Until now, DJI's compact wireless mic lineup has had a clear budget option in the Mic Mini series and a clear flagship in the Mic series, with a gulf of features and price separating the two. The Mic Mini 2S changes things, and slots right into that gulf. It's not quite a flagship-killer, but with this release, DJI now has three tiers of small wireless mic — and this middle one is very appealing.

Much of the flagship DJI Mic 3's DNA has trickled down into the Mic Mini 2S: internal recording, 32-bit float support, AI-driven noise cancellation, adaptive gain modes, fast file transfers. These were all things that, until now, meant paying a premium. The Mini 2S borrows them wholesale, wraps them in the same pocket-sized transmitter and case as the standard Mic Mini 2, and undercuts the Mic 3 comfortably on price.

Audio quality is superb. Whether I was recording via the receiver connected to a camera or going wireless direct to an OsmoAudio device, the results were clean, full-bodied and detailed. An impressive feat for a supposedly budget offering.

Noise cancellation is another highlight. The new AI-assisted system handled everything I threw at it, from a droning desk fan to a chatter-filled pub garden, with a level of polish that puts some real distance between the Mini 2S and its S-less little sibling. It's not quite at the level of the class-leading Insta360 Mic Pro, but it's a comfortable step up from the standard Mic Mini 2's basic noise reduction.

Having tested both the Mic Mini 2 and Mic 3 extensively as well as the Mini 2S, I'd say the average creator might struggle to justify paying the Mic 3 premium now. Those with more demanding needs still have reasons to look past the Mini 2S, though: the Mic 3 offers more than double the onboard storage per transmitter, a touchscreen receiver display for on-the-fly monitoring, dual-file recording, onboard timecode, and more granular gain control — stuff which probably matters for professional productions.

For everyone else, the Mini 2S is the new sweet spot in DJI's range. It's a tiny mic that really punches above its weight.

DJI Mic Mini 2S: price and release date

• Released August 4 2026, priced from £59 / AU$99 to £183 / AU$328
• Sold in four separate bundles, plus individual transmitters, charging cases and cover sets
• Available globally — aside from in the US

The Mic Mini 2S launched globally on August 4 2026, not long after the Mic Mini 2's April 2026 arrival. I say "globally", but as with every other DJI product released recently, it isn't officially available in the US, with the company blaming ongoing regulatory hurdles.

The Mini 2S comes in a wide range of configurations. At the low end, a single transmitter (TX) costs £59 / AU$99, while receivers (RX) add to the cost. The core bundles are the DJI Mic Mini 2S (1 TX + 1 RX) and the DJI Mic Mini 2S (1 TX + 1 Mobile RX + Charging Case), both priced at £79 / AU$149. Stepping up, the DJI Mic Mini 2S (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) costs £169 / AU$279, while the priciest option, at £183 / AU$328, has 2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case as well as a Mobile RX.

It's a big price jump over the Mic Mini 2, where equivalent bundles cost roughly half as much: £29 for a standalone transmitter and £89 for the full 2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case kit. It also puts the Mini 2S's 2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case at the same price as the entry-level Mic 3 bundle (£169 for 1 TX + 1 RX).

DJI Mic Mini 2S: specs

DJI Mic Mini 2S: Design

• Looks nearly identical to the Mic Mini 2
• Features swappable magnetic covers in range of colors
• Redesigned charging case now fits the 3.5mm cable

If you've seen the Mic Mini 2, you already know what the Mini 2S looks like. DJI has barely touched the exterior: the transmitters are the same size with the same interchangeable magnetic front covers (available in the same range of colors, from timeless black to a fetching shade of magenta). The receiver, too, is essentially unchanged, which means there's no onboard display to keep an eye on gain or adjust settings; you'll need to open up the Mimo app on your smartphone to do that.

The family resemblance is generally no bad thing. At just 0.4oz / 12g with a cover attached, I barely noticed the transmitter magnet-attached to my shirt, and I couldn't feel it at all when clipped to the peak of a baseball cap. The detachable clip still rotates through 360 degrees (in 90-degree increments) so the mic capsule can be aimed correctly whichever way you've mounted it, and the magnet option remains handy for thinner fabrics where a clip might snag.

There is one small but positive design change: DJI has found room for the 3.5mm cable inside the charging case (something the Mic Mini 2's case couldn't manage) which means the entire two-transmitter setup, cables, windshields and mounting options included, now fits in one pocketable case. With portability being a huge part of the appeal for a mic like this, it's a step in the right direction.

DJI Mic Mini 2S: Performance

• Offers internal recording with 14.5GB of storage space on transmitters
• Includes AI noise cancelling, improving on the Mic Mini 2's system
• Transmitter battery life roughly in line with Mic Mini 2's, and better than Mic 3's

The Mic Mini 2S's marquee upgrade over the Mic Mini 2 is internal recording, which I think is a huge deal. Every previous Mic Mini had to transmit to something — either a receiver, or an OsmoAudio device — to be of any use, but the Mini 2S transmitter can function just fine all on its own. With around 14.5GB of usable storage on each transmitter, it can store up to 28 hours of 24-bit recordings, or around 22 hours of 32-bit float recordings.

For those who aren't familiar, 32-bit float (which is available on the DJI Mic 3 but not the Mic Mini or Mini 2) doesn't inherently make your recordings sound better, but rather dramatically widens the available dynamic range. If levels unexpectedly spike or dip during a recording, 32-bit float gives you far more room to correct for that in post without clipping or losing detail. It's less about raw quality and more about insuring you're covered when recording in unpredictable environments.

Another upgrade over the Mic Mini 2 is 4TX + 1RX support, meaning you can record from four separate transmitters onto a single receiver. I'd say this is a much more situational addition: handy if you're recording podcasts, panel discussions or similar, but not something most solo creators will need day to day.

File transfers are roughly twice as fast as the Mic Mini 2's when pulling recordings off the transmitter via the charging case. If you're regularly transferring lengthy 32-bit float recordings, those saved minutes might add up — but again, it's a situational improvement.

Noise canceling is where I noticed the clearest real-world improvement over the Mic Mini 2. The Mini 2S's AI-assisted system does a better job than the older mic's more basic noise reduction: it very nearly eliminated a loud desk fan running in my office, and noticeably cut through background chatter when I tested it in a busy pub garden so that my and my wife's voices remained nice and clear. For context, I still rate the Insta360 Mic Pro as the best noise-canceling wireless mic I've tested, but it also costs considerably more than this.

Alongside noise canceling, the Mini 2S also gets DJI's adaptive gain features, Clipping Control and Loudness Balance (previously available on the DJI Mic 3 but not the Mic Mini 2). The former automatically pulls back gain to stop sudden loud moments from distorting, while the latter lifts quieter sounds to even out levels — useful if you're recording somewhere volume might swing unpredictably.

The Mic Mini 2S's audio quality is superb no matter how you use it. It supports quality up to 96kHz/24-bit with the receiver connected to a camera, or up to 48kHz/24-bit over a direct OsmoAudio connection, plus the aforementioned 32-bit float. Frankly, I don't think most people (myself definitely included) would be able to reliably pick a Mini 2S recording out from one made on the considerably pricier flagship Mic 3, which says a lot about how good this is for a supposedly budget microphone.

On the battery life front, things are roughly the same as they were on the Mic Mini 2: a transmitter can record for a round 11 hours on a full charge, while the receiver can keep going for around ten. With two transmitters, the receiver and a charging case, you can expect around 40 hours of combined use before needing to track down a power socket.

That's a bit worse than the Mic Mini 2 (which offers 11.5 hours, 10 hours and 48 hours across the transmitter, receiver and charging case), but much better than the Mic 3 (8 hours, 10 hours and 28 hours respectively).

Should I buy the DJI Mic Mini 2S?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

DJI Mic Mini 2S: also consider

How I tested the DJI Mic Mini 2S

• Two weeks of testing indoors and outdoors
• Connected to Panasonic Lumix GH6, iPhone 13, OnePlus Pad and DJI Osmo Action 6
• Also tested using internal recording without a receiver or camera

I was sent a review sample of the DJI Mic Mini 2S (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) kit, and tested it for a couple of weeks, putting it through its paces in a range of indoor and outdoor conditions from quiet offices to windy walks and busy public spaces. I paired it with my Panasonic Lumix GH6 mirrorless camera, my iPhone 13, a OnePlus Pad tablet and the DJI Osmo Action 6 via OsmoAudio, testing both wireless transmission and manual connections. I also tested the Mini 2S's headline new feature directly, using the transmitter as a standalone recorder with no receiver or camera involved at all.

• First reviewed: August 2026
• Read more about how we test

The Insta360 X5 has sat at the top of TechRadar's best 360 camera guide since its arrival in the spring of 2025, fending off strong challenges from the DJI Osmo 360 and the GoPro Max 2 along the way. Despite the competition, it's been the 360 camera to beat for well over a year.

Now in steps another model, this time from within Insta360 itself; the X6, which arrives as the company's tenth-anniversary flagship. On paper the X5's successor is a significant step up across almost every major spec: bigger sensors, faster frame rates, tougher waterproofing, longer battery life, and a set of pro-video tools the X5 doesn't have.

I've spent time testing both 360 cameras extensively — check out my Insta360 X6 review — and while the X6 isn't a wholesale reinvention of the formula, the upgrades it does bring are real and, in several cases, substantial. Here are the five biggest differences you need to know about if you're deciding between them, followed by my early verdict on which one deserves your money.

1. Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Sensors and image quality

• New 1/1.1-inch sensors on the X6, up from 1/1.28-inch on the X5
• X6 shoots 360 video at up to 8K/50fps, versus the X5's 8K/30fps ceiling
• 120MP 360 photos on the X6, versus 72MP on the X5

The headline hardware change between these two cameras is sensor size. The X5 introduced dual 1/1.28-inch sensors that were a big step up from the X4's, and the X6 goes further still with a new pair of 1/1.1-inch sensors. Insta360 says that's 33% more sensor area, and around four times the light intake per frame.

In practice, I'd say the difference this makes in good daylight conditions is real but subtle, and not as dramatic a jump as the X4-to-X5 upgrade was. Where the X6 really pulls ahead is in low light. The X5's PureVideo mode was already the best low-light performer in its category, but the X6 pushes noise reduction and detail retention further still, helped by 10-bit color depth now being supported across every shooting mode — including PureVideo, which wasn't the case on the X5.

The maximum frame rate and resolution have both gone up too. The X6 shoots 360 video at up to 8K/50fps, compared with the X5's 8K/30fps cap, giving smoother results at the top resolution. And 360 photo resolution has increased from 72MP on the X5 to 120MP on the X6.

None of this makes the X5's image quality suddenly look poor; it remains excellent for its generation. But if outright image quality, in any light, is your priority, the X6 is a genuine step forward rather than an incremental one.

• Sensors and image quality winner: Insta360 X6

2. Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Waterproofing and durability

• X6 waterproof to 20m as standard versus the X5's 15m
• Both reach 60m with their respective official dive cases
• X6's lenses 5x more scratch-resistant and cheaper to replace

Both cameras were already rugged by 360 camera standards, but the X6 pushes things further – and deeper. It's IP68-rated and waterproof to 20m without any additional housing, compared with the X5's 15m — a significant improvement if you regularly shoot unhoused underwater footage rather than reaching for a case every time. Both cameras reach 60m with their respective official dive cases, so we can call it even for serious diving use.

Lens durability has improved too. Insta360 says the X6's lenses are five times more scratch-resistant than the X5's, and cheaper to replace on top of that (from $26.99 US / £20.99 UK / AU$35.99 opposed to from $29.99 US / £29.99 UK / AU$54.99). I didn't manage to put either camera's lenses to a real scratch test during my reviews, but the X5's tool-based replacement system was already reliable and affordable, so this looks like a refinement of something that wasn't broken rather than a fix for something that was.

Body design plays into durability too, if less directly. The X6 is squatter and lower-profile than the X5's familiar candy-bar shape (DJI and GoPro rivals are squatter-still), which may make it a more comfortable, less obtrusive fit for helmet mounts or other body-worn setups, and slightly less exposed to knocks in the process.

For anyone whose priority is unhoused underwater shooting, or who's simply hard on their gear, the X6's improvements here feel quite meaningful.

• Waterproofing and durability winner: Insta360 X6

3. Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Battery life and storage

• X6 rated for 140 minutes at 8K/30fps, X5 at 93 minutes
• X6 showed no overheating in testing while the X5 shut down after 47 minutes
• X6 boasts 47GB of built-in storage, X5 has none

Battery capacity has slightly grown from 2,400mAh on the X5 to 2,600mAh on the X6, but the difference in real-world runtime is substantial. At identical recording settings of 8K/30fps, Insta360 rates the X5 for 93 minutes and the X6 for 140 minutes. I tested the X6 myself and recorded 136 minutes before the battery ran out, closely matching Insta360's claim and representing around a 50% improvement over the X5's figure.

Heat management tells an equally clear story. When I tested the X5, it shut down due to overheating after 47 minutes of continuous 8K/30fps recording at room temperature. The X6, by contrast, showed no overheating at all during my testing. Now, I won't say this'll always be the case, as real-world conditions change, but it does seem worth bearing in mind if you plan on recording for extended periods without a break.

Charging speed is a rare category where the X5 retains the edge: it fast-charges from empty to 80% in 20 minutes, compared with 24 minutes for the X6. It's a minor trade-off against everything else the X6 gains here, but worth knowing if quick top-ups between shoots matter to you.

Overall, the X6 offers a leap in both runtime and heat resilience, with only a slightly slower charge time to show for it.

On the storage front, both cameras carry a microSD card slot, but the X6 also comes with 60GB of built-in storage, 47GB of which is usable for videos and photos. It's a nice little bonus bit of space.

• Battery life and storage winner: Insta360 X6

4. Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Pro-friendly video features

• X6 supports 10-bit color across every shooting mode, including low light
• X6 is the first 360 camera with native in-camera Dolby Vision
• X6 offers native DaVinci Resolve compatibility (once Resolve 22 arrives)

Beyond the headline sensor and battery upgrades, the X6 introduces a step change for anyone editing footage seriously rather than just sharing clips straight from the app. The X5 supports the flat I-Log color profile for grading, but 10-bit color depth is limited to its standard shooting modes — it isn't available in the PureVideo low light mode. The X6 removes that restriction entirely: 10-bit color now carries across every shooting mode, low light included, giving colorists more to work with regardless of the conditions the footage was shot in.

The X6 is also the first 360 camera with native in-camera Dolby Vision, layering dynamic metadata onto footage frame by frame for wider highlight and shadow detail straight out of the camera. The X5 has nothing equivalent.

Another noteworthy addition for professional workflows is native DaVinci Resolve compatibility, a first for a 360 camera and something the X5 simply can't do (it does have a plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro, and you can expect the same for the X6). This requires Resolve 22, which wasn't available at the time of my testing, so I haven't been able to verify it firsthand yet — but if it works as promised, it should speed up the workflow of any Resolve user who currently has to bounce footage through Insta360 Studio before it's usable.

