Is the DJI Osmo Action 6 the best actioncam, money can buy? DJI has been going full throttle lately. Following the debut of the 360-degree camera Osmo 360 and the tiny Osmo Nano, the manufacturer is now relaunching its top model in the action cam sector. The brand new DJI Osmo Action 6 comes with a few exciting new features. These include a variable aperture and a square 1/1.1-inch sensor. Is that enough to take the top spot among the best action cams of 2025? We find out in the test.
Technical data
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Product: |
Osmo Action 6 |
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Dimensions: |
72.8 × 47.2 × 33.1 mm |
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Weight: |
Camera & battery: 149g |
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Sensor: |
1/1.1-inch CMOS (f/2.0 – f/4.0) |
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Video modes: |
4K Custom: 3840×3840 at 24/25/30/48/50/60fps |
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Video format: |
MP4 |
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Photo modes: |
Single: Approx. 38 MP |
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Photo format: |
JPG, JPG+RAW |
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Special features: |
RockSteady 3.0, RockSteady 3.0+, HorizonBalancing, HorizonSteady voice control, gesture control, second display, time-lapse, slow motion, smartphone app, 50 GB internal memory |
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Display: |
Touchscreen (front): 1.46 inch, 331 ppi, 342×342 800 cd/㎡ maximum brightness (normal)Touchscreen (rear): 2.5 inch, 326 ppi, 400×712 800 cd/㎡ maximum brightness (normal), 1000 cd/㎡ peak brightness |
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Battery: |
Lithium-ion, 1,950 mAh |
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Connectivity: |
USB-C , Wi-Fi 6.0, Bluetooth 5.1 LE, microSD slot |
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Waterproof: |
Up to 20m (without protective housing); |
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Price: |
€ 439.00 * |
DJI Osmo Action 6 Review: design and workmanship
The DJI Osmo Action 6 convinced me from the very first moment with its revised, highly robust design, which looks like a real advancement for tough outdoor use, but certainly only differs in detail from its direct predecessor (and to be honest: most other action cams on the market).
With compact dimensions of 72.8 mm wide, 47.2 mm high and 33.1 mm deep, it weighs exactly 149 grams, which makes it appear somewhat heavier than its predecessor, but this is exactly what gives it a feeling of quality and durability, which I was able to feel during intensive tests on walks, bike rides and the like. The high-strength plastic housing with reinforced optical mount and optimized seals is waterproof to a depth of 20 meters without additional housing.
In addition, the Osmo Action 6 can withstand temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Celsius, which I checked during a test in the cold of a December morning at minus 5 degrees. No condensation formed and the cameras did their job flawlessly.
The magnetic mounting system is already familiar from previous models. For me, this is still a highlight: it allows seamless forward and backward mounting thanks to new magnets, which I was able to use in seconds when switching between selfie mode and third-person view while mountain biking without the camera slipping.
The flaps for the USB-C port on the left of the housing, as well as the battery and microSD card on the right, are equipped with precise sliding closures and rubber lips that are easy to operate even when wet or dirty. The integrated 50 GB internal memory is practical and makes a microSD card superfluous if you’re spontaneously on the move.
The display selection is also very pleasant. The rear 2.5-inch touchscreen with 400 × 712 pixels is pleasantly bright with up to 750 nits, scratch-resistant with Gorilla Glass and responds precisely, even with gloves or drops of water on it, while the front 1.46-inch display (320 × 320 pixels, 500 nits) is ideal for selfies and Live View and never drops out. A foldable display, as found on the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, for example, would have been nice. Unfortunately, DJI does without this.
The simple all-black design with the striking red shutter button feels premium, without superfluous logos and the reinforced (removable) lens protection screen passed my tests against sand and stones. Overall, the build quality is impeccable.
DJI Osmo Action 6 vs Osmo Action 5 Pro: What’s new?
The DJI Osmo Action 6 marks a real quantum leap over the Osmo Action 5 Pro and the improvements make it the best DJI action cam to date in my eyes. Above all, the newly introduced variable aperture from f/2.0 to f/4.0 offers real added value, as it not only improves light capture (ideal for low-light scenes), but also allows you to work with more depth of field than was previously the case with action cams.
