DJI Osmo Action Action 4 2024

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is the low-light king of action cameras, thanks to its larger 1/1.3-inch sensor and 10-bit D-Log M color. Video quality is top-notch, but battery life is rough and stills are an afterthought. The magnetic mounting system is a genuine workflow upgrade. Grab the Adventure Combo for the extra batteries and you've got the best action cam for the money right now.

The video performance is where this little brick earns its keep. Sitting in the 86th percentile for video, it pumps out a crisp 4K at 120fps that holds up surprisingly well. The 10-bit color depth is the real star. You're not just getting more colors, you're getting footage that doesn't fall apart when you try to push the grade in post. D-Log M is flat enough to give you real latitude without being so flat that it's a chore to color correct. The 155-degree ultra-wide FOV is a fisheye dream for FPV and POV shots, though you'll need to kill stabilization to use it, which is a fair trade-off. The standard stabilization, sitting in the 70th percentile, is solid. It's not the absolute best on the market, but RockSteady keeps things smooth enough for aggressive trail riding without the weird warping artifacts you see on lesser cams.

The low-light claims aren't just marketing fluff. The 2.4μm pixel size on that 1/1.3-inch sensor genuinely pulls in more light. You'll see less noise in shadows and better color retention in murky conditions compared to the previous generation. The burst shooting at 120fps is in the 98th percentile, which is hilarious for a camera that's terrible at photography. It's a spec sheet flex that's mostly useful for pulling a still from a video sequence, not for serious photo work. The autofocus is a weak spot, landing in the 31st percentile. It's fixed-focus for most practical purposes, which is fine for an action cam where everything is in focus from a few feet out, but don't expect it to track a subject coming straight at you with any intelligence.

The elephant in the room is the GoPro Hero 12. GoPro still has the edge in outright stabilization and a slightly more polished ecosystem of mounts and accessories. Their HyperSmooth is a touch more refined than DJI's RockSteady, and if you're doing the most extreme, vibration-heavy activities like motocross, you might notice the difference. But GoPro's low-light performance has been a running joke for years, and the Action 4 absolutely embarrasses it when the light gets dim. The DJI also wins on the magnetic mounting system, which makes GoPro's finger-screws feel like a relic from 2010.

Then there's the Insta360 Ace Pro, which is the other serious contender in this space. The Ace Pro has a flip-up screen that vloggers love and an even more aggressive low-light mode, but it's bulkier and the color science isn't as natural out of the box. The DJI feels more like a tool, the Insta360 more like a gadget. For pure image quality in a tiny package, the Action 4 is the sweet spot. The mirrorless cameras in our comparison list, like the Canon R6 Mark III and Fujifilm X-T50, are in a completely different league for image quality and sensor size, but they're also not waterproof, not shockproof, and not something you'd strap to your helmet.

Pricing on the Osmo Action 4 is all over the map depending on which combo you grab and where you buy it. We're seeing a spread from $167 to a frankly nonsensical $34,320 across vendors, so ignore the high end outliers. The Standard Combo typically lands around $300, which puts it in a direct price war with the GoPro Hero 12. For that money, you're getting a camera that outshoots the GoPro in low light and matches it in most other scenarios. The Adventure Combo, which bundles three batteries and a charging case, is the one to get. Given the battery life is in the 1st percentile, you will need those spares. Amazon is consistently the most reliable place to find it at a sane price, so skip the weird third-party listings and stick with the big A.

Compared to the competition, this is a screaming deal for video-first shooters. You're getting 10-bit color and a sensor that punches above its weight for less than the cost of a decent lens for a mirrorless system. Just don't buy this thinking you're getting a hybrid stills camera. The value proposition collapses if you care about photos at all.

DJI has been iterating on the action camera formula at a blistering pace, and the Osmo Action 4 is the one where they really nailed the fundamentals. This isn't just a GoPro clone with a DJI logo slapped on it. The move to a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor is the headline here, and it fundamentally changes what you can do with a camera this small. We're talking genuinely usable low-light footage, not the grainy mess you usually get from action cams once the sun dips below the horizon. If you're a mountain biker who rides at dusk, a vlogger who shoots in dimly lit city streets, or a snorkeler who wants to capture color at depth, this camera was built for you.

But let's be real about what this is and isn't. DJI's own marketing throws it into a comparison pool with mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS R6 Mark III and Fujifilm X-T50, which is frankly absurd. Our database puts its photography chops at a 30.6 out of 100, which is abysmal for stills. The 10MP sensor is in the 4th percentile for its class. This is a video-first tool, period. The 10-bit D-Log M color profile and 4K at 120fps are where it shines, giving you footage that can actually be graded to match pro cameras. The stills are more of a "capture a thumbnail" afterthought.

The real magic is in the usability. The magnetic quick-release system is one of those things that sounds like a gimmick until you use it. Snapping the camera off a handlebar mount to get a quick handheld shot, then clicking it back in seconds, changes how you shoot. It's fast, it's secure, and it makes you want to grab the camera more often. The new Pre-Rec feature, which buffers up to 60 seconds of footage before you even hit record, is a lifesaver for fishing or waiting for that perfect trick. You'll never miss the moment because you were a second late on the button again.

If you're primarily a photographer who occasionally shoots video, this camera is a terrible fit. The 10MP stills are in the 4th percentile for sensor quality, and the photography score of 30.6 out of 100 is frankly embarrassing. You'd be better off with a rugged compact camera or even a high-end smartphone in a waterproof case. The Action 4 is a video tool that happens to take pictures, not the other way around.

Also, if you're a long-form vlogger who needs to see yourself while filming, the lack of a front-facing screen on the main body is a dealbreaker. You'll be constantly flipping the camera around or relying on the phone app, which kills the spontaneity. The Insta360 Ace Pro with its flip-up screen or a Sony ZV-1 in a cage would serve you much better. And if you're shooting all-day events like music festivals or long hikes without access to power, the battery life in the 1st percentile means you'll be carrying a pocket full of spares. There are cameras with better endurance if that's your main concern.

If you're a mountain biker, snowboarder, or surfer who wants the best possible image quality in a rugged package, the Osmo Action 4 is the one to beat. The low-light performance alone is worth the upgrade from an older action cam, and the 10-bit color means your footage can actually sit alongside shots from much more expensive cameras in an edit. Get the Adventure Combo for the extra batteries. You'll need them. The magnetic mounting system will genuinely change how you shoot, making you more likely to grab quick B-roll instead of leaving the camera on one fixed mount all day.

But if you're a vlogger who needs to see yourself while filming, the lack of a front-facing screen on the main body is a pain. You'll need the protective frame for vertical shooting, which adds bulk. The Insta360 Ace Pro's flip screen is a better fit for that use case. And if you have any aspirations of pulling high-quality stills from your adventures, just stop. Bring a separate camera for photos. The Action 4's 10MP sensor is a video sensor, full stop. Treat it as such and you'll be thrilled. Expect it to be a hybrid shooter and you'll be disappointed.