Every time the half-year mark comes around, I think to myself, "This has been a great year for cameras." It happened last year and the year before, and it has happened again this year. So far in 2026, we've been treated to some fantastic cameras and drones, and brands continue to prove that there's still room to grow and develop in terms of imaging tech.

If you don't know me, my name is Nikita and I'm a Senior Reviews Writer, testing the best drones and the best cameras. This year, I've tested 12 of these nifty gadgets so far — from keychain cameras like the Kodak Charmera and black-and-white snappers like the Leica Q3 Monochrom, to speedy mirrorless beasts like the Canon EOS R6 Mark III and aerial wonders like the DJI Avata 360.

After a somewhat slow start to the year, we've been spoiled thanks to new launches from the likes of Leica, and DJI coming out with a range of drones and gimbal cameras. Now that we're well into July, I thought I'd round up my top five cameras and drones of 2026 so far. Has there been a camera or drone that's been a standout for you? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

5. Kodak Charmera

Just a no-frills, fun keychain camera
My rating: ★★★★☆

When I was putting this list together, I knew the Kodak Charmera was going to be included. If there's one thing 2026 has shown us already it's that cameras can be whimsical and just pure fun — and the Charmera proves it. You may have seen this nifty little keychain camera on TikTok or Instagram. It went viral earlier this year for its compact form factor and oh-so little asking price, and if you need a no-frills camera for a night out, this is the one to get.

Though the camera is fitted with a 1.6MP 1/4-inch CMOS sensor that doesn't take award-winning images, the Charmera is all about fun. The charm lies in its lo-fi images that remind me of the photos in my family's photo albums. What makes the Charmera unique is its extremely portable body — clip it on to your keys or your bag and you're good to go.

What I love most about the Charmera is its ease of use. Your 5-year-old niece who's just getting to grips with using her hands will be able to use it, as will your 60-year-old uncle who just wants to immortalize memories without caring much about image quality. Pass it around a table at a pub, or add it to the camera gear that's going to be at your wedding — the Charmera is for everyone.

Read my full Kodak Charmera review.

4. DJI Osmo Pocket 4P

DJI's best gimbal camera just got better
My rating: Not scored yet

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is perhaps one of the industry's worst kept secrets. Rumors have been circulating for months, so when the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 dropped, people wondered why it didn't have two dual lenses — and then the Osmo Pocket 4P dropped. Well, you can't buy it yet, but it's out there. I've held it; I've recorded footage on it in Malta; and I can tell you that it's very real. I can also tell you that this gimbal camera might give the Insta360 Luna Ultra a run for its money.

But my lips are sealed due to embargoes and restrictions, and all I can really tell you about the Osmo Pocket 4P is this: it features D-Log2 support and a whopping 17 stops of dynamic range, and it comes in black and white. It's also got two lenses, one of which is a 60mm medium-telephoto.

I've spent a fair amount of time using the Osmo Pocket 4P, and it didn't take long for it to become one of my favorite cameras of 2026 so far. And why wouldn't it be? It builds on the success of the base Osmo Pocket 4 (which received a 5/5 rating from Senior Reviews Editor, Peter Wolinski). If you haven't bought the base model, I think it's worth waiting for the Osmo Pocket 4P. Trust me, I've been gobsmacked by it, and I'm sure you will be too.

Read my first impressions of the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P.

3. Canon EOS R6 Mark III

Good becomes great
My rating: ★★★★½

The Canon EOS R6 Mark III succeeded the second-gen model in November 2025, but I tested the camera in 2026, so it counts! Good became great as Canon introduced substantial upgrades to its predecessor to deliver one of the best mid-range cameras. Having taken over 6,000 photos on the EOS R6 Mark III, I've been extremely impressed with its capabilities. The camera packs a 32.5MP full frame sensor that captures plenty of detail and gives you some room for making crops in post-production, too.

Combine that beautiful sensor with 40fps burst shooting and best-in-class autofocus, and you've got yourself a powerful camera for sports, wildlife, portraits, landscapes, you name it. As someone who loves photographing birds and animals, I appreciated the EOS R6 Mark III's ability to quickly lock on to subjects and capture stunning images. Canon's vaunted color science is the cherry on top of the cake.

And it's a delicious cake topped with many, many cherries. 7K Open Gate video and 4K/120fps video capabilities make the EOS R6 Mark III a competent hybrid camera. The addition of CFExpress support means the camera can accommodate 7K RAW files and sustain its rapid 40fps drive.

Read my full Canon EOS R6 Mark III review.

2. Leica SL3-P

Finally taking the fight to Canon and Sony
My rating: ★★★★½

Leica’s a legacy brand and though it has always made excellent (albeit very expensive) cameras, it’s always struggled to compete with heavy hitters like Sony and Canon, in my opinion — until now. The Leica SL3-P is one of the finest mirrorless cameras I’ve ever tested, and certainly the best of 2026 so far. What makes the SL3-P a standout is its sublime handling, superb build quality (you'd expect nothing less at this price), and imaging prowess.

I was seriously impressed with its 40fps high-speed drive and best-in-class autofocus that ensures you never miss an action shot — and as a wildlife photographer, I love it. Throw in a 44MP sensor, 8K Open Gate video, strong dynamic range performance, and sublime handling, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Well done, Leica.

The SL3-P makes Leica a serious alternative to Canon and Sony, and if you think, "Nope, Leicas are way too expensive," you'd be wrong. Sony's flagship A1 II and Canon's EOS R5 Mark II bodies cost almost the same. I don't think Leica's price tag should scare you any longer — especially when you're getting a ridiculously sharp sensor.

Read my full Leica SL3-P review.

1. DJI Avata 360

DJI claims its stake as the king of the skies
My rating: ★★★★½

When the Antigravity A1, the world's first 360° drone came out last year, I thought to myself, "This is an excellent drone; I wonder what DJI's answer is going to be." And DJI's answer was simple: the Avata 360 did everything the Antigravity A1 does but better, and at a much lower price. It undercut its primary rival, and DJI delivered a 360° drone that doesn't give you much to complain about.

I absolutely adore the Avata 360, and as someone who has spent nearly a thousand hours flying, testing, writing and reading about drones, it's one of the best today, period. Fitted with twin lenses that capture every angle in 8K at 60fps without any stitching lines, and 120MP hi-res stills, the Avata 360 is a formidable content creation tool.

Exceptional build quality, dual ways to fly (FPV and with a standard controller), user-friendly software for editing, you name it: the Avata 360 does it all. Out of all the cameras and drones I've tested this year so far, this is the one I come back to time and again. DJI, despite facing a ban on its drones and enhanced scrutiny in the U.S., shows no signs of stopping with its Avata 360, Lito X1 and Lito 1 quadcopters, and I can't wait to see what else the Chinese giant has up its sleeve going forward.

Read my full DJI Avata 360 review.

There's more where that came from...

There are, of course, other cameras I've tested that haven't made the list, but they still deserve a shoutout. The first honorable mention that springs to my mind is the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Cinema, a hybrid instant camera that redefines everything we know about instant cameras.

It's one of a kind: it lets you shoot photos and print directly from your smartphone, and you can record video clips up to 15 seconds long, choose a frame, and print on Instax film with a QR code that plays said video on a smartphone. It's fun and it's different, and it earned a 4.5-star rating from me.

Then there's the Fujifilm Instax mini 13, which takes things back to basics. It's an analog instant cameras that simply shoots and prints photos within 90 seconds. Image and print quality is great, with retro colors that remind us all why we fell in love with instant photography in the first place.

I also tested the Potensic Atom 3, a powerful DJI alternative that, for the first time on a Potensic drone, introduces 4K/60fps video and RAW images. At an affordable price tag, the Atom 3 packs up to 50 minutes of flight time and accurate AI subject tracking.

But that's all from me (for now). I hope you've enjoyed reading about my favorite cameras and drones of 2026 so far just as much as I've enjoyed writing about them. And like I said, do let me know in the comments what's been your favorite release this year!

More from Tom's Guide

• The best tech of 2026 (so far): 26 products we've actually tested, rated and loved
• I’ve spent over 900 hours testing all the best drones: here are my top picks
• The best cameras in 2026

We're now into July, which means we've done six full months of testing here at Tom's Guide in 2026. From coffee machines, through to vacuums, gaming handhelds, laptops and phones — not only is it our job to put tech through its paces, it's what our journalists, editors and contributors love to do.

I'm Pete, Senior Reviews Editor here at Tom's Guide, and I head up our reviews coverage on site. My team of dedicated reviews writers alone have lab tested and reviewed hundreds of products already this year, with the wider Tom's Guide editorial team having testing dozens more. If you've not had your finger precisely on the pulse of the latest tech this year, well, I don't blame you — it's hard to keep tabs on everything. That's why we exist.

To help, I've gathered the Tom's Guide team's favorite products from 2026 so far. Obviously, I can't fit everything into a single article, so I asked our subject experts across the site to give me their top picks, too. I've also curated the top five highest scorers, which stand above the rest. Every product on here has been tested by us, hands-on, as part of a full, extensive review.

Read on to see the tech Tom's Guide loved in the first half of 2026.

Tom's Guide's Top 5

Every product on this list has scored at least four stars, earning our TG Recommended or Editor's Choice badges. But there are five products on this list that scored our full five stars after testing. These are the best of the best so far this year. To save you some time, here are the links to our reviews.

• DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review ★★★★★
• 007 First Light review ★★★★★
• KitchenAid Artisan Plus review ★★★★★
• Gozney Dome XL Gen 2 review ★★★★★
• Samsung S95H OLED review ★★★★★

Keep reading to see the rest of our top tested picks for 2026.

AI

Rokid Glasses

After 5,000 miles in the Rokids, we were seriously impressed
Score: ★★★★☆

The best smart glasses without a display are cool and all, but their features are usually rather limited to just asking questions about what you see. The Rokid Glasses proved to me that adding a screen turns that superpower into an ambient computing platform — offering features only when you need them and disappearing into the background in some stylish specs.

With that display, you get real-time conversation translation with text subtitles so you’re not having to try to listen to your smart glasses talk over the person in front of you. And the multi-modality unlocked by asking a question and just getting answers you can see makes them much more subtle. Not to say they’re perfect — the camera quality for snapping pictures suffers in low light and some features are very China-specific (like Alipay). But arm these with Google Gemini in setup, and they’re a genuinely helpful companion on your face for a decent price.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Rokid Glasses review

Cameras & drones

GoPro Mission 1 Pro

GoPro's return to form in the action camera game
Score: ★★★★½

After years essentially re-releasing the same Hero cameras with minor tweaks, GoPro has finally pushed itself. The Mission 1 Pro is pricey, but it’s the first GoPro I’ve been excited about in a while. It seriously impressed me with its powerful and versatile video credentials in testing, namely open gate 8K and a wealth of shooting features that make it ideal for its target market: professionals. Thanks to revised processor architecture and a shiny new battery, I managed to extract unparalleled battery life and thermals versus other action cameras in my standardized battery tests. GoPro is back!

Pete Wolinski, Senior Reviews & Cameras Editor
Read Pete’s full GoPro Mission 1 Pro review

DJI Osmo Pocket 4

The best all-around tool for content creation
Score: ★★★★★

I awarded the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 our full five stars in my review, and that’s because I literally couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Aside from the fact that it’s not available in America (yet?) due to tariffs and DJI’s ongoing feud with the U.S. government. The Osmo Pocket 4 improved on its predecessor in every single way that mattered: video, stabilization, storage, thermals, battery life, and more. If you’re after a single tool for professional-looking content creation, I really can’t think of anything better to recommend.

Pete Wolinski, Senior Reviews & Cameras Editor
Read Pete’s full DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review

DJI Avata 360

Although a little late to the 360 party, DJI absolutely smashed it
Score: ★★★★½

The DJI Avata 360 does exactly what you want a drone to do: make flying fun. It stakes its claim as the best 360° drone around (granted, there are only two at the time of writing, but still!) and its twin lenses capture every single angle in 8K at 60fps. 120MP hi-res stills, user-friendly editing software, and exceptional build quality make it the drone to buy today. It also undercuts its main competitor, the Antigravity A1, and with dual ways to fly (FPV and with a standard controller), the Avata 360 is versatile and oh-so-powerful. Every day I still think about it — and as someone who’s tested many, many quadcopters, that’s saying a lot.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full DJI Avata 360 review

Computing & gaming

MacBook Neo

Our favorite budget laptop, literally ever
Score: ★★★★½

Value for money in laptops has become a bit of a running joke this year (thanks, RAMageddon). But of all the companies building notebooks, I didn’t anticipate it would be Apple to deliver the goods and give you an honest-to-god well-priced system. Yes, there’s been a $100 increase recently, but even with that, the premium aluminum build quality, great display, tactile keyboard and zippy performance of that A18 Pro makes for a great system for the day-to-day essentials.

I must admit, to see Apple actually having fun with colors in its MacBooks is a refreshing change from the blacks and silvers of its more expensive lineage. All of this comes together into a laptop that has terrified the budget Windows laptop market, and the best ultra portable we’ve tested this year.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read our full MacBook Neo review

Asus Zenbook Duo (2026)

Dual OLED panels = chef's kiss
Score: ★★★★½

Yes, this is a dual-screen OLED beauty of a premium laptop; Asus has really paid attention to the design and ergonomics of a system like this. But the real superpower is what lies inside that shell. Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (codenamed Panther Lake) has been a truly generational moment for Team Blue in its Windows laptops, and it comes down to huge updates to both the performance and power efficiency.

Those new CPU cores and efficiency architecture they’re built onto gives this a gargantuan battery life that would make a MacBook blush, while the superpowered GPU (alongside XeSS 3) gives this some serious gaming laptop chops too. Usually, you had to be considerate of just what you wanted to do with your Windows laptop and decide on the strengths and compromises around that. With anything that sports an X9 chip like this, though, that’s no longer a compromise you have to make.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) review

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

A true next-gen gaming handheld
Score: ★★★★☆

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers the performance jump I’ve been waiting years for. With Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme chip, games are pulling a 20 to 30+ FPS advantage over AMD Z2 Extreme handhelds. Battery life gets a big boost too. I could hit the same performance as the Z2 Extreme at half the power consumption. Combine that with its major redesign bringing more Xbox-like controls, better haptics, and its large 8-inch 16:10 display, and you’re getting, in my opinion, one of the best handheld gaming consoles of 2026.

Paul Antill, Video Producer
Read our full MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ review

007 First Light

Forget GoldenEye: this is the best Bond game ever
Score: ★★★★★

Gamers are being treated to a licensed games renaissance right now. The days of cheap cash-ins launched to coincide with a new blockbuster movie are over. But even in this golden era for video games based on popular media franchises, 007 First Light surpasses expectations.

Forget GoldenEye, First Light is the best James Bond game ever. With its ludicrously cinematic gameplay, compelling narrative that focuses on a younger Bond (played by Patrick Gibson), and deep commitment to authenticity, 007 First Light is easily the best thing to come out of this long-running spy series in 20 years, movies included. There’s a reason it was only the second video game I’ve given the full five stars. Whether you’re a longtime Bond fan or a newcomer, 007 First Light is quite simply unmissable.

Rory Mellon, Senior Entertainment Editor
Read Rory's full 007 First Light review

Epomaker Glyph

Nikita's dream keyboard
Score: ★★★★½

I’ve tested close to 100 keyboards in my time as a reviews writer, and it isn’t often that I get to proclaim, “I’ve found my dream keyboard.” Ever since I tested the Epomaker Glyph, it hasn’t left my desk, and it’s my daily driver when I’m at the office. Typewriter-like aesthetics, a return lever that acts as an Enter or Backspace key, beautiful RGB lighting, a creamy sound profile, and a typing experience that’s nothing short of stunning — all of these characteristics come together to deliver what’s probably the best mechanical keyboard I’ve used for typing. I’m a speed demon when I’m bashing out 109 words per minute of this thing.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full Epomaker Glyph review

(A note from Nikita's editor, Pete: "I can confirm, the Glyph genuinely hasn't left her desk!")

MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36

Pro performance for under $1,000
Score: ★★★★½

It’s no secret that MSI knows how to make a great gaming monitor, and its MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 is one of the most beautiful displays I’ve ever tested. Blistering 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time for buttery smooth gameplay? Check. Ridiculously accurate colors and wide color coverage? Yep. AI sleep and wake features that are actually useful and not just a gimmick? Oh yeah. And all of this is packed into a sleek design with plenty of ports. Not much to complain about here, really.

Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Nikita’s full MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 review

Viture Beast AR glasses

Beast by name, beast by nature
Score: ★★★★½

I’ve traveled the world testing all of this year’s biggest AR glasses releases, and Viture Beast stands head and shoulders above the pack as the best I’ve used this year (so far). There’s three reasons why: picture quality, comfort and features. Viture’s color science and fidelity really shines in those micro-OLED displays with a massive 58-degree field of view. There’s a little edge fringing on the sides, but given the massive vision field, it’s unlikely you’ll notice it. And this is packed into a nice-feeling pair of glasses with a soft-touch coating that sits gently on your ears with optimal weight balance. Cap it all off with plenty of customization built in, plus the SpaceWalker app for multi-monitor home office setups, and the Beast are…well…pretty beastly for work and play.

Jason England, Managing Editor, Core Tech
Read Jason's full Viture Beast review

Fitness

Fitbit Air

The best Whoop alternative, and subscription-free
Score: ★★★★☆

The Fitbit Air is my fitness tracker of the year so far. Discreet and distraction-free (no screen), this is a fitness tracker that's easy to use, lightweight, and oh-so-comfortable. Just $99 and subscription-free for core features, it offers a week of battery life and covers all the holistic metrics you'd expect from a modern device, like heart health, sleep quality, daily movement, and workouts. For most people, this is the best screen-free fitness tracker you can buy, and the new Google Health companion app makes viewing all your health data a dream.

Jane McGuire, Managing Editor, Fitness
Read our full Fitbit Air review

Salomon XT-6

Hike, shop or relax in comfort and style
Score: ★★★★½

The Salomon XT-6 shoes have become a staple in my closet. Whether I’m heading to the store or hitting up a challenging trail on the weekend, I know I’ll be supported. I wore these hiking sneakers on a city break, where I clocked over 93,000 steps and didn’t have a single complaint. Not only that, the multidirectional lugs kept me stable on even the trickiest terrain, as I hiked in mud, over rocks, and through water.

On top of their technical ability, the XT-6s are a fashion statement, worn all over New York by fashion-forward celebs; these shoes have earned a coveted spot in my daily rotation — although you’ll find me cleaning the mud off them after each adventure.

Ashley Thieme, Staff Writer
Read Ashley’s full Salomon XT-6 review

Homes

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless

A powerful cordless Dyson that's perfect for pet owners
Score: ★★★★☆

I’ve tested my fair share of Dyson vacuum cleaners in my time, but I must say that the V16 combines all of my favorite features in one cleaner. First, its upgraded ‘Fluffy Cones’ head is designed to be used on both carpets and hard flooring without the need to swap over attachments. This is a great time-saver, and lets me quickly zip around my home without pausing. Perhaps my favorite feature is the dust-detecting green light which reveals those hidden dustballs lurking underneath furniture and in corners. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to store, which is why it’s now my go-to for daily maintenance, and why I awarded our Editor’s Choice badge.

Cynthia Lawrence, Homes Editor
Read Cynthia’s full Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review

KitchenAid Artisan Plus

The latest version of KitchenAid's legendary mixer, and the best one yet
Score: ★★★★★

I got to test KitchenAid’s newest stand mixer, the Artisan Plus, and it’s even better than I imagined. I’d been happily using KitchenAid’s Artisan stand mixer as my go-to appliance for a good few years, and I really didn’t see how it could be improved, but it has. It may only seem like a few tweaks, but they have made a big difference. From the sliding speed control that just glides, to the in-bowl light, which illuminates the mix — and let's not forget the double-edge flex beater that cleans the bowl as it sweeps past— I loved it so much during testing that I gave it a 5-star rating.

Camilla Sharman, Staff Writer
Read Camilla’s full KitchenAid Artisan Plus review

Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2)

The undisputed king of pizza ovens
Score: ★★★★★

If you’re a dedicated — and I mean dedicated — at-home pizza maker, the Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) is the closest you’ll come to actually building a pizza oven from scratch. It can run on either gas, wood, or charcoal, has dual temperature probes, and is big enough to fit a 16-inch pie with room to spare. I loved its easy-to-ready displays, and the design of the oven is just gorgeous, too. Yes, it’s huge and it’s expensive (I’ve made equally good pizzas in much cheaper ovens), but this is the oven that’ll signal you’re the real pizzaiolo in your neighborhood.

Mike Prospero, U.S. Editor-in-chief
Read Mike’s full Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) review

Fellow Espresso Series 1

Beginners or pros, coffee snobs or otherwise — this one is for everyone
Score: ★★★★½

When Fellow designed the Espresso Series 1, it looked at the other espresso machines out there and thought, “I’m going to do something different.” And different the Espresso Series 1 is. When I tested this machine, I loved that it provided coffee-snob-approved features while still being usable for complete beginners. On top of having a litany of customization options on the machine itself, I loved having the app, which walked me through how to make every type of coffee ever invented. You may think this is too ambitious, but for me, the Espresso Series 1 hits all its marks and comes out victorious.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full Fellow Espresso Series 1 review

Phones

Apple iPhone 17

A surprisingly solid update over the previous generation
Score: ★★★★½

Apple launched more new phones than in any previous year, but the iPhone 17 remains my favorite for several reasons. One thing that makes it stand out is that it finally got a long-overdue upgrade to a 120Hz refresh rate, making its screen look even more fluid than before in testing. On top of that, I really love how it didn’t get a price hike and still managed to get double the starting storage.

John Velasco, Senior Phones Editor
Read John's full iPhone 17 review

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The phone that'll get better over time
Score: ★★★★½

When it comes to Android phones, nothing caught my eye more than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung’s flagship received all the iterative updates it deserved, but one particular new feature stood out most: the Privacy Display. It works like magic, making the screen look dark when someone tries to peek at it from the side. You can even customize it to block out specific parts of the display — like when you’re messaging someone. This exclusive feature is what sets it apart from everything else.

John Velasco, Senior Phones Editor
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review

Sleep

Saatva Zenhaven Mattress

What you should be sleeping on in 2026
Score: ★★★★½

The Saatva Zenhaven latex mattress blew our socks off during testing, thanks to its naturally cooling and supportive sleep feel for eco-conscious shoppers. Handcrafted in the US from (mostly) organic materials, the Zenhaven boasts a flippable design with a different tension on each side: Luxury Plush and Gentle Firm. We appreciated how one side boasted more cushioning for side sleepers, while the unyielding feel of the firmer side best-suited back and stomach sleepers. At $3,549 at full MSRP it’s a splurge, but cheaper during Saatva mattress sales. However, it’s worth noting that latex mattresses can last up to 20 years, so we think it’s worth the investment.

Nicola Appleton, Sleep Editor
Read our full Saatva Zenhaven Mattress review

Fitnexa SomniPods 3

If you struggle sleeping, these earbuds are for you
Score: ★★★★☆

The Fitnexa SomniPods 3 are compact sleep earbuds that helped me sleep better in even the most disruptive environments (like my neighbor's son playing basketball at unsociable hours). Fitted with built-in white noise, excellent active noise cancelation, plus sleep tracking features, they’re an easy recommendation for any troubled sleepers. But the real stand-out feature for me is the Fitnexa app. Here, your own AI coach waits for you, ready to provide personalized advice based on your sleep tracking data, activity logs and food diaries. The info isn’t quite on par with a qualified sleep professional but thanks to the wealth of data to draw from, it was pretty spot on in testing, helping take the SomniPods from sleep earbud to all-round sleep enhancer.

Ruth Jones, Senior Sleep Writer
Read Ruth's full Fitnexa SomniPods 3 review

Smart home & security

Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+

A fantastic way to improve security on a budget
Score: ★★★★☆

Blink has long been one of our favorite budget smart home brands, and its newest battery-powered video doorbell furthers its reputation as a value leader. The Battery Doorbell 2K+ delivered very good 2K video in our testing — not the tops, but for a sub-$100 device it was more than acceptable. And, while it runs on AA batteries, they’ll last up to two years on a charge. You can also use this video doorbell without a subscription (you’ll need to purchase a separate adapter), but Blink’s subscription price is relatively affordable.

Mike Prospero, U.S. Editor-in-chief
Read our full Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ review

TV & Audio

Samsung S95H OLED

Supreme picture quality, even in bright rooms
Score: ★★★★★

I’ve tested countless TVs, but the Samsung S95H is the first unit in several years that truly surpassed all my expectations. It completely shatters the familiar rules of OLED, obliterating ambient glare and delivering an unprecedented, jaw-dropping brightness in the self-emissive category. Even the floating metal bezel (a design choice I fully assumed I'd hate) adds a striking, premium presence I grew to love. Between its breathtaking performance and how seamlessly it transitions into a decor piece via Samsung Art Store support, this is a flagship that stands as a definitive standard-bearer.

Kate Kozuch, Managing Editor
Read Kate's full Samsung S95H OLED review

AirPods Max 2

Everything is dialed up to 11
Score: ★★★★½

It’s impossible to be a tech lover and not have strong opinions about Apple’s new AirPods Max 2. Some people love them, some people hate them, but I’m firmly in the first camp. The AirPods Max 2 are headphones that know what they’re about, and they’re not apologizing for it. With gorgeous anodized aluminum ear cups and an all-metal headband, they’re not the lightest cans in the world, but the sound more than makes up for it.

Every detail is clear, mids are melodic and vivacious, and the bass is balanced, rich, and warm. Of course, you’ve also got industry-leading smart tech features like Live Translation and integrated Siri, but Apple users looking for the best headphones need look no further than Apple’s own.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full Apple AirPods Max 2 review

Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO

Open earbuds that make no sacrifices
Score: ★★★★½

The Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO have completely changed the way I think about open-earbuds (and I’ve tested a lot). Up until testing the ZEROs, I’d accepted that if I wanted ambient awareness, comfort and stability while working out, I’d need to sacrifice sound quality — but they prove that’s not the case. They provided me with the detailed listening experience I love from Beyerdynamic’s other headphones, without compromising bass performance, delivering perfectly balanced sound. I wear them when I’m working, running, or hiking in the rain (thanks to IP54 durability). They’re the only open earbuds I’ve tested with no compromises.