The 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensor with 13.5 stops of dynamic range and 2.4 µm pixel size enables revolutionary 4K × 4K video resolutions at 30 fps, from which I was able to seamlessly extract 16:9, 9:16 or square clips for Instagram, TikTok or YouTube without any loss of quality due to cropping or stabilization issues. This has shortened my editing workflow by hours, especially when shooting for YouTube and social media.
Another successful innovation is the interchangeable lenses: the optional macro lens with manual focus ring (minimum distance 11 cm) and the FOV boost lens for up to 182 degrees ultra-wide angle can be mounted without tools using a twist mechanism. A similar system is already familiar from GoPro, but DJI’s integration feels much more natural and intuitive.
Other smart upgrades include internal pressure and depth sensors for precise underwater data (depth, temperature) that are synchronized with the app, as well as backwards compatibility of the 1950 mAh batteries. HorizonSteady and RockSteady stabilization now crops noticeably less (only 7-10 percent), and improved heat dissipation prevents throttling during long 4K sessions, which occurred on the Action 5 after 20 minutes. Faster autofocus (0.2 seconds), better low-light NR and 10-bit D-Log M make the Action 6 a convincing upgrade.
Operation of the DJI Osmo Action 6
The operation of the DJI Osmo Action 6 is so intuitive and flawless that it becomes second nature after just a few minutes, despite the wealth of new features. There are only two physical buttons (the large, haptically perfect red shutter button at the top for recording/stop and the power button on the side for menu/mode change).
In combination with the precise touchscreen, it is very quick and easy to navigate through the menus, which works perfectly even with wet fingers or thick winter gloves. The menu structure is logically organized into categories such as video, photo, slow-mo and timelapse, with visual tooltips and swipe gestures for ultra-fast mode changes.
The voice control via three integrated microphones works reliably with commands such as “Start recording”, “Zoom in” or “Change mode” in German and English, which is of course worth its weight in gold when shooting hands-free. In loud windy situations, however, the camera does have problems understanding me. In this case, you should use an external microphone, which works excellently thanks to Osmo Audio and the seamless pairing of the manufacturer’s wireless microphones.
App connection via DJI Mimo
The DJI Mimo app connects the Osmo Action 6 to my smartphone via Bluetooth (for control) or Wi-Fi (for fast transfer) in seconds, and the file transfer – even 4K/120fps clips or 38 MP photos – is stable at up to 50 MB/s, so I was able to edit directly on site without the app crashing or buffering.
Within the app, the square 4Kx4K recordings can be quickly and easily cut into any format such as 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1. Additional functions such as AI color recovery or noise reduction also work quickly and reliably.
In general, it can be said that the app appeals to amateurs as well as professionals. Every detail is explained in detail and rare errors can be easily corrected. For professionals, the app offers LUT import, batch export and cloud sync with DJI Creative Studio, which should of course please ambitious content creators in particular, as this saves a massive amount of work (and effort).
Battery life of the DJI Osmo Action 6
The battery life of the DJI Osmo Action 6 is surprisingly long, even though the action cam uses the “old”, already familiar 1950 mAh batteries. These officially deliver up to 4 hours at 1080p/24fps with stabilization.
In real-life tests with 4K/60fps, variable aperture, RockSteady and low light, I achieved just under 3.5 hours per charge, which is impressive despite the energy-hungry sensor. Fast charging via USB-C PD brings 80% in just 22 minutes (full charge 40 minutes), ideal for breaks, and the included multifunctional battery case in the Adventure Combo charges up to three batteries in parallel.
Compared to the Action 5 Pro, the battery life has remained almost identical, but at 4K/120fps it drops to 2 hours, but with power-saving mode (reduced brightness) you can get a little more out of it. The runtime also drops significantly at very low temperatures of around 0°C – by around 20 percent – but that’s also okay.
All in all, the DJI Osmo Action 6 achieves really good runtimes for an action cam. The Insta360 Ace Pro 3, for example, runs out of juice much faster in practice.
