DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vs Pocket 4: Should You Upgrade?
Osmo Pocket 3 vs Pocket 4 from our coverage: what changed, what Jake Sloan's 18-month Pocket 3 verdict means for upgraders, and who should keep waiting.
Last updated August 15, 2026 · Kept current by the DroneXL newsroom
| DJI Osmo Pocket 3 | DJI Osmo Pocket 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 179 g | 190.5 g |
| Camera sensor | 1-inch CMOS (20mm, f/2.0, focus 0.2m to inf) | 1-inch CMOS (20mm, f/2.0, focus 0.2m to inf) |
| Video | 4K/120fps; 10-bit D-Log M and HLG (H.265), 8-bit H.264; 130 Mbps max bitrate | 4K/240fps slow motion; 10-bit D-Log (H.265); 180 Mbps max bitrate; 37MP stills |
| Dimensions | 139.7 x 42.2 x 33.5 mm | 144.2 x 44.4 x 33.5 mm |
| Screen | 2.0-inch rotatable touchscreen, 556x314, 700 nits | 2.0-inch rotatable touchscreen, 556x314, 1000 nits |
| Highlights | ActiveTrack 6.0; smart horizontal-vertical shooting; full-pixel fast focusing; the DJI pocket camera US buyers can still purchase through normal channels | Single camera; 2x lossless zoom; ActiveTrack 7.0; 800MB/s transfer; 3 microphones; sold in the US only by third-party resellers |
| Launch price (US) | $356 | $477 |
The Pocket 3 spent two years as the default vlogging camera. The Pocket 4 arrived in April 2026. This page answers the only question that matters: upgrade or keep shooting.
What changed with the Pocket 4?
Our Pocket 4 first look covers the generational jump, and the price coverage frames the market effect: the Pocket 3 was already the benchmark vlog camera when the Pocket 4 arrived, and its price floor dropped to $378.
The case for keeping the Pocket 3
Jake Sloan’s 18-month review is the deepest use-anyone-has-published: glacier caves, sub-zero Alaska cold, about 100,000 air miles. His verdict holds for upgraders: the 1-inch sensor stays clean to ISO 1600-3200, the gimbal beats image-analysis stabilization in low light, and a firmware update brought a 40mm mode that closed part of the gap.
The case for the Pocket 4
Per the first look: buyers who want the newest sensor and mic stack, and anyone starting from scratch, should start with the current generation. Others, in that review’s own words, are going to be completely happy with the Pocket 3.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Osmo Pocket 3 still worth buying after the Pocket 4?
Our Pocket 4 first look put it plainly: others are going to be completely happy with the Pocket 3 and are not going to find the need to upgrade. The Pocket 3 remains the benchmark it was when the Pocket 4 arrived.
What does the Pocket 3 do well?
Jake Sloan's 18-month review credits the 1-inch sensor's low-light performance, 4K/120 slow motion, 10-bit D-Log M color, gimbal stabilization that image-analysis stabilizers can't match, and fast 80% charging in 15 to 20 minutes.
Did the Pocket 3 get the Pocket 4's features in firmware?
Some. A firmware update added a 40mm focal-length mode to the Pocket 3, and earlier updates added internal-mic recording alongside external mics.
DroneXL uses automated tools to support research and source retrieval. All reporting and editorial perspectives are by Haye Kesteloo and the credited author.