While GoPro has been the leader in the action camera space for years, DJI is fighting a fierce battle for supremacy with the Osmo Action 4. It features many of the same top-tier features as the previous Action 3, including excellent stabilization, robust waterproofing, front and rear touchscreens, and long battery life. However, DJI has also equipped this model with a larger camera sensor and higher color depth, making the Action 4 a strong contender for the top spot.
DJI Osmo Action 4
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is an action camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor that captures 4K video at 120fps or up to 240fps at 1080p, all in 10-bit color. It’s housed in a rugged body that’s waterproof to 18 meters and can be mounted to metal surfaces or attached to DJI’s quick-release mount. Multiple stabilization modes allow for shake-free video recording for everything from vlogging to high-intensity sports.
- The magnetic base can stick to many metal surfaces.
- The interface is easy to learn and use.
- Competitive prices
- 1/1.3″ sensor is large for an action camera
- Works as a webcam
- The DJI Mimo app must be installed manually.
- Installation requires a DJI proprietary adapter.
Price and availability
DJI makes about a dozen different accessory kits with the Osmo Action 4, each containing different accessories designed for specific activities like surfing, fishing, cycling, and vlogging. The cheapest of these is the Standard Combo, which retails for $299 and includes the Action 4 with one battery, a protective case, a quick-release adapter mount, an adhesive base with a locking screw, a USB C-to-C cable, and other minor accessories. None of these kits include a memory card, so be sure to shop around for a good microSD card as well.
The Osmo Action 4 is available directly from DJI’s website and is widely available at online retailers like Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama. It may also be available on the shelves of some traditional stores like Best Buy.
Hardware and Design
Yes, it’s an action camera.
DJI once tried to move away from the standard GoPro action camera formula with the Action 2, but that was a short-lived experiment that ended with the Action 3 returning to the tried-and-true design. Unsurprisingly, the Action 4 looks almost identical to its predecessor, including an all-black body and a full-size touchscreen on the back, split camera and a second smartwatch-sized touchscreen on the front. There’s also a replaceable lens protector that covers the camera.
There’s a record/shutter button on the top, and a second button on the side for power control and switching between customizable recording modes. The battery, memory card slot, and USB-C port are also covered by waterproof doors on both sides.
Otherwise, the body is lightweight and seems capable of taking some abuse, though the touchscreen is still vulnerable. It won’t offer protection from everything, but the box includes a shockproof case that helps protect most of the body from hard bumps and rough surfaces.
One obvious advantage of the Action 4 is the strong magnet on the bottom. I have no trouble getting it to stick to almost any metal surface, and it usually stays put, even when upside down or upright — though it can slide down on smooth sides.
For more active situations, a proper mount is required. DJI seems intent on pushing the quick-release magnetic mounts with mounting clips. The camera naturally snaps into place on the mount, and a gentle push locks it into place. Unfortunately, this is the only way to securely mount the camera. There’s no other way to attach it to a 1/4-20 screw or action camera mount without the adapter mount.
I’d love to see DJI add either a 1/4-20 screw mount or foldable action camera legs like the last few GoPros. But if I really had one item on my wish list, it would be for Insta360 and DJI to work together on a single standard mount for a global ecosystem. It’s not going to happen, but I can dream.
Performance and video quality
Bigger sensor, more bit depth
The Action 4 has received several notable improvements over the previous generation, but the two improvements that stand out clearly above everything else are an upgrade to a 1/1.3-inch camera sensor and a push to 10-bit color for both the Normal and D-Log M color profiles.
The new 1/1.3-inch sensor is larger than most action cameras, which tend to be on the order of 1/2-inch sensors. As a result, low-light performance is generally better and should produce less noise and more detail at higher ISO values.
Most people probably won’t care about raising the color depth to 10-bit, even though it’s supposed to remove color casts in the sky and other hues. However, it’s great for anyone grading their footage, especially on a flat color profile like D-Log M, where it’s possible to get a more dynamic range.
Every major modern action camera offers good stabilization, and the DJI doesn’t disappoint. There are a few modes for general stabilization and horizon leveling, so you can choose the one that best suits the situation. I’m not sure how much these cameras have improved since the Action 3, but they’ve been great with everything I’ve thrown at them.
