DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Review – What Did They Change?

There is a moment, and it happens to all of us, where you think, “I’ll just quickly film this.” And then ten minutes later you realise the camera has focused on literally anything except you, the horizon is doing gymnastics, and somehow your chin has become the main character.

This is the problem with compact cameras. They promise simplicity, then quietly hand you a mess.

Now here’s the thing. We use the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 a lot at tech drive play. Like, genuinely a lot. It’s been our go to for quick shoots and even proper review content when dragging a full camera setup just isn’t worth the effort. So when a new one lands, it’s not just another gadget, it actually matters.

So when the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 turns up, a tiny, almost suspiciously clever little camera that claims to fix all of this, I pay attention. Not because I believe it straight away, but because if it actually works, it changes everything.

I’ve been using it properly, not just waving it around for five minutes, but taking it out, putting it in situations where most cameras fall apart, and seeing whether it holds up.

And I’ll be honest, I went into this expecting a mild update. What I found was something a bit more interesting than that.

First Impressions

You take it out of the box and your first thought is, “Right… so they’ve changed absolutely nothing.”

Because visually, not much has changed. It’s still that tiny, pocketable little stick with a gimbal on top and a flip screen that powers it on. If you’ve used one before, you already know exactly what you’re holding.

But that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s probably the right move.

The moment you flip the screen and it springs to life, you’re reminded why we all use these so much. It’s quick, simple, and there’s no barrier between you and actually capturing something. You don’t think about settings or setup, you just start filming.

And within those first few minutes, it feels familiar in the best way. Comfortable, easy, like picking up something you’ve used a hundred times before.

Then you start to notice the small tweaks. A couple of extra buttons, slightly better control, things just feeling a bit tighter overall. Nothing dramatic, nothing shouting for attention, just subtle improvements that make it easier to use straight away.

What stood out to me early on was how instantly usable it felt. That matters, because a camera like this is not meant to sit in a bag while you fiddle with menus and wonder whether it is worth the effort. It is meant to come out fast, get the shot, and disappear again. And on first impression, that is exactly what the Osmo Pocket 4 still seems built to do, only now with a little more polish and a little more confidence about it.

What’s New This Time

This is not one of those updates where a brand changes everything just so it can say it did. DJI has not torn up the formula here. Instead, it has looked at the Osmo Pocket 3, realised it already had a very good thing going, and gone after the little annoyances that start to matter when you use a camera like this all the time. That is what makes the Osmo Pocket 4 feel more thought through rather than simply newer.

Straight away, there are a few key upgrades worth knowing about:
• Two new physical buttons under the screen
• An updated analogue joystick for finer control
• Built in internal storage
• A new one inch sensor
• Improved dynamic range
• 4K slow motion at up to 240fps
• Upgraded ActiveTrack 7 and subject tracking

The new buttons might sound minor, but when something is designed for quick shooting, small physical changes can make a surprisingly big difference. One button handles zoom more easily, while the other can be customised to suit the way you shoot. That means less messing around, less tapping through menus, and more of that instant, pick it up and use it feeling that made the Osmo Pocket range so appealing in the first place.

Then there is the joystick. Again, not the sort of thing that makes for a dramatic headline, but absolutely the kind of thing you notice when you start filming. It now feels more precise, which suits a camera built around movement and framing. If you are trying to make tiny adjustments while walking, tracking, or setting up a shot quickly, that added control matters.

A few of the bigger practical improvements are easy to appreciate as well:
• The internal storage means forgetting a microSD card is no longer the end of the world
• The card slot now has a cover, which is small but sensible
• Accessory integration has been improved with side contacts for optional add ons like the fill light
• A magnetic gimbal clamp is included for safer transport

The real story though is not just on the outside, it is underneath it. The Osmo Pocket 4 gets a new sensor and improved dynamic range, which is where things start to move from “nice update” to “right, that is actually useful.” Better image quality, stronger low light performance, and more flexibility in tricky lighting are the sort of upgrades people will actually notice in the finished footage, not just on a spec sheet.

And then there is slow motion, which is one of the headline features for good reason. Being able to shoot 4K at 240fps is not normal at this size or price point. It is the kind of feature that sounds impressive on paper, but more importantly, it gives the Pocket 4 something genuinely exciting in day to day use.

So the update here is not about chasing some totally different identity. It is about sharpening the edges of something that was already extremely good. And honestly, that is probably the smartest thing DJI could have done.

Video Performance

This is where the Osmo Pocket 4 starts to feel genuinely serious. A lot of tiny cameras are great right up until the moment the light gets difficult, the subject starts moving, or you need the footage to look like more than a casual phone clip. This handles those moments far better than something this small really has any right to.

What stood out to me most was how composed the footage feels. Rather than throwing overly sharpened, brittle looking video at you, it seems to deliver something cleaner, smoother, and more confident. That matters because a camera like this is supposed to remove friction, not create it.