Ashley Thieme, Staff Writer
Read Ashley’s full Beyerdynamic Amiron ZERO review

JBL Xtreme 5

The party speaker for summer 2026
Score: ★★★★½

The JBL Xtreme 5 came, it saw, and it conquered. JBL really understood the assignment with the surprise follow-up to 2024’s Xtreme 4. Everything about the Xtreme 5 oozes confidence: the deft, controlled bass that’ll have your floorboards shaking and your bones quaking; the literally unbeatable IP68 rating that protects it against rain, sand, and drops; the gorpcore, utilitarian design; and of course the rugged 24-hour battery life. This is the party speaker of 2026. I’ve tested hundreds of audio products and Bluetooth speakers, but the Xtreme 5 is a special one.

Erin Bashford, Senior Reviews Writer
Read Erin’s full JBL Xtreme 5 review

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The cat's out of the bag. After months of rumors and online speculation, DJI has finally unveiled the dual-camera sibling to the 5-star Osmo Pocket 4. The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is here and it's very real — I've held it, shot footage on it, and I can tell you that it's a marvellous little camera.

I've just got back from spending a few days in Malta, where I recorded the sights and sounds of the Southern European country on the Osmo Pocket 4P. For those of you who may already have heard rumblings on the internet, you'll know that the Osmo Pocket 4P is designed to go toe-to-toe with the Insta360 Luna Ultra — Insta360's flagship dual-lens gimbal camera.

The Luna Ultra is already available to buy in the U.S. which gives it an upper-hand over the Osmo Pocket 4P. It's been a few months since the Osmo Pocket 4 came out and it still can't be bought in the U.S. due to the ongoing restrictions and tariffs on the brand's products by the U.S. government — so it's unlikely the Osmo Pocket 4P will become available across the pond at the same time as in Europe.

Should the camera become available in the U.S., though, it's certainly worth buying. I can't tell you much about the camera's specs but I can confirm that the Osmo Pocket 4P has two lenses, one of which is a 60mm medium-telephoto.

I can't discuss resolution or frame rates, but I can tell you that the Osmo Pocket 4P features D-Log2 support as well as a whopping 17 stops of dynamic range — giving you plenty of wiggle room in post-production. Design-wise, the Osmo Pocket 4P comes in black or white, and the latter is a first for DJI.

We don't know about pricing yet. Given that the Osmo Pocket 4 costs £429 in the U.K., and the Luna Ultra retails for $769 in the U.S., maybe the Osmo Pocket 4P would cost between $550 and $650.

DJI typically undercuts Insta360 (which always prices high) in all but the U.S. market, where tariffs have forced up DJI's pricing. I imagine DJI would want to undercut Insta360 here by pricing the Osmo Pocket 4P cheaper than the Luna Ultra. We've seen it with the Antigravity A1 which uses Insta360's 360° imaging tech. It came out long before the DJI Avata 360 and it carried an exorbitant price tag ($1,599!). DJI priced its first 360° drone far cheaper than the A1, which made the Avata 360 better value for money. This is all speculation, of course, and we won't know for certain until DJI releases this information.

The sights and sounds of Malta on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P

Enough talk of specs and rumors. I've shot on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P, so what does footage look like? Stunning, in one word. Above, I've compiled a vlog of the videos I recorded in Malta so you can feast your eyes. As you can see, stabilization is fantastic; the colors appear true to life and vibrant; and the dynamic range performance is excellent. There's plenty of detail to enjoy in dark shadows, and the highlights don't appear blown out either.

That's all I can really say, and all I'm allowed to tell you, without talking about specs. We will have a full review of the Osmo Pocket 4P in the near future. In the meantime, what do you think of the video quality and the camera in general? Let me know in the comments below!

What can I buy right now if not the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P?

Now that you've seen the footage I recorded in Malta, have I enticed you into buying the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P when it comes out? I apologize to my American comrades because I don't know whether the Osmo Pocket 4P will be available in U.S. at launch — but fret not, there are alternatives!

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• Insta360's gimbal camera has just hit shelves, and there's one factor that has me lining up to purchase one stat
• The best cameras in 2026

The DJI Mic Mini 2 is, without a doubt, the best microphone for content creators on a budget. Building from the Mic Mini’s already impressive roster of specs, the Mic Mini 2 now has vocal tones — à la Shure — swappable colorful body plates, and the RX now has backwards compatibility, meaning you can connect older DJI TXs. It’s just not compatible with 2022’s DJI Mic.

Of course, you still get pro-level sound quality, with clarity across plosive and sibilant words, and a rich, warm profile (which you can make even warmer with the “Rich” vocal tone). On top of being pro-quality at a decidedly budget price, the Mic Mini 2 comes with either a smartphone USB-C RX or the traditional camera RX.

This level of versatility, not to mention its sublime ease of use, makes the DJI Mic Mini 2 super easy to recommend. I can’t imagine my content without this mic now — and I don’t think you’ll regret getting this mic, either. To find out why I gave this mic a 5-star rating, keep reading this DJI Mic Mini 2 review.

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Specs

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Price & availability

The Mic Mini 2 is available in three styles: Transmitter (TX) only (if you already have a receiver for your recording device), smartphone creator, or standard creator. I tested the 1-TX smartphone creator, which comes with one microphone and one USB-C receiver (RX).

The prices vary according to how many TX units you get, but one TX + USB-C RX would be £49, and two TX + USB-C RX would be £69 from Amazon. The standard creator package with two TX and a standard RX (for cameras and phones) is £89.

This is almost incomprehensibly cheap for a microphone of this caliber. The previous model, Mic Mini, is £65, so there’s been a price increase of £20, but I really don’t mind considering the improvements. The DJI Mic 3 was recently released for a max of $329/£259, but I would reserve recommending this only for videographers or pros. The Mic Mini series is for content creators or newbies.

I’ve also tested the $139/£129 Rode Wireless Micro, and I now use the DJI Mic 2 in The Coffee Lab, my TikTok/Instagram series.

I think you’d be happy with any of these aforementioned mics, but if you’re on a budget, it’s got to be the £49 Mic Mini 2. You cannot tell how cheap this mic is by listening to it.

Availability

All that being said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in DJI land. You might have noticed a glaring omission in the pricing information above. In light of the U.S. government’s ongoing drone-related feud with DJI, the Mic Mini 2 is not available in the U.S., and will not be available in the U.S. at all.

From DJI’s spokesperson: “We do not have US pricing. The DJI Mic Mini 2 will not be available in the US market as the application for authorization is still pending.”

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Design & controls

The Mic Mini 2 has a utilitarian design, which I personally love. It’s relatively inconspicuous while also boasting the DJI logo for those social media “I’m a content creator who knows what I’m doing” points.

The USB-C receiver is transparent — a major noughties vibe if you ask me — and beyond easy to use. It has two buttons: one for pairing, one slider for on-mic ambient noise reduction. Simply slide the slider to turn ambient noise reduction on or off. This is great, as it means you won’t have to fiddle with apps during interviews or content creation sessions.

The TX itself is also transparent, which I personally love. You can get covers in orange, green, pink, and basically every color of the rainbow. On top of this, you can get a pack of multi-colored windscreens/dead cats for an extra £20.

I’m happy to see this degree of personalization — now you can have the same mic as every other content creator (because it’s that good) but still make it your own.

Charging case

The charging case size will depend on the model you purchase, but mine was relatively compact — just double the size of my AirPods Pro 3 case. I was able to throw the mic in my bag for on-the-go content creation without needing to rearrange my suitcase.

I could also fit the windscreen/dead cat in the charging case alongside the RX and TX — another major plus for on-the-go usage.

Controls

As touched on above, the DJI Mic Mini 2 is beyond easy to use. There are buttons on the TX and RX, but I rarely had to use these. The mic always automatically connected to the RX, and the RX always automatically transmitted to my phone camera. I didn’t have to do anything.

If you’re a complete mic newbie, you will not be disappointed or frustrated with the Mic Mini 2. It has seriously changed my content for the better.

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Features & connectivity

As this is a £49-£89 mic, it’s not as feature-heavy as the DJI Mic 3. The Mic 3 has a touchscreen on the RX and chunkier TXs, onboard storage, timecode sync, and handles up to four mics on one receiver. You won’t find any of this on the Mic Mini 2.

But that’s not to say the Mic Mini 2 is featureless, because that’s far from the truth.

As with the Mic 3, the Mic Mini 2 can link with DJI devices like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and Osmo Pocket 3 without a receiver. It’ll also hook up to the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro or DJI Osmo Action 6 wirelessly, too. This works via DJI’s proprietary OsmoAudio — which is essentially just Bluetooth, making it fine for vlogging but poor for loud environments and wide audio dynamic ranges, where you’ll want to hook up via the RX for higher recording quality.

You can also connect to any phone without a receiver using standard Bluetooth. I used the RX with my iPhone 16 Pro for all content.

The Mic Mini 2 also records a safety track: one at normal volume, one 6dB quieter to prevent clipping. It also has vocal tone modes to make your voice sound deeper, should you so desire, which I’ll go into more detail about below.

If you want a more professional-feeling mic, I’d recommend checking out the $329 Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 or the $399 Rode Wireless Pro, which we used in our Buy or Skip videos. Both of these models have 32-bit float onboard storage (up to 40 hours), and the Pro has premium features like a timecode generator.

App

The DJI Mic Mini 2 uses the DJI Mimo app, which is relatively straightforward to use. You can update firmware, add voiceovers, and import audio clips for videos recorded on DJI cameras. If you shoot on DJI cameras or use the built-in editing software, it’s an essential. However, if you predominantly film with your phone, I’m not sure you’ll need it. Actually, I was using it without the app for weeks before I downloaded it, and I don’t think I missed out on much — but that could be because I record on my phone.

As you can cycle through noise reduction modes on the receiver itself, you don’t need to use the app to select this or configure any settings.

You get much more in the DJI app than Rode’s app, so if you’re the kind of person who loves a companion app, I’d recommend the Mic Mini 2 over the Rode Wireless Micro.

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Audio quality

For just $49 (the combo I tested), I could not believe the sound quality. I’ve tested pretty much every mic brand under the sun, and, for me, Shure always comes out on top — but the DJI Mic Mini 2 is a fantastic budget option if Shure is a little out of reach.

I use the DJI Mic Mini 2 for my Instagram content, which you can watch here.

Did you hear that sound quality? It’s faithful, rich, warm, and while there’s a little popping, this is nowhere near bad enough for me to knock stars off. Perfecting microphone etiquette will help reduce popping, so that’s something I need to work on.

As usual, though, I put the DJI Mic Mini 2 through our standardized audio tests, which I’ll get into now.

Standardized audio testing

To test the quality of the Mic Mini 2, I put the microphone through its paces with plosives, fricatives/sibilance, and ambient noise reduction. This is with the windscreen/dead cat attached.

Plosives

To test plosives, I recited some tongue twisters. This is me being really forceful with the air and really trying to make popping sounds. If you have decent microphone etiquette, yours won’t be as bad as this. Again — watch the embedded Instagram video if you want a real-life usage.

As you can hear, there are quite a few pronounced pops. However, this didn’t clip the recording. As long as you know how to speak into a microphone, you should be fine. I never experienced majorly off-putting pops in my real-life usage.

Fricatives/sibilance

Take a listen to this MP3.

I was super surprised by how adeptly the Mic Mini 2 handled hissing sounds. Again, I was really trying to enunciate all that sibilance, so I was genuinely impressed here. You don’t even have to know microphone etiquette for the Mic Mini 2 to make you sound good!

Ambient noise reduction

For this test, I recorded two clips. One with noise reduction set to High, one with noise reduction turned off.

This is with noise reduction on high.

I sound a little underwater, but in general, this is majorly impressive for a £49-£89 mic. You can’t hear much of the ambient noise track — in real life, it was seriously loud. I’d recommend using the Mic Mini 2 in loud places like city interviews without a worry.

This is with noise reduction off.

Even with noise reduction off, I was really impressed with this performance. Seriously, the DJI Mic Mini 2 feels like my forever mic now. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with this budget beast.

Extra features

As touched on above, the DJI Mic Mini 2 has two (three, kind of) vocal tones in the Mimo app. You can choose between Rich, Bright, or Normal. Take a listen to my voice clips below.

This is with Rich.

I think my voice actually does sound deeper. It enhances the lower range of my voice, which gives me that broadcast-like sound, but there is a little fuzziness not present without the tone.

This is with Bright.

I really don’t think this suits my voice — it makes me sound a little pinchy. This would be if you want to make your voice sound more energetic and fresh.

This is with no vocal tones.

As you can hear, my voice is still audible and clear in all three of these clips — it’s just your preference. I think I like my voice unfiltered, though.

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Battery life

With a fully charged case, the Mic Mini 2 can provide up to forty-eight hours of battery life. Let me just put it this way: I’ve been using the Mic Mini 2 for four weeks, and I’ve only had to charge it once — I post about five videos a week. I never have to think about charging the Mic Mini 2, which is such a relief when I’m thinking about everything else that comes with content creation!

This is so much better than the Sennheiser Profile Wireless, which is intended to last seven hours, but I found myself needing to recharge it every couple of days (despite only using it for maybe two hours).

DJI Mic Mini 2 review: Verdict

The DJI Mic Mini 2 is my perfect microphone. It’s plug-and-play, works without a companion app, sounds great, looks great, and is just £49-£89. I seriously don’t know what else I could ask for.

I hope the 5-star rating speaks for itself, but if you still need a little persuading, let me try my best. I use this mic for my Instagram page, it’s ready to record in seconds after plugging into my phone, and I can record directly into my camera or into Instagram. There’s never any audio sync issues, my voice is always clear, and it wouldn’t set me back $$$. This is the cheapest, quickest way to hack pro-level video at an amateur-level price.

I’m going to use the DJI Mic Mini 2 for the rest of eternity (or until it breaks, of course). This is the best affordable mic for mobile content creators, and it’s not even close.

The DJI Mic 3 is the successor to the favorite microphone of content creators everywhere, the DJI Mic 2. The Mic 3 brings some sizable upgrades, primarily aimed at vlogging and content creation. There are adaptive gain control modes to prevent clipping and new vocal tone presets to tailor the sound of your voice to your needs.

Making a return are the Mic 2’s powerful noise cancellation, again to prioritize vocals; 32-bit float recording; lossless 48kHz 24-bit wireless audio via its RX unit; timecode sync; and internal storage. For vloggers and most content creators, this is the mic to get, especially if you own DJI gear (with which it’ll hook up to seamlessly)

If you’re a professional video producer, though, or you shoot high-octane content, you’ll want to look elsewhere. The lack of a USB-C and 3.5mm lavalier port, plus the removal of the Mic 2’s secure clip, could make rivals a better shout.

To find out whether this is the best microphone for you, keep reading my full DJI Mic 3 review.

DJI Mic 3 review: Specs

DJI Mic 3 review: Price & availability

The DJI Mic 3 starts at $99 / £72 for a solo transmitter (TX). The full 2TX + RX + charging case bundle costs $329 / £259. That makes the Mic 3 cheaper than the Mic 2 was at launch ($349 for 2TX + RX), which is great to see — especially as DJI’s other products (cameras and drones) are typically priced very high in the U.S. compared to other regions these days. Thanks, tariffs.

At the time of writing, the Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 — arguably the Mic 3’s biggest rival — costs $185 / £148, while the Rode Wireless Pro costs $255 / £215. These naturally lack some of the DJI-oriented connectivity features of the Mic 3, but likewise pack 32-bit float, strong battery life and internal recording. They’re much better choices for pros, thanks to 3.5mm lockable lavalier ports and secure clips/cold shoes.

DJI Mic 3 review: Design & controls

The DJI Mic 3’s design is closer to the budget-friendly DJI Mic Mini than the Mic 2. The Mic 3 transmitter (TX) units share the same square design as the Mic Mini’s TXs. They use the same opaque plastic (I miss the Mic 2’s transparent plastic design) and are a similar size to the Mini TXs.

The Mic 3’s TX units are substantially smaller than the larger, oblong Mic 2 TX units, not to mention the chunky, square units of the Rode Wireless Pro and Rode Wireless Go Gen 3. This makes the Mic 3 transmitters the most discrete pro wireless option on the market, and the most versatile too — you can affix the Mic 3 more easily to clothes as it’s less likely to weigh down lighter garments or elements, like lapels.

My biggest gripe is the mounting clip. On the Mic 2, the clip was permanently affixed to the microphone, giving lots of security. On the Mic 3, the clip is magnetically attached — this gives lots of versatility, as you can remove the clip altogether and just use a magnet. And for most low-octane purposes, that’s fine. But if you’re a motovlogger, or involved in other high-octane pursuits, look elsewhere. The magnet is not strong enough to resist powerful wind, so you may end up losing your mic. I’d recommend the Mic 2 or Rode Wireless Pro for those people instead.

The Mic 3’s receiver (RX) unit is similar to the Mic 2’s, only slightly lighter, and I have no complaints. It’s a super slick-looking RX, with a bright touchscreen and a command dial for navigation.

Charging case

DJI has shrunk the charging case, shaving off 0.4 inches / 10mm. The case is also made from a lighter material, meaning the 2TX + RX + charging case now weighs 221g / 7.7 ounces in total, versus the Mic 2’s 284g / 10 ounces. That doesn’t sound like much, but my first thought on picking up the Mic 3 case was about how light the whole package felt. And trust me: when you’re lugging around a heavy bag full of gear, any weight saving is welcome.

Admittedly, the Mic 3’s charging case feels less premium and substantial than its predecessor, but that’s something I’m happy to sacrifice. And besides, build quality across the board is nevertheless typical DJI: excellent.

In addition to the case, the 2TX + RX combo comes with a carry pouch to store both the case and accessories. This makes for a much tidier experience than with the Rode Wireless Pro, which has two cases — one for the mic units and another (of the same size) for accessories.

Controls

If using the RX, controls are super easy, as you have the same scroll wheel/button controls and bright screen as on the Mic 2. When using a standalone TX (either internally recording or hooked up wirelessly via Bluetooth), the onboard controls are a little basic, revolving around how many times/how fast you tap the single record button. It’s fine, just keep the user manual handy for the first few times you use it, so you can translate the flashing LED signals.

When using the Mic 3 with a DJI camera like the DJI Osmo Action 6 or DJI Osmo 360, the camera’s menu system controls the mic, taking all guesswork out of the equation.

DJI Mic 3 review: Features & connectivity

The DJI Mic 3 carries over many of the Mic 2’s finest features, including 32-bit float recording — in this mode, the mics can record an enormous dynamic range, meaning you don’t need to worry about levels and clipping, and have lots of flexibility with levels in post without the need to add gain. There’s also 48kHz / 24-bit lossless recording wirelessly via the RX if you’re in a more controlled audio environment.

The Mic 3 features dual-band connectivity with automatic switching between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, allowing the mic to choose the optimal band. This works up to 1312 feet / 400 meters (assuming no interruptions), which is longer than the 980 feet / 280 meters range of the Rode Wireless Go Gen 3. Assuming signal interruptions (i.e. building/trees/people), with the Mic 3 you can expect around 260 feet / 80 meters of range, which is still pretty good.

You can hook up 4x RX and 8x TX units in sync, too, which is handy for larger-scale productions, and there’s a Quadrophonic mode designed specifically for Sony cameras that outputs audio in 4 tracks — again, useful for more complex productions.

The Mic 3 features internal storage, allowing you to record up to 57 hours of audio, higher than the 40-hours of the Rode Wireless Pro and 14 hours of the DJI Mic 2.

For pros and/or people who edit their footage, the Mic 3 also features timecode, allowing you to record audio separately to video and sync them precisely in post production. This will be helpful for content creators who don’t shoot with DJI cameras.

Ports

Naturally, you can hook up the RX unit via TRRS (3.5mm), USB-C, or Lightning. There’s Bluetooth, too, for hooking up wirelessly to action cameras, and OsmoAudio (which is basically glorified Bluetooth) for quick and easy connection to DJI action cameras like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, Osmo Action 6 and DJI Osmo Nano. If you're using a vlogging camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 or Pocket 4, it's the same story.

Annoyingly, shrinking the Mic 3 TX units in size meant getting rid of the Mic 2’s USB-C port. That means, without the charging case, you can’t charge a Mic 3 TX unless you have a charging dock (sold with solo TX units and included in camera Creator Combos). I forgot my dock when on a press trip with the Osmo Pocket 4 Creator Combo, so wasn’t able to charge that TX unit on the go. Luckily I had my full 2TX + RX + Charging case at my hotel.

Equally annoyingly — and this will be a major point of contention for professionals — there’s no 3.5mm port on TX units for lavalier hookup. Now, I get the logic of this: the Mic 3 TX is small enough to place on a lapel, meaning it IS the lav. But there are other scenarios aside from interviews where you may want to run a lav — if you want to capture audio from a specific place where you can’t affix the TX unit, for example (I’ll cover this in the audio quality section below).

If that’s a dealbreaker, check out the Rode Wireless Go Gen 3 or Wireless Pro, as both feature lavalier ports with secure screw threads. If you use DJI gear and want the benefit of wireless hookup, the DJI Mic 2 has a 3.5mm lavalier port.

DJI Mic 3 review: Audio quality

The Mic 3’s audio quality is seriously good. While it packs many features for hardcore video producers, let’s be real here: it’s primarily aimed at YouTubers. Well, for that purpose, it’s fantastic.

The sound is clear and professional. Plosives are well controlled, meaning no poppy-sounding Bs and Ps. Sibilance was a little less well controlled, with some hissing sounds on Ss, but nothing terrible.

Vocal tone modes

There are three vocal tone modes, which are essentially mic EQ settings for quickly tailoring the sound of your audio: Regular, Bright and Rich. They make a difference, but are fairly subtle. Bright indeed makes things sound a little crisper, while rich gives a warmth to the noise. Regular, the default mode, is a perfectly competent all-rounder, though, so I never really felt the need to use the other presets, although if you’re self conscious about aspects of your voice, the presets could be of use.

Noise reduction

As with the Mic 2 and Mic Mini, the Mic 3 packs environmental noise cancellation to cut background sounds and prioritize vocals. Below is a walking vlog I filmed for my DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review, which I paired with the DJI Mic 3. In the opening segment, I enabled the mic’s high noise reduction to cut out the noise of a busy road nearby. As you can hear, it did a fantastic job, cutting out road noise and bringing focus to my voice.

Afterwards, in the video, I’m mostly using the mic with noise reduction disabled, as I wasn’t in super noisy environments. Audio quality is a little better, with a deeper, fuller tone to my voice, but that’s normal. The drawback of slightly decreased audio quality with noise reduction enabled is massively outweighed by the benefit of cutting out distracting/ruinous ambient sounds.

Professional use

The Mic 3 also shines for professional work, at least where vocals are the priority. In a studio environment, you’ll of course have no issues, and this is as good a mic to use as the Rode Wireless Pro.

The Mic 3 is also fantastic for less predictable scenarios. I used the Mic 3 for two interviews at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026, interviewing professional photographers in the middle of a busy exhibition floor, with voices, other interviews and general clattering all around. A single Mic 3 did a perfect job of capturing the vocals of both me and my interviewees over the ambient noise, and I had no problems transcribing the interviews later on.

32-bit float

In challenging dynamic ranges, you’ll want to use the Mic 3 in 32-bit float mode, where you don’t need to worry about levels. Unfortunately, in the motorcycling audio clip below, the wind buffeting got the better of both the physical deadcat and the noise reduction mode, so the resulting audio isn’t particularly pleasant to listen to.

The mic was tucked inside the fold of a backpack, which still wasn’t enough to shelter it from the wind. If you’re a motovlogger, you’d want to get around this by running a lavalier to somewhere fully wind-shielded — with no 3.5mm port on the Mic 3, you can’t do that.

DJI Mic 3 review: Battery life

Each DJI Mic 3 TX has a maximum runtime of 8 hours, according to DJI, which is up from 6 hours on the Mic 2. It’s also better than the Rode Wireless Pro’s 7-hour battery life. That’s under ideal conditions, of course, without any of the bells and whistles like noise reduction enabled.

With a Mic 3 TX hooked up to an Osmo Pocket 4 and noise reduction enabled, the battery dropped to 80% after around 90 minutes. Extrapolating, that puts the Mic 3 at around 6 hours runtime in real-world usage.

Regardless, you’re unlikely to run out of battery on a single shoot unless you’re filming for 6 hours continuously. The Mic 3 RX unit is rated for 10 hours, so should last you an entire day of shooting. The charging case takes around 50 minutes to charge both the TX and RX units, so you should be able to recharge fully over a lunch break.

DJI Mic 3 review: Verdict

The DJI Mic 3 knows exactly what it is and who it’s for. I could criticize it strongly for lacking features that hardcore professionals will want, and that the Rode Wireless Pro offers — things like a lavalier hookup and secure clip. But that wouldn’t really make much sense. The Mic 3 isn’t really for those people.

The Mic 2 tried to be all things to all people: beginners, content creators and pros alike. And to be fair, it did a fairly good job at that. The Mic 3 demonstrates DJI’s refinement of the formula to cater more to the people who use it most: YouTubers and social media creators.

And for those people, it’s perfect. Small, versatile, with clean audio, seamless connectivity options and a wealth of features to make a creator’s life easier. Vloggers, YouTubers and content creators: this is probably the mic for you.

If you’re in any doubt as to the DJI Osmo Pocket 4’s significance to today’s content creator market, let me clear things up with an anecdote of sorts. I go to a lot of press events for cameras, and by far the most common camera I see being used by my fellow mediafolk is the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.

YouTubers, vloggers, social media creators, journalists — all rely on the Pocket 3. Why? Because it’s absolutely fantastic. It wraps up everything you need for video content creation into a slick, high-performing package. So… why did DJI need to make the Osmo Pocket 4? It didn’t, to be honest. But it went ahead and did so anyway.

I’ll get this out of the way early. The Osmo Pocket 4 (OP4) is very much an evolution, not a revolution, to the chagrin of many interested parties, I’m sure. Before its launch, there were spy shots showing multiple lenses — people believed them precisely because the Osmo Pocket 3 (OP3) was so good at its job, the thought being that any new model would have to be radical to justify its own existence.

Alas, it isn’t radical, but there are a number of key upgrades under the hood. An improved 1-inch sensor and image processing, 4K/240fps slow motion, and film simulation profiles for in-camera grades, to name a few. So is this the new best camera for vloggers? Find out in my full DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Specs

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Price & availability

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Osmo Pocket 4 will be coming to the U.S. just yet. DJI has had a rocky time with the U.S. government in recent years, facing a ban on its drones, and having been slapped with hefty tariffs on its other imports.

For many camera products, like the DJI Osmo Action 6 ($369) and DJI Osmo 360 ($549), this has meant no “official” support — so no first-party availability through DJI’s website and no aftercare plans. But you can still buy those products (at a mark up) from third party suppliers like Amazon. Alas, the Pocket 4 doesn’t fit that trend, and DJI has confirmed it won’t be coming to the U.S. at all… yet!

