DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Camera Stabilizer : full review

Last update on November 14th, 2023 at 11:05 am

If you like to shoot with your phone, using a stabilizer can be useful to improve the stability of your images. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6, the latest mobile stabilizer from the Chinese firm, brings a lot of new features and improvements to a range that has already proven itself. But what does it have that its predecessor did not? In a world where the stabilization of the latest smartphones already offers smooth images, do you still need it? The answers in our complete test!

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: Features at a Glance

To begin, here is a small summary of the technical characteristics of the device: size, weight, autonomy, or the sizes of compatible smartphones.

Dimensions Stabilizer	189 x 84.5 x 44 mm (folded) 276 x 111.5 x 99 mm (unfolded)
Weight Stabilizer	309g (+ 31g for the magnetic support)
Length Integrated extension bar	215mm
Handle/Tripod Dimensions	Length : 138 mm Diameter: 32 mm
Weight Handle/Tripod	About 72g
Batteries	Li-Po 2S 1000mAh
Autonomy	Approximately 6h24
Charging time	Approximately 1h24
Mechanical amplitude of the cradle	Pano : -161.64 to 173.79 Roll: – 120.30 to 211.97 Tilt: -101.64° to 78.55
Compatible phones	Weight : 170 to 290g Width: 67 to 84 mm Thickness: 6.9 to 10 mm

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: presentation and startup

Small tour of the owner

The first thing you’ll notice is that the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 stabilizer sports a new, darker shade of gray than its predecessor, giving it a more professional look. It is compact, light, and therefore easily transportable.

The grip is pleasant: the handle seems more ergonomic than the previous generation. It has a real firm feel and a non-slip surface so that the device does not slip out of your hand.

The arm is equipped with a new locking system that prevents it from wandering freely during transport. Theexcellent magnetic clip system of the previous model is still there, compatible with most smartphones. It barely takes a second to put your phone on, and you’re good to go, it’s super durable.

One of the new features is the small status screen above the controls. The latter displays a set of indicators that allow you to know at a glance the status of the battery, the shooting mode, or the recording time. On the left side, there is also a new small wheel, replacing the slider of the OM 5, which allows to control the zoom and manual focus. But we will come back to this later in the section on controls.

The Osmo Mobile 6 still features the built-in extension bar already present on version 5, and that’s great news. It measures 215 millimeters when fully unfolded, and that’s a real plus in many situations, allowing you to capture a wider variety of angles.

We also find the small folding tripod attached to the 1/4 inch port located at the base of the camera. Very practical, it will be able to add its 138 mm to the extension bar when you want to use the stabilizer in selfie pole mode, and it will also allow you to use your stabilizer on the ground or another flat surface to capture timelapse videos, or even to vlog thanks to the ActiveTrack 5.0 subject tracking feature that we will describe later in this article

The orders

DJI has updated the control interface to make the use of its stabilizer even more intuitive. As we explained earlier, the Osmo Mobile now features a small, bright screen. To the right of the latter is also a new button “M ” (for Mode). These new features give a more elegant and professional look to the whole.

The new screen, very practical, allows to display the different states and modes. On the far left, a green light indicates when the device is ready to be used. Just below, we find the battery status bars, which turn red when there is less than 20% of autonomy left. To the right of these two indicators, a light indicates which of the four stabilization modes is in use.

There are also the following keys:

• the “M” button, which can be used to turn the stabilizer on and off, allows you to switch from one mode to another. Pressing it three times will put the device in standby mode.
• just below, the famous red recording button that allows you to take pictures and videos.
• below, the switch button. One press of this button toggles between the front and rear camera of your phone, two presses rotate it from portrait to landscape orientation, and three presses toggle between photo and video modes.
• finally, on the back of the camera is a trigger, intended to activate the ActiveTrack 5.0 function which allows to follow a subject and to maintain it in the center of the image. Two clicks on the trigger and the camera automatically refocuses.

But the most important improvement is probably the arrival of the side scroll wheel. Pressing it once will allow you to manually adjust the camera’s focus distance. By pressing twice, you can use it to zoom in and out extremely smoothly by rotating it forward or backward.

Getting started

Setting up the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 stabilizer is quick and easy. As explained above, you can press the “M” button on the front of the unit. But it gets even better: simply unfold the stabilizer arm and it lights up directly. Fold it back, it will automatically turn off.

Finally, for iPhone users, the experience is even faster with the Quick Launch feature. When your phone is positioned on the magnetic mount, a notification will automatically appear inviting you to instantly access the DJI Mimo application.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: features

4 stabilization modes

The Osmo Mobile 6 is equipped with a 3-axis pod that offers 4 stabilization modes selectable via the M button:

• Tracking mode: in this mode, the cradle stops locking the horizon and follows the movement you give to the camera. You can freely shoot up and down, or tilt the image.
• Tilt lock mode: designed for horizontal movement and movement around a subject, this mode keeps the camera stable even if the stabilizer is tilted or pointed down or up.
• FPV mode: this mode allows you to follow the tilt of the handle. For example, you are following a motorcycle and you want the image to follow its movements and bend around corners. Ideal for action-oriented sequences.
• SpinShot mode : this mode allows you to freely control the orientation of the cradle thanks to the small joystick on the handle.

