DJI Osmo Pocket 3: our full review

After more than 3 years, DJI is finally releasing a new version of the Pocket, its mechanically stabilized pocket camera. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 retains the “Osmo” label, and above all gains a larger sensor and screen. What else is new? What’s it worth? And most importantly, do you have to buy it? All the answers in this article!

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: design and battery

Dimensions (L x W x H)	139.7 x 42.2 x 33.5 mm
Weight	179 g
Touch screen	Size: 2 inches Resolution: 314 x 556 Brightness: 700 nits
Batteries	LiPo 1300 mAh
Autonomy	166 min
Recharge time	16 min up to 80 32 min up to 100
Memory	Micro SD card up to 512GB

The design

First of all, the device is heavier than the first generation. Its dimensions are slightly larger, and while the DJI Osmo Pocket and Pocket weighed 116g and 117g respectively, this new edition climbs to 179g. Even so, it’s still just a little more than a GoPro-type action camera, and the Osmo Pocket 3 is still very compact, lightweight and convenient to carry.

This extra weight is essentially due to the two most remarkable changes in this new edition: a 1-inch larger sensor (more on this later), and a new touch screen that doubles in size to 2 inches.

The new screen offers considerable savings visual comfort and makes tactile navigation much easier. With a brightness of 700 nits, its special feature is that it can be rotated through 90° to switch from landscape to portrait mode, and also to switch the camera on and off.

The device is very well designed, with each component blending seamlessly into the overall design and interacting seamlessly with the others. Next to the record button is the 5D button, a clickable mini joystick that controls the gondola and navigates menus. The USB-C charging port is located at the very bottom, beneath the camera.

Last but not least, there’s no internal memory, as shots are stored on an external memory card. The camera can accommodate micro SD cards up to 512GB in capacity.

Battery and autonomy

Battery capacity has been increased, and DJI claims up to 166 minutes of recording in 4K resolution, which is very comfortable.

If you opt for the Creator pack (or buy it separately), you can even clip an additional battery to the base of the camera, further extending its autonomy.

Another positive point is the charging time. According to the manufacturer’s data, the device can be charged to 80% of its total capacity in just 16 minutes, and to 100% in 32 minutes. According to the information provided by the manufacturer and the available feedback, charging proves to be particularly fast, which is appreciated in everyday use.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: features and performance

Stabilization	3-axis mechanics
Follow-up of the subject	ActiveTrack 6.0
Number of microphones	3

Mechanical stabilization

That’s the big advantage of this camera: with its 3-axis gimbal, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 benefits from mechanical stabilization, another notch above action cameras and their digital stabilization. Mind you, the result on a GoPro or Osmo Action is remarkable, but the Pocket won’t need to nibble into the image to achieve it.

The pod also offers all the movement possibilities of larger stabilizers such as those in the DJI Ronin range. The Osmo Pocket 3 features 3 Tracking, Horizon Lock and FPV modes for fluid, creative movement, to make your shots look like the greatest Hollywood hits. 😋

Follow-up of the subject

Thanks to ActiveTrack 6.0, the gondola can also be used to track a subject. The camera can not only detect faces, but also track a selected object or person, and follow this target in all directions.

This function already works very well on the company’s drones, and unsurprisingly so on the Osmo Pocket 3. Even in low light and at varying distances, the camera never loses sight of the target, and gondola movements are fluid. Ideal for vloggers.

Sound recording

By default, the camera is equipped with 3 microphones spread over its surface, enabling omnidirectional sound recording.

But the camera can also be used with the DJI Mic 2 Bluetooth microphone. Supplied in the Creator pack or sold separately with a windscreen, this will enable you to clearly record the sound of your voice when you’re at a distance from the camera, and also control the recording.

Other functions

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is clearly aimed at vloggers and other social media content creators, and the vertical shooting mode is a clear indication of this. This is also the case for the Live Broadcast function, which as the name suggests, will enable streaming fans to use their Pocket 3 for this purpose.

If you use several cameras, the Timecode function lets you synchronize all the tracks from these different devices in your editing software at the click of a button.

Last but not least, the Osmo Pocket 3 can be used with theDJI Mimo application. The latter gives you full control over the camera, and displays the return image on your smartphone screen.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: photos and video

Sensor	1-inch CMOS
Lens	20mm equivalent, f/2.0 aperture
Max. image size	16:9 : 3840 x 2160 1:1 : 3072 x 3072
Video resolution	16:9: 4K up to 60 fps 1:1: 3K up to 60 fps 9:16: 3K up to 60 fps
Idle time	4K up to 120 fps 2.7K up to 120 fps FHD up to 240 fps
Digital Zoom	2x
ISO range	50 to 6400 (Photo, Video and Slow Motion) 50 to 16000 (Low-light video)
Photo format	JPEG JPEG+DNG
Video format	MP4 (H.264/HEVC)
Color Profiles	Normal HDR HLG (10-bit) D-Log M (10 bits)
Max. bit rate	130 Mb/s

1-inch sensor

After the screen, the sensor is the other big news. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 features a new, larger 1-inch sensor, where the Pocket 2’s sensor stopped at 1/1.7 inch.

