DJI Pocket 4 First Look: 1-Inch Sensor, 4K/240fps, and Everything New

Good day, folks. Shawn here from Air Photography. Today, DJI has launched an updated version in the Pocket series, now called the Pocket 4. A lot of people have been waiting for this, as the Pocket 3 is going on about 2 and a half years old.

In this first look, we’re going to go over all the new features and capabilities of the Pocket 4, so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s worthwhile to upgrade or not.

Same Form Factor, New Hardware

If we compare it to the Pocket 3, you can see that the form factor has remained the same. It retains the same shape and size. The core functionality of the Pocket 4 is the same, in that it features a three-axis gimbal, and it has a rotatable screen that automatically powers it on.

However, there are some important new features, including some built-in buttons under the screen, which we’ll talk more about later.

Enhanced 1-Inch Sensor With Better Low Light Performance

The Pocket 4 features a new enhanced 1-inch sensor that is going to improve your video quality in both standard shooting and while filming in low light. It improves the functionality and it can achieve higher frame rates. The Pocket 4 can now incredibly capture in 4K at 240 frames per second. That’s even a higher frame rate than the Osmo Action series. So if you want to capture incredibly beautiful slow motion footage with your Pocket 4, you’re now able to do so at both 4K 120 or 4K 240 frames per second.

The new improved sensor features cleaner night shots. A lot of people like to use their Pocket while filming in low-lit scenarios, not necessarily just at night, but even in darkly lit interiors, trade shows, and conventions where the lighting isn’t ideal. Sunset and sunrise, and of course at night. Between the new enhanced 1-inch sensor and the three-axis gimbal, you’re going to get some pretty incredible low light shots.

10-Bit D-Log and 14 Stops of Dynamic Range

For those who like to do color grading, the Pocket 4 can now capture in 10-bit D-Log compared to the Pocket 3 that could only capture in D-Log M. D-Log is designed for professionals. It gives you more flexibility when it comes to grading. It enhances dynamic range in complex environments, including high contrast scenes and scenes with a lot of color.

Just like we see on some of their drones and action cameras, we have a color recovery feature right on the camera that’s going to give you a more accurate preview while you’re filming. Of course, the footage is still going to be recorded in that D-Log flat color profile. The new sensor supports 14 stops of dynamic range, and while filming in low light, you can expect an additional two stops of dynamic range.

37MP Photos and 2x Lossless Zoom

If you like to take photos on your Pocket 4, it gets a fairly significant update as well. It can now capture photos at 37 megapixels compared to 9.4 megapixels of the Pocket 3. That’s a really big improvement when it comes to photos. The new sensor also allows you to capture in two times lossless zoom. So if you want to get closer into the action, you’re not going to lose any quality.

Zooming is a little bit easier now. Not only do we still have the digital button right on the screen, we now have a new dedicated zoom button built right into the body of the Pocket 4, located right under the screen. A single press zooms into two times. Press it again, we go back out to the one time zoom. A double press zooms into four times.

Film Tones Come to the Pocket Series

Another new feature of the Pocket 4 is film tones. We first saw that introduced on the Action series. It’s been brought over to some of their other cameras such as the Osmo 360. And now you have full access to the film tones right on your Pocket 4. It’s just a nice, simple way to change the mood and tone of your photos and videos.

Upgraded Vlogging Features and New Fill Light Accessory

If you’re going to be using your Pocket 4 for vlogging, it gets some significant updates as well. First of all, it gets some new beauty modes that are built right into the camera. You don’t have to bring the footage over to the Mimo app to process them. You can adjust smoothness, brightness, and skin tone, and that’s now processed right on the camera. They do have some more beauty effects you can enable, but when you enable those, then the footage will need to be brought into the Mimo app.

If you’re going to be filming or vlogging and you need some additional light, they have a new optional fill light that can be purchased. This can be purchased separately as an accessory, and it also comes bundled with the Creator Combo package. The nice thing about this light is that not only does it feature several different brightnesses and color temperatures that you can adjust, but it draws the power directly off the camera battery. That’s something I really like because a lot of times these additional fill lights have their own built-in battery, which you always have to remember to have charged.

You can see on the back of the Pocket 4 it has these leads. As soon as I attach it, it’s going to power on. You can adjust it in many different angles, and it doesn’t affect the gimbal in any way. If you’re out doing some front-facing filming, the light is facing forward, but if you go to do some vlogging, the light is going to automatically turn with it.

New Customizable Button for Quick Access

Beside the zoom button, we have a new customizable button that can be set to perform various tasks, including powering the light. If we press and hold on it, it gives us an option for single press, double press, and triple press. You can see we have the option to enable and disable the fill light. So if you’re going to be using that quite a bit, I can now easily turn it on and off with just a single press. That’ll be a nice little accessory for some people.

