DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Review – A selfie-stick for the pros?

The Osmo Mobile 6, the new flagship gimbal from the DJI, has brought much praise to itself for its new features and outstanding performance.

In this review, we unravel the key aspects surrounding this newly-released stabilizer - keep reading to discover the OM 6 core strengths, comparison to the ZHIYUN Smooth 5, and our verdict!

Learn all about gimbals and stabilizers in our complete guide to camera equipment.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: Is it worth it?

Yes (If)

If you’re a content creator, you will find many of the Osmo Mobile 6’s features useful, especially the built-in extension rod that makes it easy to film vlogs and take selfies.

If you’re a mobile videographer, this smartphone gimbal is one of the best on the market. Its sleek design, various modes, and effective stabilization will significantly step up the quality of your footage. And if you’re shooting on an iPhone, you’ll enjoy even more perks with the connected Mimo app.

No (if)

If you’re a casual user, then this gimbal might be a bit too much with its pro-level features. If you don’t do vlogging or videography, then you might find your in-built phone stabilization just fine, without needing to upgrade it to the gimbal level.

If you’re an Android user, it might be a good idea to look in another direction: the quick launch feature in the OM 6 is only available for Apple users, so with Android, you will need to sideload the Mimo app and miss out on some app features.

Quick DJI Osmo Mobile 6 review

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is an extremely capable phone gimbal that brings Ronin-level shooting to anyone with a decent smartphone camera. It takes advantage of all the technological advancements in shooting, from motion timelapse to gesture control and FPV, and doesn’t miss out on vlogging features.

It’s compact and foldable, easy to carry around with you, has a quick-release magnetic phone clamp that can handle larger phones, and an expandable selfie stick that gives you a chance to shoot from higher ground. This gimbal is a culmination of DJI’s developments that delivers powerful 3-axis stabilization in a lightweight and portable body, allowing you to capture superbly smooth videos.

If you are an iPhone user, you can enjoy the fast connection, having the phone automatically switch to the camera mode when attached to the gimbal, meaning you’ll never miss a shot. DJI also included a new side wheel in the Osmo 6 that lets users control zoom and focus for a more refined and cinematic look. Focusing on your subject is easier than ever with additions like ActiveTrack 5.0.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 pros and cons

Pros

• Comprehensive and easy-to-use grip
• Robust build quality
• Useful extension pole
• Improved ActiveTrack Subject tracking
• Mode selection from the handle
• Quick startup on Apple devices
  

Cons

• Average battery life
• Separate mic-wise for forward-camera shots
• Phone clip prevents wireless charging
  

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs. ZHIYUN Smooth 5

Dimensions: 276 x 111.5 x 99 mm vs. 311 x 168 x 52 mm

Weight: 309g vs. 615g

ActiveTrack: ActiveTrack 5.0 vs. SmartFollow

Stabilization: 3-Axis vs. 3-Axis

Extension-Rod: Built-in vs. Additional

Quick Release: Yes vs. No  

Battery life: 6.4h vs. 12h

Mobile app: DJI Mimo app vs. ZY Cami app

Price: $159 vs. $169

Complete DJI Osmo Mobile 6 review

Design and handling

The Osmo Mobile 6 comes in a redesigned grip  - slightly smaller and lighter than with the predecessors, but still capable of supporting larger, heavier phones. The gimbal keeps some of the features from the previous generations of DJI stabilizers, like the magnetic phone clamp and the built-in expandable rod. The foldable design is completely new, though, and offers a greater compact footprint.

The stabilizer has a firm feeling in the hand, with the grip having a matching rubberized surface to prevent the device from slipping in the hand. At the top, there’s a folding mechanism with a solid hinge. The base of the gimbal has a standard tripod mount - you can quickly screw the fold-out tripod stand in or out of this mount.

The built-in extension rod for selfies and vlogging-style videos is a signatory feature for the OM 6. The gimbal also features a new side wheel that controls zoom or focuses if you twist the dial. Simply press on the side wheel to switch between zoom and focus control.

The setup process is quick: all you need to do is unlock the arm with a twist and unfold the stabilizer's single hinge. The gimbal will turn on automatically, letting you attach your phone with its excellent magnetic mounting system. This system lets you go from stowed to shooting mode in a matter of seconds.