None of this will matter much if you mostly rely on the Insta360 app's auto-editing tools or straight-from-the-camera videos. But for creators who already work in Resolve, or who want to push their footage hard in post, the X6 offers tools the X5 simply doesn't have.

• Pro-friendly video features winner: Insta360 X6

5. Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Design and display

• X6 is squatter and lower-profile than the X5's candy-bar shape
• X6's 2.32-inch OLED screen is smaller in diagonal size than the X5's 2.5-inch display
• X6 supports an always-on display; the X5 doesn't

Insta360 has departed from its long-running candy-bar design with the X6, and the change is more than cosmetic. The squatter, lower-profile shape gives up a little of the X5's comfortable in-hand feel, but it's arguably better suited to being worn or mounted — on a helmet, say, or in any setup where the X5's longer body would stick out and catch on things more easily. Both weigh around 200g, though.

The screen tells a similar story of trade-offs rather than a straightforward upgrade. On paper, the X6's 2.32-inch OLED display is slightly smaller than the X5's 2.5-inch screen. But the X6's panel is squarer in shape, where the X5's is more elongated, and in practice I found the X6's screen more comfortable to view and to navigate via touch — menus and framing previews both feel like they have more room to breathe, despite the smaller diagonal measurement. The X6 also adds always-on support, letting you check status or framing without waking the display, which the X5 can't do.

The X6's screen additionally introduces a pressure-sensitive, haptic touch interface for certain functions, though in my testing this felt more like a novelty than a genuine improvement over the X5's straightforward touch controls.

Neither camera is dramatically better designed than the other. It's more a case of Insta360 optimizing for a different set of priorities with the X6, some of which will suit certain shooters better than others.

• Design and display winner: Insta360 X6

Insta360 X6 vs Insta360 X5: Early verdict

Five rounds, five wins for the X6 — though one of those, design and display, was close enough that "win" undersells how competitive the X5 remains.

The upgrades that matter most are the sensors, battery life and pro-video features. Better image quality in any light, and close to 50% more real-world runtime (with none of the overheating I experienced testing the X5), are big gains. What I can't yet fully compare are the software experiences, since I ran into lots of instability in the Insta360 app during X6 testing, and I want to see how it improves once the retail version arrives before judging it properly.

Price is another factor worth considering. The X6's Standard bundle costs $669.99 / £619 / AU$1,049.99, which is quite a step up from the X5's $549.99 / £519.99 / AU$929.99 launch price. And I suspect the X5 is about to get cheaper due to no longer being the company's flagship camera, so it could be a great choice for anyone looking for good all-round performance at a bargain price.

If you already own an X5, the upgrades the X6 brings are real but not so dramatic that you should trade it in right away. If you're buying a 360 camera for the first time, though, things are simpler: the X6 is the better camera, and worth the extra outlay if your budget stretches to it.

There's been a ban on new DJI drones and cameras in the US since last December, but now the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is making moves to retroactively take some models off shelves that were approved before the ban came into effect.

Specifically, the FCC wants to pull "military-grade" drones from stores (via PCMag), which apparently includes every model with LiDAR obstacle avoidance or thermal cameras. That would affect drones such as the DJI Air 3S, the DJI Avata 360, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, and the DJI Mavic 3T, for example.

Drones that weigh over 55 pounds (nearly 25 kilograms) will be included in the retroactive ban, as well models that use docking stations. The criteria laid out by the FCC is broad enough to cover a substantial number of drones in DJI's current range.

Now, if you've already bought one of these drones in the US, the FCC isn't going to come and take it off you. However, unless the regulator changes course, these models won't be available to buy in the US from September 2.

You can take action

DJI has already complained long and hard about the original ban, pointing out that its drones were blacklisted for security reasons without any actual security audit taking place. It's also taking a very dim view of the new proposals by the FCC.

"People could continue using DJI products they already own, but the same models in use today might no longer be available to purchase in the future," says DJI in a blog post. "This is a total reversal from the FCC's previous position, and it is U.S. operators that would bear the cost."

DJI argues that safety agencies, small businesses, and farmers in the US who rely on DJI equipment will be faced with more expensive and difficult upgrades in the future, and it's asking for the public's support while the FCC proposal is considered.

You can have your say during the public comment period up until September 2: head to the Drone Advocacy Alliance website to make your feelings known, and to explain to the FCC how you use drones and their capabilities for non-military purposes.

The Pocket 4P marks a big moment in DJI’s hugely popular series of compact vlogging cameras, being the first model with two lenses, even if Insta360 stole its thunder with the Luna Ultra, which it released in June.

I’ve already reviewed the single-lens Pocket 4, and it’s a brilliant handheld 4K camera. The ‘P’ version is largely identical but for its dual-lens array and a ‘refined’ 1-inch sensor that's equipped with LOFIC tech, plus a new D-Log 2 color profile.

For the most part, you can discover all you need to know about the Pocket 4P's design and performance in my Pocket 4 review. In this write-up, I'll focus on the new features of the bulkier model, and the real difference they make.

And I can say this right now: now that I’ve tried the Pocket 4P, it’ll be hard for me to return to single-lens models like the Pocket 4. That additional 3x telephoto lens unleashes a wide variety of shooting options to complement the highly capable ultra-wide main camera. On-the-go sequences with DJI's superb subject tracking in play, for example, can be particularly dynamic. It really is like having two cameras in one tiny device.

That being said, there is an inevitable design compromise: twin lenses make for a bulkier camera unit, with inexplicably no protective housing currently available, and a top-heavy design. If you already own a Pocket, and are wondering if the new Pocket 4P is worth it, or if it’s worth jumping ship from DJI to the Insta360 Luna Ultra, check out my Pocket 4 vs Luna Ultra article.

For me, the first-generation Luna Ultra is a compelling alternative with its 8K video and detachable module, but I can also tell that the Pocket 4P is a fourth-generation product — it feels more polished overall. It has neat accessories of its own, too, such as the magnetic fill light and remote module. As such, DJI's dual-lens Pocket 4P is now my top compact vlogging-camera pick.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: price and release date

• Announced on May 14 2026 at Cannes Film Festival, available from July 30
• Available in black or white versions, priced from £529 / AU$959. No US availability at launch
• Variety of bundles available, including a Vlog Combo kit for £605 / AU$1,099

Despite essentially having no competition in markets such as drones and, previously, gimbal vlogging cameras, DJI has always priced its products competitively. It usually undercuts rivals where actual alternatives exist, too, such as GoPro and Insta360 action cameras.

Insta360 outright said it wasn’t going to compete on price, but rather on features when speaking about its Luna Ultra, and that has turned out to be the case. Where the Luna Ultra starts at $770 / £650 / AU$1,230, the Pocket 4P comes in at £529 / AU$959 — though it's not available in the US at launch. Meanwhile, the single-lens Pocket 4 costs from £429 / AU$749.

Considering that the Pocket 4P has the extra camera with its own sensor, that price increase over the Pocket 4 feels completely justified, and in my book the Pocket 4P is excellent value, especially when you consider the quality of the 4K video footage it's able to produce.

The Pocket 4P is available in Black or White versions, and there are bundles available. The Vlog Combo, for example, includes the DJI Mic 2 Mini wireless mic, remote controller, fill light, tripod stand and tripod grip, and costs £605 / AU$1,099 — that's the bundle I'd go for.

• Price score: 5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: specs

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: Design

• Dual 20mm f/2.0 and 60mm f/1.8 lenses
• Otherwise the same design as the Pocket 4, with rotating screen and gimbal-mounted camera
• USB-C charging and 107GB of internal storage in addition to micro SD

Save for the bulkier dual-camera system and a total weight of 8.1oz / 230g, the Pocket 4P’s design is identical to the Pocket 4; it’s extremely compact, features a 2-inch touchscreen which rotates 90 degrees between vertical and horizontal formats, and a customizable five-button array, with a joystick that controls gimbal movement or zoom.

The extra two buttons, revealed when the screen is rotated to horizontal, help speed up access to various settings. For example, the C button can be assigned for direct access to two custom profiles — handy if you regularly switch between, say, color settings such as D-Log and shooting modes such as slow motion.

It certainly pays dividends to spend time customizing the camera to suit how you use it, so that you’re not fussing with settings when you're out and about.

For me, the single-lens Pocket 4 feels perfectly balanced, and it’s notably smaller than Insta360’s Luna cameras. The 4P, however, somewhat sacrifices that advantage on the alter of dual-camera versatility — it’s a little top-heavy, and I found it more comfortable to use with a tripod grip and mini tripod attached. The Luna Ultra feels more balanced because its handle is bulkier (see the Pocket 4 / 4P / Luna Ultra comparison photos, below).

Gimbal movement still feels smooth, and the shots steady and smooth, despite the extra weight of the cameras.

At launch there's no hard-shell protective case for the Pocket 4P, as there is for the Pocket 3, nor a slimline gimbal protector, like you get with the Pocket 4. This means the bulkier camera module remains somewhat unprotected, which is something DJI needs to be rectify ASAP.

There are also no dedicated ND filter kits from DJI at launch, though I fully expect that situation to change very soon through third parties (it might even have done so by the time you read this).

As with the Pocket 4, there’s the fill-light accessory, which attaches magnetically to the gimbal’s arm and is powered by the camera, and which lets you choose between three brightness levels and three color temperatures.

The light won’t make much of a difference to your images in bright daylight, but in low light and for indoors, it’s game changing for vlogging. I found the warm setting at the medium brightness level was a sweet spot for the times I wanted to use the light.

Then there’s the tiny remote control, borrowed from the Osmo Mobile 8P. This easily connects to the Pocket 4P over Bluetooth, and can be used to remotely view and control the camera. It’s a neat answer to Insta360’s modular controller in its Luna cameras, though the DJI module doesn’t feature a built-in mic, as Insta360’s does.

For occasions when you're taking hands-free shots with the Pocket 4P rested on a surface or support, the remote controller is super-handy. The controls are slightly stripped back versus the camera’s control layout, but the key controls, such as touch subject-tracking, record, and gimbal movement / zoom are there.

• Design score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Performance

• Improved subject tracking
• 107GB of built-in memory added
• Higher-capacity battery extends record times

A major feature in Pocket cameras is subject-tracking autofocus. You really don’t want to be messing around moving the gimbal manually with the joystick, which can be fiddly and jerky. Thankfully, subject tracking, the latest version of which DJI calls ‘ActiveTrack 7.0’, is super-reliable — you double-tap on the subject, and the camera does the rest. For me, it performs slightly better than Insta360 Luna’s tracking, even if it does at times feel like its ‘keeping up’ with fast-moving subjects rather than keeping them central.

Battery life is solid, though you will notice it drop quicker with certain modes, such as 4K 60fps video recording, hyperlapse, and slow-motion 240fps. The camera also gets pretty warm pretty quickly when using these modes, though I’ve not had it overheat and shut down during my testing.

With compact vlogging cameras such as the Pocket series, the battery is non-removable, so you are relying on that USB-C rechargeable internal unit. I found myself conscious of having to charge the camera on heavy use days — that’s life with a Pocket. There is, however, an optional battery grip available to extend shot life.

In addition to a microSD card slot, DJI includes a generous 107GB of built-in storage. That’s enough for a lot of 4K clips, even when utilizing the maximum 200Mbps bit rate.

Recording internally, you'll need to transfer files either over Wi-Fi or wired USB-C. Thankfully, there’s next-gen Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.1 support on board, delivering fast transfer speeds and making for an efficient workflow on the move.

As with other Pockets, the 4P can get a little warm when you're using its more power-hungry features, such as 4K 60fps and hyperlapse. I've not had any overheating issues to the point where the camera shuts down, but I was aware of the camera warming up while holding it.

• Performance score: 5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Image and video quality

• 1-inch sensor ultra-wide camera, and a new 3x telephoto, up to 12x zoom
• D-Log2 profile with up 17EV dynamic range
• Low-light further boosts the improved 14 stops dynamic range

There is one minor difference between the Pocket 4P and Pocket 4’s ultra-wide 20mm f/2.0 camera: the ‘refined’ 1-inch sensor, which unleashes a new log color profile, D-Log 2.

DJI says the refined sensor features LOFIC tech — which in simple terms is like super HDR, only it works in real time, which differs to HDR. I first came across the term LOFIC when reviewing the Oppo Find X9 Ultra phone.

The fruit of LOFIC and D-Log 2 is an expanded 17 stops of dynamic range, while the regular Log profile has around 14 stops. D-Log 2 is only available with the ultra-wide camera because it’s linked to the sensor tech, whereas the new 3x telephoto camera uses a separate 1/1.28-inch sensor.

D-Log 2 also isn’t available in every shooting mode, such as Slow Motion 240fps, although like the Pocket 4, that 10x slo-mo is available in 4K, or up to 200fps when using the 3x telephoto camera.

I’ve shot the same clips in D-Log 2, D-Log and ‘Normal’ color profiles (all 10-bit) to make quality comparisons, especially regarding dynamic range, and to see how easy it is to grade the footage for a consistent look. I’ve also shot using some of the built-in color profiles, such as ‘NC film’ and ‘Movie’.

The level of detail that the Pocket 4P is able to hold, especially in D-Log 2, is majorly impressive, especially for such a small and affordable camera. For me, outright 4K image quality is where DJI has the edge over Insta360, and most leading smartphones.

Is D-Log2 enough reason to upgrade from the Pocket 4? Not for me, but there is a more compelling reason: the second camera. The 60mm f/1.8 telephoto optic is essentially a 3x portrait lens, with a pleasant shallow depth of field for upper-body vlogging and shooting closeup details. It’s limited to D-Log or Normal color profiles, but the overall quality is really, really nice, and the footage gives a totally different perspective to the ultra-wide camera's.

Where that 3x lens really shines is when it’s coupled with some of the Pocket 4P’s major features, such as active tracking. With the tighter perspective, creative camera movements tracking a subject on the move can look particularly dynamic, especially where there are other objects in the foreground.

The zoom capabilities are further extended — where the Pocket 4 was limited to a 2x lossless zoom and 4x digital zoom, the Pocket 4P again has the 2x lossless zoom with the ultra-wide lens, plus 6x lossless with the telephoto lens and up to a 12x digital zoom.

The quality of that 12x zoom is okay at a pinch, but if quality is your main concern, I wouldn’t go beyond the 6x setting.

I don’t like the way the heavier dual-camera setup impacts how the camera feels in the hand, but it’s a game-changing feature for this type of camera, and for me it now feels impossible to return to the single-lens format.

The Luna Ultra goes one step further for resolution, with 8K video recording. Personally, I’m happy with a camera that is limited to 4K recording, but whose quality at this resolution, especially regarding dynamic range and color, is more pleasing on the eye. That's the Pocket 4P.

