I use my iPhone for everyday documentation — capturing my kids and behind-the-scenes content as a professional filmmaker and creator. However, I’ve been craving a dedicated piece of tech that I can whip out and film frictionlessly during bigger productions. My phone can be a bit distracting with all its other bells and whistles, while the Osmo Pocket 3 just focuses on shooting high-quality video — footage that’s surprisingly comparable to my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Naturally, I had to put it to the test. Spoiler alert: I love this thing. But there are some limitations that might be a deal-breaker, depending on your type of shoot. Read on to find out more.
The all-new Pocket 3 features a powerful 1-inch CMOS sensor that puts detail-rich imaging right in the palm of your hand. With a 2-inch rotatable touchscreen and full-pixel fast focusing, go horizonta...
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If you’re heading out on a family trip and want to avoid the tension of always pointing a camera in everyone’s face, the Osmo Pocket 3 is an ideal travel camera and vlogging companion. It’s compact enough not to be a distraction and light enough to bring along on hikes or long outings—especially when you’d rather leave your main gear back at the hotel. Granted, it’s about the size of a GoPro, so it’s definitely more suited to beginners or everyday users than professional filmmakers. That said, with smartphone cameras getting more advanced every day, how you use the Osmo Pocket 3 really comes down to personal preference.
It might go without saying, but I wouldn’t recommend this camera for serious photography. Though it’s fine for quick framing, its tiny size can lead to user error, and it’s tough to track exposure on such a small screen. The mist filter doesn’t create quite the same dreamy bloom around light sources as the CineBloom filter, but it’s still handy for snapping a few photos when you don’t have time to pull out your phone.
One standout feature of this camera is the option for different lenses. The Creator Kit, for instance, includes a wide-angle attachment that significantly broadens the field of view—but it does add a bit of distortion along the edges. You’ll also find a 2x digital zoom for getting closer to your subject, bringing the total to three lens options. These built-in lenses are somewhat basic compared to, say, Moment lenses on an iPhone, so I still find myself preferring my phone for that extra optical quality. That said, the gimbal’s variety can definitely come in handy.
My only real gripe is that the standard lens feels a bit tight for vlogging, which is why I’d primarily grab this camera in the first place. If you’re like me and prefer an ultra-wide angle for those classic vlog shots, you might feel a little cramped. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference—but for those of us chasing that extra-wide perspective, adding a lens attachment (or sticking to a phone with a wide-angle setup) might be the way to go.
DJI is known for producing some of the best gear on the market—I’m a huge fan of their drones, and their mobile gimbals and pocket cameras follow suit. The Osmo Pocket 3 feels sturdy in your hand yet remains light enough to toss into a bag for on-the-go recording. Its LCD screen is bright, functional, and easy to navigate, even though it’s on the smaller side. The buttons are placed in a way that keeps you from accidentally pressing them when grabbing it out of your pocket or bag.
Maybe it’s just me, but the camera’s design feels a bit quirky — almost like a Jar Jar Binks version of a camera, and it definitely points to where camera form factors might be heading. It’s not as sexy as a classic Fujifilm camera slung around your neck, nor as recognizable as an iPhone, but it packs impressive specs into a compact body. If you can look past the Star Wars-like appearance, it’s a fun and surprisingly powerful option for anyone seeking reliability and travel-friendliness.
To really put the Osmo Pocket 3 to the test, I brought it along with my iPhone 15 Pro on a family outing to IKEA. (Yes, my family is quite used to my random experiments by now!) I even let my kids handle the pocket camera themselves to see how durable it really is and how well it stands up to fast movement and less-than-careful hands.
The standout feature of the Osmo Pocket 3 is its built-in gimbal, which automatically points toward the subject using AI. It was surprisingly intuitive — my kids operated it almost seamlessly. They captured everything as we navigated the narrow aisles, with the gimbal’s autofocus kicking in even during random, haphazardly recorded clips. I was genuinely amazed at how well it kept up with them. If my kids can use it, anyone can get great footage with minimal effort.
Because the camera is so unobtrusive, we were able to record sweet, genuine moments in public without making everyone feel like they were on display. It’s far less distracting than a big camera rig, yet still captures those special moments perfectly. At this point, I almost don’t see a reason to haul out a larger camera during everyday outings.
When it comes to video quality, the Osmo Pocket 3 often rivals my full-frame Sony mirrorless — though, of course, it can’t capture every shot you’d get with a larger sensor. It also noticeably outperforms my phone in most scenarios. The way the Pocket 3 handles light in well-lit areas and transitions through back-lit scenes is insanely impressive, even in spots that can be challenging for bulkier cameras.
I’ve been an iPhone user for years, shooting both personal and professional mobile films thanks to Apple’s cutting-edge features. Navigating an iPhone camera is second nature to me: swipe to open, tap to adjust exposure, and off I go. DJI seems to have taken a page from Apple’s playbook by making the Pocket 3’s LCD controls feel similarly intuitive, which means there’s almost no learning curve. Going from my phone to the Pocket 3 feels seamless and even fun.
The Osmo Pocket 3 produces a softer depth of field and more cinematic dynamic range compared to an iPhone, but I do find that color grading raw iPhone footage is sometimes easier and more natural. Apple’s Log footage offers spot-on skin tones, while D-logM from the Pocket 3 can skew a bit green, requiring an extra step or two in the color-correction process. Still, a touch of saturation and contrast typically gets your DJI footage looking great.
Another perk? The Pocket 3 has no notifications, so its battery life lasts much longer than that of an iPhone, especially if you carry an expansion battery pack. It’s perfect for all-day shoots without the constant distraction of messages or app alerts.
Compared to earlier models, like the original Osmo Pocket and Pocket 2, the Pocket 3 boasts a larger one-inch-equivalent sensor — bigger than most phone sensors — which gives it superior low-light performance and more reliable autofocus. It also features a bigger display, longer battery life, faster charging, and additional microphones, improving nearly every spec that matters. It’s a clear step up for anyone who values portability, image quality, and ease of use.
The Osmo is pretty much a “what you see is what you get” camera, meaning there aren’t many opportunities for extra add-ons. In contrast, you can snap an iPhone on the Moment SuperCage and open up a world of possibilities — like attaching bigger monitors, lights, and other accessories for a more professional or manual setup. That’s why, from a creative standpoint, I still lean on my phone for greater creative control. Meanwhile, the Osmo Pocket 3 is ideal if you’re after a run-and-gun approach; it’s simple, streamlined, and less fussy.
Of course, I love using Moment lenses for those unique, stylized shots, but that’s just not an option with the Osmo Pocket 3. One worthwhile accessory, though, is the DJI wireless microphone, which pairs seamlessly for crisp, pro-level audio. If you’re going to invest in anything extra for the Pocket 3, make it a decent mic upgrade, it’s a total game-changer.
Everything about this thing makes me want to just start filming — it’s that fun. It nudges the lazy side of my brain to quit complaining and narrows the bridge for anyone seeking an ultra-portable camera that simultaneously outperforms a top camera phone. For me, it’s now right up there with my wallet, keys, and phone as the items I’ll grab when I walk out the door.
