DJI has announced the latest entry in its action camera series, the DJI Osmo Action 4.
This could prove to be the most compelling like-for-like rival for the GoPro Hero 11 Black and its upcoming successor, the Hero 12 Black.
The bad news is the DJI Osmo Action 4 is significantly more expensive than the previous Osmo Action 3 action camera, with its price bumped from £309 to £379.
While DJI action cameras have typically been a little more affordable, this increased price means it now sits just below the cost of the GoPro Hero 11 Black (£399).
But is it worth splashing out extra? We take a look.
DJI Osmo Action 4 features
What’s new to justify the bump? While inflation may have had a part to play, the DJI Osmo Action 4 has a new, larger sensor.
It’s a 1/1.3-inch sensor, up from a 1/1.7-inch one. Both are larger than the 1/1.9-inch sensor of the GoPro Hero 11 Black.
A bigger sensor leads to better native light sensitivity, which should also lead to better-looking video during night and low-light shoots. Processing has a part to play, too, but DJI does claim to offer “stunning low-light imaging”.
It is a lower-resolution camera than the DJI Osmo Action 3, though, with a 10-megapixel sensor rather than a 12-megapixel one. However, this also means the Action 4 needs to crop into that sensor less to produce the cleanest 4K picture.
Water resistance also gets a spec upgrade, with its claimed figure rising from 16m depth to 18m depth.
This won’t mean a great deal in practice, though, as you’ll still want the 60m waterproof case for any serious underwater filming.
The two generations of camera look almost identical, too, bar swapping out a “3” for a “4” on the front of the casing. They share the same 70.5×44.2×32.8 mm dimensions, the same 145g weight.
This suggests most accessories should work cross-generation, too.
DJI Osmo Action 4 vs GoPro Hero 11 Black
Put this camera side-by-side with the GoPro Hero 11 Black and the DJI doesn’t come across as the winner in all respects. There’s no ultra-high resolution 5.3k recording mode for starters, ruled out by the relatively low-res “made for 4K” sensor.
However, as revealed in Pocket-lint’s review and head-to-head night-time shooting test, seen below, the DJI Osmo Action 4 clearly produces much better, clearer footage at night. It’s not a remotely close competition here.
The Osmo Action 4’s night video still looks quite soft, but the dynamic range and general visibility of the scene are in another league.
You can order one of these cameras now, for £379, while the Adventure Combo with an additional battery, battery case, and 1.5m “extension rod” costs £469.
If you’d rather see what GoPro has in store next, it is expected to announce the GoPro Hero 12 Black on September 15.