The DJI Mimo application

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 stabilizer can work with your smartphone’s regular camera, but DJI provides the user with the DJI Mimo app, which offers a full array of modes for creators.

Here are the different functions available:

• Photo: the classic photo mode, before a wide angle at 0.5x and a zoom up to 8x.
• Video: the classic video mode.
• Slow motion: allows you to record videos in 4x or 8x slow motion.
• Panorama: 3 modes available (3×3, 240° and CloneMe). The CloneMe mode allows you to create an image where the subject appears in multiple places in the same photo.
• Timelapse: 4 modes available (fixed, sequence, right to left and reverse), and you can also define your own custom motion.
• Hyperlapse: the famous superb timelapse effect in motion.
• DynamicZoom: this function simulates a travelling zoom effect, known as the Vertigo effect or Dolly zoom.
• Story: a function specially dedicated to fans of Instagram stories or Youtube Shorts, it offers a range of automated templates to create small clips ready to post on your favorite social network.

The application includes a section with a variety of video tutorials to show all the possibilities of the device, making it easy to get started and allowing the user to easily create the effect they want.

DJI also offers theLightCut video-editingapplication, for those who want to create their own montage. It’s clean and simple to use, with tools to easily edit your video clips and add music. The application is not as advanced as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut of course, but it can be very handy for simple editing.

ActiveTrack 5.0

ActiveTrack is clearly one of the most useful features that comes with the Osmo Mobile 6. Activated by the trigger on the back of the camera, it allows you to draw a small frame around a subject that you want to follow, object or face. Once this step is done, the cradle will automatically follow the subject and keep it as much as possible in the center of the image, wherever it moves.

The Osmo Mobile is equipped with ActiveTrack version 5. 0, and DJI claims that this version is more stable and better tracks subjects that are turning sideways, or spinning around.

This feature is really handy, especially for vloggers or anyone who wants to be able to film themselves with their hands free. Simply place the stabilizer on its tripod, adjust it to the desired height using the extension bar, activate ActiveTrack and you’re done: the camera will never leave your side, wherever you go.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: performance

Overall, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 stabilizer is really stable. Its use is simple, and the stabilization performance of the pod is impressive. We tested it with different phones, and even with heavier smartphones, and with dry and aggressive movements, it always managed to keep the image stable.

The addition of the side wheel for manual zooming and focusing is a real bonus compared to the previous version of the Osmo Mobile. We did find, however, that the front and rear zooms are perhaps not as smooth as one might have hoped. Handle with care.

TheActiveTrack has really been improved compared to the previous generation. In our tests, it worked almost perfectly, without dropping out of the subject, even when we turned our backs to the camera. However, be careful not to move too quickly to the sides, and also avoid having another person pass in front of the lens, at the risk of having the spotlight stolen.

Finally, as far as autonomy is concerned, nothing to complain about. The device can last more than 6 hours on standby, which is more than enough. You should be more concerned about the battery life of your smartphone, which you may have to charge a few times before putting the stabilizer on charge.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: the price

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is available for €159 from the DJI website. At this price, you get the stabilizer with the magnetic attachment clip for your smartphone, the foldable handle/tripod, a storage pouch and a charging cable.

And if you want the ultimate package, you can opt for the Osmo Mobile 6 Vlog Bundle, which includes a host of additional accessories to make the experience even more complete. We find the accessories of the standard pack, to which are added all the accessories necessary for the sound recording: a DJI Mic receiver with two transmitters, a windscreen, two magnetic clips to fix your microphone, a dedicated carrying case, and various cables and adapters. On the other hand, it will cost 498€ to get it.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 conclusion: should you buy it?

Easy to carry around, fast and simple to use, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 stabilizer is a device that will delight all those who love to film and want to improve the quality and rendering of their videos.

However, with the built-in stabilization of modern smartphones, one might wonder if adding a stabilizer is still as useful. However, although our phones have made good progress, the results obtained with the stabilizer are still superior in terms of fluidity, especially in low-light situations, where the electronic stabilization of a phone can reach its limits. In addition, the stabilizer offers significant additional functions.

So, if you shoot very occasionally, the use of a stabilizer will not be a necessity. But if you’re a content creator, vlogger, and like to post your creations on social networks, you won’t be disappointed with the Osmo Mobile 6. It is full of features that you can take advantage of and that will allow you to obtain images with a much more professional look.