DJI Osmo Mobile 8P Review: The new flagship gimbal with remote control

How does the new DJI Osmo Mobile 8P gimbal perform in the test? The Osmo Mobile 7P already proved to be an excellent smartphone gimbal in our test around a year ago. But DJI is going one better: With the Osmo Mobile 8P, the manufacturer is launching a real further development on the market, which marks a noticeable leap in one area in particular – a detachable remote control, the so-called Osmo FrameTap. Our test shows what this means in everyday use and where the 8P scores over its predecessor.

Technical data of the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P

The product	Osmo Mobile 8P
Type	3-axis gimbal
Battery life	up to 10 hours
Charging time	maximum 2.5 hours
Cell phone weight	maximum 300 grams
Light	40 lux; 2500K – 6500K
Special features	AI tracking, FrameTap, integrated fill light, control panel with joystick, stabilizer, DJI Mic Mini 2 transmitter
price	from 159 Euro

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P Review: design and workmanship

The first impression of the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P is familiar, but not identical to its predecessor. DJI remains true to the proven form factor: a compact block when folded, a fully-fledged three-axis gimbal with all the trimmings when unfolded. In terms of workmanship, the 8P is of the same high standard as the 7P. Metal meets rubberized plastic, the handle fits comfortably in the hand, the connections appear solid and free of play.

What immediately catches the eye on the 8P is the new roll axis lock. DJI has given the 8P a dedicated roll axis lock, which ensures that the phone clamp, the tracking module or the fill light do not wobble or slip when folded. It sounds like a small detail, but it makes a noticeable difference in everyday life, especially if you often store and transport the gimbal on the go.

As with its predecessor, the integrated extension arm measures 215 mm and can be extended continuously to enable high-angle, low-angle or selfie shots. The integrated tripod at the lower end has been redesigned for the 8P: wider base, more stability on uneven ground. Anyone setting up the gimbal for independent filming will immediately notice the difference to the 7P.

Also new: a threaded connection on the roll arm for optional counterweights. Especially for Android users with large camera modules (keyword Galaxy S series, vivo X200 Ultra or Xiaomi 15 Ultra), this is a real added value, as the gimbal balance quickly deteriorates without a counterweight on these heavy models, which increases the motor temperature and reduces battery life.

The fifth generation of the magnetic cell phone clamp has also been revised: It has become more compact, grips more firmly and covers less of the smartphone display. There is also a USB-C port on the underside of the roll arm, which can be used to connect external tracking modules or fill lights and charge the smartphone.

The second-generation multifunctional tracking module remains magnetically attached to the clamp and can now also be used in the opposite direction – practical for certain angles or for combining with a MagSafe adapter.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P vs Osmo Mobile 7P: What’s really new?

Anyone familiar with the 7P will recognize a lot about the 8P. And that’s a good thing, because the basic concept is still convincing. However, the appearance of the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P has changed quite a bit. In contrast to its predecessor, the new model now finally has a dedicated power button. Switching on and off is no longer done via the mode button.

But that’s not all, of course. DJI has changed the tripod mechanism on the base. The robust metal feet are now much narrower and offer a more secure stand. The design is very similar to that of the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro (our test). Another advantage: the feet are easier to fold in and out without having to worry about pinching your fingers (yes, that was still the case with the 7P).

While the Osmo Mobile 7P still had a rotary wheel on the left side, this is missing on the new edition. This was responsible for focus pulls and zoom, which can now be controlled on the Osmo Mobile 8P (similar to the Osmo Pocket 4) via the alternative mode of the front joystick. The manufacturer has also enlarged the non-slip hand rest on the back, which noticeably improves comfort during use. Probably the biggest change, however, concerns the front section, which now has the removable FrameTap remote control.