But if I had one complaint to make, it’s that I was a bit spoiled by the post-processing capabilities that Insta360 offers with some of its cameras. For example, FreeFrame mode can be loaded onto the Insta360 Go 3 via the mobile app or Insta360 Studio on the desktop, and smoothing modes can be applied in post-processing.
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Audio quality from the internal microphones is very good, almost rivaling the Pixel phones, though they are more susceptible to wind noise and noisy environments. As of the Action 4, DJI now supports USB-C microphone connection; no adapters or additional accessories are required. Bluetooth earbuds work too, but I found they don’t have the best range or reception, so you’ll need to stay fairly close.
Programming
Simple where it matters
The camera’s UI performance is perfectly acceptable, though I can’t say it’s always smooth. Tapping buttons or dragging panels will cause small moments of glitch, but not enough to cause a problem. There’s also a second or so delay at the start of recordings, but I probably wouldn’t be doing anything during that time anyway.
There aren’t a lot of advanced features or options, but I tend to classify that as a plus because it’s uncluttered and easy to operate. I wouldn’t want that on a DSLR, and sometimes only on my phone, but it’s great for an action camera. I really don’t want to spend a lot of time fiddling with settings here.
There aren’t a lot of advanced features or options, but I tend to classify that as a plus because it’s uncluttered and easy to operate.
DJI’s Mimo app is a mixed bag, at least on Android, and I think it’s time to clarify that. The first complaint stems from simply installing the app. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, DJI has insisted that it can’t push updates to the Google Play Store or even the Amazon App Store, citing technical incompatibilities. This was previously attributed to an outdated software library, but more recently, the blame has shifted to some other niche detail. I can only say that neither Insta360 nor GoPro suffer from this problem, so I find it hard to believe DJI can’t fix it. Regardless, the result is that users must manually download the Mimo app from DJI’s website.
Once you install the app, you’ll find it very similar to the companion apps from GoPro and Insta360. It includes a remote view with controls, a decently functional video editor, and a (fairly) simple social networking service for sharing and watching videos posted by other people. It’s polished and modern, with a DJI aesthetic.
Battery and charging
Fast shipping wins every time.
DJI estimates that each battery should last up to 160 minutes on a full charge, but that’s while recording at 1080p at 24fps, without stabilization and with the screen off. When I was recording at 4K at 30fps, I was getting about 75 minutes.
Perhaps even more important, a good fast charger should be able to recharge the battery to 80% in just eighteen minutes. This beats the GoPro’s slow charging, which takes over two hours. DJI also has a very useful battery case for storing and charging the batteries, available separately or in the Adventure Combo.
a race
There are a lot of action cameras out there, but most of them are from unknown brands or one-off projects from new brands in the action camera space, so their stability and durability may not be as reliable. DJI is at the forefront of two other names: GoPro and Insta360.
Of course, GoPro has long been the king of action cameras, so the features have been battle-tested, and everything has been carefully tuned. However, the Hero 12 Black still has some issues with overheating, and the slow charging rate can be annoying. It’s also held back a bit by the camera’s smaller sensor. DJI also beats GoPro on price, at $299 versus $349.
Insta360 is arguably a newcomer to the action camera space with the Ace and Ace Pro, though it has experimented with the form factor with the One R and made cameras with much of the same capabilities (e.g., the Go 3 and X4) for years. The lower-spec Ace matches the price of the Osmo Action 4 but uses a smaller sensor. The Ace Pro is a near perfect match in specs, but it’s $100 more expensive.
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Should you buy it?
DJI is clearly vying to become the new leader in action cameras with the Osmo Action 4. The specs are solid, and the many improvements are a clear response to user complaints with the previous generation. Plus, the $299 price tag is really hard to beat, especially with some of the superior specs.
However, not everything is perfect. The particular build immediately comes to mind. The bugs in the interface and some occasional frustrations with the Mimo app seem unpolished and lacking in maturity. But most of these bugs are probably not perfect.
DJI Osmo Action 4
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is one of the best action cameras on the market and has great low-light performance. It is versatile, easy to use and very competitively priced for its quality.
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