In short:

• Footage looks more polished straight out of camera
• Stabilisation still feels like one of its biggest strengths
• Bright scenes appear better controlled than you might expect
• Low light performance seems far more usable than before
• It suits travel, quick B roll, walk and talk clips, and solo shooting especially well

The biggest win is how wide its comfort zone feels. In bright outdoor conditions it appears less likely to blow out the scene and give you that harsh, flat look smaller cameras often struggle with. Then later in the day, when the light drops and most compact gear starts to panic, the Pocket 4 seems to hold itself together much more confidently.

That becomes especially useful in real world shooting like this:

• walking through a city at night
• filming a quick piece to camera outdoors
• capturing behind the scenes clips on the move
• shooting travel content without dragging a full setup around

And that is really the point. It is not trying to be a full cinema setup, but it also does not feel like a toy. It sits in that middle ground where it is easy enough to use instantly, but capable enough that you actually trust what it produces.

Tracking, Stability, and Solo Shooting

This is one of the biggest reasons a camera like this makes sense in the first place. Plenty of compact cameras can record decent looking footage when everything is controlled and predictable. The problem starts when you are filming yourself, moving around, trying to frame a shot properly, and doing it all without a second person behind the camera. That is where the Osmo Pocket 4 starts earning its keep.

What I really like here is how little effort it seems to demand from you. You are not constantly checking whether your face is still in frame or whether the camera has suddenly decided to follow the background instead. It appears much better at sticking with the subject, which is exactly what you want when you are walking, talking, or shooting on your own.

A few things stand out pretty quickly:

• subject tracking looks smarter and more reliable
• the gimbal still gives footage that smooth, controlled look
• solo shooting feels easier and less frustrating
• quick moving scenes seem more manageable than before
• it suits creators who need to film without help

That matters because this sort of camera is not meant for slow, overthought production work. It is meant to come out fast, lock onto what matters, and let you get on with it. If you are filming a walk and talk, grabbing content while travelling, or trying to capture something in the moment, the last thing you want is to be fighting the camera.

You can really imagine it being useful in situations like these:

• filming yourself while walking around
• tracking a person moving through a busy scene
• grabbing handheld B roll without needing a tripod
• shooting travel content where speed matters more than setup

The Osmo Pocket 4 does not just make footage look smoother, it seems to remove a lot of the hassle that normally comes with trying to shoot alone. For a lot of people, that will matter more than any headline spec.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 vs Osmo Pocket 3

This is the question that actually matters if you already own one. Because on paper, they look almost identical, and it would be very easy to assume this is one of those updates you can safely ignore.

But once you spend time with both, the differences start to make more sense.

What has not changed is the core experience. The size, the flip screen, the overall concept, it all feels familiar. And that is a good thing, because the Osmo Pocket 3 was already very easy to live with.

Where things start to separate:

• image quality feels more refined, especially in tricky lighting
• low light performance is noticeably stronger
• dynamic range gives you more flexibility in bright and dark scenes
• slow motion is a genuine step up with 4K at higher frame rates
• controls feel more polished with the added buttons and improved joystick
• internal storage removes one of the biggest everyday annoyances

The difference is not night and day in a “completely new camera” sort of way. It is more subtle than that. But it is also more meaningful, because it shows up in the way you actually use it.

The Pocket 3 was already very good. The Pocket 4 just feels more sorted. It handles more situations without you needing to think about it, and it gives you a bit more confidence that what you are shooting will actually come out the way you want.

So the real question is whether it is worth upgrading.

If you are happy with the Pocket 3 and mostly shoot in good conditions, you could probably stick with it and not feel like you are missing out. It is still a very capable little camera.

But if you use it a lot, especially in mixed lighting, at night, or for more polished content, the improvements here start to add up quickly. It is less about one big feature and more about everything being that little bit better, all the time.

And that is what makes the Pocket 4 feel like a proper evolution rather than just a refresh.

Australian pricing and availability

In Australia, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is available for pre-order now, with official sale and shipping beginning on 22 April. DJI is offering three configurations locally. The Essential Combo starts at $749 AUD, the Standard Combo is priced at $769 AUD, and the Creator Combo comes in at $959 AUD.

The Standard Combo includes the Osmo Pocket 4, USB-C to USB-C PD cable, gimbal clamp, wrist strap, handle with 1/4-inch thread and a portable carrying pouch. Step up to the Creator Combo and you also get extras including a wide-angle lens, DJI Mic 3 transmitter, magnetic clip, windscreens, fill light, mini tripod and carrying bag. DJI Care Refresh will also be available for buyers who want extra protection against accidental damage.

That pricing puts the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 in an interesting position. It is not impulse-buy cheap, but it is also nowhere near the financial black hole that opens when you start piecing together a larger mirrorless setup.

