DJI Osmo Pocket 4 vs Pocket 3

Buy the Osmo Pocket 4 if this is your first pocket gimbal camera and the price gap below looks reasonable to you. Buy the Pocket 3 if you film ordinary 4K for social media and want the lower price. If you already own a Pocket 3, upgrade only if 4K above 120fps or stills above 9.4 MP matter to your work.

Each model has its own price page if you want every listing: Pocket 4 Standard Combo, Pocket 4 Creator Combo, Pocket 3 and Pocket 3 Creator Combo.

What actually differs

These stay the same: the 1-inch sensor size, the 20mm equivalent f/2.0 lens, the 2-inch 556×314 screen, three microphones, 4K up to 60fps in normal video, microSD up to 1 TB, and the gimbal's stated vibration range of ±0.005°.

What each difference means when you shoot

Slow motion. The Pocket 3 stops at 4K 120fps. The Pocket 4 goes to 4K 240fps, which lets you slow a clip down twice as much as 120fps does while staying at 4K. This helps for dance, cricket, bikes and water. If you never slow footage down, this row means nothing to you.

Photos. This is the largest jump on paper. The Pocket 3 takes single shots of about 9.4 MP. The Pocket 4 takes about 37 MP and adds DNG alone as well as JPEG plus DNG, where the Pocket 3 offers JPEG or JPEG plus DNG. For photos you plan to crop or print, the Pocket 4 gives you far more to work with. For photos that only go to Instagram, 9.4 MP is enough.

Battery. DJI's figure rises by about 74 minutes, from a 1300 mAh pack to a 1545 mAh pack. That test uses 1080p with Wi-Fi and the screen off, so it is useful for comparing the two and poor for predicting your day. Both reach full charge in about 32 minutes with DJI's 65W charger, which is sold separately.

Built-in storage. With 107 GB inside, a Pocket 4 can shoot on day one without a card. DJI puts that at about 220 minutes of 4K 60fps at standard bitrate. The Pocket 3 records nothing until you insert a microSD card.

Screen. 1000 nits against 700 nits matters outdoors in bright sun, which is most of a daytime Indian shoot. Resolution and size are identical.

Sensor and colour. DJI says the Pocket 4 has a new 1-inch stacked sensor with up to 14 stops of dynamic range and a 10-bit D-Log profile. The Pocket 3 has D-Log M, and DJI describes its 1-inch sensor as stacked too. We cannot put a number on the visible gap, because DJI does not publish the same dynamic range figure for the Pocket 3 on these pages.

Controls. The Pocket 4 adds a physical zoom button and a custom button under the screen. It also moves to ActiveTrack 7.0 with tracking up to 4x zoom, and adds Gesture Control for starting a recording. If you film yourself alone, these reduce the number of taps.

Editing. The Pocket 4 records in HEVC only. The Pocket 3 can also record H.264. An old laptop may struggle with HEVC timelines, so check your editing machine before you choose.

Upgrade if, stay if, or buy the older one if

Upgrade from Pocket 3 to Pocket 4 if:

• You regularly need 4K above 120fps.
• You want proper stills from the same small camera, or battery life keeps ending your shoot days.

Stay on your Pocket 3 if:

• You shoot 4K 60fps or slower and post mostly to phones.
• Your cards and handle already work, and the 700 nit screen has not been a problem for you.

Buy the Pocket 3 new if:

• You want a 1-inch gimbal camera for less than the Pocket 4, or your editing setup only handles H.264 comfortably.
• You accept the update date. DJI's Pocket 3 spec page lists guaranteed software updates until 31 December 2026, and that date is close.

If the live price gap between the two Standard kits is small, buy the Pocket 4. It has the built-in storage, so part of the gap comes back in a card you do not need right away.

Compare the Pocket with other vlogging options in our best camera for vlogging guide. If you need something for rain, rides or water, the Pocket family is the wrong tool, and our best action camera guide is the better starting point.

The real cost beyond the camera

Add a microSD card, and a mic if you talk to camera. The Pocket 3 needs the card from the first day. On the Pocket 4 it is optional until the internal 107 GB fills up.

Cards. DJI's Pocket 4 list names Lexar Silver Plus and Kingston Canvas Go! Plus cards in U3 A2 V30. Its Pocket 3 list names Lexar Silver Plus in 64 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB, and Kingston Canvas Go! Plus from 64 GB to 512 GB. The 128 GB and 256 GB Lexar cards above are on the Pocket 4 list but not the Pocket 3 list.

Power. DJI says both cameras draw power directly from the input while recording and only charge when recording stops. A USB-C power bank can therefore keep a long interview going, and DJI recommends fully charging the camera first. DJI also sells a Battery Handle for each camera. The two handles can charge either model, but DJI warns that data transfer, audio passthrough and wake-up may be limited if you mix them, so match the handle to the camera.

Audio. Both cameras pair directly with DJI's newer transmitters, as listed in the questions below. The original DJI Mic needs its receiver plugged in. More options are in our wireless microphone guide.

If you are moving up from a Pocket 3, your existing accessories carry over, because DJI says Pocket 3 accessories fit the Pocket 4. The reverse does not hold for the new Fill Light and Gimbal Clamp.

Before you buy

Check which bundle a listing covers. A Standard Combo and a Creator Combo carry different accessories, so comparing their prices directly will mislead you. Ask the store what is in the box before you compare.