From DJI: “We do not have U.S. pricing. The Osmo Pocket 4 will not be available in the U.S. market as the application for authorization is still pending.” If you’re American, you’ll need to buy the +2-year-old DJI Osmo Pocket 3 instead for now, which remains steeply priced in the U.S. at $499 thanks to those tariffs.

The Osmo Pocket 4 is available everywhere else though, and in the U.K. it starts at £429 from Amazon. That’s actually a drop in launch price from the Pocket 3, which launched at £489, although you can pick up a Pocket 3 at the time of writing for £385.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Design & controls

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 looks identical to its predecessor, with similar general proportions. And if it weren’t for some slightly different ridge patterning on either model, you’d struggle to tell the two apart. That’s no bad thing, though — it means the Pocket 4 is just as lightweight, pocketable and easy to use as its older sibling. Of course, build quality is typical DJI: second to none.

The controls are again very similar, with a gimbal joystick and record button at the front, plus a swivelling display that reveals two more buttons when in its horizontal position. These buttons are new — one is a dedicated quick zoom button and the other is a custom button for mapping your three most commonly-used functions via single, double and triple presses.

The custom button is super handy in theory, although the assignable options are quite limited. I regularly need to switch between gimbal modes, which is a bit fiddly in real time — being able to assign this to the custom button would’ve been ideal, but no such luck (not even via the C1/C2 custom modes, as these don’t save gimbal modes).

Most settings control is done via the touchscreen though, and it’s gorgeous. It’s bright, detailed and spacious enough for in-depth control of DJI’s intuitive and feature-packed menu system. I’m very familiar with DJI’s menu and find it easy to use in the heat of the moment, but if you aren’t, the learning curve isn’t too steep.

On the back of the gimbal is an electronic connector, allowing you to hook up an accessory — namely the clip-on vlogging fill light (available with the £549 Creator Combo).

The Pocket 4 is not an action camera, so it isn’t waterproof. But that’s to be expected.

Connectivity

The Osmo Pocket 4 boasts the same wealth of connectivity options as its predecessor. It has a USB-C slot which enables the addition of an additional battery pack (very useful, pictured above). You can hook up wirelessly to your smartphone, and to Bluetooth accessories — and of course, connecting to DJI microphones via OsmoAudio (Bluetooth) is a mere screen-tap away.

Making a return is the electronic accessory connector on the back of the gimbal, too, for hooking up a vlogging light. In short, there’s everything you need for high-tier content creation on the go.

There’s 107GB internal storage, up from nothing at all in the Pocket 3. This is the most generous internal storage DJI has yet fitted to one of its handheld cameras, and is more than double the 50GB found in its flagship action camera, the Osmo Action 6. DJI is championing internal storage these days, and I love it. It’s so reassuring to know you have extra space if your card fills or, worst case scenario, corrupts — you can still get the footage you need.

Naturally, there’s a MicroSD slot for expanding storage if needed, but with 107GB of storage on offer, I haven’t needed to yet. And besides, with internal storage, transfer speeds are faster (up to 800Mb/s).

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Stabilization

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 uses the same 3-axis gimbal design as its predecessor, although there have been some internal tweaks to the algorithms, vastly improving stabilization, according to DJI. Honestly, the Pocket 3’s stabilization was excellent to begin with, so I’ve struggled to tell the difference. But hey, they’re both absolutely fantastic.

As you can see in the footage throughout this review, it’s super easy to shoot long, smooth pans and tilts. The stabilization also works wonders to iron out the bumpiness of walking. If you’re going to be vlogging on the move, especially when walking, there’s no better and more compact way to get ultra-smooth, professional footage than the Pocket 4.

There are three different gimbal modes to allow you to customize the behavior of the stabilization. I mainly stick to the default 'Follow' and 'Tilt Locked' (horizon locked) as these are great for everyday use, mostly minimizing drift but allowing some natural movement. There’s also an 'FPV-' mode, though, where the gimbal always matches the direction the screen is facing, until you use the joystick. It’s kinda like a manual mode, and I found it very useful for restricting the gimbal movement when I didn’t want drift or tracking.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Autofocus

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 brings back a couple of handy autofocus modes from the Pocket 3. There’s Spotlight Follow, which prioritizes registered subjects in frame. You add subjects and the camera tracks them over other stuff the Dynamic Active Tracking (i.e. automatic subject detection) detects.

Spotlight Follow sticks to the first-detected subject in any scene until that subject leaves the frame. It’s ideal for solo vlogging, although if you have multiple people in frame at different distances from the lens, you might end up with one out of focus as the camera prioritizes the first subject in frame.

There’s also a Dynamic Framing frame which allows you to set the focus area from 9 central points. It’s a helpful bit of manual control for when you need to lock focus.

Honestly, though, I just left the camera out of these modes most of the time and in its basic autofocus and Dynamic Active Tracking (automatic subject detection and tracking) mode, which works really well. It prioritizes faces, which is what you’d want, but can recognize wider shots, prioritizing deeper focal range — switch to closer subjects if faces come into frame. It’s perfect for vlogging, though, and I never recorded a clip where my face was out of focus when talking to camera.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Video quality

The OP4’s 4K footage looks beautiful and sharp, with bold, vibrant colors… although it’s not like the older OP3’s video looked bad. The lens gives a nice, wide field of view that doesn’t suffer from too much ugly barrel distortion, making it perfect for vlogging. There are two zoom levels, 2x and 4x, which are “lossless,” according to DJI — although I’m not really sure what that means, as you can see the resolution taking a big hit at the increased zoom levels in the vlogging clip below.

In normal video mode, the Pocket 4 shoots 4K at up to 60fps in 16x9 landscape orientation, and 3K at up to 60fps in 9x16 vertical orientation — the same as the Pocket 3. However, slow motion has received a big boost, with the OP3 able to shoot up to 4K/240fps (versus 4K/120fps), for twice as slow footage. Check out the vlogging video in this section to see an example.

Perhaps the main change to the core imaging gear is a revamped 1-inch sensor, which delivers super clean images with lots of detail, vibrant color, and increased dynamic range (up to 14 stops from 12 on the OP3). I was impressed with the dynamic range: standing in a shaded area on a bright day, the camera rendered both detailed shadows and bright highlights in the same frame.

There’s 10-bit color for over a billion individual tones, delivering more natural colors and smoother color transitions. 10-bit also provides more editing flexibility thanks to the greater amount of tonal data recorded.

DJI has done away with D-Log M, its historic “log” profile, which technically wasn’t a log profile but just a desaturated color profile. Now there’s D-Log Pro, which is legitimately a logarithmic gamma correction curve, and delivers wider dynamic range capture (the trade-off being it needs grading in post). DJI has also binned HLG HDR, which makes sense — this is primarily used by the broadcast media industry, so it always felt a bit redundant on vlogging cameras, like the Osmo Pocket line.

If you want to apply some in-camera grades, the Pocket 4 has color filters, akin to the color filters on DJI’s action cameras. These are nothing special — no Fuji-level film-sim color science — but nice to have for some quick creative looks. I love DJI’s default color profile, which produces vibrant blues and greens on sunny days, so I mostly left the camera in that aside from testing.

There are also some new beauty filters, to smooth out skin tones and generally pep up appearance on vlogging. I’m not personally a fan of this type of thing, but if you are, they’re there for you to use.

Low light

The new 1-inch sensor, with its increased dynamic range, delivers cleaner shadows than the OP3, making the OP4 a better tool for low light footage. In moderately low light, the Low Light mode (capped at 4K/30fps) does a great job at brightening footage, and noise was barely perceptible (see the walking clip in the Stabilization section, which was shot in the Low Light mode).

In very dark conditions, as in the video above, the Pocket 4’s image sharpness takes a noticeable hit, with a watercolor effect on the background from the smoothing of in-camera noise reduction. However, this is a very challenging scenario, and I think the footage and smoothing looks pretty good, all things considered.

My Pocket 4’s auto exposure had a little bit of trouble in certain low light conditions, flickering constantly as it tried to balance exposure. This happened mostly in medium-dark situations, where there was a little bit of light entering the frame. It was solved by locking the exposure. I've reached out to DJI to establish why this might be, and if there's a fix in the works.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Audio quality

I’ll be honest here and say that if you’re not looking to use the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 with a DJI microphone, you won’t be using it properly. This camera is designed to be used with the DJI Mic 2, Mic 3 or Mic Mini, and doing so will give you excellent, YouTube-quality audio, with clean vocals and strong ambient noise reduction — as you can hear in the walking vlog above.

Using OsmoAudio — i.e. pairing the camera via Bluetooth with one of DJI’s Mics — gives you access to four audio channel recording, spatial audio and audio zoom, where the audio direction matches the zoom area.

That said, if you can’t stretch to a standalone mic just yet, or one of the creator combos that bundles a mic, the OP4 will still do the trick. Like the OP3, there are 3 internal microphones, plus wind reduction and voice priority modes. You can hear in the clip above how the internal mics sound in quiet and noisy conditions, with both those settings on. The result? Fine, and passable, but nothing like the quality you’ll get when hooking up a DJI mic.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: App

I’m a big fan of the DJI Mimo app, which has come a long way in the last few years. It’s now slick, feature-packed and fairly reliable (I still experience the odd issue connecting devices over Wi-Fi on my iPhone 17 Pro Max). The Mimo app is your central point of control for the Pocket 4, and used for registering your device, updating it, live camera control and editing.

I really like the editing functionality in particular. I roughly spliced together the vlogging video above in around an hour between meetings. I was able to cut and arrange clips, apply effects, animations and music, and generally put out a decent looking short video in very little time. Sure, it’s a bit clunkier to use than desktop editing software, but for creators editing on the go, it’s very good.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Battery life & overheating

DJI rates the OP4 for 240 minutes, up from 166 minutes on the OP3. The caveat there, though, is that those figures are at 1080p. At 4K/60fps, which is where we test all our cameras (if they shoot at 60fps), you can expect less. Realistically, that’s where most people will want to shoot.

In real world testing at a mixture of 4K/60fps, 4K/30fps and 4K/240fps, I shot for around 80 minutes, recording around 40 short clips. The battery only dropped to around 50%, suggesting 160 minutes of runtime.

In my lab testing at 4K/60fps, the camera lasted for around 140 minutes, which is very impressive. What’s even more impressive is the thermal performance — the lab test is conducted indoors away from the cooling effects of wind and cold ambient temperatures. The OP4 got a little warm, but not hot, and didn’t overheat at all, recording in 4K/60fps continuously until the battery died.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 review: Verdict

If you’re a vlogger, influencer or other content creator, especially one who records out and about regularly, there really is no better all-in-one package than the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. If you want beautiful, professional-looking video, with solid audio and a wealth of connectivity options, it’s the camera for you.

Sure, it’s a refinement of the Pocket 3 rather than a wholesale revamp, but as I mentioned in my intro, the Pocket 3 was already the content creator’s default tool for a reason: it was fantastically good at its job, so there wasn’t much that needed changing.

The Pocket 4 upgrades all the right things. Changes to the sensor, stabilization and battery life, plus the shedding of some unnecessary features to make way for more genuinely useful ones. DJI has knocked it out of the park… again.

The DJI Romo just launched in the U.K., where I live, and I’ve been testing it out for several months now. And I gotta say, I love it. I’m no stranger to the best robot vacuums — my team tests a lot of them in our U.K. testing lab, and I’ve had to set up and use many of them before.

The Romo P has really got to me though. It’s the first robot vacuum I’ve liked enough to actually take home and clean with regularly. It blends powerful performance with a (typically-DJI) slick and feature-stuffed application. It looks brilliant, too (although its design is pretty divisive). And with the likes of Shark, Roborock and Dreame, now would’ve been a great time for a new player to enter the arena in the States.

Key point: “would’ve”. See, there’s a pretty big catch, making this robot vacuum bittersweet. Here's why.

The sweet: What I love

Firstly, I’ll cover what I love about this robot vacuum. I mean it when I say DJI has made a killer product here. For a first foray into robot vacuums, or cleaning devices in general for that matter, this is an amazing start.

The DJI Romo P costs £1,299 / AU$2,299.

Decent vacuuming capabilities

Obviously, the most important aspect to consider is how well this thing can clean. And happily the answer is: pretty well. My home’s first floor (that’s the ground floor in the U.K.) is a combination of oak flooring and medium-pile carpet. And overall, the Romo did a pretty good job of cleaning it.

I have two dogs, and the Romo P has experienced no issues vacuuming up most of their hair and dander from our hard flooring, even as they both started shedding when the weather warmed up in early April. Throughout the winter months, the Romo was also able to sweep up the debris they brought in from our yard, plus general day-to-day dust and dirt.

I’ve been impressed with how the Romo handles carpet, too. It cleaned my lounge carpets of dog hair with ease, and left super satisfying vacuum marks across the pile — kinda like a freshly mowed tennis pitch. That’s 25,000Pa suction for you (i.e., pretty powerful)!

Admittedly, it doesn’t do a great job of edges and corners, and dirt sometimes gets missed. See, the Romo uses plastic spinning fingers (we’ve named ours “Sal”, short for “Salad Fingers” — my fellow millennials will relate), which don’t quite get into the corners well enough. They’re also a little weak — you can watch debris get missed in real time, instead of being pushed into the suction path.

While the corner performance necessitates pulling out your main vacuum (in my case the fantastic Dreame Z30), the latter is easily solved by simply telling the vacuum to use higher power and repeat areas up to two more times. This uses more battery, but after two loops on high power of my full downstairs, Sal has always kept enough juice to mop afterwards.

An impressive mopper

My dogs constantly walk mud into the house through the winter months. In North East Somerset, near Bath U.K., where I live, the soil is red clay. That meant red-brown paw prints and smears everywhere. The Romo P is a thorough mopper. It uses two circular pads, a cleaning solution and a deoderizing solution — that means you can set it to wash, deoderize and then rinse floors, for a truly thorough clean.

It’s hands-free, too. The base station hosts a dirty water tank and bag, which the vacuum self empties into. It also heats, rinses and cleans its own mop pads, so there’s no dirty work for you to do.

Fantastic mapping and obstacle avoidance

Also key to the Romo P’s performance are the mapping and obstacle avoidance. Mapping is super easy, very thorough, and highly accurate. The Romo detected all the obstacles in my lower floor on its first map.

Mapping and behavior aren’t necessarily the same thing though. Some vacuums, like the Roborock Q10 S5+, map just fine, then still decide to bounce into every obstacle they encounter. The Romo has got stuck a few times under my sofa, which bows downwards when people are sitting on it, trapping the vac, but has otherwise never knocked a skirting board, never nudged a chair leg, and never bumped a sleeping dog’s nose.

It has no issues adjusting in real time to new changing obstacles, returning later to check whether it can vacuum those areas, and simply leaving them out if necessary. Like I said earlier, this is something even established brands struggle with.

For DJI to nail the obstacle detection and avoidance first time out? It’s impressive. Although not surprising given the obstacle avoidance systems the brand is well-regarded for in its drones.

There’s also the super-fun ability to remote control the Romo P and even broadcast your voice through the speaker — I can use this to tell my greyhounds to get the hell out of the way (not that they ever listen).

The remote control function is only for manoeuvring specifically around obstacles though, as you can’t vacuum while doing so. Given how good the mapping and avoidance are, it’s pretty pointless after the novelty has worn off.

Feature-packed app

Robot vacuums are nothing without strong applications to interface with the user. Again, DJI has flexed its full tech-giant might here and produced a slick, comprehensive companion application, first time around, no sweat.

The DJI Home app was a little janky on the early access software I started testing with. But after a few updates, it’s typical DJI: super polished. You use the app to set routes and maps, customize cleaning routines, set auto-clean times, check consumables, and more. It has everything I could ask for from a companion app.

Neo-retro styling

Finally, there’s the design. Now, almost everyone I’ve talked to thinks this thing is ugly as hell. And I’ll admit, it isn’t one for traditionalists. But I love it. The white, see-through design is full neo-noughties-retro, and I’m there for it. It’s like a Nothing Phone and an Apple iMac G3 met up in Cyberpunk 2077 and had a baby.

The bitter: What I don't love

There aren’t that many downsides to the DJI Romo P. Sure, its corner performance isn’t the best and admittedly it’s very pricey. You can pick up the equally excellent (and oh-so-catchily-named) Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 ThermaCharged NeverTouch for £300 less. That’s about it, though.

In the U.K. and worldwide markets, I anticipated a shortage of third party consumable replacements. After all, DJI is a new player in this game, so I expected to be without the large ecosystem of third party accessories you can buy for well-established rivals, like Dreame and Shark.

And, to be fair, the options are (only-very-slightly) limited. The Romo has been available in worldwide markets for long enough to have a respectable roster of third party accessories available on Amazon, like bags, mop heads and rollers.

Annoyingly, though, the Romo uses proprietary-shaped bottles of cleaning solution, rather than a solution refillable tank. That means options for replacement cleaning solutions are limited.

No U.S. availability for now

Alas, if you know anything about DJI right now, you’ll know it isn’t having much fun in the U.S. thanks to the application of tariffs and an ongoing feud with the Federal government over its drones. As such, the Chinese manufacturer has effectively stopped releasing most of its new products “officially” to the American market.

I say “officially” because many of them, like the DJI Osmo Action 6, are still available in the U.S. via third parties like Amazon. I was hoping for the same to be true for the Romo P. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

And it’s a huge shame. I love this robot vacuum, and I would love to recommend it to our Tom’s Guide U.S. readership. But given I write mostly for a U.S. audience, that can’t happen.

If you’re outside the U.S., the top-tier, vacuum/mop-cable DJI Romo P costs £1,299 / AU$2,299. The lower-tier versions are cheaper. There's the DJI Romo A, which costs £1,049 / AU$1,899, and features an opaque base station (but a see-through robot) and no deodorizer tank. And the Romo S, which costs £929 / AU$1,599 and features an opaque base station and robot, plus no deodorizer tank.

United States: What to buy instead

Don’t fear, though, there are plenty of amazing robot vacuums out there for you to buy in the States. The Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 costs $999 and is our favorite robot vacuum/mop. Its beefier sibling, the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 ThermaCharged NeverTouch, features similar hands-free maintenance and heated mopping, but for $1,199 (this would be my choice). There’s also the Ecovacs Deebot T30, which scored a fantastic 4-star rating in our review, although costs $1,300 — for that money, I’d buy the Shark.

For a cheaper alternative, check out the $999 Eufy E28 or $899 Eufy E25 (basically the same as the E28, minus spot cleaning) or the $499 Dreame L10S Ultra Gen 2. Whatever you choose, enjoy your spring cleaning!

Have I missed any criteria from the poll? Let me know in the comments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Stop sneezing at home this allergy season with these expert-approved tips for your robot vacuum
• I’m a robot vacuum expert, and after seeing this vacuum that can climb over obstacles, it’s the only feature I care about
• Roborock Saros 20 vs Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 — Which premium robot vacuum is worth the money?

DJI has faced a ban on importing and selling drones in the United States since December 2025, but the company may have slipped one final drone under the wire. Between leaks, official announcements and FCC filings DJI may have one more drone for American enthusiasts to enjoy.

Today, DJI posted a teaser video for the new Lito drone, which could be the last DJI model to receive FCC certification, pending the outcomes of various legal battles. The teaser promised an official reveal on April 23.

Based on FCC filings, it appears DJI was able to get the Lito approved before the December 22, 2025, cutoff for the FCC ban. This means the new drone is "grandfathered" into the US market and can be sold in the US.

What is DJI Lito?

DJI's official teaser only highlighted the name and official launch date. However, some previous leaks revealed images that purported to be the new compact drone.

Earlier this month, "tech detective" Igor Bogdanov showed photos that look like marketing materials and not just CAD renders or dummy models. He also posted some packaging images. Today, in light of the announcement, he posted some zoomed in looks at the drone.

A separate leak on Reddit appears to reveal some specs of the Lito drone. According to the poster, the Lito has a top speed of 18m/s and an apparent incompatibility with current controllers.

Based solely on Igor's images, the Lito looks a lot like the DJI Mini 5 Pro, if perhaps a bit sleeker. It's not clear where it will fit in the DJI lineup. My speculation is that the Lito is a slightly less feature-rich version of the Mini.

How we got here

As mentioned, the FCC implemented a ban on foreign-made drones in December of last year, specifically targeting Chinese manufacturers. DJI has been fighting the ban since at least 2023 and sued the FCC in February claiming the agency "exceeded its statutory authority" in an attempt to overturn the ban.

You can still buy DJI-made drones in the US, especially grandfathered in ones that were made before the December deadline. Everything else has been or will be added to the FCC's "Covered List" or its list of banned devices.

Technically, DJI could possibly release more drones in the US after passing "rigorous cyber and hardware assessments," according to the NSD FCC Covered List Waiver 0126. However, it's not clear what those assessments include and if they'll be made difficult just to keep drones on the Covered List.

The legal battles are ongoing, so it may be some time before this is totally cleared up. But for now, the Lito is coming and could be the last new DJI drone we see for a while.

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• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners
• Summer is the best time for aerial photography — here are my top-rated drones for the perfect shots
• I've flown both the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 360-degree drones — and there's a clear winner

When I say, "drones really don't get much better than this," I'm obviously talking about the brand new DJI Avata 360. DJI has been teasing its latest and first-ever 360° drone for a couple of weeks now, and that's not even the first we've heard of it. Since the tail-end of 2025, online rumors and leaks have been speculating the Avata 360's launch, specs and price, and finally, finally, the drone has landed — and it's made a splash.

I'll be the first to admit that drones have been... a little boring of late. The same specs recycled and stuffed into the same sub-250g / sub-8.78oz bodies, the drone industry feels like it has plateaued in the last few years. As someone who tests the best drones, I've been wanting someone to shake things up. Make a bang. Make me go, "Wow, they can do that?!" That finally happened when the Antigravity A1 came out in November 2025, and while it impressed me, the premium price left a sour taste in my mouth. Enter DJI.

The Avata 360 is, in true DJI fashion, a fine drone. It's not only the best 360° drone, it's one of the best drones in general, period. DJI has managed to pack twin lenses that capture 8K/60fps footage and 120MP stills, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and next-gen features like Intelligent Tracking into a body that doesn't break the bank. And it certainly gives the Antigravity A1 a run for its money.

Chock-full of goodies

While you can read all about the drone's specs in my full DJI Avata 360 review, I'd like to give you a quick overview of what we're being treated to here. The Avata 360 is fitted with twin lenses that record 4K record a 180° FoV (field of view) each in 4K, and the frames are then stitched together by the camera. What this means is that you get +8K resolution before stitching and when the clips are stitched together, you get 360° footage at true 8K resolution.

In addition to this, you can capture 120MP stills too, as the twin lenses snap 64MP images each and then stitch them together. The best part is that you can't see any stitching lines, neither in videos nor in stills. Also, if you want to quickly share clips on social media and don't have time for post-production (you'll need to reframe the footage a fair bit in post to make it usable), you can do that and create 'tiny planet' effects by manipulating the two top dials on the RC-2 controller.

Speaking of, there are two ways of flying the Avata 360: you can do so with either the RC-2 controller (or any other recent DJI controller, really) or the DJI Goggles N3 and the RC Motion 3 controller. Compared to the Antigravity A1 which can be flown only with a headset and motion controller, the dual ways of flying make the Avata 360 far more versatile. Having tested both, you can take my word for it when I say both work extremely well.

No qualms about the build

As is always the case with DJI's drones, the DJI Avata 360 is built extremely well and designed just as nicely. Looking like the lovechild of the DJI Avata 2 and the DJI Neo 2, the Avata 360 is wrapped in dark grey colors which lend it a premium edge. The drone features propeller guards which not only make the drone safe for flying indoors or near people, but also protect the propellers if the drone runs into a wall, tree or other obstacle.

One important thing to note about the Avata 360 is that it weighs 1lb or 455g, which means that you’ll need to register it with the F.A.A. in the U.S. and the C.A.A. in the U.K., or any other governing authority depending on where you live. More restrictions may apply too, so I highly recommend doing your research before taking to the skies. In my opinion, don't let the weight put you off — it's well-worth it. Because it's a little heavy, the Avata 360 doesn't get knocked by sudden gusts of wind either, ensuring you always get smooth and stable footage.

Alongside the brand's trademark RockSteady technology, the drone also features a single-axis mechanical gimbal which provides further stabilization. None of the footage I captured appeared shaky or unsteady, and even if it does, you can digitally stabilize it via DJI Studio when you're back at your desk.

So... it's perfect?

Yeah, it kinda is. Look, my job is to analyze tech and put products through their paces, and I've struggled to find any real flaws with the DJI Avata 360. Okay, it weighs more than 8.78oz, but does that matter in the grand scheme of things, when you're getting such a solid drone? U.S. consumers have to wait a while too as the drone is currently available for pre-order only, but again, that's not a flaw. It will come.

Other than that, no, there isn't anything wrong with the Avata 360, and you can rest assured that you're getting bang for your buck. It's some of the most fun I've had flying and testing a drone recently, and the creative possibilities are truly limitless. It's worth every cent.

Wondering which 360° drone is right for you? Check out my DJI Avata 360 versus Antigravity A1 face-off!

More from Tom's Guide

• DJI Avata 360 review: The undisputed king of 360-degree drones
• I've flown both the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 360-degree drones — and there's a clear winner
• I tested the DJI Goggles N3 for a month — and I don’t want to fly a drone without an FPV headset ever again

For a few years now, it has felt like the evolution of drones has plateaued, with the same specs being fitted into practically every quadcopter out there. That all changed with the introduction of 360° drones in 2025, and DJI has staked its claim as the best 360° drone with the Avata 360. The Chinese giant’s first 360° drone is a winner, and it upstages the Antigravity A1 (rival Insta360’s drone) in more ways than one.

Capable of recording 8K/60fps footage, the Avata 360 captures every angle possible with its twin lenses, and gives you plenty of headroom to maintain 4K resolution when cropping to 16:9 in post. Intuitive to fly with either the standard controller or a pair of goggles and a motion controller, the straight-out-of-camera footage can even be used without any work in post-production. It captures hi-res 120MP stills too, and the best part? It’s affordable!

To find out if this is the best drone for you, read my full DJI Avata 360 review.

DJI Avata 360 review: Specs

DJI Avata 360 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? DJI’s first-ever 360° drone and the latest addition to the Avata lineup
• Who is it for? For content creators and anyone who wants to capture every angle, as well as first-person view (FPV) enthusiasts
• How much does it cost? The DJI Avata 360 starts at ~$549 / £409 and goes all the way up to ~$1,119 / £829
• What do we like? The build quality, 360° 8K/60fps video, 120MP stills, dual ways to fly, and detailed companion software
• What don’t we like? The heavy weight

DJI Avata 360 review: Price & availability

Launched on 26 March 2026, the DJI Avata 360 is the Chinese manufacturer’s first-ever 360° drone, and the latest addition to the Avata lineup. At the time of writing, it’s only the second drone to feature 360° technology, and so, it competes directly with the Antigravity A1 ($1,599) which first came out in November 2025.