DJI Osmo Action 6 Review: image and audio quality
The image quality of the DJI Osmo Action 6 has actually improved significantly compared to its predecessor. The built-in 1/1.1-inch “Square” CMOS sensor has fused 2.4 micrometer pixels and a dynamic range of up to 13.5 f-stops, which is exceptional for an action camera.
The result is images with amazing detail, natural color reproduction and significantly improved noise performance, especially in difficult lighting conditions such as at dusk, at night or in high-contrast scenes such as sunlight shining through leaves.
The Osmo Action 6 supports various recording modes up to 4K with 60 fps as well as 4K (4:3) with up to 120 fps and even 4K×4K in custom mode, which enables flexible subsequent format selections in 16:9, 9:16 or square without loss of quality. For slow motion, up to 240 fps in 1080p are possible, with an in-house slowdown to up to 960 fps. Particularly noteworthy is the 10-bit color depth in the D-Log M color profile, which enables professional post-processing and preserves rich details in both highlights and shadows. The built-in colour temperature sensor on the front also contributes to stable white balance and minimizes flickering in artificial light, for example with fluorescent tubes or when transitioning between surface reflection and underwater shots.
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The variable aperture between f/2.0 and f/4.0 is the world’s first of its kind in an action cam and a huge plus for image quality. Automatically controlled, it adapts sensitively to the respective lighting conditions. In the dark, the aperture opens wide to capture more light, while in sunshine it closes depending on the situation to prevent overexposure and ensure a better depth effect. This results in sharper images with less motion blur, even in fast action scenes such as mountain biking at dusk. This is where the camera shows its strengths over the previous generation by working with a higher shutter speed and thus minimizing stabilization artefacts.
In terms of image stabilization, the Osmo Action 6 relies on RockSteady 3+ with improved algorithms and HorizonSteady 4.0, which keeps the horizon level even at extreme inclinations. The electronic stabilization works with little cropping (by approx. 7%) and thus preserves the field of view. The combination of sensor and stabilization ensures butter-smooth, blur-free shots even in tough action conditions. The stabilization is absolutely incredible and is undoubtedly the best I have ever seen on an action cam.
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The audio quality deserves its own mention: The DJI Osmo Action 6 is equipped with an integrated three-microphone array that provides high-quality spatial recording and intelligently suppresses typical wind noise, ensuring clear voice recordings and ambient noise.
For professional sound recordings, the camera can be easily paired with DJI’s own wireless microphones such as the DJI Mic Mini or Mic 2, which are integrated via a one-touch connection. Sound levels, clipping and muting are visible and controllable directly in the camera, enabling live monitoring. The sound works with up to 48 kHz/24 bit resolution, noise-canceling and direct audio connection without an additional receiver, which is very convenient.
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The SuperNight mode is another special feature that enables videos up to 4K/60 fps with exceptional clarity and minimal image noise, even at night or under campfire or city lighting. This shows how the combination of a large sensor, variable aperture and optimized algorithms leads to results in practice that were previously reserved for expensive cameras.
DJI Osmo Action 6 Review: Conclusion
The DJI Osmo Action 6 may lack the Pro in its name that its predecessor still had. However, in terms of features, image quality, battery life and, above all, versatility, the new action cam has improved once again, sometimes significantly.
The new square sensor and variable aperture in particular significantly improve the image quality, which is not only beneficial in low-light scenarios. In combination with the intuitive operation, very good app connection and long battery life, this results in a coherent overall package for the most versatile action cam currently on the market.
Although the maximum resolution of 4K is lower than that of the competition, the Osmo Action 6 is well ahead in terms of the level of detail and dynamic range. There are few points of criticism. What you get here is a high-quality and powerful action cam that should delight beginners and professionals alike.
- Excellent image quality
- Intuitive operation
- Variable aperture
- Powerful image stabilizer
- Waterproof up to 12m
- Fair price
- Strong battery life
- Somewhat aggressive processing
- No focus peaking
DJI Osmo Action 6
Workmanship
Software & functions
Image quality
Audio quality
Value For Money
94/100
Excellent image quality, good battery life, ingenious features: The DJI Osmo Action 6 once again sets new standards.