• Image and video quality score: 5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: testing scorecard

Should I buy the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P: also consider

How I tested the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P

• DJI loaned me the Pocket 4P Vlog Combo kit for a couple of months ahead of the July 30 release
• I shot plenty of 4K footage with the various color profiles, and used the various accessories
• I compared it to the single-lens Pocket 4 and dual-lens Insta360 Luna Ultra

I used the DJI Pocket 4P for almost two months ahead of my review embargo, during which time I regularly shot 4K video using the 20mm and 60mm lenses, the various frame rates up to 240fps, and the range of color profiles, including the new D-Log2. I tried the various shooting modes too, such as hyperlapse, and took photos in the regular and SuperPhoto modes.

In the Vlog Combo kit was a DJI Mini 2 Mini, remote module and fill light, and I tested both those accessories. I generally recorded onto the camera's internal memory, transferred files through USB-C and checked transfer times, ran the camera battery down, and checked recharge times using the supplied USB-C cable.

During my review period I also had the Pocket 4, enabling me to assess the key differences between the single- and dual-lens models. I also had the rival Insta360 Luna Ultra, again allowing me to make direct comparisons.

• First reviewed: July 2026
• Read more about how we test

So, for one month and counting, I've been filming everything from product close-ups to run-and-gun vlogs on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. I paired with the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 gimbal and the DJI Mic Mini.

And it's completely changed how that footage looks and sounds. The results are so good, I'm never going back. If you're videographer or creator at any level, I recommend checking out this setup.

Fixing the shake: Why this gimbal beats Apple's built-in stabilization

The Osmo Mobile 8 is one of DJI's smartphone gimbals, and the headline upgrade over its predecessor is 360-degree pan rotation. That means you can track a subject through a full 360-degree spin without hitting a mechanical dead-end mid-take. It seems incremental on paper, but eliminating that rotational hard stop saves you from constantly having to pause and reset your framing during walk-and-talk shots.

For iOS shooters, the real highlight is direct Apple DockKit integration. It hands subject tracking over to Apple's own framework and works across more than 200 iOS apps rather than being locked to DJI's Mimo app. Point the camera at yourself, tap to lock on, and the gimbal keeps you centered while you move around a room.

The magnetic phone clamp holds the iPhone 17 Pro Max securely despite its size, and the built-in tripod and extendable rod mean I've stopped carrying a separate stick for low, sweeping shots or basic selfie-stick framing.

The multifunctional module clips to the top of the gimbal and acts as the setup's central hub, handling three jobs at once: fill light, tracking sensor, wireless mic receiver. It can be mounted facing forward or reversed, depending on whether you're filming someone else or yourself.

Fixing the audio: The tiny wireless mic that kills background hum

The DJI Mic Mini is a tiny wireless microphone system: the transmitter weighs about as much as a couple of paperclips and clips or magnet-mounts to a shirt collar without pulling the fabric down.

It records 24-bit, 48kHz audio that punches well above its size class, and its two-level noise cancellation does a solid job of cutting background hum without making voices sound processed.

Setting it up is genuinely simple. The Mic Mini transmitter pairs directly with the multifunctional module on the Osmo Mobile 8 through OsmoAudio, so there's no separate receiver dongle hanging off your phone. Audio and video are captured together, in sync, from a single rig.

Battery life is rated at roughly 11.5 hours on the transmitter, and the charging case extends that to about 48 hours total, so it's rarely the component that runs out first in my experience.

Why this 2-piece kit works together or solo

Clipped onto the gimbal, the pair works as one cohesive system: the Mic Mini feeds audio straight into the recording alongside DockKit-tracked video, and small indicator lights on the module confirm the mic is connected without needing to check an app. That's the setup I use for anything scripted, since it means one rig, one battery to monitor, and zero trailing cables.

But the Mic Mini doesn't need the gimbal to be useful. Its separate mobile receiver plugs into the iPhone's USB-C port directly, so I can use it for a sit-down interview or a desk-based talking-head video with the gimbal left at home.

It also pairs over Bluetooth straight to a phone, though that route caps out at a lower sample rate than the wired or OsmoAudio connection, so I only reach for it when convenience matters more than audio fidelity.

The hidden drawbacks — and 2 shortcuts worth knowing

The Osmo Mobile 8 relies heavily on the DJI Mimo app to unlock its full feature set, and there's a learning curve before the gimbal feels natural rather than fiddly. It's also bulkier than a pocket-sized alternative like DJI's Osmo Pocket line, so it's not something you toss in a jacket pocket on the way out the door.

That said, setup friction on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is minimal, as its USB-C port means charging and wired audio just work without requiring adapters.

A couple of practical tricks worth knowing: the gimbal features a hidden "Keep Composition" behavior. If you manually nudge a tracked subject off-center—say into the left third of the frame—it remembers that offset and holds that composition on future tracking shots rather than forcing the subject back to center.

And if you ever need to unpair the gimbal from a phone without navigating Bluetooth menus, holding the shutter button, switch button, and trigger simultaneously for two seconds forces a hard reset of the connection.

A month in, this is the fastest upgrade I've made to my footage — faster than any editing trick. Fix the shake and the audio at the source, and the clip just looks like it came from a real camera.

The bottom line: Is this under-$300 setup right for you?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 brings a genuinely useful upgrade to smartphone stabilization, headlined by a pan axis that now spins a full 360 degrees, giving sweeping panoramic shots and unbroken tracking motion that older Osmo models couldn't manage. Setup is effortless thanks to a magnetic phone clamp paired with a built-in sensor that automatically detects the phone and balances the gimbal, and tracking has been upgraded too: the new ActiveTrack system follows human or pet subjects automatically, keeping them in frame even with zooming and gimbal movement after they've left the shot.

Read our DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review.

The DJI Mic Mini packs a lot of pro capability into a tiny footprint, built for creators who want great audio without carrying extra gear. The transmitter weighs just 10 grams, offering a lighter and more discreet wearing experience than the DJI Mic 2, with both magnetic and clip-on styles so it won't weigh down a collar or flip outward on thin fabric. Battery life is a standout: the transmitter and receiver run for roughly 11.5 and 10.5 hours respectively, and a fully charged charging case adds about 3.6 more charges for a total of 48 hours of use — ideal for long interviews, travel, or all-day shoots.

Read our DJI Mic Mini review.

Note: You'll only be able to see product cards for the models currently available to buy in your region. Due to FCC issues, not all DJI drones are available in the US. Hit the More details button to read our main takeaways for each model, and for a link to the full review.

DJI range guide

DJI Mini
DJI's flagship compact drones, and the best-selling range for beginner pilots. These are all sub-250g models, which means they come with little-to-no flight restrictions, depending on where you fly.
• Check out the Mini lineup

DJI Air
A step up from the Mini series, aimed at enthusiasts. These drones fall into the next weight category up, which means they're sturdier and you'll be able to fly for longer, but you'll need your region's equivalent of a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Air lineup

DJI Mavic
Top-tier consumer drones with industry-leading camera performance. These are another step up from the DJI Air range, and again you'll need a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Mavic lineup

DJI Neo
The cheapest, smallest, lightest and simplest DJI drone. It comes with single-push take-off from your hand, designed for aerial selfies (this kind of drone is sometimes referred to as a selfie drone).
• Check out the DJI Neo lineup

DJI Avata
FPV (first person view) drones, designed to be used with goggles for immersive high-speed and responsive flight — legally you need a 'spotter' with you when flying drones through goggles.
• Check out the DJI Avata lineup

There are a few standalone options to be aware of. The Lito is a straightforward beginner drone at an extremely wallet-friendly price — it's a step down from the Mini range in both price and capabilities. The DJI Flip is another beginner drone with vlogger-friendly features. At the other end of the scale is the DJI Inspire range, aimed at professionals — the kind of thing that might be hired for productions.

DJI Mini drones

DJI Mavic drones

DJI Air drones

DJI Neo drones

DJI Avata drones

Outliers

The two key ranges are the Osmo Action and the Osmo Pocket. The Action is DJI's classic action camera, with a rugged build designed to happily capture high-quality content no matter how much you bump, drop, submerge, freeze, or generally throw it about. The Pocket is a compact, image-stabilizing gimbal camera designed for vloggers. It can easily switch between vertical and horizontal shooting, and is set up to make selfie capture easy. There are also a couple of outliers: the Osmo 360 360-degree camera and the tiny, wearable Osmo Nano.

Most of these cams are leaders in their respective categories — this brand crops up in numerous best-of lists, including the best action camera, best 360 camera and best vlogging camera. If you're thinking of buying one but aren't quite sure of your options, or which to pick, you've come to the right place.

Our camera review team has tested every single one of the DJI cameras currently available to buy, and below you'll find a quick guide to the different models, plus summaries of our main testing takeaways, and links to read the full review for each (hit the More details button).

Note: You will only see cards for the products available to buy in your region. Due to FCC fun and games, not all new models are available in the US.

DJI Osmo Action

Osmo Actions are traditional action cameras — DJI's answer to a GoPro. They sport an all-in-one design, with all the hallmarks you'd expect from a good action cam: a robust, waterproof, compact design, front and back screens, mics, and features like time-lapse, slow-mo and (on newer models) subject tracking.

The current generation is the Osmo Action 6, but the Osmo Action 5 Pro (there's no not-Pro version, so treat this like a naming quirk) and the Osmo Action 4 are widely available too, including direct from DJI. It's also quite easy to get hold of an Osmo Action 3.

The specs and features differ slightly from model to model — you can see our review of each one by hitting the 'More details' button, and this DJI Osmo Action comparison page is useful for highlighting the differences.

You'll struggle to find either now, but the two previous models are the Action 2 and the original Osmo Action. The Action 2 was a particularly interesting swerve from DJI — it looked completely different from the rest of the range, with a modular build. For the third gen, DJI pivoted straight back to a more traditional all-in-one design, and that's what it's stuck with ever since.

DJI Osmo Pocket

Osmo pockets are compact, gimbal-stabilized 4K cameras designed specifically for vlogging. The current model is the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 — although it's not yet sold in the US. The Osmo Pocket 3 is still widely available to buy, as (to a certain extent) is the DJI Pocket 2.

Both the 3 and 4 boast a compact design, excellent video stabilization, crisp 4K video, the ability to swap easily between vertical and horizontal shooting. The 4th gen version polishes things up a bit, improving the slow-mo mode, bumping up the video specs, tightening up the subject tracking and making it available in more modes, boosting battery life and increasing the internal memory. It also adds a magnetic gimbal arm, onto which accessories such as fill lights can be snapped.

If you're not quite sure about the Pocket range, another option for content creators is to stick with your phone for recording, but add in a DJI Osmo Mobile — a smartphone gimbal with advanced tracking capabilities.

Outliers

Finally, there are a couple of (as-yet) standalone DJI cameras. The DJI Osmo Nano is a shrunk-down and stripped back version of its Action series. Small enough to be mounted on a pendant or hat, it's designed for on-the-go content capture. The magnetic, modular design makes it nice and versatile.

The Osmo 360 is a DJI's first 360-degree camera, and we thought it was "undeniably extremely compelling" first effort. We were impressed with the pricing too, which is very competitive within that particular market.

There's been a big deal this week on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo for $549 (was $629) at Amazon. I've been keeping a close eye on this one because it's easily one of the best and most popular pocket-sized 4K cams for content creators and travel vloggers.

The Osmo Pocket 3's compact size means it's easy to slip into a pocket, hence the name, or small bag, yet it packs features normally found on much larger cameras. If you regularly create videos for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or travel content, this is a terrific opportunity to save big on a premium model.

In his glowing review, our expert Paul called the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 "an impressive camera that delivers amazing video quality and beautiful slow-motion scenes. The all-new 1-inch sensor boosts the image quality in low light, while the portrait filming mode enables on-board filming in this orientation, and the timelapse and motion lapse features further expand the functionality."

Today's top DJI creator camera deal

A 1-inch CMOS sensor captures detailed footage in up to 4K at 120fps, giving you plenty of flexibility for smooth slow-motion clips and crisp everyday recording.

It also performs well in challenging lighting, ensuring night scenes and sunsets don't lose any important detail or clarity.

Filming while walking or moving around is where the Osmo Pocket 3 really shines thanks to the 3-axis mechanical stabilization system that keeps footage impressively stable when exploring a city, hiking a trail, or following fast-moving subjects.

The rotating 2-inch touchscreen makes switching between horizontal and vertical recording quick and simple, and lets you create content for different platforms. ActiveTrack 6.0 keeps faces and moving subjects centered, making solo filming less of a challenge.

Fast autofocus helps lock onto subjects quickly, keeping footage sharp. Support for D-Log M and 10-bit color gives creators far greater flexibility during editing, with up to one billion colors available.

Stereo recording captures clear sound alongside your footage. The Creator Combo includes a microphone, making it even easier to record clean dialogue without the need to splash out on extra accessories.

While at $549, this isn't what I'd term a budget purchase, it is one of the best prices I've seen for the Creator Combo, and it's highly recommended.

Also consider: More DJI camera combo deals

• Browse all camera deals at Amazon

Since last December, new DJI devices have been banned in the US, because the drone and camera maker is on the Covered List — a list of foreign manufacturers deemed to fall short of the security and safety standards put in place by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

However, the FCC thinks that DJI is sneaking products into the United States through front companies with different branding, and it's now taking action: as The Verge reports, eight of these companies have now been hit by $25,000 fines, with further investigations from the authorities pending.

The companies in question are Cogito Tech, Fikaxo Technology, Lyno Dynamics, Skyhigh, Spatial Hover, SZ Knowact Robot, WaveGo Tech, and Xtra Technology. You can check out the range of Cogito Tech drones on its website here, and decide for yourself how much they do or don't resemble DJI's offerings.

Xtra Technology also has a website showing off its vlogging cameras: as noted by The Verge, the company is promoting an Xtra Muse 2 Pro camera with the tagline "from Pocket to Pro", which bears more than a passing resemblance to the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P.

Cracking down

These companies have so far failed to respond to questions from the FCC, and it seems the regulatory body is now ramping up its efforts to get some answers. Some of the test labs that these devices are passing through are being targeted as well.

The Verge also reports that gadgets previously approved for sale before the ban took effect have now disappeared from the FCC website — gadgets including the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Pro. However, there's no indication that DJI products that have already been sold in the US are going to stop working or be recalled.

In order for any electronic device using radio frequencies to be sold in the US, from phones to drones, it has to be approved by the FCC — which is why we get so many detailed hardware leaks from FCC filings. Any company on the Covered List isn't going to get that approval, essentially meaning their products are banned.

While DJI has been vocal in calling its ban unfair, it hasn't commented on the claims around these alleged front companies so far — and it appears that the companies themselves aren't being at all communicative either. We've reached out to DJI for comment on the report, and will update this story if we hear back.