The Antigravity A1 uses the same technology found in Insta360’s 360° cameras, and this is also the case with the Avata 360. DJI’s drone builds on the imaging tech used in the DJI Osmo 360 camera ($549), and I’ll discuss that more in detail soon. The Avata 360 massively undercuts its primary rival, the Antigravity A1, as it costs a lot less. The drone on its own costs ~$549 / £409 and is perfect for those who already own a DJI controller. If you want the DJI RC-2 controller, it’ll cost you ~$859 / £639, while both the RC-2 Fly More Combo and the Motion Combo (including the DJI Goggles N3 and the DJI RC Motion 3 controller) retail for ~$1,199 / £829 each. U.S. pricing is yet to be confirmed.

That’s right: the Avata 360’s most expensive bundle costs much less than the Antigravity A1’s cheapest one ($1,599 / £1,219). This, alone, makes the Avata 360 a much better investment, and when you add all the goodies it offers to the equation, there’s no question about which drone offers better value for money.

However, as with all other recent DJI launches, the Avata 360’s U.S. availability is dicey. That’s due to the restrictions on foreign-made drones by the F.C.C. While drones that were registered with the F.C.C. prior to the 23 December 2025 ruling can be sold in the American market — and there are very strong rumors that the Avata 360 was one of them — it’s difficult to ascertain how it will impact the Avata 360’s launch. We also don’t know if DJI Care Refresh will be available for the Avata 360 yet, but I have reached out to a DJI representative to get a clearer picture.

DJI Avata 360 review: Design

The DJI Avata 360, like every other DJI drone I’ve tested, is exceptionally built and designed. As part of the Avata lineup, it borrows design cues from the DJI Avata 2 ($409) as well as the DJI Neo 2 ($319) — it looks like the lovechild of the two. Twin lenses sit on the top and bottom of the gimbal unit to capture a 360° view which can later be edited in post-production via the companion software (more on that soon).

Similar to the Neo 2, the Avata 360 is wrapped in dark grey colors which lend it a premium edge and make it look more high-quality than, say, the DJI Neo ($199) or the DJI Mini 4 Pro ($759), in my opinion. Just like on the Neo 2 and the Avata 2, bumpers protect the Avata 360’s four propeller guards, which not only make the drone safe for flying indoors or near people, but also protect the propellers if the drone runs into a wall, tree or other obstacle. Bumper guards are absent on the Antigravity A1, in comparison, which gives the Avata 360 a leg-up — more safety features are always welcome!

The Avata 360 weighs 1lb or 455g, and it measures 9.69 x 7.83 x 2.19 inches. Though it isn’t as small as, say, the DJI Neo 2, the Avata 360 is still easy to travel with, especially in the included shoulder bag. As the drone weighs more than 8.78oz, you’ll need to register it with the F.A.A. in the U.S. and the C.A.A. in the U.K., or any other governing authority depending on where you live. The Avata 360’s heavy weight comes as no surprise, given that the DJI Avata 2 weighs 13.3oz or 377g.

As with most 360° cameras, the Avata 360’s lenses are easily replaceable by users, which is good news as the lower lens can be liable to impacts during landing. This is simple enough to do, as all you need to do is unscrew and pop out the damaged lens with the tools provided in the replacement kit, and screw on the new one.

We’ve also seen the inclusion of interchangeable lenses with the Antigravity A1, so it’s great that DJI has implemented this feature too. To ensure that the lenses don’t get damaged, the Avata 360’s gimbal rotates in a way that the lenses are only exposed when the drone is turned on. When you’re landing the drone, the gimbal rotates and tucks what would be the lower lens to the back, so that it doesn’t come in contact with the ground.

Build quality remains sublime as usual, and the Avata 360 doesn’t feel low-quality. Tapping it with my fingernails didn’t reveal any hollow parts or pinging, so you’re getting bang for your buck.

DJI Avata 360 review: Controls

When you buy the Antigravity A1, you get Vision goggles and a Grip motion controller in the bundle, and that’s what you use to fly the drone — similar to the DJI Goggles N3 and the DJI RC Motion 3 controller ($229 + $99). The DJI Avata 360 is a more versatile drone in that regard, as you can fly it with either the Goggles N3 and the RC Motion 3, or with a DJI RC-2 controller.

I’ve covered the RC-2 controller extensively as I’ve used it with the DJI Mini 5 Pro ($759) and other drones, but with the Avata 360, the interface is a little different. For instance, when using the RC-2 with the Avata 360, the top left dial lets you adjust the 360° Virtual Gimbal’s tilt and roll angle while the top right dial zooms in and out to help you capture each and every angle. When you’re doing this while flying the drone, it feels a little trippy and disorienting, but it’s extremely fun.

One of the advantages of buying the Avata 360 over the Antigravity A1 is the RC-2 controller — it can even be flown with an RC-N3 controller — as it enables you to view the footage you’ve just shot. You don’t need to wait until you’ve offloaded the footage to your phone or when you’re back at your desk. You can view a low-res preview of the video you’ve just filmed, and you can even use your finger to change the on-screen viewing angles.

Then you’ve got the Goggles N3 and the RC Motion 3, which I also tested with the Avata 360. If you want a more immersive flying experience, I’d highly recommend grabbing that bundle instead, as it makes you feel like you’re sitting on top of the drone, and it gives you a proper bird’s eye view of the world. You can see all around you by simply moving your head. Look down and you’ll see what’s under the drone. Look to the right and you’ll see what’s to the right of the Avata 360. This is also how the Antigravity A1’s Vision goggles and Grip controller work. Both the Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 are very similar in this regard.

The RC Motion 3 works just as well, and gives you a lot of control over the Avata 360’s movements. It enables you to make minute adjustments to your drone’s position and direction, so you can turn tight corners with ease. To find out more about how FPV flying works, read my full DJI Goggles N3 review.

If you don’t want to spend nearly a grand on the Motion combo, the standard RC-2 bundle will be enough for you. 360° footage needs to be edited in post-production to make it usable and the RC-2 controller captures every angle anyway, so you don’t necessarily need the most expensive bundle.

DJI Avata 360 review: Features

There’s no dearth of features on the DJI Avata 360. Alongside its 8K 360° video capabilities, you also get solid wind resistance, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and other safety features. For a retail price much less than the Antigravity A1, I’d say the Avata 360 trumps Insta360 in the features department.

The Avata 360 has a flight distance of 8.38 miles, which is a little more than the Antigravity A1’s 8-mile distance when you’re using a standard flight battery. On the Antigravity A1, this doubles with a High-Capacity battery. On the right edge of the drone, you’ll find a microSD card slot. While you get 42GB of internal storage (versus just 20GB on the Antigravity A1), I’d highly recommend investing in a microSD card, such as the Lexar 256GB V60 ($134). If you’re constantly shooting 8K/60fps video, the Avata 360’s internal storage will fill up extremely quickly — any drone’s or camera’s would.

Wind resistance

The Avata 360 features great wind resistance, capable of withstanding level 5 winds (10.7 m/s or 24mph). This is the same as the Antigravity A1 and the DJI Avata 2. I flew on a couple of windy days when the speed was over 20mph, according to my phone, and the drone didn’t falter. Because it weighs 1lb as well, it isn’t susceptible to gusts of wind — something that is an issue with sub-250g drones, like the Antigravity A1.

Obstacle avoidance

The Avata 360 features fantastic obstacle avoidance too. Its omnidirectional obstacle avoidance means it can brake or bypass objects in its way, depending on your settings. This is one of the most important features you can have in an FPV drone, and it comes in handy especially when flying the Avata 360 through the Goggles N3 and using the RC Motion 3. It gives you a lot more confidence when navigating tight spaces.

It will continue detecting and avoiding obstacles even when you hit the return-to-home button. This prompts the drone to fly back to its last known takeoff position, and is automatically toggled when the Avata 360 is low on battery.

DJI Avata 360 review: Video quality

The DJI Avata 360 is an incredible 360° drone, capable of recording 8K video at 60fps, which gives it a leg-up over the Antigravity A1 whose frame rate tops out at 30fps. While the Avata 360 borrows much of its core technology from the DJI Osmo 360, it’s important to note that the action camera’s 8K video is limited to 50fps (which is also outstanding, by the way) or 5K at 60fps. It does, however, feature the same 1/1.1-inch Square CMOS sensor.

Just like on the action camera, the Avata 360’s twin lenses record a 180° FoV (field of view) each in 4K, and the frames are then stitched together by the camera. What this means is that you get +8K resoltuion before stitching and when the clips are stitched together, you get 360° footage at true 8K resolution. This is how the twin lenses on the Antigravity A1 work too. I couldn’t see any stitching lines between the clips either, even after I zoomed in and analyzed the clips (and stills).

8K/60fps is extremely smooth and stable, and gives you a lot of freedom in post-production. You’ll be relying on companion software for editing these files in post (more on that soon), and 8K resolution basically gives you enough headroom in post-production to facilitate reframing (cropping into that full 8K image) at up to 4K in a 16:9 aspect ratio, depending on how wide the field of view is of your final frame.

But the Avata 360 has an ace up its sleeve. You see, when you’re shooting video on the Antigravity A1, you can’t really zoom out and change the pitch angle much, so you need to heavily edit files in post to make them watchable and usable. On the Avata 360? Even without editing, you can create ‘tiny planet’ effects by manipulating the two top dials on the RC-2 controller, as you can see above. I haven’t edited the footage (except for trimming the beginning and the end) and it still looks fantastic, giving the viewer a bird’s eye view of the world.

I think this massively adds to the Avata 360’s appeal. 360° editing software can take a while to get to grips with and might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and if a novice can create footage that’s instantly usable and shareable, it’s a win.

But editing 360° footage via companion software is necessary if you want longer clips that aren’t simply using effects. It can be a lot of fun, and I’ll discuss the software in detail soon. I edited the video above to add a few different effects, such as Asteroid, Ultra Wide and more, and adjusted the FoV, pan, tilt and roll angles to create a trippy video.

Similar to Deep Track on the Antigravity A1, the Avata 360 features Intelligent Tracking where you can draw a box around a subject in post-production, and the drone will automatically track it and highlight it as the primary subject. As you can see in the video above, I drew a box around a pillar in the distance on two separate occasions, and the software did an excellent job of tracking it even as the Avata 360 was moving.

Since the Avata 360 records every single angle, you can swap between different FoVs — forward, behind, above, below, and so on — which essentially gives you unlimited A and B cams. It increases creative capabilities by enabling you to capture otherworldly angles which isn’t necessarily possible on non-360° drones. You also get access to DJI’s range of QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, such as Dronie, Rocket, Follow, etc.

Like DJI’s action cameras, the Avata 360’s footage is stabilized using the brand’s trademark RockSteady technology, so every clip turns out smooth, as you’ve seen in all the footage above. Alongside this, the drone also features a single-axis mechanical gimbal which provides some degree of stabilization. Using both together, the Avata 360’s footage never flickers or appears unsteady.

DJI Avata 360 review: Image quality

Alongside stellar video quality and capabilities, the DJI Avata 360 is exceptional at capturing stills too. Each lens on the Avata 360 captures 64MP stills which are then digitally stitched together to deliver a 120MP 360° photo (15520×7760). I couldn’t see any visible stitching lines in the photos I’d captured for the purposes of this review. The 360° photo means you can edit it as you wish, and view every single angle if you share it with another person as an interactive 360° photo.

If you’re short on space and don’t want massive 120MP files clogging up your internal storage or microSD card, you can drop the resolution down to 30MP. You won’t capture as much detail, of course, but it’s a good idea if you’re in a pinch.

The 1/1.1-inch sensor captures plenty of detail with faithful color reproduction, as you can see in the gallery above. The highlights and shadows are well-balanced while the images themselves are highly detailed, and you can zoom in and not lose too much detail either.

These were taken in Auto mode but you can shoot manually too, as the Avata 360 has an adjustable shutter speed of 1/30s to 1/8,000s and ISO range of 100-6400 when shooting stills. This is the same ISO range you’ll find on the Antigravity A1, and should be just enough to shoot in low-light conditions, such as at dusk or dawn.

DJI Avata 360 review: App & software

The DJI Avata 360 saves 360° files in the OSV format which must be opened in either DJI Fly on your smartphone or DJI Studio on your macOS or Windows machine. Both apps are extremely easy to use and I’ll discuss both, starting off with DJI Studio. Full disclosure: this was my first time using DJI Studio, and as a newbie, I thoroughly enjoyed using the software thanks to its user-friendly interface.

DJI Studio gives you quick tutorials on how to edit 360° footage, so even if you’re a newcomer like myself, you won’t have any trouble getting a hang of it. It might take a while to understand keyframes and effects but once you wrap your head around them, editing the Avata 360’s footage is a walk in the park. Within DJI Studio, you can adjust pan, tilt, roll angles, FoVs, add effects like Asteroid, and lots more. You can also color grade your footage in the app itself, if you’ve shot it in D-Log M. If you shoot in MP4, you can adjust the contrast, brightness, color temperature, etc. Easy as pie.

There are a few handy editing features for smoother or creative results too, such as Chromatic Aberration Control, Stitching Optimization, Distortion Optimization, and Motion Blur. You get a fair bit of control over the motion blur which can help convey a sense of high speed if you so wish.

Then you’ve got DJI Fly on Android and iOS, which serves as the central hub for all your DJI drones. As with other DJI drones, you can use this app to quickly offload footage (useful if you’re running out of space), see nearby fly spots, and update the drone’s firmware.

In addition to all of this, you can also edit your 360° footage, and I especially love the One Tap Edit feature, which utilizes AI to trim your selected clips and add effects and music to them, as you can see in the video above. You get several templates to add your clips, text and music to too, and it’s all you need to create quick footage to share instantly on social media.

DJI Avata 360 review: Battery life

The DJI Avata 360 has respectable battery life, at least by drone standards. On a single charge, the Avata 360 can fly for 23 minutes, which is the same as the DJI Avata 2. The Antigravity A1, in comparison, can fly for 24 minutes using a standard battery pack or 39 minutes when using a High-Capacity battery.

Of course, the battery life will depend on the usage and flying conditions. I flew the Avata 360 for approximately 22 minutes while shooting 8K/60fps video before the drone had to automatically return-to-home due to low battery. This is fantastic, in my opinion, but also worth noting that it’s entirely subjective, as I was flying in windless conditions and in Neutral mode.

The Avata 360 comes with a three-way charging hub and two extra batteries if you buy the Fly More combo. All three batteries, in my testing, took just over an hour to go from zero to 100% charge.

DJI Avata 360 review: Verdict

If you’re a fan of aerial photography and want to capture every angle possible, there’s no better 360° drone better than the DJI Avata 360. It’s super easy and intuitive to fly with either the DJI Goggles N3 or a standard DJI RC-2 / RC-N3 controller. Since it captures every angle, you can focus on and enjoy flying and think about framing later. Both the DJI Studio and DJI Fly apps are easy to use and enable you to create stunning (and even trippy) footage.

The Avata 360 captures beautiful, stable 8K/60fps footage and highly detailed 120MP stills. With good battery life, excellent stabilization, and a premium build that doesn’t get knocked about by gusts of wind, the Avata 360 is all you need to get creative and create professional-looking footage. And the best part is that the drone is extremely affordable, and none of the bundles break the bank. It’s the undisputed king of 360° drones.

In November of 2025, there was a seismic shift in the drone world: a new brand threatened DJI's position as the king of the skies. Antigravity, a brand "incubated" by Insta360 (yes, the 360° cameras giant), launched its first drone, and the world's first-ever 360° drone, called the Antigravity A1.

At the time, DJI didn't have its own 360° drone which meant that Antigravity had carved a niche of its own and the A1 remained the undisputed best 360° drone... until now.

Four months later, in March 2026, DJI launched its first-ever 360° drone (and the world's second), the long-rumored DJI Avata 360. Since there are only two 360° drones in existence, at the time of writing, and both come from two of the biggest names in the realm of action cameras and drones, I naturally had to pit them against one another.

While I initially thought there weren't many differences between the two, I have since been proven wrong. Both the Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 shoot 8K 360° video which can be edited in post, and since every single angle is captured, you can focus on and enjoy flying first and think about framing later. Battery lives are fairly similar too... so are there any substantial differences? And is there a clear winner? Yes and yes.

Here's how it went when I tested the DJI Avata 360 versus the Antigravity A1.

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Specs compared

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Price & availability

The Antigravity A1 is a sub-brand of Insta360 — yes, the action and 360° cameras giant — and it officially launched in November 2025. Four months later, the DJI Avata 360 was announced, becoming the world's second-ever 360° drone (and the Chinese giant's first). I'll start off by talking about the elephant in the room that's desperately wanting to be addressed: the price difference between the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1.

There's a massive price difference between the two, and I wish I was exaggerating but I'm really not. The Avata 360 starts at ~$549 / £409 for just the drone, and this is the perfect deal for those who already own a DJI controller, like the RC-N3 or the RC-2, or a pair of DJI Goggles N3 and a DJI RC Motion 3 controller. There are three additional bundles available: with the RC-2 controller (~$859 / £639), an RC-2 Fly More Combo (~$1,199 / £829), and a Motion Combo (~$1,199 / £829).

In comparison, the Antigravity A1 starts at $1,599 / £1,219, while its Explorer bundle costs $1,899 / £1,399, and the Infinity bundle retails for a whopping $1,999 / £1,499. It's staggering, and the fact that the Avata 360's most expensive bundle still costs a lot less than the Antigravity A1's cheapest bundle blows my mind.

Winner: DJI Avata 360

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Design

Both the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 look very different from one another. The Avata 360 retains the DJI Avata 2's design and borrows styling cues from the DJI Neo 2. It's fitted with propeller guards which means that not only can you fly it indoors, but that its propellers are protected if your drone crashes into a tree or another obstacle. On the other hand, the Antigravity A1 looks similar to drones like the DJI Mini 5 Pro, with its propellers exposed, limiting its indoor usage.

The two drones are fairly compact in size, with the Avata 360 measuring 9.69 x 7.83 x 2.19 inches and the Antigravity A1 measuring 12.15 × 15.05 × 3.51 inches (unfolded, with propellers). Both come with shoulder bags for easy transport.

The biggest difference lies in their weight. The Avata 360 weighs 1lb while the Antigravity A1 weighs 8.78oz. Because the latter weighs so little, you don't need to necessarily register it with the F.A.A. in the U.S. or the C.A.A. in the U.K., or any other governing authority depending on where you live.

Because the Avata 360 weighs so much, more flight restrictions apply, such as staying under a certain height limit, avoiding flying over groups of people, etc. I'd recommend reading up on the different rules and restrictions depending on where you live or where you're planning on flying the drone.

Due to the added restrictions, the Antigravity A1 takes the crown when it comes to design and portability — although the Avata 360 won't give you anything to complain about in terms of build quality.

Winner: Antigravity A1

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Features & app

There's no dearth of features on both the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1. Both drones feature omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and return-to-home where the drones fly to their last known take-off positions either manually or automatically when battery is low. Both drones also feature internal storage, with the Antigravity A1 packing 20GB of it and the Avata 360 packing 42GB of it, making the latter the winner.

As is the nature of 360° footage where every single angle is captured, you need to edit footage in post-production to make it usable or professional-looking. Up until recently, DJI's companion software for editing action camera footage was fairly lackluser, but the brand has made massive strides with the Avata 360. DJI Studio on macOS/Windows is the easiest way to edit your footage, and in a similar vein, so is Antigravity Studio. Both drones are also accompanied by clean-looking, user-friendly mobile apps for on-the-fly editing.

The biggest difference, and the deciding factor of this round, lies in the drones' straight-out-of-camera footage — and this is also related to how the drones are controlled/flown. The Avata 360 can be used with either the RC-2 or the RC-N3 controller, and you can use these controllers to create Tiny Planet videos that can be shared online without editing. Since the Antigravity A1 uses a screen-less Grip motion controller, the same isn't possible, therefore handing over the win to the Avata 360.

Also aiding the Avata 360's win in this round is its 42GB of internal storage (compared to just 20GB on the Antigravity A1). In addition to this, the Avata 360's omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, in my opinion, works just a little better than the Antigravity A1's, as seen in my testing.

Winner: DJI Avata 360

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Photo & video quality

Both the DJI Avata 360 and the Antigravity A1 are fantastic, competent drones, capable of capturing 8K 360° footage. The Avata 360 does so at 60fps, while the Antigravity A1 does so at 30fps. The Avata 360 is in fact the only 360° device (action cameras and drones included) to record 8K/60fps footage, so it signals a new age for 360° devices.

Regardless, both drones capture stable and steady footage but the Avata 360's footage is more stabilized thanks to a single-axis mechanical gimbal working in conjunction with DJI's RockSteady tech.

8K video shot on both drones gives you enough headroom in post-production to reframe at up to 4K in a 16:9 aspect ratio — the default ratio for YouTube and TV. Twin lenses on each drone basically capture 4K videos which are then stitched together. On the Avata 360, the resolution you get is true 8K and therefore true 4K, and there are no stitching lines visible — in fact, you can't see stitching lines in the footage captured with the Antigravity A1 either.

The video above was shot on the Antigravity A1, and reframed in post. You can add many effects and adjust every single angle in post-production, and it's like having unlimited A and B cams. The video is smooth and stable, and the colors appear true-to-life too.

Above is a video shot on the Avata 360, in comparison. Because of the 60fps frame rate, the footage appears smoother and the motion looks more realistic. Personally, I prefer the look of the Avata 360's footage because the colors look more vibrant and the finer details (like the patterns in the clay) look more hi-res when compared to the Antigravity A1.

Alongside shooting video, the Antigravity A1 and the Avata 360 are excellent for capturing aerial stills too. The Antigravity A1 shoots 55MP photos with its 1/1.28-inch sensor while the Avata 360 shoots 120MP photos with its 1/1.1-inch sensor. The 120MP photos are achieved by stitching two 64MP photos together, although there are again no signs or stitching lines in the final results. The Avata 360 also gives you more freedom in terms of cropping when compared to the Antigravity A1 — although 55MP stills are still outstanding.

The images in the gallery above were shot on the Antigravity A1. They look good, and the drone has captured enough detail in the building in the distance, but some of the finer detail, like the edges of the window panes, has been lost.

In comparison, the images in the gallery above were shot on the Avata 360, and again, they look better, in my opinion. The colors are more pleasing to look at, and the images themselves are quite detailed. At the end of the day, the Avata 360 is the drone to get if you want best-in-class image and video quality, and so, it wins this round.

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Battery life

Neither the DJI Avata 360 nor the Antigravity A1 will give you much room to complain about when it comes to battery life. The Avata 360 is rated for 23 minutes between charges, while the Antigravity A1 is rated for 24 minutes. You can also use High-Capacity flight batteries with the Antigravity A1, and using one bumps the flight time up to 39 minutes, but it's worth noting that this pushes the drone's weight over 8.78oz, which means more restrictions apply.

Both drones are also accompanied by three-way charging hubs — if you buy the respective bundles. These charge three batteries in just under/over an hour each. At the time of writing, it isn't confirmed whether more advanced battery packs will be available for the Avata 360, so the Antigravity A1 is the winner in this department by a very narrow margin.

Winner: Antigravity A1

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Verdict

Both the Antigravity A1 and the DJI Avata 360 usher in a new age for drones: the era of 360° drones has begun. They're feats of engineering in their own rights, with both drones boasting incredible 8K video capabilities. But having spent weeks testing both drones, the winner couldn't be more obvious. When it comes to sheer value for money, the Avata 360 takes the cake as its most expensive Fly More Combo costs less than the Antigravity A1's cheapest one.

But that's not all. The Avata 360 is more intuitive to fly with either a controller or a pair of goggles, and it enables you to create good-looking straight-out-of-camera footage. Furthermore, it packs 8K/60fps video capabilities while the Antigravity A1's caps at 8K/30fps. Not only is the Avata 360 an Antigravity A1 killer, but this could potentially mean that DJI will start packing 8K/60fps into its action cameras, which wouldn't be good news for Insta360.

Combine that with 120MP stills, user-friendly editing software, and sublime build quality, and you've got a drone that will stay on top for a long, long time. The Avata 360 is clearly the king of 360° drones, and I can't picture it being dethroned anytime soon.

DJI Avata 360 vs Antigravity A1: Ratings scorecard

More from Tom's Guide

• 'The best 360-degree drone, maybe ever' — I tested the DJI Avata 360 for 3 weeks and it's the new gold standard
• I’ve been testing the Antigravity A1 and the world’s first-ever 360° drone confirms one thing: DJI has some serious competition
• “What if drones became an extension of our senses?”: I spoke with the Antigravity A1’s product lead about the brand’s inspirations, hopes and challenges

DJI isn't taking the FCC's drone ban lying down. The company is suing the agency to reverse the ban that prevents the Chinese company from importing or selling new drone models in the United States.

On Friday, February 20, DJI filed a petition with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that challenged the ban which went into effect this past December. DJI is requesting the court review the order, arguing that the FCC "exceeded its statutory authority" and violated the Fifth Amendment when it added DJI drones and parts to its Covered List.

The Covered List includes telecommunications equipment that has been deemed to pose a risk to national security. The FCC's ban basically blocks all foreign-made drone components and new foreign-manufactured drone models under the "threat" of national security.

In DJI's petition, it asks the Court to hold the ban "unlawful" and to vacate it.

The FCC did relax the rules in January when it released the NSD FCC Covered List Waiver 0126. Page two of that waiver document states that foreign-made drones may be allowed to be sold in the US after passing "rigorous cyber and hardware assessments."

Drones that pass would be allowed to remain available until January 1, 2027. However, it does not apply to consumer drones but rather those designed for first responders, government agencies, search and rescue teams and surveillance teams.

“Despite repeated efforts to engage with the government, DJI has never been given the chance to provide information to address or refute any concerns. These procedural and substantive deficiencies violate the Constitution and federal law," the FCC told PCMag.

Uphill battle

DJI has been fighting the ban since it was enacted by the House of Representatives in 2023, and it hasn't gone well. In September 2025, US District Judge Paul Friedman ruled against DJI saying that there is "substantial evidence" that the company “contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base."

Courts have previously upheld bans of other companies like Huawei, which has been banned since 2019 under the first Trump administration. U.S. courts have historically been hesitant to stick with U.S. government decisions regarding national security.

