DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: better in every way

First they came with drones, and now vlogging cameras. DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 is the first of its compact drones not to launch in the US, following a series of DJI drones also missing the US market.

The good news for American consumers is that the Pocket 4 is mostly flexible, and there are few things it does that the Pocket 3 doesn’t (it looks like Rumors of a dual-lens Pro version it will be a lot of revisions). The good news for everyone else is that this upgrade runs through the Pocket 4, from the camera sensor to the controls. This makes it more efficient than the previous generation.

Stand Pocket 4 next to Pocket 3 for 2023 and you may not notice the difference. It’s the same size (slightly larger and 10g heavier), with the same round screen for both portrait and surface photography, a control stick and recording button underneath, and a similar gimbal on top to house the camera.

The only physical difference is the two additional buttons at the bottom of the screen, which are revealed only when turned around. One is a shortcut to the camera controls; the other can be changed to trigger three actions of your choice, locked to one, two, or three printers. This is weird and limited, though – only three buttons can be used to change gimbal colors, and that’s it only something you can set a triple press to do. A little flexibility is acceptable. It feels better to navigate through the menu using the 2-inch screen, and the settings would help me do so a little less.

DJI has also upgraded the camera’s sensor, including its flexible image, slow motion, and lightweight performance. These hardware changes are encouraged by the new films produced. Battery life has also improved significantly, and there is now generous internal storage in addition to the SD card slot. It’s a very capable camera, easy to use in almost every aspect, even if it looks like its predecessor.

The sensor is the same 1-inch size as on the Pocket 3, but has been redesigned. It captures a larger image, with images having 37 megapixels, up from 9.4 megapixels before. Video is still recorded at 4K, but the extra pixels mean it can now zoom up to 4x without going down from 4K, while the Pocket 3 was limited to 2x that resolution. Changing the image quality still drops you to 3K, however.

The new sensor has 14 adjustable stops, up from 12, and a double ISO ceiling of 25,600. In addition, this creates videos that look great on most monitors. Even on the bleak streets of London near midnight, the Pocket 4 held its own. The direct lighting was off, and the black shadows lacked detail, but this could be a usable video for many purposes.

The stability of the Pocket 4 has not been changed much. There are some software tweaks, but it has the same gimbal features as the 3. It’s great for the size of the camera. It’s easy to get steady handheld video, powered by head and face tracking, including a Spotlight Follow feature that prioritizes registered faces. It’s great for vlogging, being able to keep videos steady while you’re on the move, although this isn’t meant to be an action camera; even a small speed results in a very beautiful video.

Slow motion has also changed dramatically. It can record in 4K resolution at up to 240fps, double what the Pocket 3 offered. It’s only available in color mode, though, even at 1080p resolution. Slo-mo brings a slight decrease in the quality and flexibility of the transition, the atmosphere is shot more, but most of the time the videos resemble regular shots.

Six video cameras, each variable in power, increase the versatility of the Pocket 4’s shooting power. Additions such as a tripod and fill light included in DJI’s Creator Combo bundle make it more flexible, although they are not necessary for good results. The bundle also includes the DJI Mic 3, and I recommend using it, or one of the company’s other wireless microphones, for any video that contains sound. The Pocket 4’s built-in microphone isn’t bad at all, and does a decent job in quiet environments, but it does sound small compared to wireless microphones, which are great for noise cancellation.

This is the first Osmo Pocket to offer internal storage, and the 107GB here should be enough to keep you from buying a microSD card. I’ve recorded about 40 minutes while testing the Pocket 4 – mostly 4K, 60fps color mode, including photos and slow motion – and using just under 20GB in the process. It was all for one price, and I still had 25 percent left to go. DJI says you can use 240 minutes from the camera for the price, but this is based on recording 1080p and 24fps images with Wi-Fi and the screen off; it seems realistic to wait an hour or more.

While Osmo Pocket 4 is out now in many countries, DJI spokeswoman Daisy Kong said Seaside that “it will no longer be available in the US market as the license application is still pending.” So far, there is no sign from Xtra, the company itself it looks like a DJI shell company and is also selling the Pocket 3 as the Xtra Muse. Xtra and laugh at the US establishment for a dual-lens steadicam that looks very similar that leak of the Osmo Pocket 4 Pro, however, there is hope that the regular Pocket 4 will make an appearance as well.

Outside the US, the Pocket 4 is available in three bundles. The Essential Combo, for £429 / €479 (about $560), includes only Pocket 4, a carrying case, and a 1/4-inch threaded handle for triple mounting. The £445 / €499 ($585) Standard Combo adds a wrist strap and gimbal clamp for better portability. Finally, the £549 / €619 ($725) Product Combo includes a DJI Mic 3 with magnetic video and two viewfinders, a full flash, a tripod, an extended lens, and a large carrying case to fit it all.

The Pocket 4 may be more repetitive than the new, but it’s an upgrade from top to bottom. There is nothing here that has never been others extra color – even the screen is brighter than before – so we can’t doubt that this is the best Osmo Pocket yet. If you already have a Pocket 3, or live in the US where it’s still the latest version, you’re not missing out on anything new. Perhaps there is no need to worry too much about scaling. But as a package for new buyers, or anyone still on the Pocket 2 or higher, DJI nailed it.

Photography by Dominic Preston/The Verge