Mount Everest has a trash problem. Decades of expeditions have left the world's highest mountain strewn with discarded oxygen canisters, abandoned tents, food packaging and worse — so much of it that the peak has earned the unflattering nickname of the "world's highest garbage dump." But DJI thinks its drones can help clean up the mess.

The drone giant has announced the successful completion of three missions on Everest, the headline act being the DJI FlyCart 100. DJI's heavy-lift delivery drone has spent the 2026 spring climbing season shuttling supplies and garbage between Base Camp and Camp 1 on the mountain's Nepalese south side.

Working with local drone company Airlift, DJI says the FlyCart 100 has hauled a total of 10,073kg between the two camps: 7,215kg of climbing supplies (think oxygen tanks, ropes and ladders) on the way up; 2,858kg of waste on the way back down. Going forward, the drone will assist in removing approximately 10,000kg of waste per season from higher camps that previously couldn't be cleaned up at all.

That's a serious amount of junk being shifted, but it's sorely needed. According to National Geographic, the average Everest climber generates around 8kg of trash during their expedition, most of which is left behind on the mountain. And with over 600 people attempting the summit every season — each supported by at least one local guide or porter — the rubbish is piling up quickly.

Eight minutes vs eight hours

The FlyCart 100's advantages aren't limited to its payload — the time (and risk) it saves is also a major boon. Traditionally, ferrying supplies from Base Camp to Camp 1 means Sherpas trekking for six to eight hours on foot through the Khumbu Icefall, a treacherous maze of shifting ice towers and crevasses that ranks among the most dangerous sections of the entire climb. The FlyCart 100 can cover the same route in just eight minutes.

That's not to say the drone has an easy ride. The FlyCart 100 can carry up to 100kg at sea level, but Everest is as far from sea level as our planet's surface gets. In DJI's tests, the drone lifted up to 47kg while operating at altitudes of over 6,300m, in temperatures ranging from -15°C to 5°C — conditions that would ground most consumer drones (and most helicopters, for that matter).

"Our team remains dedicated to making the world's highest mountain safer and cleaner for Sherpas and mountaineers worldwide," said DJI spokesperson Christina Zhang. "The success of our latest operations marks a proud milestone, and we hope our ongoing collaboration with the scientific community will further advance drone technology — saving lives and supporting conservation efforts across the globe."

The cleanup effort closely aligns with Nepal's wider push to restore the mountain, including the Nepal Mountain Association's "Zero Waste Initiative 2027." The FlyCart 100 will also support the Nepalese climbing community's goal of transporting around 5,000 oxygen cylinders between Base Camp and Camp 1 each season.

Mavic 3 vs the mountain

DJI has some history on Everest. In 2022, a DJI Mavic 3 became the first drone to capture footage from the mountain's 8,848.86m summit, while in 2024 the FlyCart 30 completed the world's first drone delivery tests on the mountain.

This year's missions went further still: alongside the FlyCart 100's headline-grabbing delivery runs, a DJI Matrice 4E mapped over 3km² of the Khumbu Icefall in centimeter-level detail in just 3.5 hours, giving climbing teams real-time hazard data for planning safer routes. Meanwhile, on the mountain's north side, DJI's first eVTOL delivery drone, the EV50, carried ozone-measuring equipment for atmospheric research, reaching a maximum altitude of 8,861m — higher than the summit itself.

None of this will solve Everest's overcrowding problem, and there are still literal tons of historic garbage buried in its glaciers, with climate change exposing more of it every year. But if a drone can achieve in eight minutes what once took a Sherpa a full day of life-threatening work, it does seem like progress is truly being made.

2026 is almost over — well, not quite, but given we're already halfway through the year, it won't be long before those year-end awards are in sight again. And with the 2026 progress bar hitting 50% this week, we decided it was a good time to look back on the last six months and pick out the early 'gadget of the year' contenders from everything we've tested since January.

And we've been testing a lot — 639 products, to be precise, have passed through our labs and the real, unvarnished lives of our experienced testers this year. Those hundreds of gadgets span everything from coffee machines and smartphones to life-boosting accessories like portable DACs, fans and smart Lego.

So if you've just woken up from a six-month nap (we don't blame you) or are looking for some gadget inspiration, the list below will make for some fascinating reading. It doesn't contain every five-star product we've tested this year (check out our separate five-star review roundup for those), but it is a temperature check of all the products our reviewers haven't been able to stop talking about over the past six months...

21. Fitbit Air

• The fitness tracker of 2026 so far

The Google Fitbit Air is the highest-profile, most exciting fitness release of 2026 so far, and it’s generated plenty of buzz online. A screenless Whoop-style band weighing just 12 grams (including strap!) and with up to a week of battery life, the Fitbit Air is the most exciting thing we’ve seen from Fitbit since Google brought the brand.

The hardware is excellent, proving to record heart rate accurately in our comparison tests, and it’s eminently comfortable to wear. I had no problems wearing it virtually 24/7 during my testing period, including to shower and sleep in. It looked great, was super-light, felt comfortable and delivered accurate, insightful metrics.

The app is another story. While its AI-powered premium functionality is good, not everyone’s going to jive with the chatbot format of the AI Coach, and existing Fitbit users are irked that their community features and historic badges were deleted, replaced by an AI Coach to help you ‘celebrate your achievements’ in a different way. The app is uniformly recognized as being messy and cluttered, too. But away from the app’s design, the tracker is still the boldest, most interesting release in the fitness tech world this year.

Matt Evans, Senior Editor, Fitness, Wellness & Wearables

• Read our in-depth Fitbit Air review

20. Maxell Wireless Cassette Player

• Our favorite blast from the gadget past

Look me in the eye and tell me you have no cassette tapes hiding anywhere in your home. Right, there’s a shoebox somewhere. But where to play them? That’s where the Maxell Wireless Cassette Player comes in.

Not only is it brand new gear to play these old tapes, but it works with your favorite Bluetooth headphones; I found it the perfect blend of nostalgia and modern audio pleasure. Even its imperfect functionality, like flaky Bluetooth support, was somehow charming.

I wish it had recording like my old portable cassette player, but it was still kind of wonderful to get to hear old mixtapes, recordings, and even classic releases from 1980s music icons (The Traveling Wilburys!) again.

Lance Ulanoff, Editor at Large

• Read our in-depth Maxell Wireless Cassette Player review

19. MacBook Neo

• Still a winner, despite its recent price hike

Up until a month ago, the MacBook Neo was my favorite laptop of 2026, and I didn’t think there’d be any other new laptop this year that could beat it. With a launch price of $599 / £599 / AU$899, it was the cheapest MacBook you could get, and despite its budget price, it offered the kind of build quality, design, screen and performance that you just didn’t expect from laptops and Chromebooks around that price point.

It certainly made a big impact. Running on the A18 Pro chip, it could run pretty much any macOS app that more expensive Macs could, offered excellent battery life and a bright and vibrant display (something a lot of budget laptop makers often neglected to keep prices down). It sold like hot cakes, and gave a kick up the bum to rivals. Since its launch, both Acer and Dell have announced laptops (the new Acer Swift Air and Dell XPS 13) that the companies are very open about how they’ve been designed to take on the MacBook Neo.

However, last month Apple announced a raft of price increases for some of its products, including a $100 / £100 increase in price for the MacBook Neo. While not a massive increase (unlike what the MacBook Air and Pro got), it’s enough to make the MacBook Neo less of an instant recommendation, and some of its compromises, such as slow USB-C ports and no backlit keyboard, are suddenly harder to forgive.

Matt Hanson, Managing Editor, Core Tech

• Read our in-depth MacBook Neo review

18. Lego Smart Brick

• The opinion-splitter that won us over

The toy brand introduced a new technology-fueled piece in its iconic build block system this year at CES 2026 — and while some reactions have been mixed online we here at TechRadar have fallen in love with the system. If you’re a kid who loves playing with your sets and not just admiring them it hits the mark (almost) perfectly.

Out the gate it featured in a handful of Star Wars themed builds adding iconic starship noises, blaster fire effects, and flashing lights as the model moves and its play features are used. It does this thanks to motion and color sensors in the brick which perform different effects based on the special NFC tiles the smart brick is placed onto — the tile effectively programs the smart brick’s lights and speakers while they touch.

Admittedly it wasn’t perfect at launch, but Lego has already started to solve some of our issues with the builds and the brick’s interactiveness in its upcoming Pokémon Smart Play sets — helping to cement the smart brick as one of the best gadgets of the year, and we’re confident it’ll only get better.

Hamish Hector, Senior Staff Writer, News

• Read our hands-on Lego Smart Brick review

17. iFi Go Link 2

• A huge audio upgrade for your phone or laptop

Some hi-res products require careful tinkering and compatibility testing. This isn't one of those. Instead it's a no-fuss, super-small headphone DAC (which stands for digital-analog-converter) to effectively take the job away from the small and likely pretty basic DAC and amp stage in your smartphone or laptop, do the conversion job a lot better, and deliver the improved audio to your wired earbuds or headphones (and thus, to your shell-likes) of choice.

Did I mention it's also super-cheap? This thing costs just $59 / £59 and it essentially turns your source device's sound into something you'd get from hi-res player — and those can cost thousands.

It's smaller and lighter than the iFi options that came before it too. The Go Link 2 will happily slip into your pocket or bag along with your smartphone without issue, and if you're looking to get in on the wired trend (hey, lots of people are) it's a very good way to add wired headphone support to devices that have long since dropped the 3.5mm headphone jack.

OK, its amp stage won't be enough to drive high impedance planar magnetic cans (and those would probably come toting a 4.4mm jack anyway, which this doesn't have) but provided you're just looking to level up with closed-back dynamic solutions, this is little money, well-spent.

Becky Scarrott, Audio Editor

• Read our full iFi Go Link 2 review

16. RayNeo Air 4 Pro

• A lightweight personal cinema for travelers

Android XR and Meta might be stealing the smart glasses spotlight in 2026 with their announcements, but here at TechRadar we think the best new pair to launch so far this year is something a little different: the RayNeo Air 4 Pro.

The biggest difference between the RayNeo and those other specs is they don’t bother with AI — instead they’re effectively a portable display for your compatible phone, tablet, laptop, console, essentially anything that can output video and audio via USB-C.

The Air 4 Pro don't reinvent the wheel but add important new tools like being the first specs of their kind to support HDR10 — leading to more accurate and vibrant colors from their micro-OLED displays. Couple that with solid sound, a comfy fit, and optional Batman/Joker stylings for DC mega fans (plainer designs are available) and you have something incredible.

Hamish Hector, Senior Staff Writer, News

• Read our in-depth RayNeo Air 4 Pro review

15. MacBook Air M5

• The best ultraportable we've ever used

The MacBook Air is, in some ways, the portable most other laptops aspire to; it’s thin, light, surprisingly powerful, and has simply outstanding battery life.

At the time of review, Apple had doubled that storage space (far more important than you might think), finally upgraded connectivity to the future (Wi-Fi 7 and BLE 6) and, of course, slipped in the new M5 silicon.

The price rose a bit, and some wished for more colors (heck, maybe they'll think about Citrus for the next Air), but none of this really detracted from the MacBook Air’s sizable qualities, including a fantastic keyboard, huge ForceTouch trackpad, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. MacBook Air was the laptop that lured me away from Windows, and the M5 model is what’s keeping me here.

Lance Ulanoff, Editor at Large

• Read our in-depth Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 

14. Oppo Find X9 Ultra

• The new camera phone king

If you're in any doubt about whether the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is the best camera phone on the market right now, just look at the devices we've compared it to. In our Oppo Find X9 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comparison, the Chinese flagship came out on top in almost every category, and in our Oppo Find X9 Ultra vs Lumix TZ300 vs Nikon Z8 comparison, we found that its telephoto capabilities "render most travel zoom compact cameras redundant." High praise indeed.

So, yes, the Find X9 Ultra — which is the first Ultra-branded Oppo phone to ship outside of China (albeit not in the US) — is the new camera phone king. But it comes with plenty of other flagship bells and whistles, too. There's the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the 12GB of RAM, the 6.8-inch OLED display, and the enormous 7,050mAh battery. And Oppo's software has also come on leaps and bounds in recent years.

If we're talking 'the best phones of 2026 so far', the Find X9 Ultra is a must-include.

Axel Metz, Phones Editor

• Read our in-depth Oppo Find X9 Ultra review

13. Audeze Maxwell 2

• The best-sounding gaming headset I've ever tested

The Audeze Maxwell 2 isn't the gaming headset that's received the highest score from our team of reviewers so far this year on TechRadar Gaming, but it's still one of the absolute best to release this year. And it gets that mantle on sound quality alone.

The 90mm planar magnetic drivers produce the finest gaming audio I've ever experienced, and I can't imagine using anything else now (unless I have to for pesky work reasons). Audeze's patented SLAM tech means the bottom end is even better than ever, and so the whole soundscape is much more rounded and fulsome, while being exceptionally detailed and immersive.

It's a chunky headset, yes, but it has all the modern features you realistically need to get the most out of a headset for single-player immersion and gaining edges in multiplayer games: a robust mic, reliable connectivity, good design and build, all supporting that brilliant audio quality.

After nearly a decade of testing and reviewing gaming headsets of all stripes, I have not been treated to audio this good. It's proven so good that I disagree with our own review (sorry, Phil) and have written about how, after a few months of living with the Maxwell 2, I think it's a five-star gaming headset. If you want to consider any new gaming headset of 2026 thus far to upgrade your audio game, then this has to be it.

(Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor, TechRadar Gaming and Streaming)

• Read our in-depth Audeze Maxwell 2 review and my op-ed on why I would have scored the Maxwell 2 higher

12. Dyson PencilVax FluffyCones

• The most streamlined vacuum we've ever used

It's been a long time since I saw a vacuum that truly made me do a double-take, but that was the case with the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones. Instead of the chunky dust cup / battery / filter configuration usually found at the top of a stick vacuum, the PencilVac has... nothing. There's just a broom-shaped handle. In fact, this handle houses all those components, except they've been shrunk down to an almost impossibly small size, and hidden away. That makes the PencilVac incredibly light, nimble, and easy to wield.

The floorhead is equally unique, with its two pairs of cone-shaped, fluffy rollers, rotating in opposite directions to whisk away dust from hard floors and clear hair without tangling. This head pivots ultra-smoothly, can be used either way around, and enhances the incredible maneuverability on offer here. A truly innovative design from Dyson, and a useful one at that.

Ruth Hamilton, Collections Editor

• Read our full Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review

11. Dali Sonik 1

• Small, passive stereo speakers that sound twice their size

It's not just because the Dali Sonik 1 are clearly the cat's miaow — although that never hurts!

The Dali Sonik 1 are the smallest in the Danish brand's ever-expanding new line of passive stereo speakers, but while this February 2026 proposition might be bijou, they sound easily twice their size. And for this money, that's a huge win.

We love them for their clear-mindedness, sparkling vocal reproduction, textured transients and remarkably deep, thumping robustness. They’re also low-distortion, with a sonic profile that never falls foul of overstating itself, apart from a very occasionally overzealous bass reflex (but that's largely down to placement).