More from Tom's Guide

• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners
• I reviewed every drone that came out in 2025: these are the best photos and videos I’ve taken
• The rumored DJI Avata 360’s price has been leaked online — and it might be surprisingly affordable compared to Insta360’s Antigravity A1

A series of leaks discovered by NewCamera has revealed a metric ton of information about a new version of DJI's popular mini vlogging camera, the Osmo Pocket 4.

The current DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is an excellent little camera, and save a couple of small flaws, would have received a full 5 stars in our review. NewCamera's leaks appear to show significant improvements over the three-year-old device.

They spotted a video on Instagram that was allegedly filmed inside a DJI-authorized store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That video has since been deleted, but was saved and can be seen here:

At first glance, the purported Osmo Pocket 4 looks very similar to the Pocket 3. However, we can see what appears to be a zoom button and a Nintendo Switch 2-esque "C" button above the record button and thumbstick.

The gimbal appears to be longer and has a new grip. The biggest change looks to be a built-in LED light on top of the camera, which looks like it'll be perfect for shooting in low light or at night.

Additionally, the person in the video appears to be shooting in "Super Photo" mode at 33MP.

Osmo Pocket 4 Specs

There are some specs for the Pocket 4, and largely it appears to be very similar to the Pocket 3 with some upgrades, and a potential leap in price.

Some minor updates include a brighter, rotatable OLED display, a larger battery, the LED light (which may be optional) and potentially 6K recording at 30 fps.

It's possible the camera and the LED light will be more expensive than the Pocket 3 thanks to component price increases and President Trump's tariffs.

However, as of this writing, the U.S. Supreme Court just struck down Trump's tariffs in a major ruling. However, it will take some time to unwind the taxes, and the ruling left open the door for the administration to pursue other avenues to impose import levies. Additionally, as the New York Times reports, the president is steadfast in his belief that he can just impose tariffs as is his wont.

Asked directly if he planned to work with Congress to impose the kinds of sweeping tariffs he prefers, Trump said he had no intention of doing so. “I don’t have to,” he said. “I have the right to do tariffs.”'

With that in mind, pricing for the Pocket 4 is up in the air and could change drastically between now and launch.

Will it release in the US?

In December 2025, DJI drones were officially banned from sale in the United States. It not only hit drones but also any drone that used foreign-made parts, including batteries, imaging sensors and batteries.

Pocket 4 isn't a drone, but it might get more scrutiny from the FCC. However, the ban only affects newer devices that didn't receive approval before December. The Pocket 4 has popped up in FCC regulatory listings, suggesting that it may have squeaked in before that deadline.

Still, the FCC has relaxed a little with its NSD FCC Covered List Waiver 0126 that could allow foreign-made drones and components to be sold in the US after "rigorous cyber and hardware assessments."

Meanwhile, you can still purchase older DJI products that were approved pre-ban.

More from Tom's Guide

• The rumored DJI Avata 360’s price has been leaked online — and it might be surprisingly affordable compared to Insta360’s Antigravity A1
• Sorry GoPro, the DJI Osmo Action 6 just won the action camera war
• I’ve been testing the DJI Neo 2 and it improves on its predecessor in every way — this is the best budget drone you can buy

When it made the DJI Osmo Action 6, Chinese tech giant DJI was presumably faced with somewhat of a tricky challenge: how to improve on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (OA5 Pro), already the best action camera on the market.

Doing too much with the Osmo Action 6 (OA6) risked spoiling the formula. So DJI could’ve just pulled a GoPro: tweak the core performance very slightly (if at all), add an interchangeable lens mount, and voilà.

But DJI went at least a bit further. Following on the Hero13 Black’s coat-tails, the OA6 has indeed been given an interchangeable lens mount. And while the OA6’s headline figures are much the same as the older model’s, there’s also a major upgrade under the hood: the Osmo Action line has finally pushed beyond 4K, with a shiny new 8K/30p maximum resolution.

Otherwise, things are little-changed: 65-foot waterproofing; beautiful build quality; OLED displays front and back; plus 50GB internal storage. Is that a bad thing? Nope. The OA5 Pro wasn’t broken, so there was no way in hell it needed fixing.

For the complete breakdown, read my full DJI Osmo Action 6 review.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Specs

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Price & availability

The DJI Osmo Action 6 starts at $369 / £319 for the Essential Combo, which gives you just the camera and a battery. The Standard Combo costs $379 / £329 and is the one I’d recommend for newcomers, as it bundles a spare battery and basic accessories. At an extra $10 / £10, it’s a no brainer.

Once again, DJI’s pricing is extremely competitive, undercutting the GoPro Hero13 Black’s $399 launch price (although the price has since risen to $429 at Amazon, as I write this in early 2026).

$369 is only a $20 increase over the OA5 Pro’s $349 launch price, so not a major hike. Meanwhile, in the U.K., the OA6’s launch price is actually £10 cheaper than the OA5 Pro, which cost £329 at launch — very welcome, as it’s rare to see a price drop these days.

Availability

With DJI these days, though, it isn’t the price that’s the problem — it’s the availability. In the U.S. anyway. In case you missed it, DJI is feuding with the U.S. government over drones and was already pretty annoyed about tariffs. Until further notice, the company has pulled official support from the U.S. market.

That means you can’t buy the OA6 directly from DJI, although it’s available from third party retailers like Amazon. Importantly, it means there’s no official aftercare and you can’t buy a DJI care plan. In the U.S. (but nowhere else), if your device breaks, DJI ain’t gonna fix it.

It’s a risk you’ll have to weigh up. I’ve owned many DJI products and, aside from some pre-production samples (which we expect to be imperfect), not one has broken.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Design

Measuring 2.86 x 1.85 x 1.3 inches and weighing 5.2 ounces, the DJI Osmo Action 6 is slightly larger than the OA5 Pro (2.77 x 1.74 x 1.29 inches, 5.15 ounces), and now only a fraction smaller than the Hero13 Black (2.8 x 2 x 1.32 inches, 5.4 ounces). There’s not a lot in it though, so none will be markedly more mountable than the others.

I usually prefer the squatter design of the Osmo Action line versus the GoPro Hero13 Black — when helmet chin mounting, the lower height gives you more room to angle the camera upwards and also prevents it intruding into my field of view. Unfortunately, though, the OA6 is almost the same height as the Hero13 Black.

Still, I had no major problem mounting the OA6 on my chin mount, and it didn’t weigh my helmet down either. The OA6 was also able to fit into a tight gap on my handlebars, where larger 360 cameras like the GoPro MAX2 ($499) can't fit.

Build quality is phenomenal. The exterior is finished in a rugged metal, which feels great. All the buttons click nicely with decent positive feedback (important when wearing gloves) and the hatches click firmly shut. The screens are also beautiful, but I’ll get onto those a little later.

A new design feature is, of course, the interchangeable lens mount. But I’ll cover that more in the video section below.

Weatherproofing

Waterproofing has stayed the same as the OA5 Pro at 65 feet / 20 meters without any case needed. This was already class-leading, so DJI didn’t need to build on it. The Hero13 Black offers only 33 feet / 10 meters while the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 ($399) manages 39 feet / 12 meters. If you’re a snorkeler or diver, the Osmo Action line is still the one for you.

DJI seems very proud of the OA6’s cold temperature performance, marketing the camera with images of it smashing through ice and being used while skiing. In reality, the -20°C minimum operating temperature is the same as the OA5 Pro, because they use the same battery. Again, this is still best in class, as the GoPro Enduro battery is only rated down to -10°C.

Mounting

Like all its competitors, the Osmo Action 6 features magnetic mounting. It utilizes the same quick release mount found on all recent DJI cameras. I’ve used the exact same quick release adapter on my DJI Osmo 360 ($549), DJI Osmo Nano ($299), OA5 and now the OA6.

This is awesome if you already own DJI gear, saving you money on accessories. And it’s a solid reason to buy the cheaper Essential Combo if you already own an OA5 Pro or DJI Osmo 360 — they all use the same mounts and batteries.

Sadly, there are still no GoPro-style built-in fingers, so you need to use an adapter for finger-mount accessories.

Connectivity

The Osmo Action 6 hooks up to your smartphone wirelessly via the DJI Mimo App for camera control, updating and basic editing.

There’s a USB-C port for wired hookup of accessories or a microphone (but you’ll need DJI’s USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter). The USB-C port has its own hatch, so no exposing the battery when using accessories (seriously, GoPro, why is that still a thing?).

The Osmo Action 6 features a MicroSD slot that accepts up to 1TB cards, but there’s also 50GB of internal storage — up from the OA5 Pro’s 47GB. This is so useful. I ran out of space on a 64GB card during testing and was able to switch to internal and keep shooting.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Controls

The Osmo Action 6’s on-board controls are minimal, which is normal for action cameras. One record and one power button, and that’s it. But they work, and that’s not something to take lightly…

See, every GoPro I’ve owned has decided on its own terms when to turn on — sometimes the power button works, sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes the button needs a long press, sometimes a short press. And that’s without adding thick gloves into the equation. It’s infuriating. By contrast, DJI’s buttons just work, always, gloves or not.

Most camera control is done via screens. The OA6 features the same 2.5-inch rear and 1.4-inch front OLED displays, and they’re beautiful. The rear in particular is bright and wide, with plenty of space to navigate menus, and is highly responsive. In comparison, remove “wide,” “plenty of space to navigate menus” and “highly responsive”... and you have yourself a GoPro screen.

DJI’s menu system is also excellent. It’s intuitively laid out, allowing quick navigation around the camera, and offers a high level of in-depth control. It’s miles ahead of the dated GoPro menu.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Stabilization

The Osmo Action 6 features the same RockSteady 3.0 stabilization system as its predecessor, which is great. There’s a new, larger sensor, which should give the OA6 more space to crop into frame and better stabilize footage. Honestly, though, I can’t tell the difference between the OA5 Pro and OA6 stabilization. In fact, stabilization is so good on all flagships these days, including the Hero13 Black and Insta360 Ace Pro 2, that you’ll get beautifully stable footage from any of them.

As you can see in the video above, the OA6 weathered the bumpy ground supremely and footage stayed very smooth. And in the higher octane clip below, again, it’s a super smooth performance.

The Osmo Action 6 also features a HorizonSteady mode for keeping the horizon level in footage that leans heavily — motorcycling or skiing, for instance — I personally like showing lean angles, but it’s nice to have a horizon level mode there if you want it.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Focusing

Making a return is DJI’s subject tracking mode. Place a subject within the central tracking box and the camera will detect and lock onto it reliably and tenaciously. It only works with humans but it’s still extremely useful for ensuring fast-moving subjects stay in focus. Importantly, this mode is limited to 2.7K resolution.

There’s also Portrait mode, which tracks faces in frame but is intended more for vlogging, with adjustments to soften skin tones. This mode is limited to 4K/30fps.

A major upgrade in the focusing realm comes with the new macro lens accessory. With this lens fitted, you can manually shift the minimum focusing distance to focus on close up subjects in the foreground. It’s really cool and gives you more control than previous OA cameras.

The OA6 sports a variable aperture system. You can choose between fixed focus at f/2 or f/4, which is especially handy for fixing your focal plane for a wider depth of field when using the macro lens.

With the standard lens fitted, you can also shift the automatic variable aperture at the wide end from f/2-f/4 to f/2.8-f/4, in increments of 0.2 (so f/2, f/2.2, f/2.4, f/2.6, f/2.8). All of these ranges end at f/4 on the narrow end.

Truthfully, I haven’t had much use for the different variable aperture bands. The difference between f/2 and f/2.8 is pretty difficult to discern in most action camera footage, where footage is moving fast, FoVs are very wide and subjects are often at infinity, so I prefer to keep it at f/2-f/4 to give myself the best low-light performance if needed. But hey, if you need the camera to operate at maximum f/2.8 to get that slightly deeper focal plane versus f/2, you can.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Video performance

One of the major upgrades the OA6 sports over the rest of the lineup is 8K/30fps shooting, possible thanks to a new 1/1.1-inch sensor (up from the 1/1.3-inch sensor in the OA5 Pro). Beware: manufacturers love to bandy about +4K maximum resolutions, but for many people, they’re of little use given YouTube still tops out at 4K.

However, any +4K resolution is beneficial for a couple of reasons. More res gives you room to crop into frame and maintain at least 4K resolution, for extra flexibility with framing. It also allows you to export oversampled 4K footage for super sharp results. Both will be of use to those who edit their footage, especially pros.

The Hero13 Black tops out at 5.7K/30fps, and the Ace Pro 2 also tops out at 8K/30fps. The OA5 Pro, meanwhile, was capped at 4K/60fps. Annoyingly, on the OA6, there’s no selectable resolution between 4K/60fps and 8K/30fps. So, you can’t shoot 6K/60fps, for example, if you wanted to strike a balance between higher resolution and a faster frame rate.

4K can be shot at up to 120fps for high-res slow motion footage (240fps is also available at 1080p). 4K footage looks excellent — lovely and sharp. Colors are natural-feeling, although there are now some color filters to apply grades to footage in camera, something DJI has been way behind on. There are 6 to choose from, including vibrant profiles, a skin tone profile, and a few cinematic/nostalgic profiles, too. As with other DJI cameras there’s D-Log M for wide dynamic range capture to preserve highlights in challenging lighting — primarily useful for pros editing in post.

Obviously, there are the new lenses. GoPro introduced a similar interchangeable lens mount on the Hero12 Black and Hero13 Black. DJI needed to catch up. I tested the Ultra Wide and Macro lenses, and they’re a lot of fun. The Ultra Wide in particular looks gorgeous, allowing you to capture huge panoramic footage. You can see it in action above, and for comparison the Ultra Wide setting on the standard lens below.

The Macro lens is also a lot of fun, allowing you to get creative with close-up scenes. There’s no anamorphic lens, as on the rival GoPro, but I’m hoping to see the lineup expand that way soon. Nevertheless, interchangeable lenses put more creativity in video shooters’ hands, so I’m a fan.

Low light

Low-light performance is fairly respectable. A 1/1.1-inch sensor won’t ever blow the world away with ultra clean low light footage, but as action cameras go, the OA6 does a decent job. You’ll want to use SuperNight mode, which is now available in up to 4K/60fps (night modes are often locked to 30fps, as on the Osmo Action 5 Pro), which demonstrates DJI’s faith in the sensor.

The videos in this section show examples of nighttime footage shot at 4K/30fps and 4K/60fps. I think it looks pretty good. The footage doesn’t quite do justice to how dark it was while filming because the camera has brightened up the sky significantly at both 30fps and 60fps.

4K/30fps isn’t the cleanest, with noise affecting image sharpness, but it isn’t ruinous and you can still see what’s going on. At 60fps, sharpness has suffered quite a bit, as the camera has bumped ISO as much as it could to brighten things up, so that’s to be expected.

The camera's inner lens likes to flare a fair bit with bright light sources, which is particularly noticeable at night. It's only really intrusive with super bright lights, which isn't uncommon, and I’m actually a fan of the sunstar flares from medium-bright light sources.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Audio performance

The DJI Osmo Action 6’s internal audio quality is very strong. As you can hear in the motorcycle footage above, shot on the camera’s ‘high’ wind reduction, there’s some but not too much wind buffeting and the bike engine still sounds clear. With wind reduction on ‘normal’ in the clip below, it’s still not too bad. In windless scenarios, though, turning off the reduction will give you the best quality audio.

As with all DJI cameras nowadays, you can hook up DJI mics wirelessly via OsmoAudio. This uses Bluetooth, which compresses and degrades audio quality severely, so it’s fine for vlogging and lower-octane pursuits. For any footage where wind or very loud noises are going to occur, you can connect a wired mic using DJI’s USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter.

Happily, the Osmo Action 6 also records with timecode, so you can also just record audio separately and sync up via timecode in post.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: App

The Osmo Action 6 pairs with the DJI Mimo app, of which I’m a big fan. It’s come on leaps and bounds since the Osmo Action 4, and now offers comprehensive control over the camera in real time as you shoot.

It also lets you update the camera and gives you some basic tools to edit your footage — although Insta360’s app, with its straight-to-social approach, offers a wider array of editing features (including some rather gimmicky ones).

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Battery life & overheating

The Osmo Action 6 uses the same 1,950mAh battery as the OA5 Pro and Osmo 360, which I’m very pleased about. Firstly, I own about 15 of the things, and secondly, it’s a solid power cell. DJI claims up to 240 minutes, although that figure isn’t particularly helpful given it’s based on 1080p recording.

In my standardized indoor stress testing at 4K/60fps, with the screen set to auto-shut off after a minute, the Osmo Action 6 lasted 120 minutes in total. It overheated after 62 minutes and then again after 40 minutes, which is a fair amount of time.

In the same test, the OA5 Pro lasted 112 minutes in total and overheated after 43 minutes. The Hero13 Black lasted 80 minutes in total, overheating after 54. The Ace Pro 2 lasted 76 minutes without overheating. Remember, though, mine was a stress test, so overheating isn’t something you’ll have to worry about outside and/or while moving.

At its maximum 8K/30fps resolution and frame rate, the OA6 overheated after 65 minutes and lasted for 93 minutes, which is longer than anything from GoPro or Insta360 shooting at 4K — go figure.

DJI Osmo Action 6 review: Verdict

As I said at the outset, the DJI Osmo Action 6 was building on an already excellent formula. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro was a fantastic camera, which held the top spot on our best action cameras guide since not long after its launch. The Osmo Action 6 is a worthy successor, maintaining everything that I loved about its predecessor, but building on it in important ways.

Core video performance, stabilization and internal audio are fantastic; battery life and waterproofing are best in class. And now there are some fun features for creators to experiment with, namely color filters and the interchangeable lenses. Pros, meanwhile, will relish the addition of higher than 4K res.

The DJI Osmo Action 6 is the ultimate all rounder. Whether you’re a pro, a content creator or just a casual shooter, there really isn’t a better action camera out there.

Should Insta360's Antigravity A1 be worried? Well, a threat is certainly looming, as the DJI Avata 360 rumors continue to ramp up. Fresh leaks suggest the drone could be coming very soon — and we might even see it in the next month or so. It looks like it will arrive in Spring 2026, even though I originally speculated that it would land at the end of December 2025.

But there are a few burning questions which won't be fully answered until we actually see the Avata 360. Will it be affordable, or at least cheaper than the Antigravity A1 (whose retail price makes it inaccessible to many)? Will it come with googles, like the DJI Goggles N3? And most importantly, will it be approved by the FCC in the U.S., given the drone ban and restrictions?

I've been keeping a close eye on the rumors, and the latest leaks have been quite enlightening. Here's everything you need to know about the DJI Avata 360.

How long has the DJI Avata 360 been rumored?

The latest leaks aren't the first time we've heard of the DJI Avata 360. Back in May 2025, when the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Neo 2 were being speculated upon, a rumor started circulating around the internet, noting that a successor to the DJI Avata 2 would be launching soon. This hinted at the DJI Avata 3, and not the Avata 360.

Fast forward to August 2025 when Chinese media reported that DJI was also preparing a 360-degree drone. This rumor reared its face shortly after Antigravity, a drone brand "incubated" by Insta360, first teased the Antigravity A1. This also aligned with the launch of the DJI Osmo 360, DJI's first-ever 360-degree camera. DJI finally had the 360 tech it could potentially implement in its drones — after all, the Antigravity A1's imaging tech is quite similar to that in the Insta360 X5.

Given that Insta360 and DJI are two of the biggest players in the realm of action cameras and drones, it's only natural for them to compete. The subsequent launch of the Antigravity A1 in December 2025 meant one thing: the DJI Avata 360 could land at any moment. I myself was convinced that we'd see it before the end of 2025, but December also brought with it the FCC ruling which would ban the launch of new foreign-made drones.

The FCC ruling doesn't affect the sale of already-existing drones, so you can still buy them, but any foreign-made drones that want to enter the American market will go through enhanced scrutiny. Even if drones are made on American soil but utilize foreign-made parts, they will still be scrutinized. This ruling, naturally, doesn't affect other countries, like the U.K., Australia, and nations in Europe and Asia. But it remains to be seen the impact it will have on the subsequent launch of the DJI Avata 360.

The DJI Avata 360 will be relatively affordable, according to leaks

There's no sugarcoating it: the world's first-ever 360-degree drone is very expensive. The Antigravity A1 starts at a whopping $1,599 / £1,219 and goes all the way up to $1,999 / £1,499, so it isn't exactly affordable. DJI has the chance to undercut it by pricing the DJI Avata 360 competitively and at a lower price point — and it looks like that's exactly what the manufacturer intends to do.

DroneXL was the first media outlet to report on the Avata 360 rumors, and as you can see in the image above, DJI looks set to undercut Antigravity. If these rumors are true, the drone alone would cost ¥2,988 (approximately $499); the RC-2 bundle would cost ¥3,988 (approximately $699); the Fly More Combo would cost ¥5,688 (approximately $999); and the Goggles N3 Combo would cost approximately $1,200.

As DroneXL notes, these are estimations, and we can expect some fluctuation. The Avata 360 could even launch at the Avata 2's launch price. If these rumors are true — and as with any rumors, that's a big "if" — Antigravity could be in trouble, as the most expensive Avata 360 bundle would still be $300 cheaper than Antigravity's cheapest!

It could potentially shoot 8K/60fps

We haven't seen much in terms of the DJI Avata 360's specs in the latest leaks and rumors, so it remains to be seen what its sensor size will be, along with the megapixels it will pack. We don't know how much it will weigh either, but given DJI's track record of keeping most of its drones under the 8.78oz / 249g mark, we can assume that pilots will be able to fly the Avata 360 without necessarily registering it with the FCC in the U.S. or the CAA in the U.K.

We do have one somewhat confirmed spec though. In the above image shared by DroneXL, it looks like the Avata 360 will be able to shoot 8K/60fps HDR Panorama Video. The Antigravity A1's video capabilities are limited to 8K/30fps, so this will give DJI a bit of a leg-up.

Many supposed images of the Avata 360 have been leaked online, too, but as with anything in the age of generative AI, I'm quite skeptical of these. You can never really know what's real and what's fake until you actually see it from an official source — so I will wait until DJI actually confirms the Avata 360 before sharing any product images.

When can I buy the DJI Avata 360?

It's difficult to say when exactly you'll be able to buy the DJI Avata 360, as there has been no official news about the drone, and it hasn't even been teased by DJI yet. The latest leaks, though, suggest that the drone could potentially launch as early as March 2026. This is just a rumor at the end of the day, of course, so take it with a grain of salt.

As always, I'll be bringing you the latest news on the Avata 360, whenever DJI decides on announcing and revealing it, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, if you're looking to buy a new drone in the U.S. and are worried about the FCC ban, the following are still available:

• DJI Mavic 4 Pro: was $2,699 now $2,179 @ Amazon
• DJI Mini 5 Pro: $759 @ Amazon
• DJI Air 3S (with RC-N3): $1,099 @ Amazon
• DJI Neo 2: $259 @ Amazon
• DJI Neo: $199 @ Amazon
• DJI Flip (with RC-N3): $439 @ Amazon
• DJI Avata 2 (Fly More Combo): was $729 now $619 @ Amazon

More from Tom's Guide

• Restrictions on drones have been temporarily eased but there's a catch — here are the updates on the US drone ban
• Best drones in 2026
• “What if drones became an extension of our senses?”: I spoke with the Antigravity A1’s product lead about the brand’s inspirations, hopes and challenges

The year's drawing to a close and many of us are starting to wind down to enjoy the holidays and well-deserved breaks. This is the time of the year when many of us start coming up with New Year's resolutions, whether they're related to hitting the gym more often, quitting a bad habit, or picking up a new hobby.

You know what's a great hobby that I, personally, vouch for? Photography. It's a wonderful hobby that involves learning new skills and technical knowledge, as well as going outdoors, spending time in the natural elements. Photography can be very rewarding too — take it from someone who has been doing it since she was a child. Nothing beats the feeling when you grab a shot of, say, a bird, that you've been vying for for a long time.

I love photography as a hobby and it's also part of my job as senior reviews writer here at Tom's Guide, which means I test the best cameras. If you want to take up photography as a hobby in 2026 but don't know which camera to get, I've got you covered.

Budget pick

Currently ranking as our top pick for best budget mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R100 is a superb all-purpose camera. Whether you want to capture pet portraits, family group photos, or landscapes, this camera can do it all — and without burning a hole in your pocket too. It's the next step up from smartphone photography, thanks to its straightforward control scheme and compact and lightweight design.

Featuring a 24.1MP sensor, the EOS R100 captures lovely-looking stills which are perfect for sharing on social media. What makes this camera ideal for beginners is the 'Display Level' section of the menu which offers a Guided Menu display option, Interactive Mode guide, and a pop-up Feature guide. All of these help you find your way around the camera, and learn how to use different shooting modes. The EOS R100 teaches you photography, basically!

The EOS R100 is an interchangeable lens camera (ILC) which means you can swap its lenses. It's compatible with Canon's RF-S (APS-C) and RF (full frame) lenses, giving you the freedom to experiment with different focal lengths, apertures and more. For a beginner camera, this is a great feature to have, as you can always invest in more advanced lenses down the line.

For those who want to capture videos of their family, friends, pets and travels, the EOS R100 is up to the challenge as it can record 4K/25fps video too. It's the ultimate, beginner-friendly all-purpose camera, which is why I recommend it to every smartphone user looking to build on their photography skills.

Check out more sample images and videos in our Canon EOS R100 review.

Video work

If you want a camera specifically designed for videography, and one that doesn't break the bank, I've got a great recommendation for you: the Fujifilm X-M5. Similar to the Canon EOS R100, you can mount different lenses on to the X-M5, giving you more versatility and freedom. It's an excellent video and/or vlogging camera, thanks to its ability to record 6.2K/30fps footage. This resolution gives you some headroom to crop to 4K while maintaining a high resolution.

The X-M5 records 10-bit video, which means it’s capable of capturing a wide color gamut with a total of 1.07 billion individual hues. Fuji's color science is breathtaking so you know you're getting your money's worth. It's a versatile camera as it can shoot detailed, colorful 26.1MP stills too. Autofocus works well in both video and stills, as the camera is quick to lock onto animals and humans.

What makes the X-M5 an absolute steal (in addition to its solid video and photo capabilities) is its compact size, making it a lovely travel companion, and dedicated film simulation dial. Film simulations are, essentially, filters which you can apply to videos and photos, and there are many different ones to choose from. These help you produce usable footage without the need for post-production — something beginners will definitely appreciate.

For videography, the X-M5 boasts good audio performance too, thanks to a wind filter and three internal directional mics. You can choose to record surround sound, front or back priority, or front and back priority. The camera captures environmental, ambient sounds as well as human voices well, negating the need to buy an external mic right off the bat.

Check out more sample images and videos in my Fujifilm X-M5 review.

