DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Ingenious gimbal camera with powerful new features

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 gimbal camera with 4K/240, 1-inch CMOS sensor and ingenious new features in the test! Since its release in 2023, the Osmo Pocket 3 from DJI has become an indispensable part of creator setups. Whether for vlogs, product videos or cinematic shots: The compact gimbal camera simply always delivers. After the rumor mill started churning in 2025, the manufacturer is finally launching its successor with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. And even if not all the leaks have come true, I can say after the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 test: the recently introduced DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is the most sophisticated and best compact gimbal camera I have ever used.

Technical data of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4

Product:	Osmo Pocket 4
Dimensions:	144.2 mm x 44.4 mm x 33.5 mm
Weight:	190,5 g
Sensor:	1-inch CMOS (f/2.0)
Video modes:	4K (16:9): 3840×2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080@24/25/30/48/50/60fps 3K (9:16): 1728×3072@24/25/30/48/50/60fps 1080p (9:16): 1080×1920@24/25/30/48/50/60fps
Slow Motion:	4K (16:9): 3840×2160@100/120/200/240fps 1080p: 1920×1080@120/240fps
Video format:	MP4
Photo resolution	7,680 x 4,320 pixels
Photo format:	JPG, JPG+DNG
Memory:	107 GB internal memory
Memory expansion:	microSD (up to a maximum of 1 TB)
Display:	2-inch touchscreen; 556 x 314 pixels; 1,000 nits
Battery:	LiPo; 1,545 mAh; up to 240 minutes runtime
Connectivity:	USB-C , Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax; Bluetooth LE 5.4
Waterproof:	No
Price:	€ 479.00 *

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 test: detailed design improvements

Anyone familiar with the Pocket 3 will immediately feel at home when they first see the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. DJI remains true to the form factor and that is absolutely right. The compact pen shape with the gimbal camera head at the top and the non-slip hand rest at the bottom has proven its worth. It still fits in any jacket pocket, weighs hardly any more than its predecessor and is ready for use within seconds. Specifically, the Osmo Pocket 4 measures 144.2 mm x 44.4 mm x 33.5 mm and weighs 190.5 grams – making it ideal for on the go.

What DJI has revised, however, are the details and these make a huge difference in everyday use. There are now two new buttons below the 2-inch display that were not there before: a dedicated zoom button and a freely assignable preset button. This sounds like a small detail, but in practice it proves to be ingenious. Anyone who has had to swipe the zoom on the touchscreen interface knows how awkward this can be in the middle of a recording. Now you simply tap the button and switch between single and double lossless optical zoom. With a longer press, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 even zooms up to four times, but then digitally.

Also new and an ingenious improvement is the 5D joystick, which significantly improves operation. Center the gimbal, rotate the camera, pan back – all with a single, small control element. The joystick is a welcome addition.

The gimbal camera head itself still looks precise and solid. The three axes work silently and quickly, and initialization only takes a few seconds after switching on. As with its predecessor, the camera is switched on by opening the display. An intuitive gesture that you immediately get used to.

The display has also been improved in terms of detail. At 2.0 inches, it has a resolution of 556 x 314 pixels and is up to 1,000 nits bright, making it easy to read even outdoors and in direct sunlight.

What I still miss is a stronger weatherproof coating. The Pocket 4 can withstand light drizzle, but the cam is not really waterproof. This is a clear disadvantage compared to action cams such as the DJI Osmo Action 6 (our test) or the Osmo Nano (test). For a camera that is so consistently designed for mobility, more would be desirable here. Another point of criticism: the battery is still permanently installed, which remains an issue when used for long periods without charging. But more on that later.

The features and innovations of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4

From a technical point of view, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 has made significant gains! The biggest headline of the Osmo Pocket 4 is: 4K with 240 fps. This is a real quantum leap compared to the Pocket 3, which achieved a maximum of 120 fps at 4K. For slow-motion shots, this means that you now have twice as much material to freeze motion without having to switch to full HD resolution. In practice, this makes a huge difference, especially for sports content, travel videos or dynamic vlogging situations.

The sensor itself remains a 1-inch CMOS, but this does not mean that nothing has changed. DJI has extended the dynamic range to 14 f-stops, compared to the 13 f-stops of the Pocket 3. This may sound marginal, but it is noticeable in practice, especially in high-contrast lighting conditions: Scenes with direct backlighting, shots taken at dusk or interiors with windows in the background now deliver noticeably more detail from shadows and in highlights. The 10-bit D-Log color profile is also still available (also improved) and enables maximum flexibility in post-processing.

