DJI’s gimbals have long been market leaders, but the competition never sleeps. The new DJI Osmo Mobile 7P aims to catch up with high-quality and technically advanced competitors such as the Hohem iSteady V3 (our test) or the more expensive iSteady M7 (our test). With AI tracking and Fill Light, the Osmo Mobile 7P has a lot to offer. Our test reveals more.
Technical data
| The product | Osmo Mobile 7P |
| Type | 3-axis gimbal |
| Dimensions | 190 mm × 95 mm × 46 mm (folded); 288 mm 107 mm × 96 mm (unfolded) |
| weight | 368 grams |
| Tilt | -99° to 210° |
| Roll | -67° to 245° |
| Pan | -99° to 210° |
| Number of modes | 4 |
| Battery life | up to 10 hours |
| Charging time | maximum 2.5 hours |
| Cell phone weight | maximum 300 grams |
| Light | 40 lux; 2500K – 6000K |
| Special features | AI tracking, integrated fill light, control panel with joystick, stabilizer, DJI Mic Mini transmitter |
| price | € 158.00 * |
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P review: Lightweight and compact gimbal
- Compact and lightweight
- comfortable to grip; very well made
- with fill light and tracker
A lot has changed on the gimbal market since the Osmo Mobile P6 was released in 2022. AI tracking, integrated lights and much more have been introduced that DJI was previously unable to cover with its own gimbal.
This is where the new DJI Osmo Mobile 7P comes into play, bringing precisely these modern features and combining them with the typically handy and lightweight design. When folded, the gimbal measures just 190 mm x 95 mm x 46 mm (length x width x height) and weighs just 368 grams once you have installed the magnetic hand clamp and the multifunction module.
The gimbal has a dark gray body made of metal and rubberized plastic and is very comfortable to hold thanks to its pleasant texture. The housing feels very robust and of high quality – I have no concerns that the device could fall on the floor without breaking anything. My Insta360 Flow feels noticeably more fragile.
Of course, DJI has thought of all eventualities. There is a 1/4-inch thread on the underside for attaching the gimbal to a tripod. You can pull out three plastic feet to place the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P securely on a table, floor or similar surface.
Of course, there is also an extension rod on the top that can be used to extend the reach between the handle and smartphone by up to 215 mm. As always, the panel with the control elements is located in the middle of the gimbal and has a pleasantly simple and well thought-out design.
Commendable: In contrast to the models from Hohem, the smartphone is attached to a detachable phone clamp, which is magnetically attached to the mount. This is extremely practical, as you can combine the clamp and smartphone, for example, and only then insert the duo into the gimbal.
Another special feature of the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P, which the cheaper Osmo Mobile 7 lacks, is the multifunction module. This is magnetically attached to the cell phone clamp, similar to the aforementioned competitor, and also has very similar features.
In addition to AI-supported tracking – finally also in every conceivable photo and video app – the module integrates a fill light with a brightness of 40 lux, whose color temperature can be set between warm and cool white (2500 K and 6000K). However, DJI has dispensed with colorful RGB lighting, as in the case of the Hohem iSteady M7.
Particularly practical: If you are already using the DJI ecosystem, you can also use the multifunctional module as a transmitter for the DJI Mic Mini thanks to OsmoAudio and thus improve the audio quality of your recordings. Unfortunately, this does not work with the DJI Mic 2 (our test).
Setup and operation
- super quick to set up
- Practical tutorials
- intuitive, child’s play operation
Plug and play is the premise for the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P. Simply install your smartphone, open the gimbal, connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth and you’re ready to go. It could hardly be easier.
Thanks to the installable multifunctional module, which acts as a tracker, you can access the precise tracking in any camera or streaming app you can think of using Yesterday. Point your palm at the module to activate or stop tracking.
Alternatively, you can use the trigger on the back of the 7P. Nevertheless, we recommend installing the DJI Mimo companion app, especially for non-experts, as it will familiarize you with the operation and functions in initial tutorials.
But it’s not rocket science: double-tapping the trigger on the back centers the gimbal again, pressing the switch button toggles between front and rear camera, double-pressing it toggles between vertical and horizontal image. If you press it three times, the smartphone switches to photo mode.