ActiveTrack 7.0 With Subject Recognition

ActiveTrack gets an update with the Pocket 4. It now features ActiveTrack 7.0 compared to 6.0 of the Pocket 3. You’re able to track things like vehicles, motorcycles, and some animals like cats and dogs. They even have a new subject tracking recognition feature. If we go to our settings, it gives us the option to add a subject. You just line up your face and add it as a subject. So if you’re going to be doing any type of tracking around a lot of people, it’s going to prioritize you for tracking. That’s a handy new feature for those who are going to be doing a lot of facial tracking or vlogging with facial recognition turned on.

The Pocket 4 also now features gesture control. So if you have this mounted on a tripod, you can simply give it a gesture to start and stop recording.

Spatial Audio and Audio Zoom

The Pocket 4 has some new audio capabilities as well. It’s able to capture spatial audio, which can help recreate a concert that you’ve captured with it if you’re playing it back in headphones. It also features audio zoom. As you’re zooming closer into a subject, the audio levels are going to increase.

When you purchase the Pocket 4 Creator Combo, it comes bundled with a Mic 3, and you can purchase additional mics, as it does support connecting two wireless microphones directly to it.

Improved Joystick and 107GB of Built-In Storage

The joystick got a significant upgrade as well. It now offers smoother and more precise control. It has a much better tactile feel, and that allows you to zoom in slowly or pan slowly. You can adjust the speed and the smoothness of the zoom depending on how far you push it, compared to the Pocket 3, which only basically had one speed.

The Pocket 4 also now features 107GB of built-in storage, which is fantastic. If you ever forget a memory card or run out of space on your memory card, you now have 107GB of space to work with. Of course, it still supports a memory card. We have a memory card slot there on the side, and now we have a new door that covers it, unlike the Pocket 3 where the memory card was fully exposed.

Faster Transfers, Bigger Battery, and Quick Charging

Transfer speeds have been increased for both wireless and wired connections. It now features Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.1. The Pocket 4 also features longer record times and a slightly larger battery. It now has a 1,545 milliamp hour battery compared to a 1,300 milliamp hour battery from the Pocket 3. It also supports quick charging, where you can have the battery charged up to approximately 80% in about 18 minutes. A full charge will take you about 32 minutes.

For people who are going to be doing a lot of recording with their Pocket 4, that quick charging is a really important feature. According to DJI, you can expect 135 minutes while recording at 4K 60 and 240 minutes while recording in 1080.

Creator Combo, Cases, and Accessories

Just like other Pocket cameras in the past, you can purchase it as a camera only, or you will be able to purchase it as a Creator Combo, which actually comes with two cases. It comes with a new slim case. Essentially, this replaces the hard-shelled case that would fit over top. If you just want something minimal to take with you, you now just carry it in this.

ND filters will be available as an additional purchase. However, if you do own ND filters from your Pocket 3, they are fully compatible. With the Creator Combo, you also get a larger case that’s going to come with some additional accessories such as the fill light, the tripod base connector, and of course, a tripod. They do have an additional battery handle that you can purchase separately. This does not come with the Creator Combo — you’ll have to purchase this separately if you want that extra power.

Included Gimbal Guard for Pocket Carrying

One interesting thing about the Pocket 4 is that it also now comes with a gimbal guard. This comes with it no matter whether you get the Creator Combo or just the single camera. It just fits over top, and that’s a nice little feature, especially if you do throw this in a pocket without a case. That’s going to help keep that gimbal protected.

Is It Worth the Upgrade?

So folks, that is a quick look at the new Pocket 4 from DJI. Whether it’s a worthwhile upgrade if you have the Pocket 3 is going to be different for everybody. Some people might find some of the new features and accessories worthwhile. Others are going to be completely happy with the Pocket 3 and aren’t going to find the need to upgrade.

If you are interested in the Pocket 4, make sure you’re subscribed, as we’ll be covering it fully over the coming weeks and months. I’ll do a more in-depth review in about 30 days after I’ve had more time to use it. I’ve got a full comparison against the Pocket 3 video quality and features coming to help you make a more informed decision on whether you should upgrade. And of course, like all hardware that gets released, I have a beginner’s guide that’ll be available in a few days. If you’re brand new to the Pocket series, it can be quite helpful. We’re going to do some other more in-depth demonstrations of some of the specific features as well.

This article is based on a video from our YouTube partner Shawn at Air Photography. You can find more of Shawn’s coverage on his DroneXL author page.