You might be thinking you've seen this all before: small passive stereo speakers, they must all basically be the same, no? The Dali Sonik 1 are better than that — in fact we think they're currently the absolute best in their size and price category. It could well be the Sonik 1’s use of Dali’s trademarked Clarity Cone technology (taken from the Kore range before it), or the “SMC” (Soft Magnetic Composite)-assisted magnet systems that constitute the driver.

However it has been achieved, collectively this in-house wizardry has created a fulsome yet supremely natural-sounding set of standmount speakers. And they'll easily fit into your home (for a refreshingly palatable fee).

Becky Scarrott, Audio Editor

• Red our fully star-rated Dali Sonik 1 review

Our top 10 of 2026 (so far)

10. Apple AirPods Max 2

• The best noise-cancelling iPhone headphones on the planet

At first glance, Apple's March-issue second-generation flagship headphones probably didn't receive too many hugely excited whoops and cheers from the Cupertino giant's noted fanbase. Why? Because they arrived looking exactly the same as the first pair.

And they still come out on top in any mid-year headphones roundup. The ANC is just that good. We may sometimes be harsh at TechRadar, but we're always fair…

Put them on your head, engage the ANC and get them playing music. Suddenly it's impossible to knock them. There's a new H2 chip in each ear cup (plus a new amplification module) and that combination is a bona-fide game-changer.

OK, so you can use the Digital Crown as a remote and yes, you can now use Live Translation, nod or shake your head to control call-handling, or pipe up and the headphones now adjust playback accordingly. But none of these under-the-hood improvements is what seals the deal for me.

No, it's all about the sound, underpinned by the noise cancellation performance that is 1.5 times better — and anyone who owns the inaugural set will know how big a deal that is. Also, the overall sonic profile is punchier, more vibrant and with an extra ounce dynamic nuance across the frequencies.

The only reason I couldn't give them the full five stars? The stamina, at only 20 hours with ANC deployed. The thing is, when the cocoon of silence is this good, I'll take a hit on battery life.

Becky Scarrott, Audio Editor

• Read my full and in-depth Apple AirPods Max 2 review

9. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• The new king of Android

It can be hard to mess with near perfection, but that was the task facing Samsung when it built the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s a follow-up to the best Android flagship I'd ever used and, thankfully, the S26 Ultra did not disappoint.

The excellent, solid design (despite losing titanium) is a perfect showcase for Samsung’s vast OneUI 8 and all that AI. Plus it has a built-in S Pen that’s endlessly useful and new privacy screen feature that's so cool I wonder when Apple will copy it.

The just-short-of-perfection is mostly because it wasn't a full redesign some wished for and the frustrating lack of any kind of MagSafe charging capabilities. Those were, obviously, minor niggles in what is otherwise a powerful, big-screen handset that should be on everyone’s Android shortlist.

Lance Ulanoff, Editor at Large

• Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review

8. EcoFlow Stream Ultra X

• A game-changing home battery for renters

It's no surprise that in a year of spiraling energy costs one of the big trends has been home batteries that can cut chunks out of your electricity bills — and this powerful, balcony-friendly unit is the most complete we've tested so far.

The EcoFlow Stream Ultra X isn't cheap and, at the time of writing, isn't available in the US (although its lower-capacity Stream Ultra X sibling is). But with its 3.84 kWH capacity and AI-powered energy management, it is a glimpse of a smart home genre that will soon become mainstream.

In short, this lithium iron phosphate battery charges from the sun via solar panels or from cheap grid power during the day, then powers your home at night. In our tests, we estimated that it could easily pay for itself in three years — and that's without connecting it to solar panels.

On its own, the Stream Ultra X isn't powerful enough to power your whole home during a power cut — it's more like the first rung on a ladder that can take you to solar or a bigger home energy system. But you can connect five more Stream series units to hit 23 kWh of power, and its versatility makes it one of the best examples so far of what the Germans call 'Balkonkraftwerke' (or 'balcony power plants').

Mark Wilson, Managing Editor, News (UK)

• Read our in-depth EcoFlow Stream Ultra X review

7. Sony InZone H6 Air

• Sony’s first open-back gaming headset is the best

This year Sony debuted its first open-back gaming headset with the Inzone H6 Air, and it’s the best such model that we’ve tested, blowing strong competitors like the Turtle Beach Atlas Air out of the water.

Underpinned by the same studio quality drivers found in the audio giant’s ever-reliable MDR-MV1 studio monitor headphones, now reworked for additional bass, it delivers crystal-clear, well-balanced sound that’s perfect for both gaming and music listening.

That open-back design lends itself to a wonderfully wide soundstage that adds depth to your favorite games — the detailed weapon sound effects of Battlefield 6 have never seemed so real, while we found that more narrative driven titles like The Last of Us Part 2 or Assassin’s Creed Shadows benefit from a whole new level of aural immersion.

They’re incredibly light and comfortable, coming in at 7oz / 199g, but that doesn’t mean that they feel cheap. The premium aluminum earcup shells are hardwearing and we’re certain that the durable fabric headband will last us for many years to come.

Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor

• Read our in-depth Sony InZone H6 Air review

6. DJI Avata 360

• Our new favorite all-seeing drone

The big new trend for drones in 2026 is 360 models. A bit like flying versions of cameras like the Insta360 X5, these all-seeing aerial gadgets let you reframe your aerial videos and photos after you've landed, so you don't need to be so precise or decisive up in the sky.

The DJI Avata 360 isn't the first 360 drone we've seen — that was the Antigravity A1 — but it is our new favorite thanks to its unrivaled versatility. Yes, you can shoot 360 videos thanks to its dual 1-inch sensors, then edit that footage using DJI Fly mobile app or the DJI Studio desktop software.

But switch to the drone's single-lens mode, and you effectively have a DJI Avata 2, an FPV drone that can perform aerial acrobatics and get some very different footage. Because you get to choose between using FPV goggles and a standard RC2 two-stick controller, you also don't always need to bring along a spotter friend to fly it legally either.

Mark Wilson, Managing Editor, News (UK)

• Read our in-depth DJI Avata 360 review

5. Dyson HushJet Mini Cool

• A surprisingly powerful heat wave savior

Heatwaves have been another big theme of 2026 — and if you've been baking under a 'heat dome' in the past few months, you might well be interested in the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, a tiny fan whose performance is as good as its name.

Dyson’s first portable fan excels for two main reasons. Firstly, the fan’s powerful motor reaches a staggering 65,000rpm, and the shape of the HushJet nozzle concentrates the airflow so it’s all directed right at you. Even on the lowest setting you can really feel it, but dial it up to maximum and you’d think you’re using a hairdryer.

You also don’t just have to use it as a hand-held fan — you can wear it around your neck, attach it to clothing or a bag strap, or stand upright on your desk, so it’s pretty versatile to boot. But we know what you’re thinking; it's a Dyson, so isn’t it going to be ridiculously expensive? Fortunately not, so that's why we awarded it a rare five stars.

Rowan Davies, Editorial Associate

• Read our in-depth Dyson HushJet Mini Cool review

4. JBL Go 5

• The best tiny Bluetooth speaker, now even better

When I fired the JBL Go 5 up for the first time, it genuinely blew me away. See, its predecessor was already a very solid-sounding speaker given its minuscule size, and it had great build quality and features to match.

But JBL really outdid itself with this sequel. The Go 5 has even more open and expressive sound than what came before, with clean and agile bass, enhanced detail and clarity in the mid-range, as well as articulate and controlled treble. Pair that with new, customizable edge lighting, improved IP68 dust and waterproofing, and options like USB-C lossless audio, and the Go 5 is easily one of the best small speakers on the market.

It’s also drop-proof, comes in a range of funky colors, and has personalizable EQ, enabling you to find the perfect sound for any occasion. At less than $55 / £40, it’s also sensational value for money, and it couldn’t be more deserving of its five-star rating.

Harry Padoan, Senior Writer, Reviews

• Read our in-depth JBL Go 5 review

3. Philips Baristina

• Bean-to-cup that's great value and a doddle to use

As far as entry-level coffee makers go, the Philips Baristina is simple, stylish, and just as easy to use as any pod coffee machine. Basically, it’s the best affordable bean-to-cup espresso machine we’ve tested.

Like a manual espresso machine, the Baristina uses a portafilter handle. All you need to do is push the empty handle into place, select your drink, and the Baristina will grind the right dose of coffee into the filter basket, so you don’t even need to weigh the coffee beans before brewing.

Using a simple set of three buttons — one for single espresso, one for a lungo, and one to boost the intensity by increasing the dose of ground coffee — it’s incredible value for money. While it doesn’t come with a steaming wand for milk and is very much espresso-first, the Baristina remains an excellent beginner-friendly espresso machine that's perfect if you're new to fresh beans.

Rowan Davies, Editorial Associate

• Read our in-depth Philips Baristina review

2. Sony A7R VI

• Sony just perfected mirrorless cameras

I've tested just about every major camera release spanning the last 15 years, and I don’t use the word 'perfect' lightly — but that's what the Sony A7R VI is. For me, it’s the winning combination of raw quality and speed — thanks to a stacked 66.8MP full-frame sensor with ludicrous dynamic range, lightning-fast burst-shooting and reliable autofocus performance. I really pushed the A7R VI, shooting everything from landscape photography to wildlife and portraits, and it didn’t skip a beat.

The A7R VI is also a seriously well-designed professional mirrorless camera, with an immersive high-resolution EVF and multi-angle touchscreen, plus it packs an all-new higher-capacity battery that bags more shots. Sure it costs a lot, but considering it’s capable of 95% of what the A1 II can do, with more resolution, for a much lower price, I think it’s decent value.

I've never owned a Sony Alpha mirrorless camera, but the A7R VI has me seriously tempted, especially since Sony has made my favorite lenses over the last 18 months. If I could keep a hold of a single new camera from 2026, the A7R VI would be it, and that’s why it’s my top pick.

Timothy Coleman, Cameras Editor

• Read our in-depth Sony A7R VI review

1. LG C6

• The OLED TV that somehow improves on its near-perfect predecessor

The LG C6 is the best TV I’ve tested this year so far. Impressively, it makes huge improvements over its predecessor, the LG C5. Thanks to its new, flagship-level processor, the C6 delivers brilliant, vibrant colors, powerful contrast and crisp detail, delivering better picture quality over the C5: which is no mean feat. When I tested the C6 next to the C5, the C6 proved to be more accurate too, eliminating a green tint that was noticeable on the C5.

The C6 is a gaming powerhouse, continuing the LG C-series’ legacy as one of the very best gaming TVs on the market. With four HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K 165Hz, full VRR including FreeSync and G-Sync, Dolby Vision and ALLM all supported, plus an ultra-low, measured 9.2ms input lag time, gaming is fantastic on the C6.

The C6 covers all the bases, offering solid built-in sound, an intuitive smart TV system that gets better each year and it’s generally the most competitively priced OLED as well. The C6 will take some beating in 2026.

James Davidson, TV Hardware Staff Writer

• Read our in-depth LG C6 review

With a massive $245 saving, it's an ideal kit for vloggers and influencers creating outdoor action and travel content. The a 360-degree camera captures everything around you in a single recording, giving you the freedom to choose the perfect angle later instead of worrying about where the camera was pointing while you were filming.

Earning a best-in-class award in our review, we praised the premium performance at an affordable price and undeniably classy design, calling it "it’s extremely compelling, particularly for content creators who already own a DJI Mic 2 or Mic Mini."

Today's top DJI camera deal

The Osmo 360 records video in up to 5K resolution, giving you plenty of detail for editing and sharing.

Combined with its 30.7MP CMOS sensor, it has the resolution needed to produce crisp footage and high-quality still images across a wide range of shooting situations.

Storage is handled through a microSD card, making it easy to swap cards between shoots or carry extra capacity for longer adventures.

Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also simplify transferring footage and connecting the camera to compatible devices.

DJI has built a strong reputation for imaging products that are easy to use while delivering impressive results, and this camera continues that approach. Its compact design also makes it easy to slip into a backpack or camera bag without taking up much space.

The Adventure Combo is a better buy than the standard camera on its own. Alongside the Osmo 360, you get an extra Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus, the Osmo Action Multifunctional Battery Case 2, a protective carrying pouch, and a lens cleaning cloth, making it easier to shoot for longer and travel with confidence.

If you're looking for a versatile 5K action camera that captures every angle while remaining compact enough to take almost anywhere, this Best Buy deal offers excellent value for money.

Also consider: More creator camera deals

• Shop all action cameras at Best Buy

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to pick one up, the DJI OSmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is $512 (was $639) at Best Buy as part of the 4th of July sale.

That’s a $117 saving on the bundle that includes the mini tripod, wide-angle lens add-on, carrying case, and ND filter set alongside the camera itself — everything you’d need to start shooting without buying accessories separately.

Today's top DJI Osmo Pocket 3 deal

For anyone who creates video content — whether for social media, travel, events, or professional work — the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is one of the best compact cameras available right now.

The Pocket 3 was the upgrade the Pocket line needed. DJI fitted it with a new 1-inch CMOS sensor — the biggest change from the previous generation — and in our review, the improvement in low-light performance was immediately obvious.

That 1-inch sensor is what sets the Pocket 3 apart in the broader action camera market. GoPro and Insta360 alternatives at this price use smaller sensors that struggle in anything other than ideal lighting. The Pocket 3’s 1-inch CMOS captures noticeably more detail and light in indoor environments, evening shoots, and overcast outdoor conditions — the situations where most content creators actually end up filming, rather than in bright daylight, where every camera looks good.

The 4K 120 fps capability is another spec that earns its place in real-world use. At 120 fps, you can slow footage down to 25% speed in a 30fps timeline without it looking choppy — the kind of cinematic slow motion that previously required much more expensive cinema cameras.

For travel content, sports coverage, or anything with movement, it opens up editing options that just aren’t available on competitors that run 4K at 60 fps maximum.

Portrait mode at up to 3K resolution is genuinely useful for social media creators. Instead of cropping a landscape video into a vertical frame and losing half the image, the Pocket 3 captures natively in portrait orientation — the output is optimized for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts without any post-processing workaround.

In our review, we flagged two honest caveats to keep in mind before you buy. The touchscreen, while improved over the previous generation at 2 inches, is still “not the most enjoyable when navigating around settings and menus” given the limited real estate. And, like most compact cameras with high-powered sensors in a small chassis, it can get warm during extended filming sessions. Neither is a deal-breaker, but both are worth factoring in if you’re planning long continuous shoots.

The Creator Combo’s value is straightforward: the ND filter set alone typically costs $40–50 when purchased separately, the wide-angle lens add-on adds another $40–60, and the carrying case and mini tripod add further value. Getting all of it bundled at $512 — $117 off the combined retail value — is the right way to buy the Pocket 3 if you want a complete shooting kit rather than just the camera body.