The really relevant technical innovations are as follows:

Osmo FrameTap – the detachable remote control: this is the central new feature of the 8P. In standard mode, the FrameTap sits on the handle and can be removed in just a few seconds and used as a stand-alone remote control. The module has a small touchscreen display and allows you to take photos and videos, switch between portrait and landscape mode and adjust gimbal parameters from a distance of up to ten meters. Combined with the screen mirroring function, the camera feed from the smartphone can be transferred directly to the FrameTap display. This means no more blind shooting with the main camera.

ActiveTrack 8.0 (Mimo app): The new tracking generation is based on an improved algorithm that has been specially optimized for complex scenarios – such as multiple people in the picture, fast movements (basketball, skateboarding) or situations in which the subject briefly disappears from the picture. DJI has combined both the wide and telephoto lens sensors for this purpose (Dual Lens Boost, iPhone 13 Pro and newer). Compared to the 7P, the tracking is more robust, especially when switching between zoom levels.

Second generation of the AI tracking module: The tracking module can now track almost any object, not just people and pets as with the 7P, but also vehicles and any other objects via manual selection in the frame. Prerequisite: The object must have clear edges, stand out clearly from the background and fill at least ten percent of the image.

Apple DockKit integration: iPhone users from iPhone 12 and iOS 18.5 can now pair the gimbal via NFC touch and then track it with the native camera app – without having to open Mimo. HarmonyOS devices and Samsung flagships (S22 to S25, Z Flip 4 to 7) also benefit from a similar native connection.

New creative modes in the Mimo app: Slow Shutter, Action Shot and Widescreen (2.35:1 cinema format) have been added. The stabilization system has been upgraded to the eighth generation of DJI technology and is said to offer around 20 percent more motor power compared to the 7P – with lossless image stabilization.

Setup and operation

The setup follows the same principle as the 7P: clamp in the smartphone, unfold the gimbal, connect via Bluetooth or NFC, done. Android users can even open the Mimo app directly via NFC and connect the gimbal without having to navigate through any menus. iPhone users can alternatively use Apple DockKit: hold the NFC area of the iPhone to the gimbal, wait briefly, connect, tracking starts.

The FrameTap is also intuitive to use after a short period of familiarization. The small touchscreen display shows the gimbal status, battery charge and tracking status. Gimbal rotation and zoom can be controlled via the side buttons and the virtual joystick on the FrameTap screen. Switching between control functions such as gimbal rotation or zoom or fill light settings is done at the touch of a button.

The controls on the gimbal body itself remain largely unchanged: Trigger at the back (single = shutter release/tracking, double = reset, triple = switch camera), M button for mode change, joystick at the front for image alignment.

The Mimo app has received some new features compared to the 7P version. These include revised ShotGuides for various scenarios (café, park, sport, beach), a new FPV mode and Composition Assist, which displays golden section guides and automatically keeps the subject at a defined point. It works reliably and is intuitive to use. That’s how it should be.

Battery life and fill light of the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P

DJI claims a battery life of up to ten hours for the 8P. However, this information applies under very controlled conditions: Gimbal balanced, static setup, only FrameTap connected (of which four hours with FrameTap removed via Bluetooth, six hours with FrameTap inserted). In real operation with an active tracking module, fill light and moving smartphone, the results look different, as expected:

With the second-generation AI tracking module and normal operation, you get around five hours according to DJI. With active Fill Light at maximum brightness, this drops to around four hours. With FrameTap alone (without the tracking module), it is around seven and a half hours. This is easily enough for a long day of filming, as long as you don’t run everything at maximum at the same time.

The fill light of the second tracking module now supports eight brightness levels instead of the previous four and eight color temperature levels between 2,500 K and 6,500 K. With the 7P, the color temperature was limited to 2,500 to 6,000 K. In practice, this makes a noticeable difference: especially for indoor shots with mixed light sources (e.g. light bulb + daylight through a window), the light temperature of the Fill Light can now be adjusted more precisely. Control is also possible from a distance via the FrameTap, which was not possible with the 7P.