Vlogging on a budget

The best cameras can help elevate your content creation, and you don't necessarily need to spend thousands on one. If you're planning on picking up a camera specifically for vlogging (perhaps that's your New Year's resolution!), it's worth checking out the Sony ZV-1F, which currently ranks as our best cheap vlogging camera.

Sony's beginner-friendly vlogging camera is extremely compact and portable, and easy to use. Firstly, it takes nice photos with its 20.1MP sensor, and there are a few color profiles/filters for you to play around with. It shoots great 4K/30fps footage and can shoot in S-Log 3 to capture a wider dynamic range for more freedom in post-production.

The ZV-1F's prowess lies in its vlogging-specific features, which make it easy to create content. One of these is Product Showcase, where the ZV-1F automatically focuses on the subject close to the camera and blurs the background. This is a great tool for product reviews, for instance, where you want to put the object of your choice front and centre.

There are many other vlogging features to be enjoyed, such as the built-in three-capsule mic with a windscreen for clear audio, Background Defocus for quick transitions, and more. If there's one camera you need to kick off your vlogging career, it's none other than the ZV-1F.

Check out more sample images and videos in my Sony ZV-1F review.

Wildlife

My favorite non-human subjects to photograph are birds and animals. I love wildlife photography, so I'm always on the lookout for a camera that will help me achieve lovely shots. Thing is, proper wildlife cameras can be really expensive for many reasons, such as high-speed burst shooting, rapid autofocus, etc. Telephoto lenses designed to capture close-up shots of animals can easily cost you over ten grand.

But wildlife photography doesn't need to be an expensive hobby, and for that reason, I recommend the Nikon Coolpix P1100, a bridge camera featuring a 125x zoom with an effective optical focal range of 24-3000mm (and 6000mm with 4x digital zoom). Though its body is bulky (similar to DSLRs) and the ISO tops out at 6400 which means low-light performance isn't the best, this is still a fantastic camera to get for bird watching... and moon photography too!

The Coolpix P1100's biggest selling point is its long-reaching zoom, which helps you get up close and personal with animals without actually disturbing their peace. The modest 16MP sensor captures plenty of detail with great color reproduction. There's a dedicated Bird Watching mode which toggles the continuous 7fps drive, so you can keep the shutter button pressed and the camera will capture seven frames. This is handy for capturing birds (or animals) in motion/action.

The Coolpix P1100 handles well too, thanks to the chunky, ergonomic grip, as well as the well-placed controls. Speaking of, the Coolpix P1100 is very straightforward to control, so if you're a beginner, you should have no problem getting to grips with the camera's buttons and dials. If you don't want to spend thousands and thousands on a mirrorless camera and telephoto lens for wildlife photography, the Coolpix P1100 is the one to get.

Check out more sample images and videos in my Nikon Coolpix P1100 review.

Aerial

Photography doesn't need to be restricted to just staying on the ground, of course. If you're interested in aerial photography, it's worth investing in one of the best drones — and many doesn't cost thousands. For beginner pilots, the DJI Neo 2 is the ideal choice. The Neo 2 is extremely easy to fly, either via a smartphone, controller or even hands-free via the buttons on its body and Gesture Control.

It's packed with powerful imaging tech too. For stills, you get a 12MP sensor which captures detailed shots, especially in bright conditions, and for video, you get smooth, stable 4K/60fps footage. But what makes the Neo 2 a downright incredible mini drone is its omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, which means it can either brake in front of or bypass obstacles — an invaluable safety feature for all pilots.

The Neo 2 is a wonderful selfie drone too. It features an array of QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, where the drone takes photos or videos before returning to its takeoff position. These include Follow, Circle, Rocket, SelfieShot, and more, and they're great for hands-free shooting either solo or with other people.

If you want a drone that's easy to fly, is fit for beginners, allows you to capture stunning aerial footage via manual control, and one that's built extremely well, the Neo 2 should be your port of call. It'll help you take your first steps into the vast world of drone videography and may even convince you to spend more on an advanced quadcopter in the future!

Check out more sample images and videos in my DJI Neo 2 review.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best cameras in 2025
• This $1,100 camera beats out $10,000 super telephoto lenses for wildlife photography, and I've taken some of my best photos yet
• I ditched my Google Pixel 7 Pro for the new Fujifilm X-M5 — here's why I won't be going back

If there's anything we've learned from 2025, it's that consumer drones are evolving rapidly and that there are still unchartered territories for manufacturers to explore. 2025 saw the introduction of the most powerful and safest mini quadcopter yet, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, as well as the most advanced camera drone yet, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, with its 100MP Hasselblad camera and the ability to shoot 6K/30fps video.

This year also introduced a new drone category, and one that's never been done before. The Antigravity A1 became the world's first-ever 360° drone, utilizing the same cutting-edge tech found in the Insta360 X5 camera. But it wasn't just the skies drones continued to dominate: the HoverAir Aqua became the world's first waterproof drone, making it perfect for water sports.

But could 2026 top 2025 when it comes to drones? As someone who tests the best drones day in and day out, I can't wait to see what the coming year holds. Given that excitement, I thought I'd write down my predictions for 2026, and it'll be fun to look back on it and see what came true.

All of this is speculation, and information in this article should be taken with a pinch of salt.

On December 23, 2025, the FCC banned the import and sale of any new foreign-made drones and components, noting that any entity "posing an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons" would be added to a "Covered List" going forward. Consumers anywhere else, outside of the U.S., will still be able to buy new drones from foreign manufacturers.

Prediction #1: More 360° drones

Antigravity is a new brand "incubated" by Insta360. Insta360 is one of the best 360 camera brands, with an unchecked dominance over the 360 camera market for the last few years. Until now. In July, DJI launched its first-ever 360° camera, the DJI Osmo 360, perhaps in anticipation of the Antigravity A1 (which was heavily rumored back then). GoPro also decided to play catch up, launching the excellent 8K GoPro MAX2 360 camera, although there's no inkling that GoPro wants to venture into the drones market with that tech right now.

DJI is yet to come out with its own 360° quadcopter, and many rumors circulating online indicate the imminent launch of the DJI Avata 360. The Avata lineup consists of the brand's immersive, first-person view (FPV) drones, so it won't surprise me if the Avata 360 is the next to launch. I can imagine other brands, like Potensic and HoverAir, will probably want to jump on the 360° bandwagon too, but they don't currently have action cameras that already features that tech, so it's unlikely.

I'm looking forward to seeing DJI's 360° drone. It'll probably feature 8K/30fps video (even better if it's 60fps and it upstages the Antigravity A1), and be accompanied by FPV goggles (something even better than the DJI Goggles N3) and a motion controller. And a better app! The DJI Fly app is good but the brand's 360° drone will require a proper editing app, such as DJI Mimo.

Prediction #2: Even more immersive flying

The Antigravity A1 is a fantastic 360° drone, but could we see improvements made to it in 2026? Surely Antigravity will want to release another drone as soon as possible to stay ahead of the competition (DJI, mostly), and in my exclusive interview with Antigravity's Product Lead, Buu said, "The A1 is just the beginning."

So, what could be next for immersive flying? I can't imagine a successor to the A1 will come out so quickly, but maybe there will be new accessories for us to play with. What I would love to see — from DJI, Antigravity or anyone, really — is haptic feedback in motion controllers.

Haptic feedback is found in Sony's PS5 DualSense controllers, as an example, and it's one of my favorite things about my gamepad. FPV flying is already well-refined but I believe it could be made even better. Pop some haptic feedback and vibrations into controllers and let users feel the proximity of walls or the force of the wind in their hands.

Prediction #3: Waterproof drones make a splash

While I haven't personally tested it yet, I've been intrigued by the HoverAir Aqua, a 100% waterproof self-flying drone that can land on and takeoff from the surface of the water. According to the campaign page, the Aqua can withstand winds up to 34mph, making it the ideal quadcopter for water sports.

At the time of writing, the Aqua is one of a kind, and faces no competition from any of the brand's rivals. Most consumer drones aren't waterproof and I wouldn't advise flying any in heavy downpour, and snowy or stormy conditions. I think we could we see more waterproof drones from the likes of DJI and Potensic.

Any waterproof drone will need to sport a hydrophobic, anti-corrosive design, something the Aqua already does. But it shouldn't be too hard as this technology already exists out in the world.

Prediction #4: Budget king goes pro

This year, we finally saw a proper contender that went toe-to-toe with DJI's mini drones, and that's the Potensic Atom 2. Worthy of being considered the best DJI Mini 4K alternative, the Atom 2 is a beast, thanks to its ability to capture 48MP images, record stable 4K/30fps footage with its three-axis mechanical gimbal and 1/2-inch CMOS sensor.

But Potensic's lineup feels like it's still in the infancy stage, as the brand makes only budget, sub-250g quadcopters. I predict the brand will want to enter the big leagues and come up with a drone that challenges the likes of the DJI Air 3S. Right now, there aren't very many alternatives to DJI's prosumer lineup — and there will need to be, as the FCC banned the import and sale of any new foreign-made drones and components as of December 23 2025.

I predict either Potensic or another non-DJI brand will launch a big drone (or at least announce it in 2026) that will be a force to reckon with.

Looking ahead...

Everything in this article is, of course, speculation and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but hey, it's fun to ponder over what the future holds, isn't it? Rest assured that as and when any drone announcements happen in 2026, I'll be covering them all. Until then, I wish you all happy holidays and a restful break, and I'll see you soon.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best drones in 2025
• Just got a drone for Christmas 2025? Take to the skies with these tips from an expert
• I reviewed every drone that came out in 2025: these are the best photos and videos I’ve taken

Happy holidays, dear reader! I hope you've been enjoying time off from work, recharging your batteries, and are happy with however you've chosen to spend the holidays. Downtime from work means you've got time to take your camera or drone out for a spin and be at one with nature.

If you know me or are familiar with my work as a senior reviews writer at Tom's Guide, you'll know that not only do I adore anything related to photography, but I review the best drones and best cameras day in and day out. Few things make me happier than being able to see the world from a bird's eye view.

While 2024 was a great year for drones, 2025 has arguably been better — trust me, I'd know, given that I've reviewed every drone that came out this year. DJI has continued to set new standards with every release, while a new 360-degree drone from Insta360's Antigravity joined the fight. I've taken many videos and photos on every 2025 quadcopter, so as I did last year, I've rounded up my favorite shots. Welcome to my Drone Photography Wrapped 2025!

On December 23, 2025, the FCC banned the import and sale of any new foreign-made drones and components, noting that any entity "posing an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons" would be added to a "Covered List" going forward. Consumers anywhere else, outside of the U.S., will still be able to buy new drones from foreign manufacturers.

Every drone I've tested this year

• DJI Flip : $499 / £369 @ Amazon
• DJI Mavic 4 Pro : $2,699 / £1,879 @ Amazon
• DJI Mini 5 Pro : $759 / £689 @ Amazon
• DJI Neo 2 : $319 @ Adorama / £209 @ Amazon
• DJI Goggles N3 : $229 @ Adorama / £229 @ Amazon
• Antigravity A1 : $1,599 @ Adorama / £1,219 @ Amazon
• HoverAir X1 Pro : $499 / £459 @ Amazon
• HoverAir X1 ProMax : $699 / £639 @ Amazon
• Potensic Atom 2 : $329 / £299 @ Amazon

My best videos on drones

January 2025 was a fantastic month for one reason: DJI came out with the DJI Flip, and as soon as I tested it, I knew it was the best drone for beginners. I loved its propeller guards which give beginner pilots reassurance when flying in tight spaces, detailed and hi-res 48MP stills, and 4K/60fps video. I also adore that it looks like a droid from Star Wars.

2025 also saw DJI set a new gold standard for mini drones with the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Massively improving on its predecessor by introducing a large 1-inch sensor for improved low-light performance, better obstacle avoidance, 225° gimbal rotation, and more packed into a compact body, the Mini 5 Pro is a formidable drone, and one I struggled to put down.

But of course, beginner, amateur and casual pilots weren't the only ones who had all the fun this year. For prosumers and professional content creators, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro was (and still is) the quadcopter to get. Although pricey, the Mavic 4 Pro is worth every cent if you want best-in-class 100MP Hasselblad-powered stills, 6K/30fps video, and a rotating gimbal.

I've captured some of my best footage on the Mavic 4 Pro — primarily because I took it to the beach. But also because thanks to its peerless image stabilization and three-axis mechanical gimbal, I could capture shake-free footage even in extremely windy conditions.

Alongside being a great year for aerial photographers and videographers, 2025 was lovely for those who just wanted to have fun, either solo or with others. It's the year I started enjoying DJI's QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes even more. My partner's family and I took the Mavic 4 Pro to the beach and had a lot of fun with the QuickShot modes, and it helped us create memories we will remember forever.

I've always been a fan of FPV (first-person view) headsets, and I never skip a video of a pilot flying their drone through one of these — so I'm very lucky that I got to try one out myself this year. I reviewed the DJI Goggles N3 paired with the DJI Neo, and it made me realize that I don't want to fly drones with traditional controllers if I can fly them via FPV headsets instead.

The Goggles N3 and the RC Motion 3 motion controller make flying much more immersive, and give you more control over your drone, enabling you to fly in tight spaces and make tricky maneuvers. It's some of the most fun I've had testing a product — and when you're having fun while working, it doesn't really feel like work, does it?

My Drone Photography Wrapped 2025 would be incomplete without me talking about the brand new Antigravity A1, the world's first-ever 360-degree drone. Antigravity is "incubated" by Insta360, so it utilizes the same tech found in the brand's 360-degree cameras, and it's a feat of engineering.

8K/30fps aerial video that can be reframed to 4K in post-production while maintaining hi-res quality is a game-changed for quadcopters, and it shows that DJI needs to pull up its socks. The possibilities are endless, and pilots can get super creative thanks to the ability to capture every single angle. The A1 is a triumph, and I can't wait to see what Antigravity (and DJI) does in 2026.

My best photos on drones

Drones aren't just about videography, of course, and I captured some fantastic stills on this year's quadcopters, as you can see in the gallery above. I especially enjoyed using the DJI Mavic 4 Pro for photography because, well, it's basically a Hasselblad with wings. The drone packs a whopping 100MP camera, making it the best camera drone out there (and I think that'll be hard to beat).

As someone who reviews drones for a living, I can confidently say that 2025 has been the strongest and most exciting year for quadcopters yet — and I have high hopes for 2026. Perhaps we'll see more 360-degree drones to give the Antigravity A1 competition, perhaps there will be more FPV flying ones. Regardless of what happens, rest assured that I will be covering them as and when they come out.

And there you have it, folks. Thanks for tuning into my Drone Photography Wrapped 2025. I wish you all restful holidays, and I will see you next year.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best drones in 2025
• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners
• I’ve reviewed nearly 30 cameras this year: these are the best photos I’ve taken on instant, film and mirrorless

Happy holidays, everyone! I hope you've all been having a restful break from work, and are enjoying lots of chocolate and sweet treats. I'm sure many of you have either bought or have been gifted some fantastic presents and tech that you can't wait to try out. If you just got a drone for Christmas, congratulations and welcome to the club.

Aerial photography is extremely exciting and it has been a great year for drones, but it can be a little overwhelming if this is your first time owning a quadcopter. If that is the case, you've come to the right place. I oversee the drones coverage here at Tom's Guide, and I personally test and review the best drones nearly every month.

I'm a licensed drone pilot, based in the U.K., and I'm here to tell you about the things you should do before taking to the skies for the first time — from registering your quadcopter and charging it up, to conducting pre-flight checks, amongst other things. Once you've taken your first flight, let me know in the comments what you thought of it!

1. Register your drone

One of the first things you need to do when you unbox your shiny new drone is register it with your local governing body. In the U.K., where I'm based, you need to register your quadcopter with the C.A.A., and if you're in the U.S., head over to the F.A.A. website for registration.

Bear in mind, registering your drone depends on the type you have. Some drones, such as the DJI Flip and the DJI Neo 2, weigh less than 8.81oz / 250g. Because of their light weight, you don't necessarily need to register them, as the rules are more relaxed. However, if your drone weighs more than that, such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro or the DJI Mini 5 Pro (when using Intelligent Flight batteries), you definitely need to register it.

2. Check the weather

Once you've registered your drone, it's time to go flying! Exciting, but hold your horses. What's the weather looking like outside? It's vital that you check the weather before heading out. You can use the weather app on your smartphone or use a website, like the Met Office in the U.K. or the National Weather Service in the U.S. to check not just the weather, but also how windy it is.

Different drones have different wind resistance levels, so it's crucial that you not fly if it's stormy or extremely windy outside. Most consumer drones aren't weather-sealed either, so be mindful not to fly your quadcopter when it's raining. Sunny and cloudless conditions are ideal, of course.

3. Charge your batteries

Once the weather is looking ideal, check and charge your drone batteries. Most consumer drones can fly for under 40 minutes on a single charge — some even less. It is, then, very important that you carry spare batteries, especially if you're heading far from home. Trust me, there are few things worse than when you drive somewhere to fly, take your drone out, and realize you have only 10% battery remaining.

4. Update your drone's firmware

When you unbox your drone, bear in mind that it may not have the latest firmware installed. More often than not, it'll be an out-of-date firmware, as the drones are boxed up weeks or months in advance of you receiving them. Use your drone's companion app to update the firmware of the drone as well as the controller.

Updating the firmware ensures that the drone and controller function as intended, and that their safety features are up to mark and functioning as well as they can be.

5. Conduct a pre-flight check

Now that you've done the first steps and are out in the field, it's time to conduct a pre-flight check. Even though I've been flying drones for years, this is something I always do, and it helps ensure that your drone doesn't malfunction mid-flight, preventing crashes.

What does this involve exactly? It's simple, so don't worry. You must check all of the drone's parts. This means you should check that the gimbal can move freely, and ensure the propellers aren't damaged. Propellers can be delicate and can get damaged if you drone bumps into something. Most drones come with spare replacement propellers, and it's fairly easy to replace them as they utilize a lock and twist mechanism. There will be detailed directions in the drone's manual.

Sometimes, you'll get a notification on the drone's companion app to recalibrate the compass and gimbal, so don't ignore it. This ensures you drone is able to fly back home accurately. Last but not least, check the drone has enough storage, and carry a spare microSD card if your quadcopter supports it.

6. Keep an eye on your drone

Have you taken off yet? Nice, congratulations on your first takeoff! Now, it's important to keep your drone in visual line of sight (VLOS). Regardless of where you're flying — whether it's an open field or a cityscape — you should be able to see your drone at all times.

This is a legal requirement in most countries, and it also helps you gauge obstacles, people, vehicles, etc. The last bit is especially important if your drone doesn't feature obstacle avoidance, as a few don't.

7. Utilize your drone's safety features

Your drone is packed with safety features, especially if you got a drone that's more on the expensive side of things. Some quadcopters, like the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Neo 2, feature omnidirectional obstacle avoidance which means they can either bypass or brake in front of obstacles.

You should always utilize these safety features, especially if you're in a sticky situation or are unsure of what to do. For instance, 99% of drones feature something called "return-to-home." This means that your drone can automatically return to its last-known takeoff position when you hit the button, or battery is running low. My motto? When in doubt, RTH — and so should you.

8. Keep an eye on your controller

Your drone's controller, or your smartphone, shows lots of vital information and you should keep an eye on it. This information includes but is not limited to wind speed, number of connected satellites, signal strength, height and distance, drone battery level, and more. Depending on the manufacturer, the controller will also display flight warnings.

9. Grab some accessories

Trust me when I say that once you've got a taste for drone flying, you want to do everything you can to enhance that experience. Luckily, there are plenty of accessories available out there, and it's definitely worth investing in them. Whether that's a landing/launch pad or a first-person view (FPV) headset for immersive flying, get some accessories for yourself.

My top recommendation, if you own the DJI Avata 2, DJI Neo 2 or the DJI Neo, is to buy the DJI Goggles N3 and the DJI RC Motion 3 controller. These FPV gadgets make flying more intuitive and immersive, and I enjoyed it so much that it made me not want to use traditional controllers again!

10. Stay away from wildlife

Another important thing to remember while flying a drone: do not disturb wildlife. Animals are sensitive to loud sounds, and we shouldn't be disturbing them in their habitat. You can fly your drone at a distance, of course, where you're sure the loud noise isn't rattling them.

This applies to birds too. Birds may want to protect their nests and might get territorial, so they may see your drone as a threat. It is crucial that you withdraw your drone and promptly return to home in case you're in a pickle. Again, remember: when in doubt, RTH.

11. Have fun!

Last but not least, remember to have fun! Aerial photography is extremely exciting and it can help you get creative. Few things compare to the joy you feel when you see the world from a bird's eye view. Experiment with different photography and videography styles, have fun in a group of people with QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, just go for it — as long as you're being safe and following the law, of course.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best drones in 2025
• I tested the DJI Neo 2 and it’s so good that I don’t want to go anywhere without it
• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners

On December 23 2025, the Federal Communications Commission made it impossible for U.S. customers to buy new foreign-made drones — specifically, those made by Chinese manufacturers, including DJI, the biggest drone maker in the world right now.

This ordeal has been going on for some time now, and this final blow comes shortly after the FCC unanimously voted to give itself the ability to retroactively ban devices and radio components in November.

The Public Notice released by the FCC this week states that the import and sale of all new Chinese-made drone models will be blocked, and manufacturers such as DJI will be added to a "Covered List" of entities pegged as "posing an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."

Although DJI has released many new drones this year, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Neo 2 haven't been available to buy directly through DJI since launch — and that's due to the looming ban, which has now become a reality.

The company's forthcoming drones will likely continue to be sold in other parts of the world for now but it's surely a blow to U.S. consumers.

What does this mean for existing drone owners?

If you already own a DJI or other foreign-made drone, you don't need to worry about anything right now. You can still fly it, legally. The FCC has emphasized that the ruling does not affect quadcopters that have already been purchased, and it doesn't impact device models that have previously received FCC authorization either.

Existing drone owners can continue to fly their quadcopters while retailers can continue to sell models approved earlier this year or previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. This, technically, would mean that the rumored DJI Osmo Pocket 4 will be released to the American audiences, as it has been formally registered with the FCC — but we don't have any official confirmation or release date yet.

DJI should continue to provide DJI Care Refresh and repair services for existing drones and devices that have already been approved by the FCC, too. So, according to the FCC ruling on December 23, the new restrictions would apply only to new device models going forward.

Will this impact emergency services?

Most of the best drones are made by the likes of DJI, HoverAir, Potensic and Antigravity. These are all Chinese brands, and the FCC's ban will impact them, making existing stock either scarcely available and new stock not available at all.

This will, in time, impact emergency services and first responders who utilize drones to get a bird's eye view on the situation they're tackling.

The infographic above, created by DJI, shows the impact of the drone ban on American first responders. The lack of American-made drones makes the situation worse, as there are virtually no alternatives. There are some jarring numbers in the infographic too, such as:

• "Austin Police Department estimated that replacing its drone fleet — comprised entirely of DJI products — would cost $120,000"
• "The cost to replace the grounded drones in Florida is estimated at $200m"
• "'Compliant' alternatives are harder to access and can take up to 6 months for delivery."

The drone ban, then, will deprive countless individuals and professionals of essential equipment that has become fundamental to not only workplace safety, but operational efficiency too, and it will cost a lot of money (and time) to replace foreign-made technology.

DJI's statement on the drone ban

Today, a DJI spokesperson released the following statement:

"DJI is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s action today to add foreign‑made drones to the Covered List. While DJI was not singled out, no information has been released regarding what information was used by the Executive Branch in reaching its determination.

"As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all US consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so. DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties. Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market.

"Today’s development will not affect customers who already own DJI products. These existing products can continue to be purchased and operated as usual. The FCC’s fact sheet also indicates that new products may, in the future, be cleared for launch based on determinations made by the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

"DJI remains committed to the U.S. market. We are deeply grateful to users across the country who spoke up to share how DJI technology supports their work and their communities. We will keep our community informed as more information becomes available."

What happens going forward?

The FCC says that exceptions may be granted if the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security deems a specific component or drone does not pose a security risk — but how that will be determined remains to be seen as the FCC has not confirmed the implementation and extent of it.

December 23 marks a major milestone in the United States' history, and the drone ban is sure to impact hundreds of thousands of consumers and professionals. While existing drones are allowed to fly freely, we do not know how long that will be allowed for, either.

Do you own a drone? Were you planning to buy one? Have your say on what this means for you in the comments box below.

More from Tom's Guide

• DJI drone ban — what you need to know
• Best drones in 2025
• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners

The king of the skies, DJI, has had a massive year packed with action camera, 360-camera and drone launches. I had an inkling it was going to be a good year for drones when the DJI Flip came out in January, and the Chinese manufacturer hopes to close the year big with the DJI Neo 2, the successor to the one-year-old Neo.

The DJI Neo 2 could be the brand's last big launch before its drones are (potentially) banned in the U.S. And it's going out with a bang.

I've spent a couple weeks testing the Neo 2, and while I was anticipating minor improvements, I didn't expect DJI to go above and beyond to deliver the quintessential flying experience for beginners and enthusiasts. The Neo 2 feels like the grown-up version of its predecessor, packed with features you don't usually find in budget drones.

The Neo 2 rectifies the original Neo's weaknesses while adding even more features: 4K/60fps video, two-axis mechanical gimbal offering better stabilization, Gesture Control, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, bigger internal storage, (slightly) longer flight time, and lots more. If you're thinking of picking up a selfie drone, I can't think of one better than the Neo 2 —here's why.

What makes the Neo 2 different from the Neo?

I've given you a snapshot of the upgrades introduced in the DJI Neo 2 so let's talk about that in more detail. Firstly, both the Neo 2 and the Neo feature the same 12MP 1/2-inch CMOS sensor, with the only difference being the aperture (f/2.2 on the Neo 2 versus f/2.8 on the Neo). The Neo 2, however, has received a bump in video quality and it can now shoot 4K/60fps (versus 4K/30fps on the Neo). Also, the Neo 2 has better stabilization thanks to the new and improved two-axis mechanical gimbal.

The biggest upgrade lies in the Neo 2's omnidirectional obstacle avoidance powered by forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system. This means that it can either brake in front of or bypass obstacles in all directions — something that was missing from the Neo. This is a fantastic safety feature not just for beginners but for advanced pilots, too.

Internal storage has been increased from 22GB on the Neo to 49GB on the Neo 2 but at the cost of a microSD card slot, so you can't expand the Neo 2's storage. And while the Neo 2 can be flown with a controller or smartphone, it can also be flown hands-free via Gesture Control, making you feel like a Jedi Master!

Oh, and the Neo 2 comes fitted with a Digital Transceiver (depending on the variant you buy) which lets you connect it with various DJI controllers and the DJI Goggles N3 FPV headset.