Also consider

• Shop all action cam deals at Best Buy.

Unfortunately, it's also — for the foreseeable future — not going to be officially available in the US, thanks to DJI's ongoing FCC ban. And that's where the new Xtra Muse 2 Pro comes in.

With impeccable timing, this remarkably similar gimbal camera from US-registered brand Xtra has just had a fresh teaser reel arrive on Instagram, and the spec sheet (shared over at The New Camera) will look strangely familiar to anyone who's been following the Osmo Pocket 4P with interest.

A 1-inch CMOS sensor? Check. A second 3x telephoto lens? Check. A 10-bit X-Log 3 color profile, 17 stops of dynamic range and 103GB of built-in storage? Check, check and check.

We've seen this kind of thing before, both from Xtra Technology and SkyRover, two companies that sell products that bear remarkable similarities to DJI cameras and drones, but — unlike those actual DJI products — are freely available to buy in the USA.

As you can see from the embedded teaser above, the Xtra's Muse 2 Pro footage showcases a range of scenarios, including night and low-light performance. There's smooth gimbal movement, with clean detail and well-controlled noise.

It's a smart choice of showcase, particularly when it comes to the low-light scenes: after dark is where small sensors get exposed (so to speak), and the results look very impressive.

What else we know — and what we're waiting on

Beyond the specs from the teaser, the Muse 2 Pro is expected to feature a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, a rotatable touchscreen and ActiveTrack 7.0.

The original Xtra Muse (a dead ringer from the DJI Osmo Pocket 3) has gained Bluetooth support for DJI's Mic Mini and Mic 2 via a firmware update earlier this year — a useful sweetener for anyone already invested in DJI's microphone lineup. So we can expect similar microphone compatibility from the Muse 2 Pro.

If the Muse 2 Pro's real-world image quality can back up those spec sheet numbers, it's going to slot into a very interesting position in the US market. The Insta360 Luna Ultra has just launched there as a dual-lens rival, starting at $769.99 — and having tried it we can attest to it being a serious camera. But competition is good, and with DJI's appeal of its FCC ban still working its way through the courts, US creators are going to need options.

The Muse 2 Pro is shaping up to be a very well-timed one, and it seems likely that Xtra will be pushing for it to arrive this summer, perhaps as early as mid-July.

We knew it was coming after a soft reveal at Cannes Film Festival last month, but now DJI has fully revealed its first dual-lens compact vlogging camera, the Osmo Pocket 4P.

You'll have to dig for the details, mind you — the Pocket 4P has only been announced in China, and for now, the full specs and features can only be found on the China page of the DJI site. You'll need to select the China region (中国大陆) to learn about the camera's core features, or you can stick with me here for the highlights and how it compares to the Osmo Pocket 4 and the Insta360 Luna Ultra dual-lens rival.

There's no official word yet on global pricing and availability, but based on recent DJI launches, I would expect a two-week wait before there's wider availability. Let's see how the Pocket 4P compares to the Pocket 4 and Insta360 Luna Ultra. For now, DJI's confirmed a starting price of CNY 3,799 for the Pocket 4P, which is about $562 / £420.

1. Lenses

The Pocket 4P's core design is the same as the Pocket 4, but with one major difference: the lenses. Where the Pocket 4 has a single ultra-wide 20mm f/2.0 lens, the Pocket 4P adds a second 3x telephoto lens.

The 3x lens is a 60mm f/1.8 optic, and it records onto a separate 1/1.28-inch sensor to the ultra-wide's refined 1-inch sensor. This is truly a dual-camera device with two distinct perspectives, and it's a design approach we've seen in the recent Insta360 Luna Ultra, which I'm still testing in depth as I write this article.

At first glance, the Pocket 4P and Luna Ultra's lenses are designed differently; the Pocket 4P's twin-lens array is vertically arranged, the Luna Ultra's is horizontal. I'm not sure of the reasoning for that, or what practical advantages each array has over the other.

Both Pocket 4P and Luna Ultra offer a 'lossless' 6x zoom from their telephoto cameras, plus a 12x digital zoom. I'll compare the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P and Insta360 Luna Ultra in real-world tests soon, but the specs look pretty similar:

2. Dynamic range and color

Almost all of the Osmo Pocket 4 and Pocket 4P specs are identical, but there is one area where DJI is pushing the pricier dual-lens model: dynamic range and color profiles.

The Pocket 4's dynamic range is rated up to 14 stops, whereas the Pocket 4P is billed as having a ludicrous-sounding 17 stops, which would beat the performance of high-end professional cameras. I don't have details on how the dynamic range is achieved or whether you need a specific mode to get it, but we'll find out soon enough.

One way could be DJI's new D-Log 2 color profile, which it says is an upgrade from the D-Log profile used in the Pocket 4.

And as for the Luna Ultra, it supposedly has a 14-stop dynamic range and an I-Log color profile. I-Log is Insta360's first Log profile, whereas DJI has iterated log profiles over multiple versions.

As far as which camera delivers the best-looking footage, we'll have to wait and see, but the shots on the Pocket 4P product page look stunning!

3. Design

You can think of the Pocket 4P as a Pocket 4 but with an extra camera, because otherwise the design of the two cameras is pretty much the same; they both feature a compact design, a rotating 2-inch touchscreen, which reveals two additional buttons when positioned horizontally.

They both utilize a 3-axis gimbal camera unit, which features a magnetic arm and contact points to which a neat LED light snaps onto, and is powered by the camera. I like the new slimline gimbal protector in the Pocket 4 models — it's much more compact than the hard shell case that came with the Pocket 3.

Of course, there are more design differences between the Pocket 4P and the Luna Ultra. The Pocket 4P is the slimmer and the slicker of the two, and it has additional buttons and that gimbal feature.

The Luna Ultra comes in a larger hard shell case and is overall clunkier, but it has a clever and well-implemented detachable control with 20m transmission range, which has gained much praise and is being touted as a reason to choose Insta360 over DJI. The control features the rotating 2-inch OLED touchscreen, key camera controls and a built-in mic.

I'll be returning soon with my in-depth Luna Ultra review and, no doubt, comparisons with the Pocket 4P once I've got the two cameras side by side.

Having already used the Luna Ultra for about a month, I can safely say that I'd struggle to return to a single-lens vlogging camera like the Pocket 4; these dual-lens models are so much more versatile, so stay tuned for more.

4. Pricing

• Pocket 4P Standard kit costs CNY 3,799 (about $562 / £420)
• Pocket 4P Vlog kit costs CNY 4,299 (about $636 / £475)

If those price conversions are remotely accurate to the actual price, then the Pocket 4P will be much cheaper than the Insta360 Luna Ultra. I think the actual price will be higher.

But of course, DJI is banned in the US, and so the Pocket 4P won't be available there for the foreseeable future, and so those US prices are a moot point.

The luna Ultra costs; $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99 for the Standard Kit, while a Creator Bundle costs $969.99 / £829 / AU$1,549.99. The Pocket 4 starts at £429 / AU$749 or £549 / AU$959 for the Creator Combo.

No sooner has Insta360 unveiled its first vlogging cameras, the Luna Ultra and (upcoming) Luna Pro — which look set to enjoy unrivaled access to the US market because of the DJI ban — than DJI has filed an Insta360 lawsuit in the US, claiming they "blatantly copy" its Pocket 3.

For years, DJI has enjoyed near total dominance in the compact vlogging camera market with its hugely popular Osmo Pocket series, but now it faces two very real challenges: access to the US market, and the first serious-rival product.

DJI's latest and best vlogging camera, the Pocket 4, was launched in April this year, but the polished Pocket 3 successor is yet to make it to the US, given that DJI is on the FCC's 'Covered list', which currently affects any DJI products with a camera, not just its drones. So it's unlikely to hit US stores any time soon.

Meanwhile, Insta360 Luna cameras have made quite the impression. Despite being a first-generation product, the Luna Ultra is polished, and features a neat modular design that DJI Pocket cameras lack — check out my first impressions of the Luna Ultra, which I've been testing at length.

Now DJI is going straight for the jugular with its lawsuit, demanding that Luna cameras are banned. I've tested both cameras, and the user experience is very similar, but the crux of the situation is whether or not Luna cameras actually violate design and utility patents, as DJI claims in its lawsuit.

Insta360 has now filed two countersuits against DJI, related to "patents covering technology used in gimbal and 360-degree cameras". In a statement provided to TechRadar, Insta360 also defended its Luna cameras, saying "Luna Ultra is the result of years of independent R&D, not a response to any competitor's product."

The DJI / Insta360 rivalry just went up a notch

I spoke with Insta360 co-founder Max Richter at a pre-launch Luna event, and he told me the company was "not going to compete on price", but on premium and exclusive features. Specifically he was referring to the Luna's innovative removable remote, which features a 2-inch OLED screen, camera controls and built-in mic. Right now in the US, however, Insta360 doesn't need to rival DJI at all, because it has a clear field in that market.

But Insta360 faces a potential headache in the form of DJI's lawsuit. Petapixel reports that DJI has filed two patent lawsuits against Arashi Vision Inc. — which does business as Insta360 — covering two alleged violations of design patents and four utility patents.

The lawsuit claims that Luna cameras closely copy the design and features of the Osmo Pocket 3, claiming that “Insta360’s new Luna line of gimbal cameras, including but not limited to the Luna Ultra, supporting accessories, and the Insta360 mobile application (collectively, the “Accused Products”) blatantly copy DJI’s patented inventions wholesale.”

The suit adds: "From its silhouette to its feature set, the Accused Products mirror what DJI has spent the better part of a decade engineering and patenting for its innovative handheld gimbal camera systems.

"The visual similarity between the Accused Products and the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 design is striking. [As shown below,] the Accused Products share the same general proportions, the same gimbal-on-handle architecture, and the same component arrangement as DJI’s Osmo Pocket 3."

As for the four utility patents, DJI says that Insta360 Luna cameras and accessories "copy key features that make the DJI Osmo Pocket unique in the marketplace including DJI’s innovative subject-tracking technology, seamless gimbal-mode switching allowing the camera’s shooting direction to follow user movement of the handle, and a 'locked' mode to maintain a fixed shooting direction regardless of how the handle is moved."

DJI was clearly ready with this lawsuit, given that it was filed on the day the Insta360 Luna Ultra became officially available for purchase in leading US stores, including B&H Photo.

Many US-based vloggers will likely be watching the case with interest — they're already missing out on the excellent DJI Pocket 4, and they must be hoping that they won't also be denied the chance to buy Insta360's Luna cameras.

Now the rivalry has been raised another notch, with Insta360 filing its countersuit.

Insta360's response

In a statement provided to TechRadar, Insta360 founder and CEO JK Liu struck a defiant tone in his response to the DJI lawsuit and Insta360's countersuit, saying about the Luna cameras:

"Development began in 2020, with earlier Insta360 products including the ONE R, Link Series webcams, and Flow Series gimbals helping shape the technology and design direction behind Luna Ultra. DJI filing lawsuits on the same day we launched Luna Ultra speaks volumes — exposing their fear of competition from a highly competitive product."

Regarding the countersuit, the statements reads:

The company asserts that DJI infringed its patents relating to gimbal stabilization, gimbal directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlay, and panoramic video stabilization. These technologies are incorporated into several major DJI products, including the Osmo Pocket series, Ronin/RS series, Osmo Mobile series, and Osmo 360.

Liu said, "We are fully committed to protecting our innovations and will take decisive action to defend our intellectual property from infringement."

We now have the full picture of Insta360's first compact vlogging camera and DJI Pocket rival, after the Luna Ultra hit online stores yesterday (June 10), with prices starting at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99.

I've already shared my first impressions of the dual-lens 8K video camera, but Insta360 limited what could be shared ahead of its launch. Now all can be revealed — but you'll have to forgive the timing and nature of my coverage, because Insta360 hastily brought forward the launch from the previously-set embargo that I was working to.

I can now reveal that the Insta360 Luna Ultra packs two cameras which are stabilized by a 3-axis gimbal. The 1x main f/1.8 camera shoots 8K 30p video with Dolby Vision (HDR) and 4K 120fps slow motion, and features a 1-inch sensor (Insta360's largest yet, matching DJI) with 14 stops of dynamic range. (DJI has separately teased 17 stops dynamic for its upcoming Pocket 4P.)

The 3x telephoto f/2.0 camera works with a smaller but still decent-sized 1/1.3-inch sensor, and offers a 6x lossless zoom and up to a 12x digital zoom. I've tried both cameras extensively, and the telephoto camera is able to throw depth of field nicely for upper-body vlogging.

The Ultra is equipped with I-Log color profile — a feature pros demand for color grading flexibility, and another complete first for Insta360, plus Insta360's triple processing chips and latest AI subject tracking, which works pretty darn well.

I'll share more about the Luna Ultra's features in my upcoming in-depth review, but until then, let's look at how it handles compared to the Pocket 4.

Clearing up the Luna / Pocket 4 confusion

Insta360 is going hard with its first vlogging cameras, the single-lens Luna Pro and dual-lens Luna Ultra. The latter is available now, while the Pro's launch date is yet to be confirmed. Insta360 changed the Luna Ultra launch date several times due to a "rapidly changing competitive landscape," and it was eventually brought forward to a week earlier than the date I was working to. I've been testing the product for several weeks, and will publish my in-depth review as soon as I can.

DJI's latest single-lens vlogging camera was launched last month — check out my in-depth Pocket 4 review. It's no secret that the Pocket 4P is coming soon — DJI teased the dual-lens vlogging camera at Cannes Film Festival recently.

So, both brands will have single-lens and dual-lens vlogging cameras in their product lineups soon. But what we have right now is DJI's single-lens Pocket 4 and Insta 360's dual-lens Ultra, which makes direct comparisons tricky — it's like pitting a featherweight against a heavyweight in terms of versatility.

That being said, we know enough about the specs of all four cameras, and I've had enough time to get a feel for the design of the Luna Ultra and Pocket 4, to make some early impressions.

Luna Ultra versus Pocket 4

This isn't a fair comparison — the Luna Ultra is a pricier model with dual-lens versatility that will rival the upcoming Pocket 4P. But it's Insta360's first foray into a vlogging camera market, which has been dominated by the DJI Pocket series for several years. In that respect, the Luna Ultra feels surprisingly polished.

The Pocket 4 is the smaller of the two, and the Pocket 4P will be smaller than the Luna cameras too. It's not a big difference in size, and the extra bulk of the Luna Ultra hardly effects its handling, plus it's to facilitate a unique, game-changing feature — a detachable 2-inch OLED screen.

The screen is part of a module which also includes the camera's main controls. It has up to a 20m transmission range, and can be used to view and control the camera, and of course to initiate recording.

Given that the Luna Ultra features advanced subject tracking, you effectively have an autonomous camera that can track you while you move, within the limits of the gimbal's range. The module also features a built-in microphone, which is super handy too for vlogging, even if you still might want a wireless mic like Insta360's 5 star-rated Mic Pro for the best quality audio.