In addition, the Osmo Pocket 4 significantly increases the resolution of photos. Images are now captured at 37 megapixels (compared to 9.4 MP for the predecessor), which brings out significantly more detail.

Another real innovation is the tracking system. ActiveTrack 6.0 on the predecessor is now ActiveTrack 7.0, which we already know from DJI’s smartphone gimbals. And this step is more than just a higher version number. The new system can now track subjects even at 4x zoom, which was not possible before. In practice, this means that you can shoot a person from a greater distance and the camera will keep them in the frame, even if they are moving through crowds of people. There are also two new tracking modes: Spotlight Follow tracks the subject and aligns the camera to it, while Dynamic Framing tracks the image section cinematically – a function that is modeled on a real camera assistant.

I have to say that the tracking is much better than with the Osmo Pocket 4. It not only works more accurately, but also much more smoothly. The shots that come out at the end feel smoother and look noticeably better.

Gesture control, internal memory and more

Gesture control was already available on the predecessor, but has been significantly expanded on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. If you point your palm at the camera, ActiveTrack is activated. You don’t even have to touch the camera. The peace sign triggers a photo or starts recording. This is really clever for selfie situations or spontaneous vlogs without a tripod.

One of the most ingenious innovations: The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 finally has internal memory. A whopping 107 gigabytes are available for this. The gimbal camera still accepts a microSD card, but this is now purely optional. Especially as content from the internal memory can be transferred quickly at up to 800 MB/s via cable and 90 MB/s wirelessly.

The wide-angle lens of the Pocket 3 was a separate accessory in its predecessor – the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is compatible with the Osmo Pocket 3 wide-angle lens, which is included in the Creator Combo. The chromatic aberration behavior at the edges of the image, which was occasionally noticeable on the predecessor with a wide-angle lens, therefore remains a latent issue.

New creative functions expand the repertoire: video with long exposure time enables real motion blur and light trails in video mode. Film looks offer various pre-installed color profiles for cinematic shots. And a beauty mode beautifies the skin on request. In real time and directly on the camera, without post-processing.

Anyone who often shoots in darker environments (or knows a thing or two about videography) knows how important good lighting is. Here, too, DJI is making improvements and offers an optional Fill Light, which is also included in the Creator Combo.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Fill Light attaches magnetically to the side of the camera and offers numerous options:

• 3 light levels (Low – 12 lux, Medium – 25 lux, High – 40 lux)
• 3 color temperatures (Warm – 2800K, Neutral – 4000K, Cold – 5500K)

It can be operated intuitively using the buttons on the light or directly via the camera.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3: The direct comparison

If you’re always looking for the latest and greatest and don’t want to compromise on image quality and ease of use, the Pocket 4 is the perfect choice. However, the Pocket 3 remains a powerful device with a very good price-performance ratio.

Feature	DJI Osmo Pocket 4	DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Image sensor	New 1-inch CMOS, 14 stops dynamic range	1-inch CMOS, 13 f-stops
Max. Video resolution	4K/240fps	4K/120fps
Color profile	10-bit D-Log	HLG / D-Log M
ActiveTrack	ActiveTrack 7.0	ActiveTrack 6.0
Zoom	2× lossless zoom – also works with recording, ActiveTrack, D-Log and photo mode	2× lossless zoom – not available for lowlight video, slow motion, motionlapse, ActiveTrack, D-Log and photo mode during recording
Beauty filters & movie looks	Integrated beauty filters, glamor effect & film looks via app	Glamor effect only via app
Storage & file transfer	107 GB internal memory, Wi-Fi 6 (up to 90 MB/s wireless), USB 3.1 (up to 800 MB/s wired)	No internal memory, Wi-Fi 5, USB 2.0
Lens	20 mm (KB equivalent), f/2.0, focus from 0.2 m	20 mm (KB equivalent), f/2.0, focus from 0.2 m
Photo resolution	37 MP, Live Photo support	approx. 9.4 MP
Battery capacity	1,545 mAh	1,300 mAh
Dimensions	144.2 × 44.4 × 33.5 mm	139.7 × 42.2 × 33.5 mm
Weight	190,5 g	179 g

Greatly improved battery life

Battery life was one of the most frequently mentioned criticisms of the predecessor. In practice, the Pocket 3 managed between 80 and 166 minutes, depending on the resolution and use. Good, but not enough for intensive days of filming. DJI has made significant improvements here.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 enables up to 240 minutes of recording time in 1080p/24fps, which is 74 minutes more than its predecessor. In practice, i.e. in 4K with active tracking and occasional display operation, it is more like 120 to 160 minutes, which is realistic and really good. This is enough for half a day’s shooting, but for a full day of intensive use, a charging option is important in between. An optional battery handle is available as an additional battery.

