The DJI Osmo Action 4 is the best GoPro alternative for low-light adventures
But should you wait for the next GoPro?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
If you’re planning a new adventure and need one of thebest action camerasto capture it,DJIhas just made your buying decision a bit harder with the launch of the Osmo Action 4.
The successor to last year’sDJI Osmo Action 3, this new model fixes its predecessor’s main weakness – low-light performance – for a price. The Osmo Action 4 now has a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor, and the new sensor’s light-gathering potential beats not only the Osmo Action 3 but theGoPro Hero 11 Black, too.
The other main new addition, support for the D-Log M profile, is another image quality boost – as long as you’re comfortable editing flat footage using some of thebest video editing software, likeAdobe Premiere Pro.
Elsewhere, the Osmo Action 4 is much the same action camera as before aside from some minor tweaks. The waterproofing now works down to 18m (rather than 16m), and there’s some moderately improved RockSteady 3.0+ stabilization.
On previous DJI action cams, that stabilization has still slightly lagged behind GoPro’s HyperSmooth in our tests, so we’re interested to see how it compares in reality. Otherwise, the Osmo Action 3 offers the same f/2.8 lens with a 155-degree field of view as before, and shoots a max of4K/120p video (in 10-bitHDR).
The design of the Action 4 and Action 3 is also pretty much identical, which is good news if (like us) you enjoyed the latter’s convenient mounting options. Rather than GoPro’s slightly fiddly mounting screws, the Osmo Action 4 has a quick-release system that revolves around a magnetic mounting connector and some clamps.
But there is also some bad news. While our DJI Osmo Action 3 review hailed it as a “great value alternative to the Hero 11 Black”, the Action 4 has been given a big price increase. The Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo costs $399 / £379 / AU$629, which puts it firmly in Hero 11 Black territory. Then again, GoPro’s pricing could all change in a month or so…
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Analysis: Wait for the next GoPro, if you can…
Every new GoPro stretching back to 2017 has been announced in September (barring theGoPro Hero 8 Black, which landed in mid-October). So if you’re thinking of buying a new action cam, it’ll be wise to wait for another month if you can.
Last year’s Hero 11 Black landed on September 14, so it’s possible we’ll see its successor arrive on a similar date this year. So far, there haven’t been any major leaks for a GoPro Hero 12 Black, but acertification spotted back in Maysuggested it could get an edge-to-edge screen among other new features.
If you can’t wait until then, then choosing between the Osmo Action 4 and Hero 11 Black looks like a close decision. It’ll likely come down to the conditions you’re planning to shoot in. DJI’s new action cam has a significantly bigger sensor – the same as the one in theDJI Mini 3 ProandDJI Air 3drones – than the Hero 11 Black, which should give it the edge in gloomy or low-light conditions.
But the Hero 11 Black still tops our guide to thebest action camerasthanks to its mix of class-leading stabilization, handy features like Horizon Lock, and its high-resolution 5.3K video plus an 8:7 sensor (which is a particularly handy combo for shooting TikTok-friendly vertical videos).
If you don’t like the idea of having to compose your videos during your adventures, then it’s also well worth considering one of thebest 360 cameras. These let you shoot the whole scene around you, then recompose it afterwards in software. Insta360 currently leads the way here with theInsta360 X3, but we’ll have to wait until next month to see if GoPro finally releases its long-awaitedGoPro Max 2rival.
Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London’s Square Mile.
Who needs GoPro? Snap up this deal on the cheaper DJI Osmo Action 4 instead
GoPro’s flagship Hero 12 Black action cam hits lowest ever price ahead of Black Friday
Arcane season 2 act 1 ending explained: who is [SPOILER], when is episode 4 coming out, and your biggest questions answered
