DJI Osmo Mobile 8 Review: Who Actually Needs a Smartphone Gimbal in 2025?

Good day folks. Shawn here from Air Photography. The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 has been out for a little while now, and I just got my hands on one. Rather than diving straight into specs, I want to address the question I get most often: what type of user would actually benefit from a device like this?

Here’s the honest truth: today’s modern smartphones have incredible image quality and stabilization built in. If you’re just a casual filmer capturing family vacations or playing fetch with your dog, you really don’t need any type of stabilization device. The footage coming directly from your phone is going to look phenomenal.

So that raises the question: who actually needs a handheld gimbal like the Osmo Mobile 8?

The Content Creator Use Case

Gimbals are still definitely a valuable tool if you’re a content creator making videos for social media, or if you’re a vlogger who needs smooth, professional-looking footage. The Osmo Mobile 8 brings several upgrades that specifically address pain points creators have experienced with previous generations.

360-Degree Rotation Finally Solves the Tracking Problem

One important update the Osmo Mobile 8 received is the ability to rotate 360 degrees. With the 7 series, rotation was kind of limited. If you were using your gimbal for tracking, you always had to be careful about the angle because it could run out of space mid-shot.

As a creator using tracking, you had to be constantly cautious of how the gimbal could rotate while following you. Now with the Osmo Mobile 8, it can track you in a complete 360 degrees, which eliminates that frustration entirely.

DockKit Changes Everything for iPhone Users

Tracking also got a major upgrade. In the past, we could always track using the DJI Mimo app and its built-in software, which does an incredible job. But that made it very limiting if you wanted to do tracking in a specific camera app, or if you wanted to track while streaming.

Previous generations introduced the multi-functional module with a built-in tracking camera that allowed tracking from various apps like TikTok, YouTube streaming, or even your native camera app. The Osmo Mobile 8 brings those capabilities over, but adds something new: DockKit.

DockKit is an Apple technology, so you do have to be using an iPhone. It allows you to track using the cameras built into your iPhone and works across a wide variety of apps. Setting up DockKit is extremely simple. The device has NFC built right in. When you bring your smartphone close to it, it picks it up right away. You tap connect, it configures the accessory for first-time use, and you’re done.

Now your iPhone can track you automatically using either the front or rear camera, and you can use this tracking in any app. That’s huge for streamers on YouTube, TikTok, or other platforms. You can set it down with the built-in tripod and have the app track you while you work.

Practical Applications for Solo Creators

Tracking can be a really important feature for certain creators. If you’ve got a cooking channel and you’re moving around your kitchen, you can have the device track you as you go between different stations. If you have an automotive channel and you’re working in the garage doing tutorials, the camera can follow you. It’s like having your own personal cameraman.

The stabilization itself remains the big selling point. While smartphones have good built-in stabilization, a gimbal provides an extra layer, especially for anything with a lot of movement. More importantly, it enables smooth cinematic shots. Crane shots, sweeping movements, these are really hard to do handheld but become much easier with a gimbal.

Low-Angle Shooting Gets More Comfortable

The extension pole adds creative options, and the Osmo Mobile 8 introduces a new capability here. With previous models, when you had the extension pole extended, you could tilt it up to put it at a more natural angle. Now you can tilt it backwards as well, which you couldn’t do with older models.

This makes a real difference for low-down shots. When you’re filming at ground level for cinematic shots, or perhaps filming one of your pets, the angle is now much more comfortable to hold for extended periods.

The Multi-Functional Module: Three Tools in One

The multi-functional module deserves a closer look because it packs a lot of capability. It has connectors on the magnetic mount and on the bracket so it can communicate with the gimbal. The nice thing is that it’s reversible. If you’re filming yourself with the rear cameras and want to use the tracking camera, you can have it facing that way. If you’re tracking with the front camera because you want a visual preview, just unhook it, spin it around, and it works both ways.

The module also has a built-in fill light with several brightness levels and adjustable color temperature. One nice feature is that you can adjust the fill light brightness using the dial on the side of the gimbal. That same dial handles zoom and focus, giving you a lot of control without diving into menus.

Initiating tracking is straightforward. The trigger button on the back automatically locks onto the prominent subject. The multi-functional module supports hand gestures for starting and stopping tracking hands-free.

Built-In Audio Receiver for DJI Mics

Perhaps the most underrated feature of the multi-functional module is that it also functions as a microphone receiver. You can connect up to two microphones directly to it. You do need to have it plugged into your smartphone with the included cable (USB-C to USB-C is included).

It supports the DJI Mic 3, the DJI Mic 2, and the DJI Mic Mini. This makes it a great all-in-one solution if you’re a vlogger or just want good quality audio for your content. It’s a simple way to capture high-quality audio without carrying separate receiver hardware.

Just like all the Osmo devices, once you have a microphone connected, the microphone can act as a remote. You can start and stop recording just by pressing the linking button on your mic.

The Complete Vlogging Setup

When you put it all together, you get a compelling package. With the camera tracking me in the Mimo app and a DJI Mic 3 paired to the multi-functional module, I have tracking that follows me as I move around, plus good audio from the built-in receiver.

A setup like this is a great tool for social media creators and vloggers. If you have an outdoor channel and want a camera that can follow you, it’s essentially like having your own cameraman that stays locked on while you perform your activities.

Charging Options While You Film

The multi-functional module allows you to charge your smartphone while it’s connected, which is important for longer shoots. Something new with the Osmo Mobile 8: there’s now a USB-C port right on the magnetic connector itself. That wasn’t on previous generations.

This means you can charge your smartphone if it’s getting low and you still have filming to do, even without the multi-functional module attached. Just plug directly into that port.

Mounting Options

For connecting your smartphone, you can use the included magnetic clamp, but DJI also sells a MagSafe accessory. It connects right to your phone if you have a MagSafe-compatible device. It’s a nice simple way to connect and disconnect your phone if you’re going to be putting it in and out of a pocket throughout the day.

Just keep in mind that to use the multi-functional module, you have to use the magnetic clip that comes with it. That’s the only way to connect the module to your setup.

The Bottom Line

For the most part, casual everyday filming doesn’t require a smartphone gimbal. Your phone’s built-in stabilization handles normal situations well.

But if you’re a content creator on social media, you’re vlogging, or you just want really smooth creative shots, then the Osmo Mobile 8 might be a great fit. The DJI Mimo app includes tools for auto editing, effects, and features that can make your content stand out. There are also really nice time-lapse tools built in, which I might take a closer look at in an upcoming video.

Hopefully you found this helpful. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.

Check out Shawn’s video above and subscribe to Air Photography on YouTube for more tutorials and reviews.