’t see right here, an merchandise that you simply might need been hoping for, is any sort of optical zoom. What’s extra, the max decision in vertical mode stays capped at 3K. You continue to must rotate the digital camera in order for you full-sensor, 4K video in portrait.
Video high quality
The recognition of the Pocket sequence is because of its mixture of high-quality video and a conveyable kind issue. The Pocket 4 builds on this profitable formulation with distinctive high quality for the digital camera’s measurement. The brand new 1-inch sensor is noticeably extra detailed than the Pocket 3 and DJI’s declare of improved low mild efficiency is backed up by stellar outcomes. I took the Pocket 4 out at evening and it bested its predecessor with much more dynamic vary and higher publicity in shadowed areas that come out darkish or fuzzy on the Pocket 3.
Picture efficiency generally is spectacular and a particular sturdy level for a digital camera of this measurement. Colours now look extra pure than ever with out wanting over-saturated. Comparable photographs on the Pocket 3 look slightly flatter when considered aspect by aspect. I like that the f2.0 aperture nonetheless gives some mild bokeh, and when mixed with the brand new D-Log mode, there’s loads of scope for cinematic photographs. These could be more durable to attain with a telephone and don’t require the setup and planning of a mirrorless digital camera.
With the prolonged shutter speeds you may get some fascinating results — dramatic mild trails in visitors for instance — nevertheless it’s going to over expose some other mild supply in your shot. So, proceed with warning. The Pocket 3 bottomed-out at 1/25, however the Pocket 4 goes proper all the way down to a dramatic 1/4.
The 2x lossless zoom stunned me. At first, I used to be sceptical about DJI’s claims of it being lossless, nevertheless it does appear to take care of visible high quality with out noticeable lack of element. Although if you wish to use that 4x zoom in 4K, count on to see some digital artifacts. The Pocket 4’s 20mm lens is especially suited to wider, vlog-style photographs, so a usable zoom is a welcome addition. It’s price noting that it’s higher used for static and tripod photographs as any gimbal actions and holding a topic in body can really feel like steering a ship.
Movie tones
Till now, if you happen to have been aiming for a extra cinematic type, you needed to get snug capturing in D-Log-M and boning up on color-grading. DJI offered some filters within the Mimo app for a fast and soiled means so as to add a temper or vibe to your movies, however that also precipitated some friction within the workflow. The brand new movie modes are on digital camera, so reaching one thing extra stylized is now only a menu faucet away. I’ll be sincere, I’m not an enormous fan of the choice out there proper now as they’re both too sizzling or too chilly. Of the six, Heat and Film appear probably the most usable for cozy-style landscapes or B-roll cityscapes.
DJI hasn’t shared a lot about whether or not these are simply on-camera filters or true movie simulations. Film and Retro, a minimum of, have been already out there as filters within the app. If the total impact is just too sturdy, you possibly can dial down the depth, however that’s the extent of the management. Their addition right here expands what you may get out of the digital camera with out utilizing the app or having to tug issues over to your enhancing software program. It’s unclear if we’ll see extra choices sooner or later, however they’re there if you happen to want them.
New buttons
Considered one of my essential complaints with the Pocket cameras was the zoom. Extra particularly, controlling it with the joystick. It all the time appears to be like sluggish, inconsistent and a bit beginner when zooming in manually. The brand new button gives an prompt punch-in that can be utilized for an intentional, attention-drawing impact. I can’t rely the variety of instances I’ve ruined a shot as a result of I assumed I had the joystick set to zoom, nevertheless it was nonetheless assigned to panning (you needed to toggle its use by way of an on-screen button). With the bodily button, I can shut in on a goal immediately and by no means fear about unintended pans.
The button format on the Osmo Pocket 4 (James Trew for Engadget)
The second, customizable button can also be an actual usability improve. If, like me, you’re consistently recentering the gimbal, you’ll know that the standard double-click on the joystick is usually unreliable. Now you possibly can assign that motion to the button plus two extra controls from a choice of widespread actions. I’ve it set so double-click switches to certainly one of my handbook recording presets and triple-click locks the gimbal so I not have to leap into the primary menu to modify gimbal modes. It even works whereas recording if I spontaneously determine I wish to preserve my horizon stage.