Mobile Mimo app

You can use the gimbal in its standard modes with your camera app without installing the DJI Mimo, but be aware that you’ll miss out on some features and firmware updates. The Mimo app supports Dolby Vision / HDR10 recording for those trying to get the maximum from their camera phone’s feature list. It can also let you choose from a range of special effects if you want to enhance the faces in your vlog to give them bigger eyes and smooth skin.

As we mentioned, the new Quick Launch feature for iPhones is a golden nugget of this device - it will automatically open up the app and center the camera when your iPhone is attached to the Osmo Mobile 6. The brand claims this mode to be up to three times faster than the manual setup.

Performance and gimbal modes

The OM 6 can be considered a vertical-video-first stabilizer, as it goes straight into the vertical mode at the first boot. It can be easily switched to a horizontal view as well with a double click of the camera switch button.

The newly-added status panel ad integrated mode button allows you to check the battery level and see which shooting mode is currently activated. You can cycle through the available gimbal modes by tapping the M (Mode) button - there are Follow, Tilt Lock, FPV, and SpinShot.

In Follow mode, the camera view follows the gimbal’s pan and tilt movements and stays level during rolls. This mode is made for shooting up, down, and diagonally. With Tilt Lock, the camera follows the gimbal’s pan movement and stays stable during tilts and rolls — perfect for shooting horizontally or moving around a subject. In FPV mode, all three axes of the gimbal follow the movement of the handle. This is a great option for action-oriented creators and dynamic filming of landmarks, buildings, or statues. The SpinShot mode is another dynamic-focused mode ideal for push, pull, and high-angle shots - with a push of a joystick to the left or right you can control the rotation of the camera view.

The Osmo Mobile 6 also features additional shooting modes like Timelapse, Dynamic Zoom, Gesture Control, Panorama, and Story Mode. The timelapse mode offers much potential, and can even recommend frame rates for crowds, clouds, or sunsets.

The gimbal now comes with the ActiveTrack 5.0 subject-tracking feature that was also previously seen in DJI drones. You can lock the camera on a subject and have the gimbal move to keep that subject in the frame. This feature allows the system to track subjects further away from the camera and keep them better in the frame when using the front-facing cameras.

Stabilization

At the heart of the OM 6 gimbal is the powerful 3-axis stabilization made to smooth out any wobbles or camera shake. There’s no clipping in the captured image because the stabilization is provided by an external device instead of the sensor and processor. his helps to maximize the image quality substantially.

Overall, the stabilization performance is impressive: the motors can keep up with some aggressive movement and hold the camera stable, despite the weight of large today’s smartphones. You can seamlessly get the gimbal to almost 180 degrees without the default mode losing the horizon.

Final verdict

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is a compact and portable gimbal that is quick to set up and easy to use. This stabilizer has been substantially improved, featuring some core tech from its predecessors and adding new performance-enhancin features, making it one of the best phone gimbals you can buy.

For content creators like vloggers and mobile filmmakers, there are plenty of features to enjoy if you own the Osmo Mobile 6. The ActiveTrack 5.0 and in-built stabilization are both super powerful tools that allow for optimized and top-quality footage both if you’re filming yourself and subjects around you.

The variety of different shooting modes lets you do some cinematography-level camera moves, and the Mimo app adds up to a pleasant user experience. With its price and number of features, the Osmo Mobile 6 is something you can’t miss out on.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 alternatives

ZHIYUN Smooth 5

The ZHIYUN Smooth 5 offers a firm build, sleek design, and steady performance. This gimbal can produce incredibly smooth videos with a suite of well-positioned controls and a built-in switching mode. It’s worth buying if you’re a mobile filmmaker looking to step up your footage quality and enjoy superb stabilization. Explore the ZHIYUN Smooth 5 Review.

DJI OM 5

The predecessor of the reviewed OM6, the OM 5 is worth an investment - the results you get from this stabilizer when recording video, hyper lapses, time-lapses, and even images at difficult angles are stellar. The compact build and smooth frame make the OM 5 easy to pack and less likely to get damaged on something in your bag.

MOZA Mini-S

The MOZA Mini-S packs a multitude of pro-level features for a gimbal at its price. Its foldable design makes it perfect for using it on the go, allowing you to pull it out quickly when needed and get the shot without fearing losing the moment. It’s best suitable for amateur filmmakers.

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