This modular functionality is a bit like the Insta360 Go 3S and its Action Dock / DJI Nano action cams, and clearly an advantage over the Pocket 4. The Pocket 4 has its own tricks mind you, such as its magnetic LED light which directly attaches to and is powered by the camera.

Both cameras are compatible with useful accessories, such as wireless mics. Yes, DJI has had skin in the game for longer, and boasts a solid ecosystem, but Insta360 is hardly lacking either.

As for the single-lens and dual-lens varieties, the latter are indeed like having two cameras, and will set the benchmark for compact vlogging camera quality, potentially persuading new users over using their smartphones. They're much pricier than the single-lens varieties, though — as we now we know, having seen how much the Luna Ultra costs.

How do the two cameras sounds to you? Is the dual-lens version overkill, or what the format needed? Let me know in the comments below, and make sure you vote in the poll above — and check back in for my in-depth coverage, coming soon.

This all-in-one creator kit bundles together the excellent DJI Osmo Pocket 4, DJI Mic 3, and plenty of accessories, including a gimbal and tripod. I've taken a look and I can't find this bundle cheaper anywhere else, with Walmart pricing the Creator Combo at $899, and Amazon selling the Standard Combo kit for $999, which includes an SD card but no microphone.

Our expert cameras editor Tim recently tested the Osmo Pocket 4 out in the field, and found, "professional vloggers familiar with the previous model will appreciate a raft of subtle improvements that make the latest version a much more polished 4K camera."

Today's best DJI Osmo Pocket 4 bundle deal

This latest model is an upgrade on the wildly popular Pocket 3, which has become the content creator's vlogging camera of choice since its release.

In Tim's comprehensive review (read it here), he said, "Bang for buck, the Pocket 4 is excellent value, and has no real rival," and found "no other vlogging camera this small produces such crisp, stabilized 4K video, complete with reliable subject tracking."

All the features he loved about the 4K Pocket 3 are still here, from the compact design to the video stabilization performance. But the newer model also adds fresh enhancements that, while not dramatic, will be appreciated by professional creators.

It's worth quoting Tim in full, to give you a better idea what's going on here:

"Top upgrades include better slow-motion recording, now up to 240fps in 4K, better-quality 4K video with 10-bit color depth and wider dynamic range now up to 14 stops, slicker subject tracking which is available in more modes, better battery life, 107GB of internal memory, and refined controls, such as a new magnetic gimbal arm which accepts accessories such as a fill light."

Not everyone is going to need to upgrade, of course - the feature-set isn't massively different to the Pocket 3, even if the improvements are welcome. To help you make sense of the two models, Tim's helpfully outlined the differences between the DJI Pocket 4 vs. DJI Pocket 3.

Still, the Pocket 4 Creator Combo deal is worth checking out if you're looking for the latest and greatest 4K vlogging camera from DJI.

In the box, you get:

• DJI Osmo Pocket 4
• DJI Mic 3 transmitter
• Mic 3 cable, clip, magnet, and windscreens
• Fill light
• Mini tripod
• Camera handle
• Wide-angle lens
• Gimbal clamp
• Pouch and carry case
• USB-C to USB-C cable

More DJI Osmo Pocket deals

• See all action cams at Newegg

I have some good news, however, and that's a record-low price for its predecessor, the Osmo Pocket 3, which is a DJI product you actually can buy, now for just $419 at Adorama (was $499) during Memorial Day — the same deal is available at Amazon.

The Pocket 3 Creator Combo is also on sale for just $539 (was $629) at Adorama and Amazon, which also includes a wide-angle lens, DJI Mic 2, battery handle, mini tripod and carry case — both are stand out deals in the Memorial Day sales.

Yes, the Pocket 4 is a polished successor, but I described it as a modest upgrade where headline specs are concerned, so you might not be missing out on much by opting for the older and readily available Pocket 3 instead.

And just to give you an idea on how good the current Pocket 3 pricing is — one year ago it was hiked from $519 to $799 as uncertainty around DJI product availability grew. At the turn of the year, however, pricing returned and since then it has steadily dropped, now to a new record-low.

• View Amazon's full Memorial Day sale

Today's best DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Memorial Day deals

Should you still buy the Pocket 3 in 2026?

We don't know if the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 will be directly available in the US, nor the recently teased dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P. The latter 'pro' model adds a 3x telephoto camera to the mix, a formula which is also found in the new Insta360 Luna Ultra, which I am testing ahead of its full unveil.

We don't know too much about the Pocket 4P and Luna cameras but they will cost much more than the Pocket 3.

I've shared my full review of the Pocket 4, and it is indeed a polished upgrade. For many users, however, the improvements such as built-in memory, better battery life, fill light accessory and 4K 240fps slow motion recording won't be worth the upgrade / spending more for. I've unpacked 7 noteworthy upgrades in my Pocket 4 vs Pocket 3 article.

So should you still consider the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 today? Absolutely! Besides it being your only DJI option that's currently available, the tiny vlogging camera still packs a 1-inch sensor and shoots crisp 4K video with 3-axis gimbal stabilization, and is supported with a swivel monitor for vertical or horizontal shooting and single push selfies.

Yes, it might be over two years old, but the Osmo Pocket 3 remains a top compact vlogging camera, available for much less than the Pocket 4 and almost certainly upcoming dual-lens models.

You'll get 4K video up to 60fps and up to 120fps slow motion, seamless connectivity with one of DJI's wireless mics for pro audio (remember the Mic 2 is included in the Creator Combo), that neat swivel touch monitor which cleverly switches between horizontal and vertical recording, plus a gimbal-mounted camera that switches from front to selfie recording at the push of a button.

So while the Pocket 3 has lost its top position to the Pocket 4 in my best vlogging cameras guide, I can still heartily recommend it in this Memorial Day deal.

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more

This particular bundle includes the drone, an RC-N1C controller, and one battery. That means you'll be up and flying in no time at all, capturing breathtaking 4K video.

One of the best things about the DJI Mini 4K is how portable it is. At less than 249g, you can throw it into a camera bag or rucksack and take it anywhere you want. The fact that it's now discounted by so much only sweetens the deal more.

Today's best DJI drone deal

Take a read of our in-depth DJI Mini 4K review, where our cameras editor, Timothy Coleman, took the popular drone out for a test spin. It didn't take long for him to be impressed by the high-resolution 4K video, the set of features that are perfect for beginners, and its excellent value. And don't forget, that was at full price.

Beyond this, the drone offers level 5 wind resistance, dynamic movement presets, and a battery that will last for a maximum of 31 minutes. This will be enough for most flights, but if that's going to be an issue, then we recommend investing in additional batteries.

To give you a complete picture, the Mini 4K lacks object-collision sensors and subject tracking, which will make it difficult to fly through tight spaces. If you require this feature, then the DJI Mini 4 Pro would be a viable alternative. But this Mini 4K has all the essential features you would need for your first drone at a much more reasonable price.

The Mini 4K is ideal for beginners, but if you're looking for something more advanced, then our guide to the best drones is a great place to start. And if you're set on DJI, then we have a dedicated best DJI drones buying guide just for you.

Following the launch of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 vlogging camera last month, we're getting closer and closer to the full unveiling of its premium sibling — and DJI has given us our best look yet at the Osmo Pocket 4P on social media.

Posts to X and Instagram reveal the design of the device in full, more or less. We can see the dual-lens camera setup, which is one of the key differences from the standard model, and there are hints towards 3x zoom and a 1-inch sensor.

The camera was shown off at an "exclusive preview" at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, but we're still waiting on a lot of details. Some festival attendees have been showing off the camera, without revealing any specs or showing any footage captured by the device.

What we can say is that this is going to be a step up from the standard Pocket 4 in terms of video quality and price, and its tease at Cannes is a sign that DJI wants to promote this as a serious bit of equipment for movie-makers.

The waiting game

There is now an official press release, but again it's light on specific specs. We do hear the camera is capable of "professional-grade storytelling" and offers 10-bit D-Log2 color performance, which industry creatives will appreciate.

The press release also talks about better portrait, zoom, and low-light performance, so it sounds as though DJI has put everything it can into the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P. However, pricing and configurations "will be announced at a later date", DJI says.

This long build-up of hype hasn't sat well with some commenters on Reddit, who have dismissed the Cannes tease as "pure marketing fluff" with "zero real details". We'll have to wait and see if the camera ends up being worth the extended wait.

Meanwhile, Insta360 is busy getting ready to launch the Insta360 Luna Ultra, with its own dual-lens camera setup, 8K video recording, and a detachable, remote control dashboard, according to the latest leaks.

This is actually for the combo package, so you get even more for your money. The bundle includes a DJI Remote Controller for advanced flying maneuvers and three batteries for 114 minutes of flight time. You'll look like the consummate professional even though you've paid no more than $500 for the privilege.

We're also big fans of the true vertical shooting for social media optimized shots. That means no more faffing around with crops in post. The Mini 3 will handle everything for you in-camera. This really is a fantastic drone package for any hobbyist or beginner professional – now back to its record-low price.

Today's best DJI drone deal

In our DJI Mini 3 review, we rated this drone four out of five stars and praised its affordability, great image quality, and small form factor. In terms of image output, the Mini 3 can capture 12 MP photos (RAW and JPEG) and 4K video at 30fps. That's enough resolution to cover most purposes, especially considering the more budget nature of this drone.

It's a great all-rounder that does all the basics well. It's not as fully featured as some drones, though, as evidenced by the lack of collision avoidance. But if you plan on flying in open spaces most of the time, you won't miss it at all, especially if you take advantage of QuickShot's automated flight patterns.

Check out our extensive guide to the best DJI drones if your heart is set on this popular brand. If, on the other hand, you're open to other options, then our best drones guide is worth checking out instead.

The US Federal Communications Commission’s ban on new DJI drones and its other technology has been a frustrating one for camera enthusiasts and professionals alike — as they’re set to miss out on 25 launches this year alone — but we finally have a silver lining, even if it is a small one.

Your older DJI drones should stay reliable for a little while longer.

That’s because the FCC has announced that it’s extending the waiver for certain drones to receive software updates in the US. Previously, it was set to expire on January 1, 2027, but now it will last until at least January 1, 2029 — foreign internet routers have also had their software access extended until this date (via Tom’s Hardware).

In terms of hardware access, nothing has changed, but it means that manufacturers shouldn't get blocked from releasing essential security or bug fix patches to already sold tech (at least not until 2029). Previously, this was a fear once the waiver ran out, and could have left some tech unable to function if it encountered a glitch, or turn your drone into the sort of security risk that the FCC’s ban is meant to avoid.

Meanwhile, DJI is attempting to appeal the FCC’s ruling in US courts. The ban came about when DJI was put on the 'Covered List' — a list of entities thought to be a threat to national security — though neither the FCC nor the US government has explained exactly what DJI has done to deserve this designation.

At the same time, these entities refused to perform a security audit of DJI, despite the company submitting to one.

The whole process has been a frustrating one to watch play out — especially given the excellent quality of DJI’s camera and drone tech. Hopefully, this waiver extension will help alleviate some issues, but we’ll have to wait and see how the DJI appeal goes for a more definitive verdict on the drone brand’s US fate.

Have your say

If you’re frustrated with the DJI ban, the FCC is currently giving the public a chance to submit comments on its measures — though the form closes today (May 11), so you don’t have much time left.

As highlighted on the r/drones subreddit, you just need to go to the FCC’s Submit an Express Comment page and fill in the short form; in the first box, type "26-22" to find the DJI ruling where you'll want to comment.

You will need to provide some personal information (such as your name and address), and then provide your comment on the ban. You can highlight how DJI drones have positively impacted your life, and/or you could question the confusing implementation of the ban — how it affects all of DJI’s tech rather than just its drones, or how the ban doesn’t seem to be applied fairly to other similar drone makers.

Equally, if you think the ban has had a positive impact (though we here at TechRadar wouldn’t agree), you can also leave a comment explaining why you hope the ban stays in place.

Just remember to keep your comments civil, the FCC likely won’t appreciate being bombarded with rude or hateful comments — and harsher words wouldn’t help either side’s arguments in this technology debate.

When I reviewed the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 in November 2025, the only real criticism I had for it was its lack of a remote control. With the Osmo Mobile 8P, DJI has gone and fixed that issue — and in doing so has produced what I'd call the most capable lightweight smartphone stabilizer on the market right now.

The headline addition is the Osmo FrameTap, a detachable remote that snaps magnetically onto the gimbal handle for close-up work and slides off for remote shooting (with a range of up to 25m). Its 1.4-inch touchscreen can mirror your phone's camera view — directly on Android, via the Mimo app on iOS — so you can frame shots, trigger tracking, and adjust the gimbal's pan and tilt without having to peer at your phone's screen. It's a feature that the Osmo Mobile 8 was crying out for, and a match for the touchscreen remote that made the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra one of my favorite gimbals of 2025.

In most other respects, the 8P is virtually identical to the Osmo Mobile 8: it has the same foldable form factor, built-in extension rod and mini tripod, magnetic phone clamp, 360° pan rotation, and up to 10 hours of battery life. DJI claims the OM 8P's 8th-generation three-axis stabilization delivers 20% more torque than the OM 8's, and while I don't doubt that on paper, I'd be surprised if most users noticed any difference in everyday shooting. The stabilization is smooth and dependable, as you'd expect from any modern DJI gimbal.

Where the 8P is more meaningfully upgraded is in its tracking skills. The Advanced Tracking Combo bundle I reviewed pairs the gimbal with the 2nd-Generation AI Tracking Module (officially the Multifunctional Module 2), which can now follow virtually any object — not just people and pets, but vehicles and more — using your phone's native camera or any third-party app. It also features a highly customizable LED fill light.

In testing, ActiveTrack 8.0 (only available through the Mimo app) and the Module 2's own tracking were both excellent, reliably re-acquiring me even when I ducked behind objects and re-emerged in a different spot. You can also set your position within the frame rather than being locked to the center, which is a useful tool for more compositionally minded creators. Apple DockKit tracking is also present, but with Module 2 available, it feels largely redundant. I suppose it's useful if you want the simplicity of NFC pairing, but it offers far fewer options than either of the other two modes.

Beyond tracking, the 8P's general feature set will feel familiar to anyone who has used its predecessor. You get the same four gimbal motion modes — PTF (pan and tilt follow), PF (pan follow), FPV, and SpinShot — cycled through via the FrameTap's on-screen mode button, plus a trigger on the front for re-centering, locking the gimbal axes, and flipping the phone between front and rear-facing cameras. Buttons for toggling between portrait and landscape orientation are also available (again, via the FrameTap's touchscreen), and the mini joystick handles manual pan and tilt when you want direct control over the gimbal arm.

