DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Osmo Pocket 3: Which is Better for Who?
Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro was released with numerous new features that make it a significant upgrade over the previous Osmo Action 4 model. One of the notable ones is subject tracking, and this feature reminds me of the Osmo Pocket 3's subject-tracking capabilities as a gimbal camera.
This puts the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro in more direct competition with the Osmo Pocket 3 than previous Osmo Action models, but how do the two cameras compare?
Key Takeaways
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is better suited for outdoor uses and adventures, while the Osmo Pocket 3 is better for urban vlogging, indoor uses, and nighttime recording. This is because the Osmo Action 5 Pro has superior durability, but the Osmo Pocket 3 offers exclusive gimbal stabilization and a 1" CMOS sensor-level low-light performance.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
High-Performing Action Camera
✓ 4K Video + 40 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.3” CMOS Sensor
✓ Dual OLED Touchscreen
✓ Air Pressure and Water Pressure Gauge
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Exceptional Gimbal Camera
✓ 4K Video + 9.4 MP Photo
✓ 1” CMOS Sensor
✓ 3-Axis Stabilization
✓ ActiveTrack 6.0
#1 Price
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Released in September 2024, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro retails at US$349. It is definitely not cheap, but it is still way more affordable than the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 was launched in October 2023 at US$519. Products typically decrease in price over time, but that seems to not be the case with the Osmo Pocket 3, or at least not yet. Even after almost one year on the market, the Osmo Pocket 3 still retains its premium pricing.
#2 Design & Durability
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Both cameras have very different designs. While the Osmo Action 5 Pro has a rugged boxy shape typical of an action camera, the Osmo Pocket 3 has a taller, snack-bar-like form factor that is optimized for handheld use.
Both feature bright OLED touchscreens, but the Osmo Action 5 Pro features two screens – a 1.46" front display with 800 nits typical max brightness and a 2.5" rear display with 1000 nits peak brightness – while the Osmo Pocket 3 only offers a 2" rotatable screen with 700 nits of brightness.
As an action camera, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. It is waterproof to 20 meters (65 feet) without a housing and can stand cold temperatures as low as -20°C. On the other hand, the Osmo Pocket 3 is not waterproof and can't withstand cold temperatures below 0°C.
Osmo Action 5 Pro is also designed to be easy to mount on various accessories and gear. The camera attaches magnetically to the included Quick-Release Adapter Mount, which allows for quick mounting and dismounting on helmets, bikes, and other gear, making it more versatile for outdoor activities.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is meant for handheld use, but the camera also comes with an attachable handle that features a 1/4" thread for mounting on a tripod. An expansion adapter is sold separately for mounting on a wider range of accessories, but it still lacks the magnetic mounting system of the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
#3 Video & Photo
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
While both support the same 4K maximum video resolution with pro-level 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color modes, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro captures a higher-quality 40 MP photo compared to the Osmo Pocket 3's 9.4 MP maximum photo resolution. This means the Osmo Action 5 Pro can produce larger, higher-resolution still images compared to the Osmo Pocket 3.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro also has an edge with a wider field of view at 155 degrees compared to the Osmo Pocket 3's narrower 92 degrees. There is a separately sold Wide-Angle Lens mod for the Osmo Pocket 3, which can expand its FOV to 108 degrees, but it still can't beat the native wide-angle capabilities of the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
Both cameras offer up to 8x slow motion (240 fps), but the Osmo Action 5 Pro also offers 32x super slow motion. It takes 8x slow motion video at 1080p/240 fps and then performs 4x frame interpolation to output 32x super slow motion at 1080p/960 fps.
One aspect that the Osmo Pocket 3 does better than the Osmo Action 5 Pro is its low-light performance. The Osmo Action 5 Pro indeed delivers incredible low-light imaging with its next-generation 1/1.3” CMOS sensor, 4nm High-Performance Chip, and a dedicated SuperNight mode. However, the Osmo Pocket 3 still has a larger 1" CMOS sensor, which gives it an edge in low-light conditions compared to the smaller sensor in the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
#4 Audio
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro with DJI Mic 2
Both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and Osmo Pocket 3 have a three-microphone array, which allows for effective wind noise reduction and immersive stereo recording.
External microphone connections are also supported, and DJI Mic 2 is recommended as it supports Bluetooth wireless audio transmission and provides high-quality audio capture. While both the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and Osmo Action 5 Pro can connect to two DJI Mic 2 simultaneously, the Osmo Action 5 Pro has a slight advantage with the DJI OsmoAudio connectivity ecosystem, which enables high sample-rate audio up to 48kHz.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also offers a Built-in Mic Audio Backup feature, which records ambient sound from the built-in microphones as a backup in case the external microphone connection fails.
#5 Features
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro offers many more additional features that the Osmo Pocket 3 lacks, such as voice control, sports data integration with compatible external devices, built-in air pressure and water pressure gauges to record depth and altitude data, and 47GB internal storage.
Meanwhile, some common features that both cameras share include a built-in timecode, live stream, and webcam support. Both also have subject tracking and stabilization features, but they are different in their mechanisms.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a gimbal camera, so it uses a three-axis mechanical stabilization to keep the camera steady and smooth. It can pan, tilt, and roll to compensate for camera movement and follow subjects and keep them in the frame. Subject tracking in the Osmo Pocket 3 is also supported by the ActiveTrack 6.0 feature, which can reliably track and keep subjects in focus.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro doesn't have a pan, tilt, and roll motor, so it can't mechanically stabilize the camera like the Osmo Pocket 3. Instead, it uses an electronic image stabilization known as RockSteady 3.0+ to keep the footage smooth and steady.
Subject tracking in the Osmo Action 5 Pro also doesn't involve any physical movement of the camera angle following the subject. The camera only digitally crops and zooms the video, dynamically adjusting the composition to make it seem as if it is tracking the moving subject. This can result in reduced image quality compared to the mechanical stabilization and tracking of the Osmo Pocket 3.
#6 Battery Life
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is equipped with a 1300mAh battery while the Osmo Action 5 Pro features a 1950mAh battery, so we can expect the Osmo Action 5 Pro to have significantly longer battery life than the Osmo Pocket 3.
According to DJI, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is rated for up to 240 minutes of runtime at 1080p/24 fps, while the Osmo Pocket 3 can only provide up to 166 minutes of runtime at the same video settings.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3
Final Thoughts
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
The Osmo Action 5 Pro's superior durability, wider field of view, and higher-resolution photos give it an edge for action-oriented content, while the Osmo Pocket 3's larger sensor and mechanical stabilization make it a stronger performer in more controlled environments. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user, as each camera offers a distinct set of capabilities.
If you would like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:
DJI Osmo Action 4 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 3 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 13
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 12
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 Ace Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X4
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X3
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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