What DJI has significantly improved, however, is the charging time: from 0 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. This is faster than its predecessor (it took 16 minutes to reach 80 percent, so the Pocket 4 takes marginally longer, but also has a larger battery and offers significantly more capacity when fully charged). In practice, this means: plug the camera into the power bank, have a coffee and carry on. This is a real workflow advantage.

However, the point of criticism remains the same as its predecessor: the battery is permanently installed. This is a deliberate design decision by DJI to keep the device as compact as possible. This is not a problem for beginners and occasional users. However, anyone who films professionally and all day long will either need a battery grip or will have to recharge frequently.

App connection via DJI Mimo

The DJI Mimo app, known from the Pocket 3 ecosystem, is still the central hub for advanced camera settings, live streaming, direct transfer of clips and control via smartphone. Anyone familiar with the app will find their way around immediately.

What the app is really good at: importing clips quickly. With a stable WLAN connection, the Pocket 4 transfers material to the phone at a good speed, and thanks to the 800 MB/s transfer rate on the device itself, the connection is much smoother than with its predecessor. Anyone who wants to edit and upload material directly to their smartphone in the middle of a trip will appreciate this.

For manual focus control, the use of your own LUTs and more in-depth color profile adjustments, you absolutely need the app. This is an indispensable feature for professional users, but for the normal creator, everything works perfectly without the app.

A point of criticism that is carried over from the Pocket 3: App stability occasionally leaves something to be desired. Crashes are rare, but do occur. Updates are continuously improving the situation, but the problem is known and should not go unmentioned until the next major app update.

Image and audio quality of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4

In terms of image and sound quality, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 shows the most significant improvement compared to its predecessor. During the day, the Pocket 3 could hardly be criticized. However, the Pocket 4 goes one better: the colors appear much more natural, the skin tones in portrait shots are finer and less vivid than in the predecessor. The f/2.0 aperture in combination with the 1-inch sensor ensures a pleasantly clear image in close-up shots. No bokeh of a system camera, but clearly superior to modern smartphones.

The difference to the Pocket 3 is most noticeable in low light conditions. The extended 14 f-stop dynamic range is immediately noticeable: Shots taken at dusk, in bars or in artificial light show less noise, more detail in dark areas and better control over highlights. And if it gets really dark, the Fill Light helps you out.

The 4K/240fps slow motion is the new showcase feature and it justifies the extra cost compared to the Pocket 3, at least if you like shooting in slo-mo. At 120fps, the Pocket 3 was still on a comparable level with good action cameras. At 240fps in 4K, the Pocket 4 simply pulls away.

The lossless 2x zoom is also an underestimated function. In practice, it allows much more flexibility: wide setting for establishing shots, then simply press the zoom button and switch to 2x for tighter portraits. All without any visible loss of quality. Although this does not replace a zoom lens, it comes closer than anything else in this category.

A small point of criticism: chromatic aberrations are occasionally visible at the edges of the image, especially in wide-angle shots. This was also the case with the Pocket 3 and has not fundamentally changed here, but has at least visibly improved. Those who are very perfectionist in their shots will notice this. In a normal vlogging context, however, this is virtually irrelevant.

The built-in microphone array was already one of the best in this category on the Pocket 3 and DJI has not skimped here. The voice sounds clear and the ambient noise is pleasantly muted. The integrated microphone is easily sufficient for outdoor recordings in light winds.

The direct compatibility with DJI mic transmitters (Mic 2, Mic 3 and Mic Mini) without an adapter via Osmo Audio remains ingenious: simply plug it in and get started. A real quality gain for anyone who wants professional audio.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Review: Conclusion

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is a small revolution that clearly surpasses the successful features of its predecessor. A camera that you simply trust. The improvements over the Pocket 3 are noticeable advances in everyday use. 4K with 240fps, ActiveTrack 7.0, fast loading times, internal memory and significantly better low-light performance make a real difference.

The compromises of the Pocket series remain: a permanently installed battery, no weather protection, weak close focusing and, starting at 479 euros, the entry-level price is not without its drawbacks.

For anyone without a Pocket predecessor, it is a clear must-buy. Pocket 3 owners should upgrade if they regularly shoot 4K slow motion or need the improved tracking, everyone else can wait. One thing is certain: the Osmo Pocket 4 is the best compact gimbal camera on the market. And the best camera I’ve had in my pocket for a long time.