Everyday Use, App, and Practical Bits

This is the part that decides whether something actually gets used or just ends up sitting in a drawer after the first week. Because you can have all the specs in the world, but if it is annoying to live with, you will stop reaching for it. The Osmo Pocket 4, thankfully, still leans heavily in the other direction.

What stands out is how easy it is to just pick up and get going. There is no real barrier here. The interface feels simple, the controls are where you expect them to be, and nothing about it slows you down. That matters more than people realise, especially when you are trying to capture something quickly rather than plan it out.

A few things become obvious pretty quickly:

• the touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate
• switching between modes feels quick and intuitive
• pro controls are there if you want them, but never in the way
• internal storage makes it far more forgiving day to day
• the overall experience feels fast rather than fiddly

The app side of things is also worth mentioning, because it is actually useful rather than just something you are forced to use. Connecting to your phone is straightforward, and once you are in, you can control the camera remotely, preview shots, and move content across without much effort.

That becomes especially handy in situations like:

• setting the camera up at a distance and controlling it from your phone
• quickly reviewing footage without squinting at a tiny screen
• transferring clips for editing or posting on the go
• making small edits without needing to open a laptop

And then there is the practical side of living with it. The size still makes it incredibly easy to carry, the battery holds up well enough for typical use, and small touches like better protection for ports and storage just make it feel more sorted overall.

What you end up with is something that fits into your day without asking for much in return. You do not have to plan around it, you just bring it along, use it when you need it, and forget about it when you don’t. And for a camera like this, that is exactly how it should be.

The Reality Check

At this point, it would be very easy to pretend this thing does everything perfectly and call it a day. But it does not, and pretending otherwise would be missing the point. The Osmo Pocket 4 is excellent at what it is designed to do, but it still has its limits.

The biggest one is pretty straightforward. It is still a tiny camera. And no matter how good the sensor gets or how clever the software becomes, there are situations where something bigger, with more control, is simply going to do a better job.

A few things are worth keeping in mind:

• the aperture is fixed, so you do not get full creative control over depth and exposure
• it is not replacing a proper mirrorless camera for serious photo work
• low light is improved, but not completely bulletproof
• it still relies heavily on digital processing in some modes
• if you push it too far, you will eventually find the limits

None of this is surprising, and honestly, it is not really a problem. Because this is not meant to replace a full camera setup. It is meant to be something you can carry everywhere, use instantly, and rely on more often than you would expect.

Where it can occasionally catch you out is when you start expecting it to behave like something it is not:

• trying to shoot highly controlled, professional setups
• expecting full manual flexibility like a larger camera
• pushing extreme low light without any compromise
• relying on it as your only camera in every scenario

Used like that, it can feel a bit constrained. Used the way it is intended, it makes a lot more sense.

And that is really the reality of it. The Osmo Pocket 4 is not trying to be everything. It is trying to be very good at a specific kind of shooting, quick, mobile, and effortless. As long as you understand that going in, it is far easier to appreciate what it actually does well.

Final Verdict

The Osmo Pocket 4 is not trying to reinvent anything, and honestly, that is exactly why it works. DJI has taken something that was already incredibly useful and just made it better in the ways that actually matter when you use it every day.

What stands out most is how complete it feels now. It is no longer just a handy little camera you throw in your pocket as a backup. It feels like something you can genuinely rely on to capture proper content without needing to overthink it. You pick it up, flip the screen, and it just gets on with the job.

The improvements to image quality and low light performance make a real difference in everyday use, while the tracking and stabilisation continue to be some of the strongest reasons to use it in the first place. Add in the slow motion capabilities and it starts to feel like more than just a convenience tool, it feels like something with a bit of creative edge as well.

It still has its limits, and it is not replacing a larger, more dedicated camera if you are chasing full control or the absolute best image possible. But that was never really the point. This is about speed, ease, and actually capturing moments rather than missing them because your gear is too bulky or too slow to set up.

And that is why it lands so well. It removes friction, it fits into your day without asking for much in return, and it delivers results that are consistently better than you expect from something this small.

In the end, it is simple. The Osmo Pocket 4 is the kind of camera you end up using all the time, and that is what makes it so good.

Would I Buy It

Yes. And not in a hesitant, “maybe if it’s on sale” sort of way. I mean properly, I would go out and get one and actually use it.

But not because it is perfect. It is because it fits into real life in a way most cameras don’t. I am not always carrying a full setup around, and neither is anyone else unless they enjoy shoulder pain and looking like they are filming a documentary at Woolworths. This is the thing you bring when you still want quality, but cannot be bothered with the hassle.

The biggest reason I would buy it is simple. It removes excuses. You are far more likely to capture something when the camera is already in your pocket and ready to go. There is no setup, no delay, no moment where you think “I’ll do it later” and then don’t.

It is not replacing a proper camera for big, planned shoots. But it is the one you will reach for far more often. And over time, that matters more than having the best gear sitting at home.

So yes, I would buy it. Because it is the kind of camera that actually gets used, and that is the whole point.