Altering what this button does is straightforward: Lengthy-press it and it’ll bounce into the settings the place you possibly can select its performance. There’s nonetheless scope for some refinement, as though a double click on can immediately begin recording with my most popular settings, clicking once more doesn’t cease it. It’s important to use the document button. This makes some sense, however I’m used to utilizing the identical button to cease/begin recording, so intuitively I assumed that may be the case right here. Sadly not.
Audio upgrades
One thing slightly surprising within the Pocket 4 is the addition of spatial audio. Utilizing the three built-in microphones, the speculation is you need to have the ability to hear the place sounds are coming from — although you’ll want headphones on for the impact to work. In apply, it does create a unique audio atmosphere, one the place sounds really feel extra relative to their location, nevertheless it comes at a worth. Should you communicate to the digital camera, even if you happen to’re close by, your voice will sound distant and muddled so spatial audio is one thing you’ll wish to use deliberately and definitely not as a default setting.
The identical is true for that audio “zoom.” To be truthful to DJI, I’ve by no means discovered an audio zoom I really preferred. You’ll be able to’t seize higher audio than what the microphone is receiving, so amplifying it in any means isn’t going to enhance it past what you are able to do with enhancing software program. In a pinch, this may assist with interviews when you’ve a number of audio system, no exterior microphone and must publish shortly, however I’m reluctant to advocate it for anything.
You may get an Osmo Pocket 4 bundle with a DJI lapel mic (James Trew for Engadget)
The brand new “Vocal Increase” is a extra helpful possibility below the Professional settings menu. When activated, it enhances voices by reducing background noise and different sounds. Once more, it’s not a repair for getting good supply audio, however in noisy run-and-gun vlogging environments, it will probably enhance your possibilities of capturing one thing helpful with simply the interior microphones.
Luckily, DJI has a a lot better resolution that was already a function of Pocket cameras — native connectivity with its wi-fi microphones. The Creator Combo now features a single DJI Mic 3 transmitter and charging cable, and it’s the very best solution to get YouTube-ready audio from the digital camera. One good tweak with the Pocket 4 is which you could now export movies with each the built-in and exterior mic audio as one 4-channel file. Open this in your video editor and you’ll combine and reduce between mic and ambient audio with out having to take care of separate information as earlier than.
The competitors
The truth that there’s no actual direct competitors for the Pocket sequence is shocking. For true, like-for-like gimbal cameras, anticipate finding options from manufacturers you’re much less aware of — resembling Agfaphoto or Feiyu. A lot of the nearest competitors will likely be motion cameras just like the GoPro Mission 1 or Insta360 Ace Pro 2. Each of those are nice transportable cameras with strong stabilisation, however they unsurprisingly favor that broad, shiny and sharp action-style footage. The Pocket 4’s nearest rival for stabilized vlog-friendly filming remains to be the Pocket 3.
This raises the query of whether or not the Pocket 4 (£445) is price it over the extra reasonably priced Pocket 3 (£389) at launch. (DJI can’t straight promote the Pocket 4 within the US, so official costs are in British Kilos or Euros.) Each are nice, all-purpose, vlogging cameras versatile sufficient for recording in quite a lot of conditions — although much less suited to rugged/motion filming because of the fragile mechanical gimbal. It’s doubtless that the worth distinction between the 2 will increase after the launch window.
The Osmo Pocket 4 flipped down and powered off (James Trew for Engadget)
Wrap-up
The Pocket 4 may not convey defining new options like optical zoom or larger decision, nevertheless it’s a greater digital camera in each means that issues. There are additionally a number of high quality of life enhancements that make it extremely compelling. For the additional cash, you’re getting higher picture high quality that can pay you again over time. The brand new buttons make the digital camera much more handy and that onboard storage alone successfully closes the worth hole — to not point out the large comfort that function alone brings with it.
Hardcore followers might need been hoping for extra “dazzle” with the Pocket 4. In actuality, DJI delivered a digital camera that builds on an already profitable formulation in ways in which truly matter: larger high quality video, improved usability, modular capabilities and longer battery life. It’s arduous to argue with that.