There are some trade-offs here, though. By shifting much of the control scheme to the FrameTap's touchscreen, the 8P feels less immediately hands-on than the OM8 — the joystick is smaller, and functions like mode switching and camera toggling now live behind a touchscreen rather than dedicated physical buttons. The zoom/focus wheel present on the Osmo Mobile 8 is gone entirely, which feels like a regression. And if you're stepping up from a gimbal that used the original Multifunctional Module 1, note that the Module 2 has apparently dropped support for connecting a DJI wireless microphone directly to the module itself — you'll need to connect your mic to the phone instead.

All things considered, the Osmo Mobile 8P represents a small but meaningful step forward for DJI's gimbal lineup. Its tracking is class-leading, its remote control fills the one gap that held the OM 8 back, and its pricing remains competitive against rivals like the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro and Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra. The reduced physical controls and the Module 2's dropped mic receiver support are real niggles, but they're unlikely to be dealbreakers for most users. If you're in the market for a folding smartphone gimbal, the OM 8P is now the one to beat.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: price and availability

• Priced from £135 / AU$219
• Available in three different bundles

At £135 / AU$219 for the Standard Combo (which, importantly, includes the FrameTap), the Osmo Mobile 8P is priced at the same level as its predecessor.

The Advanced Tracking Combo (which is the configuration I tested) comes in at £169 / AU$269. It includes the same contents as the Standard Combo, plus the new Multifunctional Module 2 tracker and fill light.

Finally, there's the Creator Combo at £195 / AU$329, which features all of the above plus a DJI Mic Mini 2 transmitter and mobile receiver. Like all recent DJI products, there's no US pricing or availability at launch.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: specs

Should you buy the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P review: Also consider

How I tested the DJI Osmo Mobile 8

• One week of use
• Tested with an Apple iPhone 13
• Used for B-roll and vlog-style footage

I reviewed the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P for around a week, testing it both handheld and set up on its built-in mini tripod. It was used with my Apple iPhone 13's front-facing and rear cameras, both indoors and outdoors, and I recorded video using a range of apps (but mostly the iPhone camera and DJI Mimo). I made sure to test its tracking capabilities with all three of the available tracking methods: ActiveTrack 8.0 (via the Mimo app only); the Module 2; and Apple DockKit.

First reviewed May 2026

The stunning winning photos and videos of the 11th edition of the contest were selected from over 95,000 entries and 96 countries and regions — and drone pilot Filip Hrebenda scooped the grand prize in the contest's $200,000 pot with his aerial image The Gate (see below).

Contest judge Zhu Jiong described the scene as "straight out of a fairyland — layered mountains wrapped in mist.

"The image feels calm on the outside, yet somehow breathtaking."

Four judges praised the grand prize winner, saying: "The location and conditions feel rare, especially with the fog and elevation, making the scene stand out."

Judge Daniel Kordan goes on to say: "I must admit I haven't seen such a composition before, so it is a unique and fresh shot."

The remote aerial scene was taken in Buskerud, Norway, with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro — a pro triple camera drone which we gave a five-star rating, and which has since been updated with the Mavic 4 Pro. We rank the Pro series as the best camera drones for consumers.

Details on the SkyPixel contest's site suggest Hrebenda used the main 24mm camera with variable aperture, which utilizes a micro four thirds sensor – that's bigger than those used in DJI's sub-250g drones.

Hrebenda had this to say about his winning image:

"Captured in the far north of Norway during the autumn of 2025, this photograph was taken in a remote and extremely difficult-to-reach location. At sunrise, the landscape was covered by dense fog that filled the valleys and concealed the dramatic terrain.

"After a demanding ascent, we finally rose above the cloud layer, revealing this surreal and almost otherworldly view. The natural stone arch, resembling a monumental gate carved by time, stands suspended above a deep valley, surrounded by rugged cliffs and distant mountain silhouettes emerging from the sea of mist. The lone figure on the rock emphasizes the scale and raw beauty of the landscape.

"To capture this composition, finding the perfect perspective was essential. This was made possible with the help of a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone, which allowed me to position the camera precisely and reveal the full geometry of this extraordinary natural formation."

All the winning images can be seen at the SkyPixel site and also include the early front-runner Carpet Fields, which ended up being a finalist and was captured with the older Mavic 2 Pro.

It's truly amazing the standard of photography that camera drone pilots are creating with what is relatively affordable gear.

The main model to consider is the Lito's predecessor, the DJI Mini 4K, which at time of writing holds the #2 spot in TechRadar's best drone ranking. It packs some impressive specs for an affordable price, and is an especially strong choice for beginners (we crowned it "your best first drone"). You can see exactly how it matches up against its replacement in our DJI Lito X1 vs DJI Mini 4K comparison.

For content creators looking to capture short selfie video clips and photos for social media, the obvious choice is the DJI Neo 2. It's compact, simple and wallet-friendly. And if you're looking to steer clear of DJI altogether, the Potensic Atom 2 is well worth a look.

Finally, there's a curve-ball option from TechRadar's Cameras editor Tim Coleman. "A left-field alternative is a 360 camera with a long selfie stick — you can get drone-like effects with those," he explains. You could pick any option from TechRadar's best 360 cameras guide, but for those seeking to keep the price down, Tim suggests the Insta360 Invisible selfie stick paired with the Insta360 X3 camera — this model has been upgraded twice over (with the X4 and X5) but it's still available, capable, and at this point very affordable. Who needs a Lito anyway?

DJI Lito alternatives

We rated the DJI Mic Mini as the best small wireless mic when it was launched in 2024, and it now has a successor in the shape of the Mic Mini 2. Both are 5-star products for content creators wanting an affordable, lightweight, and simple mic for better audio on the go.

If you already own a Mic Mini, there's very little reason to upgrade to the Mic Mini 2 because performance is practically the same; both mics feature clear 24-bit audio, two-level noise reduction, a transmission range up to 400m, healthy battery life, and a lightweight 11g build.

So what exactly is new? I've pinpointed the key differences below, chief among them being much better pricing this time around, plus a new bundle for mobile creators.

Surprisingly, however, DJI also revealed in its Mic Mini 2 press release that a Mic Mini 2S is in the pipeline for later this year. The 'S' version will add welcome upgrades missing in current models: internal recording, plus the capacity to sync up to four mics with one receiver. That's all we know about the Mic Mini 2S for now, but it sounds like it'll be worth the wait for Mic Mini upgraders.

Let's now see how the Mic Mini and Mic Mini 2 compare. You can find out more about each product in our full reviews via the links above.

1. Design

Both products are tiny, discreet, and lightweight — the Mic Mini 2 weighs just 11g by itself (not including the magnetic attachment). However, there's one new design trick in the Mic Mini 2 that could be worth an upgrade, depending on the user: magnetic covers.

The Mic Mini 2 has a magnetic surface that accepts covers, with a wide range of colors available, as you can see in the lead image of this article. There are further limited edition covers too (see above). There's a selection of covers included in the 2 TX + 1RX + Charging Case bundle (details below), while additional covers can be purchased separately.

If you're style-conscious and like the sound of a wireless mic that matches the color of your outfit, then this new feature could be worth the upgrade alone. However, if you don't mind the standard black or white options, then this upgrade could feel like a bit of a gimmick.

2. Voice tone presets

DJI has added three voice tone presets to the Mic Mini 2: regular, rich, and bright. The idea is that each preset optimizes audio quality based on the recording environment. However, our reviewer found that there was so little difference between the sound in each preset that it's barely worth the upgrade.

So if customizable colors aren't your bag, nor do the voice tone presets entice, there's essentially no reason to upgrade to the Mic Mini 2 from the Mic Mini. However, for those buying new, the biggest reason to be excited is a significant price cut, along with a new bundle designed for mobile creators.

3. Pricing and bundles

When the Mic Mini was unveiled in 2024, the 2 TX + 1RX + Charging Case bundle cost $169 / £145 / AU$245. It seems hard to believe, then, that the equivalent Mic Mini 2 bundle costs just £89 / AU$149 — that's a huge price cut, likely due to increased competition. As is the way with DJI currently, there's no US pricing or availability at launch.

There's also a new bundle designed for solo mobile creators, which comprises one mic, one mobile receiver (see our DJI Mic series mobile receiver hands-on), and a charging case, available for just £49 / AU$89. This kit includes a sleek receiver that slots into your phone's USB-C, whereas the bundle above includes the standard receiver, which is much clunkier when connected to a phone, and is a better fit for proper cameras.

The price for the mobile bundle is the same price that DJI was asking for a single mic when it launched the original Mic Mini. Sadly, it's not possible to buy a solo Mic Mini 2 mic just yet.

All that being said, the price of the original Mic Mini complete kit mentioned above has continually dropped during its two-year life, and can now be found for as little as £65 / AU$124 — that's less than the new version with its additional colored covers.

For me, those Mic Mini 2 prices are super competitive. Yes, the second-gen model is a tiny upgrade (customizable covers aside), but it led the way for value in an increasingly competitive space and is my new favorite small wireless mic. Whether or not the Mic Mini 2S reveal rains on the Mic Mini 2 parade, we'll have to wait and see.

The DJI Mic Mini 2 is DJI's second-generation entry-level wireless microphone system, replacing the late 2024-released Mic Mini, which we previously rated as the best small wireless mic.

The headline new feature is a set of interchangeable magnetic front covers for the transmitter units, available in colors ranging from white and black to a vivid magenta. Beyond the colorways, the other notable addition over the original Mic Mini is a trio of voice tone presets — Standard, Rich, and Bright — designed to let users subtly shape their vocal recordings.

Everything else will be instantly familiar to anyone who owns the original Mic Mini: the same compact and lightweight transmitter and receiver form factor, the same 24-bit 48kHz audio quality, the same maximum range of 400m with the standard receiver (or 300m with the mobile receiver), and the same claimed battery life of 11.5 hours for the transmitter and 10.5 hours for the receiver, extendable to 48 hours total using the charging case. Two-level active noise canceling is included, and the system is compatible with DJI's OsmoAudio ecosystem, meaning it connects wirelessly without a receiver to devices like the Osmo Action 6 and Osmo 360.

In my testing, audio quality proved crisp and clear, and the active noise canceling did a solid job of taming ambient noise. The voice tone presets, however, were a different story: the differences between Standard, Rich and Bright were so subtle in practice as to be barely worth mentioning, let alone factoring into a buying decision.

That verdict could stand in for the Mic Mini 2 as a whole, really. For buyers new to the world of wireless mics, it's an excellent option: lightweight, affordable, versatile, and easy to use. But for anyone coming from the original Mic Mini, the interchangeable covers and voice presets aren't a compelling reason to upgrade.

Also worth noting: DJI has confirmed that a Mic Mini 2S is coming this summer, bringing with it internal storage for solo recording and support for up to four transmitters simultaneously. If those features matter to you, it's worth sitting tight for now.

The Mic Mini 2 is a fine product sold at a great price. It just happens to be a product that DJI has already announced it will meaningfully improve in a matter of months – which makes it a harder sell than it might otherwise be.

DJI Mic Mini 2: price and release date

• Priced from £49 / AU$89
• Sold in two bundles – but transmitters not available separately
• Available now (except in the USA)

The DJI Mic Mini 2 was released worldwide on April 28 2026 – although, as with all recent DJI products, it will not officially launch in the USA. Not yet, anyway.

DJI offers the Mic Mini 2 in two bundles: the DJI Mic Mini 2 (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) package costs £89 / AU$149 and includes two transmitters, a receiver, a charging case, two windscreens, two white magnetic front covers, two black magnetic front covers, two magnetic clips, two magnets, a carrying pouch, a USB-C mobile phone adapter, a 3.5mm audio cable, a USB-C charging cable and a box of multi-color magnetic front covers (see below).

Also available is the DJI Mic Mini 2 (1 TX + 1 Mobile RX + Charging Case) bundle, which includes a single transmitter, a mobile receiver, a small charging case, one windscreen, one black magnetic cover, one white magnetic cover, one magnetic clip, one magnet, one USB-C charging cable and a carrying pouch. It's priced at just £49 / AU$89.

Unlike the original Mic Mini, DJI doesn't appear to be selling Mic Mini 2 transmitters (mics) solo – at least not at launch. That's a shame – for some buyers using the Osmo Audio system or linking the transmitter directly to their phone via Bluetooth, a receiver and charging case may not be necessary.

However, the overall pricing seems much cheaper than the original Mini, which at launch cost £145 / AU$245 for the complete kit and £49 / AU$69 for individual TX units. So in terms of value, I think the Mic Mini 2 has a lot going for it.

DJI Mic Mini: specs

DJI Mic Mini 2: Design

• Transmitters support swappable front panels
• Clip or magnetic attachment
• Receiver offers manual audio gain, but no monitoring

If we're talking transmitters (also known as the TX units), the Mic Mini 2 looks a lot more like the full-size Mic 3 than it does the original Mic Mini. There's one key difference though: the Mini 2 supports swappable magnetic front covers, which can be prised off with a fingernail and replaced with another of a different color.

The DJI Mic Mini 2 (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case) bundle I was sent to review features a whole range of covers, from staid white and black to eye-popping magenta. These might come across a little gimmicky on paper, but they're harmless and fun – even if I can't really think of too many practical reasons why you'd need them (DJI markets them for outfit matching).

Besides the covers, the TX can be fitted with a clip-on furry windshield for outdoor use, as well as two other magnetic accessories for mounting: a small clip for attaching it to collars, caps and lapels, and a single (but sufficiently strong) magnet for clipping it directly to thinner fabrics. The clip's direction can be selected when attaching it, which is handy.

There's also an indicator light and a couple of buttons for powering on/off and pairing the TX with different devices, but other than that, the TX is pretty simple. It doesn't feature on-board storage and, with no USB-C port, can only be recharged in the charging case.

The standard receiver (or RX) looks identical to the original Mic Mini's to my eyes. It suffers from the same drawback, too: with no on-board LCD display, there's no way to monitor levels on the hardware. Still, I suppose that's what the more pro-friendly Mic 3 is for – the Mic Mini 2 is the affordable option, and cuts must be made somewhere. The receiver does have a clip for attaching to clothing, which can also slide onto a camera cold shoe, plus a USB-C adapter for plugging into smartphones (there's a Lightning adapter too, which I used with my iPhone 13, but it's an optional extra rather than included in the box). There's also a 3.5mm jack, dial for adjusting audio levels and power and pairing buttons.

Additionally, the new DJI Mic Mini 2 (1 TX + 1 Mobile RX + Charging Case) bundle comes with a mini receiver unit designed only for attaching to a mobile phone (as with the standard RX, this appears to be the same mobile RX that was available as an accessory for the original Mic Mini). I didn't test this myself (check out our experience with the receiver via the link above) but it's much lighter, smaller and more streamlined than the standard RX, and won't look as awkward when plugged into your handset.

DJI Mic Mini 2: Performance

• 11.5 hours battery life (transmitter), 10.5 hours battery life (receiver)
• Up to 400m range
• Two-level noise reduction and three voice tone presets