Hands-free flying like never before

Now that you know the differences between the DJI Neo 2 and the DJI Neo, let's talk more about what makes the former the best budget drone on the market today.

One thing I love about the Neo 2 — and something the Neo didn't have — is Gesture Control. You need to enable this via the DJI Fly app on your smartphone, and once that's done, you can use your hands to control the drone. You know, like a Jedi (or a Sith).

A sensor present next to the drone's gimbal recognizes and detects your hand movements and mimics them. Sounds great in theory, but does it work in the real world? Oh yes it does.

I had a lot of fun playing around with this feature, and I was able to guide the drone up and down, and move it side to side with ease. You can see how impressive it is (and how goofy I look) in the YouTuve clip above.

The Neo 2's tiny screen next to the gimbal is a winner, too. This is a new addition so it wasn't present on the Neo, and the only way to tell what mode the Neo was in was through LED lamps and an automated voice prompt.

The Neo 2's screen, on the other hand, shows you the flight mode and parameters, which can be changed on the fly via buttons on its body, so there really is no need for a controller or smartphone (unless you want to fly in Manual).

Combine this with Gesture Control and this is what hands-free flying truly looks like.

Avoiding anything in its way

I have flown and tested many, many drones, and one of my favorite features — usually reserved for pricier quadcopters — is obstacle avoidance. This can be either forward-facing or omnidirectional, but the latter is obviously better, as it heavily negates the possibility of your drone crashing. It's a must-have feature for beginner and advanced pilots alike.

Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance is something I've seen on the DJI Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Air 3S, and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro — much pricier drones that not everyone can necessarily afford. As a result, it's excellent news that the DJI Neo 2 has it, even though the Neo didn't.

This upgrade alone makes the Neo 2 a far better choice over its predecessor, and every other selfie drone, like the HoverAir X1 and the HoverAir X1 Pro, which feature obstacle avoidance but are more expensive.

Solo or together, this drone is fun all the time

When I'm testing drones for work, I usually fly them on my own — unless it's an FPV headset and I need a spotter, in which instance my partner tags along. (Rather, I drag her out with me.) Flying drones can sometimes get lonely, but the DJI Neo 2 helps combat that feeling of loneliness by simply being a fantastic drone for solo pilots as well as pilots flying with other people.

The Neo 2 features DJI's trademark QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, such as Rocket, Spiral, Dronie, Circle, Follow, and so on. You can take timed selfie shots, too — perfect for group photos — and create MasterShots, where the drone records QuickShot modes and stitches them together, depending on the environment.

And you know what I love? The fact that Gesture Control feels like magic. My partner tried it, as did two of my friends and all of them were delighted by it, and it made flying the Neo 2 in a group of people a lot more fun! The Neo 2 has made an already formidable drone even better, and honestly? It's a must-have for all pilots.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the DJI Neo 2 and it improves on its predecessor in every way — it’s now my top pick for the best budget drone
• Best drones in 2025
• I have never seen a drone accessory as cool as this one — and it’s the one thing DJI is missing

DJI has had a fantastic year so far, and we haven't reached the end yet. It started with the DJI Flip launching in January, and it is (almost) ending with the DJI Neo 2, which landed on shelves in November. The Neo 2 succeeds the Neo, and it has dethroned its predecessor as the best drone for people on a budget — easily, too.

The first drone I ever reviewed here at Tom's Guide was the Neo, so it holds a special place in my heart... which it now has to share with the Neo 2, simply because the second-gen drone is incredible. I've spent the last couple of weeks putting the Neo 2 through a battery of tests, and comparing it to its predecessor — and there's a clear winner.

If you're looking for a selfie drone that's budget-friendly and easy to fly, the Neo lineup is a great choice. But which of the two should you buy? You've come to the right place for an answer to that. I'll help you make the right choice in my DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo face-off.

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Specs compared

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Price & availability

The DJI Neo came out in September 2024, and today, it retails for $199 / £169 at Amazon, and you can find it on sale quite often. A year later, the DJI Neo 2 was announced on 13 November 2025, and it is available for $319 / £209. If you choose to buy the former, it's available in a light gray matte finish while the latter is dressed in a dark gray one (similar to the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro).

The Neo 2 is a little more expensive than its predecessor and I feel like that's a justified price increase, simply because it packs more tech and better features, such as 4K/60fps, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, Gesture Control, bigger storage, better battery life, and more. I'll discuss all of these features in detail in this face-off.

However, for those of you based in the U.S., it is important to note that the Neo 2 isn't officially available through DJI, and you'll have to do business with third-party retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart and Adorama, instead. This isn't anything new, and it's something we've seen with the Mini 5 Pro and the Mavic 4 Pro as well, as the DJI ban in the U.S. gets closer to becoming a reality soon.

This also means that you can't buy a DJI Care Refresh support package for the Neo 2 if you're in the U.S. so if your drone gets damaged, DJI may not be able to help you. The good news, though, is the the original Neo is still officially available through DJI. That means you can get Care Refresh for it, making it the better choice if you don't necessarily want the latest hot tech (and it's still a very, very capable drone).

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Design

As I mentioned earlier, the DJI Neo 2 comes in a dark gray shade — a design choice DJI has opted for all of its recent drone releases — while the DJI Neo comes in a light one. The Neo 2 looks more premium, in my opinion, but I wouldn't write off the Neo so quickly. Both drones are built extremely well, and even though they're lightweight, they don't sound or feel hollow.

Both the Neo 2 and the Neo are highly compact, and they're DJI's lightest drones. The Neo 2 weighs 5.32oz (151g) without the Digital Transceiver (more on this soon) or 5.64oz (160g) with the new device. The Neo, on the other hand, is a little lighter at 4.76oz. Because of the compact form factor, neither drone needs to be registered with the F.A.A. in the U.S. or the C.A.A. in the U.K., and other airspace governing bodies.

In terms of their size, the Neo 2 measures 6.73 x 5.78 x 1.61 inches (without Digital Transceiver) or 6.73 x 6.57 x 2.12 inches (with Digital Transceiver), while the Neo is smaller at 6.18 x 5.11 x 1.9 inches. Both drones are highly compact and easy to travel with.

So, what does the Digital Transceiver on the Neo 2 do? It comes pre-installed on certain versions of the drone, and it basically lets you connect the Neo 2 to different DJI accessories, such as the DJI RC controllers and the DJI Goggles N3 FPV headset. You don't necessarily need the Digital Transceiver, though, as without it, the Neo 2 can be flown via a smartphone or the buttons on its body.

You'll also notice that the Neo 2 now has a screen next to the gimbal, and this is a fantastic addition. The screen displays all the settings you’ve adjusted and the QuickShot Intelligent Flight mode, displayed in bright black and white colors. It's easy to read and I much prefer this over the Neo's voice assistant and LED lamps indicating the active settings.

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Features

A big difference between the DJI Neo 2 and the DJI Neo lies in their ability to avoid obstacles. The first-gen Neo didn't feature any form of obstacle avoidance, but the Neo 2 does. It is now equipped with LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system, both of which power its omnidirectional obstacle avoidance. This means that the Neo 2 can either bypass or brake in front of objects, reassuring all pilots — beginners as well as veterans.

The lack of obstacle avoidance is one of the Neo's biggest weaknesses, but the Neo 2 has rectified it, and I'd recommend the Neo 2 over the Neo any day based on this one feature alone. Safety while flying is paramount.

Another big selling point of the Neo 2 is that you can fly it entirely hands-free, thanks to Gesture Control. This has to be enabled via the DJI Fly app before you can use it. Once that's done, you can use your palm(s) to move the drone up and down, side to side, and even increase or decrease its distance to you. It works very well, as you can see in the video above.

Internal storage has also received a massive bump with the Neo 2 boasting 49GB (versus 22GB on the Neo), but the downside is that the Neo 2 doesn't have a microSD card slot for storage expansion — which the original Neo does. This can become a problem fairly quickly, especially if you're shooting in 4K all the time. While you can use the DJI Fly app to offload footage on the go, it can take time depending on the size of your files, so the Neo 2 concedes a point to the Neo here.

Additionally, wind resistance has been bumped up from 8 m/s (17.9mph) on the Neo to 10/7 m/s (23.94mph) on the Neo 2. It's important to note, though, that both drone are still susceptible to gusts of wind, due to their light weight, so be wary when you're flying. But because the Neo 2 features a two-axis mechanical gimbal (versus one-axis on the Neo) and DJI's RockSteady technology, the footage is much more stable in very windy conditions.

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Photo & video quality

Both the DJI Neo 2 and the DJI Neo utilize a single camera to capture great 12MP photos. Their 1/2-inch CMOS sensors aren't very different from each other, but the Neo 2 has a wider f/2.2 aperture lens (versus f/2.8 on the Neo). This will result in better low-light performance as the camera can use the aperture to let more light in, allowing it to keep to lower ISO values. The Neo 2's ISO range has been bumped up to 100-12,800 too (versus 100-6,400 on the Neo).

Neither the Neo 2 nor the Neo can shoot RAW photos or videos in D-Log (which pricier DJI drones can), so these aren't exactly "serious" photography quadcopters — which is acceptable, because they're very cheap and are intended more for casual flying and selfies.

The biggest difference between the two drones' imaging capabilities lies in their frame rates. While the Neo can shoot 4K/30fps video, the Neo 2 can shoot smoother 4K/60fps. The video above was shot on the Neo 2, and you can see how lovely it looks, in terms of both color and movement.

Both the Neo and Neo 2 are great selfie drones, perfect for capturing memories, as I did when I was testing the OG Neo. My partner and I took the drone by the river and had a lot of fun with the drone's QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes (the drone records short-form videos before returning to its takeoff point).

There are several QuickShot modes on both drones, such as Circle, Rocket, Follow, Spotlight, etc., and the Neo 2 adds Cycling Follow, Skiing Follow, and SelfieShot to the array. Have a look at all the stunning (and fun!) footage I shot on both drones in my full DJI Neo 2 review and DJI Neo review.

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Battery life

There isn't a huge difference between the DJI Neo 2's and the DJI Neo's flight times, with the former being able to fly just one minute longer between charges. The Neo 2 is rated at 19 minutes while the Neo is rated at 18 minutes... which, in my opinion, doesn't feel like a deciding factor when you're purchasing either drone.

The short battery lives come down to the Neo 2's and the Neo's light weight and compact body: there's not much else you can fit in there if you want to maintain the drones' diminutive statures. If it's any consolation, the pricier HoverAir X1 ($349) and the HoverAir X1 Pro ($499) — also selfie drones — can fly for just 11.5 minutes and 16 minutes respectively. You are, then, getting a great deal with either the Neo or the Neo 2.

DJI Neo 2 vs DJI Neo: Outlook

Overall winner: DJI Neo 2

If you want a drone that's easy to fly and can be flown hands-free, sports a premium design, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, bigger internal storage, and records smooth, stable 4K/60fps video, it's a no-brainer that you should get the DJI Neo 2. If you're on a tighter budget, though, and you aren't that bothered about having 60fps and 22GB of internal storage, or you want a microSD card slot, the DJI Neo is a better shout.

Both the Neo 2 and the Neo are extremely capable and spectacular drones. I gave both of them 4.5-stars in my reviews. Even though the Neo 2 improves on its predecessor and is the best budget drone today, the Neo is awesome too, and I'm sure you'd be satisfied with either.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the DJI Neo 2 and it improves on its predecessor in every way — this is the best budget drone you can buy
• I've been flying the DJI Neo for 10 months — here's my verdict (spoiler alert: it's underrated)
• Best drones in 2025

DJI continues to set new standards with every drone it releases, and the latest to join that lineup is the DJI Neo 2, successor to the one-year-old Neo. When I reviewed the Neo, I absolutely adored the little drone that could, and I have been flying it for more than a year now. I didn’t think DJI could pack even more cutting-edge technology into such a tiny drone, and yet it did.

The Neo 2 improves on its predecessor in nearly every way. It more-than-doubles the internal storage to 49GB, introduces 4K/60fps video, a two-axis mechanical gimbal, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, gesture control, stronger wind resistance, and more. It retains the Neo’s best features, such as the impressive tracking, and delivers the quintessential flying experience for beginner pilots on a budget.

Is it one of the best drones right now? Without a doubt. For the complete breakdown, read my full DJI Neo 2 review.

DJI Neo 2 review: Specs

DJI Neo 2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The successor to 2024's DJI Neo
• Who is it for? Beginner photographers looking for an easy-to-fly or selfie drone, and one that doesn’t break the bank
• How much does it cost? The DJI Neo 2 starts at $319 / £209
• What do we like? Improved camera performance and 4K/60fps video, bigger internal storage, impressive tracking and gesture controls, and omnidirectional obstacle avoidance
• What don’t we like? Battery life isn't the best and there's no MicroSD slot for expanding storage

DJI Neo 2 review: Price & availability

Launched on November 13, 2025, the DJI Neo 2 succeeds the DJI Neo which came out in September 2024. Priced a little higher than its predecessor, the Neo 2 starts at $319 / £209 for just the drone, with the Fly More Combo retailing for $419 / £289 — this bundle includes two Intelligent Flight Batteries and a two-way charging hub. There’s also a Motion Fly More Combo which costs $709 / £509 and includes the DJI Goggles N3 and a DJI RC Motion 3 controller.

The Neo 2 is the most budget-friendly selfie drone on the market right now, undercutting the HoverAir X1 ($329) and the HoverAir X1 Pro ($499) — and it outdoes both of them when it comes to performance.

You’ll notice that the U.S. prices are much higher than the U.K. prices. This is due to U.S. trade tariffs. Also, at the time of writing, DJI is facing federal issues in the U.S., meaning the Neo 2 isn’t officially supported in the States.

The Neo 2 is available in the U.S., but you can't buy it directly from DJI's website as the manufacturer doesn't currently support the product in the States. However, like the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, which became available to buy through Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, etc after launch, the Neo 2 is also available in the U.S. through third parties.

So, Americans can still get their hands on a Neo 2. What then? The bigger issue of DJI not officially marketing the product in the U.S. is lack of both short- and long-term support. As with other DJI products in the U.S. right now, you can't buy a DJI care plan for the Neo 2 — so what happens if it breaks? We also can’t guarantee that the DJI Fly app will continue work in the U.S. so American pilots should be cautious when buying the Neo 2.

We've yet to see an outcome in DJI's federal woes, but if this is enough to put you off buying the Neo 2, you can check out the original Neo, which is still supported officially by DJI in the U.S., or the HoverAir X1 if you want to be free of DJI's baggage entirely.

DJI Neo 2 review: Design

The DJI Neo 2 looks like the Neo all grown up. Now wrapped in dark grey colors just like the DJI Mini 5 Pro, the DJI Air 3S and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, it looks great and more premium — and I love this design choice DJI has made.

One of the biggest differences between the Neo and the Neo 2 lies in the Digital Transceiver on the latter, which comes pre-installed on certain versions of the drone. This, basically, allows the Neo 2 to connect to different DJI accessories, such as the DJI RC-N3 controller and the DJI Goggles N3. You don’t necessarily need the Digital Transceiver, though, as without it, the Neo 2 can be flown via a smartphone or controller-free via the buttons on its body.

Although the colors have changed and a new device has been added, the Neo 2 retains the Neo’s sub-250g weight and small size. The Neo 2 measures 6.73 x 6.57 x 2.12 inches with the Digital Transceiver or 6.73 x 5.78 x 1.61 inches without it. Because of the inclusion of a two-axis mechanical gimbal (versus one-axis on the Neo), a bigger battery and more sensors for obstacle avoidance, the Neo 2 weighs 5.64oz (with Digital Transceiver) or 5.32oz (without Digital Transceiver). While it’s a little heavier than the Neo, its sub-250g weight means you don’t need to register the drone with the F.A.A. in the U.S. or the C.A.A. in the U.K.

Build quality is sublime as always, and I’d expect nothing less from DJI. Even though the drone is tiny and lightweight, tapping on its body with my fingernails didn’t make its inside sound hollow, so rest assured that you’re getting bang for your buck.

DJI Neo 2 review: Controls

Similar to the first-gen model, the DJI Neo 2 can be flown hands-free and controller-free, so you don’t need to worry about spending more money on the DJI RC-N3 or DJI RC-2 controllers. Heck, you don’t even really need your smartphone for it! This is thanks to the three buttons on its body.

On the top, next to the camera, is the power button. On its side, you’ll find a pair of buttons, one of which serves as the takeoff button and the other lets you swap between different QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes, such as Follow, Circle, Rocket, etc., and holding the button lets you change the flying parameters too. This means that you can choose the flying distance and angle (wide, close, high).

All the buttons are easy to reach and press, and they give good tactile feedback when pressed. I thoroughly appreciate the addition of the third button to the Neo 2, as this meant that I didn’t need to pull out my phone to fire up the DJI Fly app and change settings through it. Hands-free flying has never felt better.

But of course, you can change the settings but how do you know which settings you’ve actually changed or selected? After all, you couldn’t do this on the Neo and the only way to know which QuickShot you’d selected was via the voice assistant telling you so or the LED lamps. Well, this is where my favorite upgrade to the Neo 2 comes into play: its tiny screen located next to the gimbal.

The screen displays all the settings you’ve adjusted and the QuickShot mode, displayed in bright black and white colors. I found it easy to read in nearly every lighting condition, whether that was in bright sunlight, in the dark, or on an overcast day.

And of course, the Neo 2 retains the Neo’s palm takeoff and landing technology, so if you place your hand under the Neo 2, it will land in your palm, making it very convenient and negating the need for a stable, rock-free surface.

DJI Neo 2 review: Features

Although the DJI Neo was a fantastic drone packed full of features ideal for beginner shooters, the DJI Neo 2 has improved on them, making it the best budget drone you can buy today.

Flight distance has remained the same (7 miles on both drones), but internal storage has more than doubled on the Neo 2. Instead of just 22GB on the Neo, the Neo 2 now features 49GB of internal storage.

This, however, comes at a major cost: there’s no microSD card slot to expand the storage anymore. Footage can fairly quickly be offloaded via the DJI Fly app, and transfer speeds have been amped up to 80mbps (versus 25mbps on the Neo), so you can transfer a decent amount of 4K/60fps video in under 10 minutes. But that's downtime you simply wouldn't need to take if you were able to keep switching out MicroSD cards.

Gimbal

The Neo featured a single-axis mechanical gimbal, which meant that even the slightest control movements would gravely affect the stability of the footage. The Neo 2, on the other hand, features an upgraded two-axis mechanical gimbal for tilting and rolling. This, when combined with the RockSteady electronic image stabilization (present on many DJI drones and action cameras), results in more stable footage and enables the Neo 2 to keep the horizon level while shooting.

Pricier drones usually feature three-axis mechanical gimbals which give you even more stability and creative freedom by allowing you to pan, tilt and roll — but like I said, they cost more. You’ll need to consider the DJI Flip ($439) or the Potensic Atom 2 ($329) if that’s a must-have for you.

Wind resistance

The Neo 2’s ability to resist strong winds has received an upgrade over its predecessor too. While the Neo could resist winds up to 8 m/s or 17.9mph (level 4), the Neo 2 takes it up a notch and can resist winds up to 10.7 m/s or 23.9mph (level 5). In my testing, the drone remained stable in very windy conditions, as my phone app noted that on one occasion, the wind speed was 15mph!

But keep in mind that because the Neo 2 is so lightweight, it is still susceptible to strong and sudden gusts of wind — just like the Neo. I recommend always keeping an eye on the drone when you’re flying it, and ensuring you don’t fly it too high to save it from gusts (at least when it’s extremely windy and unpredictable).

This is the same level of wind resistance you’ll find on pricier drones, such as the DJI Flip, the DJI Mini 4 Pro ($759), and the Potensic Atom 2, so it’s commendable that DJI has packed the same tech into the Neo 2.

Obstacle avoidance

One of my main criticisms of the Neo rested in the fact that it did not feature any form of obstacle avoidance — which, back then, didn’t feel like a major drawback considering the drone cost just $199. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the Neo 2 features omnidirectional obstacle avoidance powered by forward-facing LiDAR and a downward infrared sensing system. This massively reduces the likelihood of potential crashes.

In my testing, the Neo 2 easily bypassed obstacles, such as trees and branches. It’s important to note that obstacle avoidance doesn’t work when using QuickShot modes, but the Neo 2’s propeller guards act as bumpers and protect the drone in case it flies into an object.

In the video above, you can see the drone bypass the massive tree. And although it looks like it’s stuck in the tree branches, it slowly gathers its bearings and makes its way past them. Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance will be especially useful when flying the drone through the DJI Goggles N3 FPV headset as it’ll enable you to move the Neo 2 more freely, and I can’t wait to try that.

The Neo 2’s return-to-home feature is also more refined now that it can avoid obstacles on its way back to you. You can either hit the RTH button on the RC-N3 controller or tap on it in the DJI Fly app, and the drone will promptly return to its last takeoff position when it’s low on battery too.

DJI Neo 2 review: Image quality

Unlike its more advanced family members, the DJI Neo 2 isn’t a professional drone camera, per se. It packs enough imaging prowess to suffice the needs of beginner or casual drone pilots. Featuring the same 1/2-inch CMOS sensor as its predecessor, the Neo 2 can capture 12MP images, and while that number might not sound like a lot, remember that 4K only needs around 8MP of resolution. It packs enough detail for sharing stills and video to social media.

The 119.8° field of view (16.5mm full frame equivalent) is wide and doesn’t add much corner distortion, making the Neo 2 great for capturing landscapes. Aperture is fixed at f/2.2 (versus f/2.8 on the Neo) and the drone has an ISO range of 100-12,800, resulting in slightly improved low-light performance. You can also adjust the Neo 2’s shutter speed (1/8000-1/10s) when using the DJI Fly app, giving manual shooters more control.

Images taken on the Neo 2 turn out well and detailed, as you can see in the shots of the Royal Crescent, Bath, U.K. above. The details in the historical building look great as you can clearly see each individual window pane. I love the look of the blue sky and clouds (captured right after it had rained) too, as well as the lush green grass.

The Neo 2 features plenty of QuickShot Intelligent Flight Modes (more on that soon), and one of them is SelfieShot. Through the DJI app, you can select the number of photos you want the drone to capture and the angle (medium, high, wide, etc.). The drone will then take the photos before returning to its takeoff position.

I tried this out with a few different angles, as you can see in the gallery above, and I love the results. This is a fantastic feature to have not just for selfies, but for group shots too.

Another reason why the Neo 2 isn’t as serious of a camera drone as, say, the DJI Flip or the DJI Mini 5 Pro, is because you can’t shoot RAW photos for more freedom in post-production, and ND filters can’t be attached to the lens either. Oh, and there are no color profiles to choose from except for the Standard one. I will say, though, these are not major flaws. Given that the Neo 2 doesn’t cost a lot, these are sacrifices I’m willing to make for the price of admission.

DJI Neo 2 review: Video quality

When I tested the DJI Neo, it didn’t give me much to complain about when it came to its video quality. 4K/30fps felt more than enough, given the size and price of the drone. The Neo 2 can now shoot 4K/60fps, 2.7K/60fps, and 4K/100fps or FHD/100fps slow-mo footage, so it really doesn’t give you much to moan about.

4K/60fps footage looks lovely with vivid colors and plenty of detail, as you can see above. Whether you’re panning or ascending and descending, the movement appears smooth and stable, thanks to the two-axis mechanical gimbal. It trumps the Neo’s 4K/30fps footage in every way.

The Neo 2 is also capable of shooting 2.7K/60fps footage in the 9x16 format, making it ideal for those who want to share their videos on Instagram Reels and Stories, TikTok or YouTube Shorts. This is something that wasn’t present on the Neo so it’s a welcome addition. It’s still not ‘true’ vertical video as the Neo 2 doesn’t feature a rotating gimbal like on the DJI Mini 5 Pro, but it’s still impressive. You can see what this footage looks like above.

The Neo 2 is, first and foremost, a selfie drone. To that effect, its array of QuickShot Intelligent Flight modes is its biggest selling point. These AI-powered modes lock on to you (or your preferred subject) and record short-form videos before returning to the takeoff point.

The Neo 2 features many QuickShot modes, including but not limited to Follow, Cycling Follow, Skiing Follow, SelfieShot, Dolly Zoom, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang. They’re all fantastic and can be used depending on your shooting requirements. You can see a few examples in the compilation above. I love playing with QuickShot modes and I can almost guarantee that other pilots will too.

Another thing I want to elaborate on is the Neo 2’s Gesture Control, which made me feel like a Jedi Master, as you can see in the clip above. You must enable this feature via the DJI Fly app, and the app will even give you a quick tutorial on how to control the drone with your hands.

Your palm must face the drone, and a dark blue LED lamp will light up to indicate the Neo 2 is registering your commands. You can then use your palm to move the drone up, down, and side to side, and you can use both palms to either pull the drone closer or push it away. It worked extremely well in my testing, as you can see in the video above, and I thoroughly enjoyed testing this feature. This is what true hands-free flying looks like.

DJI Neo 2 review: Battery life

There isn’t a huge difference between the DJI Neo 2’s and the DJI Neo’s flight times, but the former has received a very minor bump. The Neo 2 can fly for up to 19 minutes between charges (versus 18 minutes on the Neo) — barely any difference, really. The flight time will, of course, vary depending on the flight and environmental conditions.

To test the battery, I flew the Neo 2 indoors, in a windless environment, and the drone promptly returned to home after hovering for approximately 20 minutes. Again, I got one minute over the stated time because of the environment I conducted the test in. I recommend always carrying fully charged extra batteries when you’re heading out.

DJI Neo 2 review: Verdict

The latest addition to DJI’s lineup of drones is a triumph. The DJI Neo 2 takes things up a notch by improving in areas its predecessor lacked in. Now featuring omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, 4K/60fps video, bigger internal storage, and features like Gesture Control, the Neo 2 is everything I’ve ever wanted in a tiny drone and one that doesn’t break the bank.

The lack of a MicroSD slot is disappointing, and while battery life has been boosted, it still isn't great. But remember, this is a budget drone aimed at beginners and casual users — for those people, I think its internal storage and 19-minute flight time should be enough.

Although it features competition from the likes of HoverAir, the Neo 2 does everything HoverAir drones do but at a much more accessible price. The drone looks fantastic, it’s built extremely well, looks pricier than it is, and gives you access to FPV flying as it’s compatible with DJI’s headsets. All these features help the Neo 2 make a compelling case for being the best budget drone today.

For the last couple of months, rumors about the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 (the potential successor to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3) have been making the rounds online. Although the Chinese manufacturer has kept its lips sealed on the subject, there is evidence online to suggest that the Osmo Pocket 4 may drop sooner than expected — perhaps before the end of this year.