A larger sensor lets in more light and captures more detail, resulting in more beautiful images. A big advantage for those filming in difficult lighting situations or who have little control over the lighting where they are filming.

This new lens can take photos at a resolution of 9.4 MP and can now film at up to 120 frames per second in 4K resolution.

Photo / video modes

When it comes to photography, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 features a Self-timer mode and a Panorama mode that lets you take 180-degree or 3×3 shots, thanks to the mechanical movements of the gondola.

Video is available in three formats : horizontal (16:9), vertical (9:16) and square (1:1). The camera can film in normal mode in 4K resolution at up to 60 fps, and in Slow Motion mode at up to 120 fps, although the maximum resolution will be 3K at 60 fps for vertical and square formats.

The camera features a low-light video mode for better rendering in low-light conditions, offering the possibility of increasing the ISO range up to 16,000, compared with 6400 in other modes.

As far as color profiles are concerned, the Normal profile is accompanied by two 10-bit flat profiles for fans of post-production colorimetric retouching: the HLG format, and above all the D-Log M format.

In terms of zoom, the camera features a digital zoom that can be used for both photos and video, enlarging the image by up to 2 times. Nothing exceptional, but it can still be useful in certain situations.

And, of course, the camera can also be used for creative time-lapse shots thanks to Timelapse and Hyperlapse modes, as well as the Motionlapse function, which consists of a timelapse combined with a predefined movement of the gondola.

Image quality

And what about image quality? The introduction of the new sensor is a real plus for the Pocket range. Rendering is much better, both for photos and video: color reproduction and dynamic range are very good, and images are sharp and detailed.

The camera’s low-light capabilities are also greatly enhanced. He can still find a tad of noise in dark areas, but it’s not very noticeable, and in any case, the result in these lighting conditions will still be better than that of an action camera.

Video quality is generally excellent. But for those who are picky about the final result, there is a slight reduction in quality towards the edges of the video, with chromatic aberration and a loss of definition in these areas, particularly when using the wide-angle lens.

DJI Osmo Pocket 3: at what price?

Standard package	539€	See on Amazon
Creator Bundle Pack	679€	See on Amazon

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is available from €539 for the standard package on the manufacturer’s official store, which, by way of comparison, is slightly more expensive than the best action cameras of the moment, priced at around €450.

This basic pack includes the camera, of course, a charging cable, a protective shell for the lens and screen, a wrist strap and a handle, a kind of small extension cord equipped with a ¼-inch screw thread that allows you to attach a tripod, for example, as well as a USB-C socket for connecting an external device or recharging the camera when you’re shooting for a long time.

To take things a step further, you can also opt for the Creator Bundle pack , available for €679, which adds its own set of accessories, of which the 4 to remember are:

• the DJI Mic 2 Bluetooth microphone we mentioned earlier.
• a battery grip, an extension that attaches to the base of the camera and adds, in addition to a better grip, an extra battery for even longer recording times, a USB-C socket for plugging in another device or charging cable, and a 1/4-inch screw thread for attaching a tripod or selfie pole.
• a wide-angle lens. It magnetizes to the camera, increasing the equivalent focal length from 15mm to 20mm. A little fisheye distortion in passing, but it offers a practical 108° field of view.
• a carrying case for storage.

Conclusion DJI Osmo Pocket 3: should you buy it?

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is an impressive camera. DJI has made a real improvement on the previous generation, thanks in particular to its large rotating screen, which is much more comfortable to use, and its larger sensor, which offers better image quality in all lighting conditions.

Its gondola, mechanical stabilization and subject tracking are other advantages over action cameras, especially for vloggers.

Buy it if you want to…

… you’re a vlogger or content creator for social networks like TikTok. Its rotating gondola capable of following a subject and the possibility of connecting a DJI Mic 2 make it clearly the best friend of this type of videographer.

Don’t buy it if…

… you practice extreme sports. If your camera needs to be shock-resistant, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 will certainly not be the right choice. Turn to an action camera such as the GoPro HERO 12 or DJI Osmo Action 4.

I already have a DJI Pocket 2, do I need to replace it?

The new 1-inch sensor and 2-inch screen are reason enough to upgrade your camera. Put your Pocket 2 on sale. 😁

Not sure about an action camera? Read our latest model tests:
➡️ GoPro HERO 12 Black: what’s new? Full test
➡️ DJI Osmo Action 4: the new best action camera?

📱 Prefer filming with your smartphone instead of a compact camera? This alternative to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 might surprise you — check out our review of the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P.