However, I would have liked to be able to adjust the color temperature more precisely. The adjustment via the touchscreen works reliably, for example setting a value to exactly 5,600K, but the white balance that I use for all my videos is… almost impossible. You either jump directly to 5,000K or 5,750K using the touchscreen or joystick. The Osmo Mobile 8P only offers fixed levels here.

For smartphones whose battery drains during use, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P can also function as a power bank via USB-C, both via the connection on the roll arm and via the AI tracking module.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P in practical test

Its predecessor was already an excellent smartphone gimbal and DJI has really stepped up its game here. In everyday use, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P confirms what the data promises. With a few nuances that are worth addressing directly. The FrameTap is actually as practical as intended. In scenarios where you have set up the gimbal and want to get into the picture yourself, the device is a real game changer.

Of course, the idea is not new: Hohem in particular has also been offering a detachable remote control for years, for example with the iSteady V3 (our test) or iSteady M7 (test). But the advantages are obvious. You position the gimbal, move to a distance, check the image composition on the FrameTap screen, correct the image section using the joystick and start recording at the touch of a button. This works reliably in the tested range of up to ten meters. For group photos, one-on-one vlogs or sports shots, this is a considerable advantage over the 7P, where you either had to ask someone or rely on gesture control.

Fortunately, the tracking of the AI module also works very well outside of the Mimo app in every camera app. Whether native camera, Instagram Live or a third-party app such as Blackmagic Camera: the module reliably tracks people and pets, with a reasonable response time and barely noticeable drift. Object tracking for any object (e.g. a vehicle or a figure) can be initiated via the FrameTap display: you draw a frame around the object on the screen and the gimbal then follows automatically. In practice, this works well with high-contrast backgrounds and clearly defined objects. If the colors between the object and background are very similar, tracking occasionally stops.

The new and improved ActiveTrack 8.0 is a significant improvement on the seventh generation, which is also used in the Osmo Pocket 4, for example. Especially in complex scenarios with several people in the picture (concerts, sporting events, busy streets), the tracking remains on the desired subject. With the 7P, the tracking lost the thread much more often in such situations. The dual-lens boost, which combines wide and telephoto lenses, captures subjects again even if they have briefly left the frame. The stabilization itself is at the expected high DJI level: smooth, flowing movements even when walking fast or climbing stairs, no shaking, no jerking. The new eighth generation of gimbals with increased motor power is particularly noticeable with heavy Android devices. The gimbal struggles less with an unbalanced camera module *cough* Samsung *cough*. In addition, the pan axis of the Osmo Mobile 8P now allows 360-degree rotations, so you can move much more freely than with its predecessor.

What I already praised in the 7P and applies just as much to the 8P: The phone clamp is better than what many competitors offer. No unintentional pressing of side buttons, good padding, clear hold even for thicker cases. One small drawback: If you want to use all features at the same time, i.e. FrameTap, tracking module, Fill-Light, Mimo app, you have to invest some time initially to understand the priorities and restrictions (e.g. that the AI module is deactivated as soon as Mimo ActiveTrack is running). This is not a bug, but a concept. The learning curve for the 8P is therefore somewhat steeper than for the 7P.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P Review: Conclusion

The FrameTap remote control solves a real everyday problem, namely the framing of selfie shots from a distance, and does so in a way that leaves almost nothing to be desired. The improved AI tracking module with object tracking, the new Apple DockKit integration, the eight color temperature levels for the Fill Light and the revised Mimo app with ActiveTrack 8.0 are also noticeable improvements that make an already excellent smartphone gimbal, which the Osmo Mobile 7P was, even better.

The new version consistently eliminates the criticisms of its predecessor. Only the battery life with active accessories still has room for improvement. But otherwise? The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P is undoubtedly one of the best gimbals currently available for smartphones. If you own the 7P and are basically satisfied, you don’t necessarily have to change. However, the FrameTap is a convincing argument for the extra cost for anyone who regularly shoots alone. Anyone new to the Osmo Mobile world should go straight for the 8P.