The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is finally here and I’d buy it for the super slow-mo upgrade alone. On the outside it doesn’t look much different to the wildly popular Pocket 3 – my camera of the year in 2023 – but on the inside there are plenty of changes worth considering. Image quality is my number one concern and from the shots I’ve recorded, the Pocket 4 is an upgrade.
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DJI has improved the 1-inch CMOS sensor which can now capture ultra-sharp 4K/240 frames per second slow motion video. Honestly, this looks amazing and it’s a capture setting you won’t find in most cameras, that’s why call I it a ‘buy now feature‘. Low-light performance is also better with a claimed 14 stops of dynamic range and 10-bit D-Log. Add new, far better, intelligent tracking capabilities and you have a brilliant little package.
On the side of the camera head there are pins that allow a small attachable light to draw power from the main battery. Combine this with DJI’s easy to pair wireless microphone system, and you have the ultimate one-man-band vlogging system.
Pro-Grade Glass and Smarter Tracking
The f/2.0 aperture works alongside that improved sensor to deliver natural portraits and cleaner skin tones. If you need to get closer to subjects, a new dedicated zoom button lets you toggle between 1x and 2x lossless zoom instantly.
The three-axis gimbal remains the gold standard for silky smooth vlogs, but the software has seen a major upgrade. ActiveTrack 7.0 can now lock onto subjects even at 4x zoom, while new modes like Spotlight Follow and Dynamic Framing do the heavy lifting for you. You can even swap subjects with a tap or use “Registered Subject Priority” to make sure the camera stays focused on the right person in a crowd.
The Pocket 4 is miles ahead when it comes to tracking. If this is important to you then it’s another tick for an upgrade.
Hands-Free Control and Built-in Storage
DJI has leaned heavily into gesture controls for this iteration. You can now trigger tracking just by showing your palm to the lens, or start recording by flashing a peace sign. Aside from being convenient I find this feature saves heaps of memory space.
The physical interface is more intuitive, too. You still rotate the screen to power on, but there’s a new 5D joystick for better gimbal movement and a custom preset button to jump straight to your favourite settings. 107GB of built-in storage is another excellent improvement. DJI is leading the way here and it’s saved me a number of times with their actions cameras and drones.
This is a massive win; it means you don’t have to panic when ‘on set’ if you forget your microSD card, and with transfer speeds of up to 800MB/s, moving your files to a laptop is incredibly snappy. I have no complaints about the transfer speeds at all. It’s very fast. But there’s still an SD card slot so don’t worry if you’re old school.
Creative Modes and Lighting
For those looking to get artistic, the Pocket 4 introduces a Slow Shutter mode for motion blur trails and a dedicated Film Tone library to give your footage a classic cinematic look without hours of colour grading. If you’re vlogging in the dark, the new attachable fill light is a game-changer. It snaps onto those side pins and offers three different brightness and temperature settings.
Faster Power and Pro Audio
The Pocket 4 hits an 80% charge in just 18 minutes, giving you up to four hours of 1080p recording time on a full tank. For long shoots, that 240-minute runtime is a significant jump over the previous model.
On the audio front, the built-in mic array is excellent, but the real magic is the expanded OsmoAudio ecosystem. It now supports 4-channel recording and direct pairing with the new DJI Mic 3 and Mic Mini. It’s truly a “plug and play” setup that ensures your audio quality matches that 4K footage.
Pricing and Availability
The Osmo Pocket 4 is available for pre-order now, with shipping kicking off on April 22nd. Here is how the local pricing breaks down:
- Essential Combo ($749 AUD): The basics to get you started, including the handle and pouch.
- Standard Combo ($769 AUD): Adds the gimbal clamp and wrist strap.
- Creator Combo ($959 AUD): The full kit with a Wide-Angle lens, the new DJI Mic 3 transmitter, a mini tripod, and the new attachable fill light.
Final Word
Judging by the speculation ahead of the Pocket 4 many people will be disappointed. Some of the renders had multiple cameras for wide and telephoto options. I must admit, I’d love that, even an optical zoom. If you own the Pocket 3, I still think the Pocket 4 is worth considering.
If you have a Pocket 3 and you’re happy then stay happy but if you don’t have one or one of the early models, then what are you waiting for? I’m just getting started with the Pocket 4 but already I’m have a great time with it, although … there are rumours of a Pocket 4 Pro … mmm.
Keep an eye on Image Matrix Tech over the next couple of weeks as I show more video content captured on the Pocket 4. It’s the easiest way to make a decision.