As you would expect, M mode is responsible for selecting the various modes. The familiar options are available here: Pan Follow, First Person, Pan-Tilt-Follow. There is also “SpinShot”, a mode in which the camera rotates in a circle – an effect familiar from the movie Inception, for example. Which mode is currently selected can be seen in the Mimo app and by a corresponding symbol on the gimbal display.
Use the joystick on the front to adjust the image and the position of the gimbal, while the pleasantly ribbed rotary wheel on the side is responsible for focus pulling and zooming, among other things. The red button on the front then starts or stops a recording.
That’s it, there’s really nothing more to know.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P in practical test
- excellent cell phone clamp
- outstandingly fast and precise tracking
Pretty much the first thing I noticed positively during the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P test was a supposedly small but not unimportant detail: the phone clamp. Compared to the Insta360 Flow, but also to the Hohem gimbals, it is much better padded and can be used with thicker smartphones.
I currently use an iPhone 15 Pro (with a really thin case) and the Insta360 clamp sits so tightly on the side buttons that it automatically changes the volume and – in the worst case – can even dial the emergency number. Sometimes it’s a real pain to use the Flow, as good as the tracking is.
The clamp of the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P is completely different. It extends beyond the buttons of the smartphone and the frame. In my test, there was not a single accidental actuation. And this despite the fact that the compatible smartphone thickness is almost identical in the specifications of both manufacturers.
Otherwise, the 7P presents itself as a very beginner-friendly gimbal that is immediately ready for use as soon as it is unfolded and connected. Tracking people works excellently, even in the native camera app. However, the DJI Mimo app is required to track objects.
If you use the Mimo app, you can also enjoy many other options and possibilities. For example, you can add grid lines, manually adjust all image settings and even activate smart tracking, which automatically circles objects and tracks them by pressing the rear trigger.
Of course, it is also possible to record various short videos of different scenarios. For example, while working, taking a walk in the park and much more. These are then edited together afterwards and accompanied by predefined music. Quite nice.
Thanks to the child’s play operation and the virtually self-explanatory modes, you can quickly achieve remarkable results with the gimbal. The 7P scores with an outstanding tracking speed and excellent precision, which is due to the ActiveTrack 7.0 technology. Tracking and stabilization are simply outstanding.
Even if the tracked person leaves the frame and comes back into the frame, the gimbal finds the target again very quickly. The 7P is also well positioned in terms of mobility, although full 360-degree movements are unfortunately not possible. A missed opportunity, as some competitors are now capable of full rotation.
Battery life and fill light
- Up to 10 hours of battery life…
- … which is halved with active light and tracking
- good fill light
The battery life is also at a very good level with up to 10 hours of use. However, this only applies without the multifunction module and without active fill light. If you have both active, the runtime is massively reduced to around 5-6 hours. Nevertheless, some competitors last longer.
The fill light does a good job and the brightness can be adjusted in four stages. However, with a maximum of 40 lux, it is nowhere near as bright as its counterpart from Hohem iSteady V3, for example, which achieves a whopping 110 lux.
However, this is absolutely sufficient for illuminating dark scenes and improving image quality in low light conditions.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Review: Conclusion
DJI is stepping up its game and doing so more than well. The competition in the field of compact smartphone gimbals has made impressive advances in recent years, for example with AI tracking or an integrated light.
This is exactly where the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P comes in and offers the corresponding features. When it comes to tracking in particular, DJI once again impressively demonstrates why it is the market leader in this area. ActiveTrack 7.0 virtually sticks to people and finds them again as soon as they leave the frame. And it even does this in the native camera app or other apps, which makes DJI Mimo an option (but recommended for certain purposes) and not an obligation.
The 7P also impresses with its intuitive operation, elegant and robust design and low weight. However, the competition is still ahead in terms of range of motion, battery life and some additional functions – unfortunately, 360° rotation is not supported. If that doesn’t bother you, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P is an excellent smartphone gimbal at an extremely attractive price.
- Excellent tracking
- Great stabilization
- Lightweight and handy
- No 360° rotation
- Battery life with active accessories
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P
Design & Workmanship
User comfort
Features
App & operation
Value For Money
92/100
Outstanding smartphone gimbal with excellent tracking, great stabilization and practical light at a fair price.