To fuel the speculation, a new leak from a reliable source shows the Osmo Pocket 4 in action, next to its predecessor. Igor Bogdanov (@Quadro_News on X) took to the social media platform to share this video, which is more hi-res than any other we've seen so far.

Although Bogdanov has chosen not to elaborate further on the unreleased gimbal camera, he has explicitly mentioned the product's full name. So, what can we garner from the short clip? Firstly, it looks like the Osmo Pocket 4 houses a bigger camera than the Osmo Pocket 3.

While online users are speculating that the Osmo Pocket 4 will feature two cameras instead of one, we can't say that for certain until we get a good look of the front — and I can't imagine that happening before DJI officially announces the Osmo Pocket 4. We can also see that the Osmo Pocket 4 will retain its predecessor's rotatable display, which can be used to shoot either landscape or portrait video.

So, when is the Osmo Pocket 4 dropping? There hasn't been any official mention of it, but we know that the Osmo Pocket 4 has been formally registered with the FCC. A launch could, then, be imminent, and we might even see it before the end of the year — this gives DJI three weeks before 2026 begins, or two weeks if the DJI drone ban goes through in the U.S. on 23 December.

FCC documents, however, don't reveal much else in terms of video specs, but they do indicate that the Osmo Pocket 4 will host a bigger, nearly-20% battery upgrade, mentioning a 1,545mAh battery. For context, the Osmo Pocket 3 houses a 1,300mAh battery. Again, this is speculation, and we won't know the exact details until DJI's official product page goes live.

It remains to be seen whether we'll see the Osmo Pocket 4 before we enter the new year, but if you can't wait for that, you can buy an Osmo Pocket 3 for 34% off at Amazon right now, so it's down to just $528. We awarded the camera 4.5 stars in our Osmo Pocket 3 review, commending it for its awesome stabilization, 4K video, strong low-light performance, superb build, and more.

More from Tom's Guide

• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 review
• DJI drone ban just got one step closer after FCC vote — what you need to know
• Best drones in 2025

What’s the point of a smartphone gimbal? Well, a gimbal can help you capture smooth and stabilized footage, keep your subject in focus with AI tracking features, and they’re often ergonomically-designed so you can continue shooting for long periods of time. DJI’s Osmo Mobile lineup does just that, and the latest addition to it, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8, is the brand’s best gimbal yet.

The Osmo Mobile 8 is a joy to handle, thanks to great weight distribution as well as a sturdy, premium build. It’s easy to use and when you use it in conjunction with the DJI Mimo app, you can record uber cool content effortlessly. AI tracking features ensure your subject is always the star of the show, and really, this gimbal is all you need for refined mobile content creation.

For the complete breakdown, read my full DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review.

U.S. availability: Similar to the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Mini 5 Pro drones, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 will not be officially available in the U.S. market through official websites on its global launch. We expect third-party retailers to sell it in the future though.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mobile gimbal that succeeds the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P
• Who is it for? For content creators, vloggers and anyone else looking to elevate their content
• How much does it cost? The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is available for £135, but the gimbal won't be available in the U.S. on its global launch
• What do we like? The sturdy build, great handling, easy setup, fantastic AI tracking features, and fill light for low-light shooting
• What don’t we like? It’s very app-reliant… but that isn’t a major flaw

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: Specs

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: The ups

From its premium, sturdy build and handling to its AI tracking features and companion app, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is a straight-up winner.

Sturdy, premium build

I’ve tested many of DJI’s products, such as the best drones, and one thing I think the brand has consistently nailed is its gear’s build quality — and it’s no different in the case of the DJI Osmo Mobile 8. This mobile gimbal is built extremely well with a teflon-coated grip and phone mount, just like the DJI RS 4 Mini ($369).

The hard rubber edges on either side of the phone mount provide a fantastic, reliable grip around your smartphone, so you don’t need to worry about it accidentally falling out. The mount’s hinges require a bit of force to pull apart so that you can slot your device, but I find that reassuring as I, like a lot of people, freak out if my phone is on the verge of falling to the ground.

Easy-as-pie setup

You’ll need to check your phone’s dimensions before buying the DJI Osmo Mobile 8. The extendable mount is ideal for phones whose width is between 2.63 and 3.3 inches, thickness between 0.27 and 0.39 inches, and the gimbal can withstand weigh up to 10.5oz. It worked great with my Google Pixel 7 Pro and my partner’s Google Pixel 9. I tried it with an iPhone 15 Pro Max too and faced zero issues.

Mounting your phone is easy and straightforward, and there are two ways of using the Osmo Mobile 8: you can plug one end of the (included) short USB-C cable into your phone and the other into the rotating mount, or you can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3. In my testing, both connection modes worked flawlessly with zero lag or latency issues.

Similar to its predecessor, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P ($149), the Osmo Mobile 8 features a tripod built directly into the handle. The tripod’s legs are a little on the thin side and I wouldn’t expect it to withstand strong gusts of wind, but it’s still handy for on-the-go vlogging. I’d recommend carrying a trusty tripod which you can screw into the tripod thread located on the handle’s bottom if you plan on shooting in extremely windy conditions.

Great handling

One of the key selling points of any gimbal lies in its comfort and handling, and the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 checks both boxes. I’ve found it extremely comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The area your fingers curl around has a slightly textured grip which helps with handling by providing a sturdy hold on the gimbal.

Weight distribution is great too, and I never felt weighed down and the gimbal never felt unstable when my phone was mounted. Speaking of, when the Osmo Mobile 8 is fully assembled (gimbal + built-in tripod + magnetic phone clamp + multifunctional module) without a smartphone mounted, it weighs 13.05oz, which means it’s easy to carry around in a backpack or small bag. It also folds down to just 7.48 x 3.74 x 1.81 inches so it doesn’t take up too much space, and you can store it safely in the included pouch.

The Osmo Mobile 8 has a built-in extension rod too, and even at its longest, it doesn’t feel awkward or unstable to handle.

Built-in lighting

I mentioned a multifunctional module in the previous section, but what do I mean by that? First introduced on the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P, the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 features a thumb-sized module attached to the phone mount, and it houses a tracking sensor as well as a tiny light. It uses magnets and a press-button release to stay securely locked in place.

The multifunctional module doubles as a receiver for DJI Mics, including the DJI Mic Mini and the DJI Mic 2 and 3, so you don’t need to use a separate receiver. Aside from this and powering AI tracking features, the module features a tiny LED light which comes in handy if you’re shooting in dimly lit environments. It has a maximum illumination of 40 lux (which pales in comparison to the best ring lights but hey, it’s not a ring light) and it has a variable color temperature of 2500-6000K, which can be controlled via the buttons on the side.

To test out the fill light’s effectiveness, I took a few photos with the brightness and color temperature set to different levels in a dark room, as you can see above. The first photo was taken at 2500K color temperature and 100% brightness, while the second was taken at 6000K color temperature. Both photos look great, with plenty of detail in my tattoos and face discernible.

Excellent companion app

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is accompanied by the DJI Mimo smartphone app — the same app used for its best action cameras — and it’s very user-friendly and easy to use. You’ll need it if you want to use the Osmo Mobile 8’s AI tracking features, edit footage, update its firmware, and so on, all of which is easy to do.

One thing I appreciate about the app is that it gives you plenty of tutorials so you can make the most of the gimbal. One of these features is the “Dyna-Zoom” shooting mode, which is basically like dolly zoom, where you move either in or out to create a dynamic effect. You can see how this works in the video above, which I think looks great, and it’s an easy way of adding flavor to your video work.

Fantastic stabilization and AI tracking

Most smartphones have some degree of stabilization built into them, but it’s not always the best. If you want stabilized footage, then the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is a must. It captures smooth footage regardless of whether you’re walking, panning, tilting or rolling. It features 360° unlimited rotation while panning so you can capture sweeping vistas with ease. You can see examples of stabilization and panning in the video above.

The Osmo Mobile 8 utilizes Tracking 7.0 and ActiveTrack 360° to, well, track humans, animals, birds and objects. This is something I’m familiar with as DJI’s drones feature ActiveTrack 360° too. All you have to do is draw a box on your phone’s screen around the subject you want to track, and the gimbal will keep tracking it within its pan, roll and tilt limits.

I tested this out by tracking a pigeon, a swan and myself in three separate scenarios, and you can see the result in the video above. All three subjects remain in focus regardless of how I move the Osmo Mobile 8 — or don’t, as the gimbal automatically rotates as needed to continue tracking.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: The downs

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 doesn’t have any noteworthy flaws, but it’s worth mentioning that it relies heavily on the DJI Mimo app.

App-reliant

This isn’t a massive con, but the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is very app-reliant. While you can use it with your phone’s stock camera app, you’ll need to download the DJI Mimo app to utilize the gimbal’s AI tracking features. I haven’t found the app to be a drain on system resources so it isn’t a burden on your phone. Again, not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if you’re wondering why you can’t track a subject when using your camera app.

DJI Osmo Mobile 8 review: Verdict

If you want a mobile gimbal to elevate your content creation, I can’t recommend the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 enough. It’s great to handle and it’s built extremely well. It’s easy to carry around too, and it has fantastic stabilization, panning, tilting and rolling capabilities.

Although the Osmo Mobile 8 relies heavily on its app, the companion app is user-friendly and easy to use, enabling you to capture dynamic footage. The Osmo Mobile 8 is compatible with a wide array of smartphones, and it helps even amateur videographers create beautiful content.

Today (November 3), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously 3-0 to give itself the ability to retroactively ban devices and radio components that were previously approved for entry into the United States, if the manufacturers are later deemed a national security risk.

First reported by The Verge, the vote is being sold as a national security measure to prevent Chinese telecom devices from gaining a backdoor into U.S. networks. In practice, it likely means that drone maker DJI, maker of most of the best drones, will be prevented from importing new drones or wireless devices into the country starting on December 23.

In early October, when today's vote was initially proposed, FCC head Brendon Carr said the new rules would give the agency "new tools to safeguard our networks from insecure spy gear." The rules allow the FCC to not only block new products for companies on its "Covered List," but also older devices.

The Covered List features companies that have been deemed to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons," according to the FCC.

Currently, that list is mostly made up of Chinese companies like Huawei (banned since 2019) and the Russian anti-virus maker Kaspersky, which was banned in 2024.

DJI hasn't been specifically named by the FCC, but it's likely the company won't be off it for long. A spokesperson noted that DJI is not on the Covered List but the possibility it will be added is highly likely.

How we got here

In December 2024, the US Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense spending bill. As part of that bill, a national security agency has to proactively audit a company and state that it does not pose a risk to national security. It was initially passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2024..

If not, the companies are added to the Covered List which would bar the FCC from authorizing their internal radios for use in the United States. Lacking that authorization effectively bans the devices for import and sale.

As of this writing, no U.S. national security agency has taken up an audit of DJI. "If that assessment is not completed by the deadline, DJI and another Chinese drone manufacturer would automatically be added to the FCC’s Covered List, without any evidence of wrongdoing or the right to appeal," DJI's Head of Global Policy Adam Welsh told Tom's Guide in a statement.

Welsh went on to say that DJI welcomes an audit.

"We urge the U.S. government to start the mandated review or grant an extension to ensure a fair, evidence-based process that protects American jobs, safety, and innovation."

Can you still fly your drone?

Even if the ban goes through, those in the U.S. who already own a DJI drone would still be able to fly them. However, a ban could mean that DJI might stop updating its app for U.S. customers, and there could be other issues with cloud-based features.

The FCC is also insisting that it won't take away existing DJI devices. A potential ban is a case-by-case basis. "[The] Commission should exercise revocation of devices containing prohibited components only in extraordinary circumstances and only on a case-by-case basis after specific national security agency determination."

Additionally, the public is allowed to weigh in on retroactive bans via a 30-day public comment period.

What DJI drones can you still buy?

Due to the ongoing issues, DJI has not listed two of its newer models — the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Mini 5 Pro — for sale on its website, but you can find them at Amazon and other retailers.

In addition, there are a number of older DJI devices still available to purchase in the U.S., though due to the uncertainties of the ban and the age of the drones, might be increasingly hard to come by.

• DJI Neo 3 ($187)
• DJi Mini 4K ($299)
• DJI Mini 3 ($419)
• DJI Flip ($439)
• DJI Mini 5 Pro ($759)
• DJI Avata 2 ($999)
• DJI Air 3S ($1,099)
• DJI Mavic 4 Pro ($2,730)

Other Chinese companies affected

In September 2025, DJI lost a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense over the military agency labeling it as a "Chinese Military Company." Though the federal judge allowed the Pentagon to continue using that title, they found no proof DJI is controlled by Beijing.

DJI isn't the only Chinese-owned company facing scrutiny by the U.S. Huawei was initially banned in 2019 and added to the Covered List in 2021.

The TikTok saga finally ended this past September with the sale of the U.S. assets of ByteDance's social media app. While the company's app was technically banned in January 2025, the deadline to enforce the ban was continually extended.

Meanwhile, TP-Link Wi-Fi routers are next on the potential ban list, and it's possible this retroactive ban ruling could affect the company. Multiple U.S. agencies, including the Justice Department and the Department of Defense, spent this past summer looking into banning the manufacturer.

While DJI drones might not be banned on December 23, it's looking highly likely that the company won't come out unscathed either way with no U.S. agencies taking up the audit. We'll know more come the end of the year.

More from Tom's Guide

• I test drones for a living — here’s what I think of Reddit’s top recommendations for beginners
• I gave the DJI Mini 5 Pro 5 stars and it’s finally available to buy in the U.S. — but not through DJI
• I’d never flown a drone until the Antigravity A1 but look at what I could shoot after only five minutes

The DJI Mini 5 Pro. Wow. What a drone. It's been out for less than a month and it's already made headlines as one of the best drones money can buy right now. I flew it for three weeks before publishing my full DJI Mini 5 Pro review, and my verdict? Well, I gave it a full 5/5 star rating, so that itself says a lot about its aerial prowess. It is now one of only two drones that has a 100% rating at Tom's Guide — the other being the DJI Mavic 4 Pro.

Packing a powerful 1-inch sensor for improved low-light performance and 4K/60fps HDR video, the Mini 5 Pro is DJI's finest mini drone yet. Scratch that; it is the best mini quadcopter right now, and that's not even down to its imaging quality. Beginners, enthusiasts or even experienced pilots will appreciate the Mini 5 Pro's plethora of safety features, and these are something you won't find on any other sub-250g drone.

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is currently not available in the U.S. This is similar to the Mavic 4 Pro, the Osmo 360 and the Osmo Nano's state at launch. They weren't available to buy immediately when they came out, but they became available on third-party retailers (such as Walmart and Amazon) a few weeks later. Our best guess is that this will also be the case with the Mini 5 Pro, and we expect third-party sellers to stock it in the near future.

The Mini 5 Pro has received significant safety upgrades over its predecessor, the DJI Mini 4 Pro. Its advanced obstacle avoidance and braking capabilities give a lot of reassurance and peace of mind to pilots. It didn't take long for this drone to become one of my favorites — it honestly feels like flying a tiny DJI Air 3S or a Mavic 4 Pro. Without further ado, here's what makes the Mini 5 Pro a force to be reckoned with.

A mini that thinks big

In my DJI Mini 5 Pro review, I said that the brand's latest drone feels like the lovechild of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Air 3S — and that's not just down to the dark gray coat of paint. Even in terms of specs, the Mini 5 Pro bears resemblance to the Air 3S. For instance, both quadcopters can film 4K/60fps footage, capture 50MP photos, remain stable in windy conditions up to 12 m/s or 26.8mph.

Not just that, but the Mini 5 Pro has also inherited omnidirectional obstacle avoidance supplemented with forward-facing LiDAR and an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft. What exactly does that mean, you ask? The drone can detect obstacles all around it and it can either brake in front of or bypass them.

Having LiDAR (which was missing from its predecessor) means the drone can sense objects more reliably, even in low-light environments. This makes flying at night safer. I can't overstate just how rare this level of obstacle avoidance is in mini drones — the Mini 5 Pro is the only sub-250g drone offering this tech right now.

Crawling back to you

Safety is paramount when flying a drone, and when you can't always keep an eye on it at nighttime, that's where LiDAR comes in clutch. The DJI Mini 5 Pro's return-to-home function has received a significant upgrade too, and thanks to LiDAR, the drone can now return to its last takeoff position even if it loses its GPS signal. Nifty!

Not only is this fantastic (and reassuring) for beginners, but it's useful for more experience pilots too. Even though I fly drones for a living, I have had my fair share of close calls while testing when I've suddenly lost the GPS signal and have waited with bated breath to miraculously get it back. Not with the Mini 5 Pro. I've never felt as confident flying a mini drone as I have with the Mini 5 Pro.

A stacked feature set

Aside from its top-notch safety features, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is also packed with best-in-class imaging capabilities. It features a 1-inch sensor for improved low-light performance with a high dynamic range, a 225° gimbal which enables flexible and dynamic camera movement as well as wide-angle rotation, a 36-minute flight time, and lots more. All of this while maintaining a compact body? Sign me up!

Playing with the Mini 5 Pro's gimbal rotation is some of the most fun I've had testing a product. Well, tied with testing the free-moving gimbal on the Mavic 4 Pro, of course. You can combine gimbal rotation with the Mini 5 Pro's short-form QuickShot videos too, giving you more creative freedom and flexibility.

4K/60fps HDR is in play, as is 10-bit D-Log M video that captures a wide dynamic range of up to 14-stops for more flexibility while color grading in post. The Mini 5 Pro is the ideal drone for beginners, experienced pilots, and everyone in between. It enables you to get creative without worrying about weight restrictions or whether the drone will return safely to you.

You can check out more video footage and sample images I took with the drone in my full DJI Mini 5 Pro review here, and check out the differences between the DJI Mini 5 Pro vs the DJI Mini 4 Pro here.

If you're in the U.S...

As I mentioned up top, the DJI Mini 5 Pro, at the time of writing, isn't available in the U.S. but we expect third-party retailers to stock it in the coming weeks or months. But for now, what are your alternatives? Are there any other drones you can buy? The good news is that there are a plethora of quadcopters out there, ripe for the picking.

Here are my top three picks if you need a drone to tide you over until you can get your hands on the Mini 5 Pro:

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve spent three weeks testing the DJI Mini 5 Pro — and it sets a new gold standard for mini drones
• Best drones in 2025
• DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro — I’ve flown both and there’s a clear winner

The best drones can help take your content creation skills to the next level but they can also be heaps of fun to fly. In recent years, drone videography has become more accessible thanks to mini drones, but these quadcopters usually come with some restrictions, such as not having the best obstacle avoidance or the biggest sensors. Well, the DJI Mini 5 Pro fixes every problem I’ve encountered with mini drones, and it sets a new gold standard.

When I first flew the Mini 5 Pro a few weeks ago, I instantly fell in love with it, and my first impressions told me it could be the drone to beat — and I’m pleased to say I have not been proven wrong after having conducted my battery of tests. It improves on its predecessor by introducing a large 1-inch sensor, forward-facing LiDAR for better obstacle avoidance, a free moving gimbal, all while maintaining a compact size.

If you’ve been meaning to upgrade or buy your first drone even, your search might be over. To find out why, read my full DJI Mini 5 Pro review.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Specs

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The successor to the two-year-old DJI Mini 4 Pro
• Who is it for? For beginners or content creators who want a lightweight drone offering pro-level features
• How much does it cost? The DJI Mini 5 Pro starts at $1,397 / £689
• What do we like? The large 1-inch sensor and improved low-light performance, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance with LiDAR, stunning 4K/60fps footage, and so much more
• What don’t we like? Battery life isn’t vastly different from the DJI Mini 4 Pro’s

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Price & availability

Launched on 17 September 2025, the DJI Mini 5 Pro has a retail price of $1,397 at Amazon U.S. / £689 at Amazon U.K. for the drone and the RC-N3 controller. That price jumps up to £869 if you get the RC-N3 Fly More combo or to $1,708 / £979 for the RC 2 combo, both of which include two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries, a two-way charging hub, a shoulder bag, and an ND filter set.

Alas, the Mini 5 Pro isn’t available directly through DJI. According to a DJI representative: “DJI remains dedicated to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions.” This was also the case with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro ($2,699) when it first came out back in May, but recently, it has become available through third-party retailers, just like the Mini 5 Pro.

The Mini 5 Pro is priced the same as its predecessor, the DJI Mini 4 Pro, making it a formidable and accessible upgrade. It’s pricier than the DJI Flip ($439) and the Potensic Atom 2 ($329) but it offers a lot more in terms of shooting capabilities and stabilization, making it ideal for enthusiasts and content creators.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Design

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is what you’d get if the DJI Air 3S ($1,099) and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro had a baby. Instead of sporting a light grey color like its predecessor, the Mini 5 Pro is wrapped in a darker shade which makes it look more premium, in my opinion. The drone’s gimbal cover low-key resembles the Mavic 4 Pro’s too. It has a strap that hooks onto the rear vents, securely holding the propeller blades in place.

There’s another similarity between the Mini 5 Pro and the Mavic 4 Pro: both drones’ rear propeller arms don’t have legs to stand on. The front propeller arms’ legs keep the drone steady for takeoff, and the lack of rear legs enables the drone to land more easily on uneven surfaces — or when you don’t have enough surface area to land on.

As its name suggests, the Mini 5 Pro is a mini quadcopter, measuring just 14.96 x 11.96 x 3.58 inches (unfolded, with propellers), and it becomes even more compact when its propellers are folded, making it easy to travel with. It isn’t very heavy either, weighing 8.81oz / 249.9g when using an Intelligent Flight Battery, which makes it a Class C0 drone.

Insert an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus and that pushes it into Class C1 where more restrictions apply. You can read a detailed comparison between the different classes here. DJI has included C0 and C1 stickers in the box so just stick the appropriate one to the drone before you go flying. So while it isn’t necessary to register the drone with the F.A.A. in the U.S. or the C.A.A. in the U.K., I’d recommend doing so anyway so that you can fly the drone legally should you get an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus.

Included in the Mini 5 Pro’s Fly More box is a shoulder bag which has plenty of room for storing the drone, charging hub, controller, spare propellers and more. I even stuffed my Nintendo Switch in there to see if I could carry the bag with ease — and I could!

As for build quality, it’s solid and I can tell the drone is built well when I tap my nails against it. I expect nothing less from DJI. Overall, the Mini 5 Pro knocks it out of the park with its design… and its features, so let’s talk about them next.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Features

The DJI Mini 5 Pro feels like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s nephew, having inherited some pro-level specs you don’t always find in mini or sub-250g drones. It packs cutting-edge tech such as advanced safety features, a rotating gimbal, and fantastic wind resistance.

At 13.04 miles, its flight distance is two miles longer than the DJI Mini 4 Pro’s when using an Intelligent Flight Battery, and this jumps to 19.88 miles versus 15.53 miles when using an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. Internal storage has received a massive upgrade too, and you now get 42GB of it versus a measly 2GB on the Mini 4 Pro. There’s also a microSD card slot if you want more storage space.

Sensor

One of the biggest differences between the Mini 5 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro is the camera’s sensor size. While its predecessor hosted a smaller 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, the Mini 5 Pro boasts a larger 1-inch CMOS sensor. The bigger sensor means you now get improved low-light performance with reduced noise and a wider dynamic range. This, in fact, is the largest sensor on a mini drone yet. For context, the Potensic Atom 2 has a 1/1.2-inch sensor and the DJI Flip has a 1/1.3-inch sensor.

The lens’ maximum aperture has narrowed, though, from f/1.7 on the Mini 4 Pro to f/1.8 but the difference is fairly negligible. There’s a fairly wide ISO range available when you’re shooting video too: 100-12,800 in Normal mode, 100-3200 in D-Log M and HLG. The Mini 5 Pro can capture 50MP stills as opposed to the Mini 4 Pro being able to capture 48MP ones only. You get a variable shutter speed of 1/8,000s-2s and the added ability to capture RAW photos for more flexibility in post-production.

Video specs remain fairly similar with both the Mini 4 Pro and the Mini 5 Pro being able to record 4K/60fps footage. The Mini 5 Pro can shoot slow-mo 4K footage at 120fps (versus 100fps on the Mini 4 Pro) and FHD slow-mo is bumped up to 240fps (versus 200fps on the Mini 4 Pro). For a detailed comparison between the two drones, check out my Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro face-off.

Gimbal

The weeks leading up to the Mini 5 Pro’s launch were riddled with rumors and leaks, and the introduction of the 1-inch sensor wasn’t exactly a surprise. However, I didn’t anticipate a big upgrade to the gimbal which DJI kept under wraps. Similar to its very advanced uncle, the Mavic 4 Pro, the Mini 5 Pro features a 225° gimbal which enables flexible and dynamic camera movement as well as wide-angle rotation, giving you lots of creative freedom.

This can be paired with the Mini 5 Pro’s Intelligent Flight Modes and QuickShots too for creating mind-blowing footage easily — perfect for content creation. You can enable fluid gimbal movement by holding the C1 button on the controller and moving the right dial. You can see what this looks like in the video above.

Similar to the DJI Flip and the Potensic Atom 2, the Mini 5 Pro’s three-axis mechanical gimbal keeps footage stable and smooth as you pan, tilt and roll.

Wind resistance

On one of the days when I was testing the Mini 5 Pro, it was extremely windy in the U.K. and my weather app noted the wind was blowing at 21mph. Luckily, the Mini 5 Pro features fantastic wind resistance, rated at 12 m/s or 26.84mph (versus 10.7 m/s or 23.9mph on its predecessor).

The result? Well, you can see how well the drone handled it in the video above. The Mini 5 Pro held its own and didn't waver, with the resulting footage being stable and smooth. Both the Potensic Atom 2 and the DJI Flip, in comparison, can withstand windy conditions up to 10.7 m/s.

But of course, if you live by the sea where wind speeds are higher, I’d recommend getting a heavier drone that isn’t susceptible to gusts of wind, such as the DJI Air 3S or the DJI Mavic 4 Pro — both are much more expensive, though.

Obstacle avoidance

It’s like the list of upgrades never ends! The Mini 5 Pro comes with advanced safety features powered by omnidirectional obstacle avoidance with forward-facing LiDAR and an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft. Both of these make the drone highly capable of either braking in front of or bypassing obstacles even in low-light conditions.

And speaking of, the Mini 5 Pro’s return-to-home feature works exceptionally well in dimly lit environments as it can memorize flight paths more accurately and can do so without GPS, thanks to the larger sensor as well as LiDAR. When I tested this out at nighttime, the drone didn’t struggle at all and promptly returned to where it took off from.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Image quality

Unlike most mini drones, the DJI Mini 5 Pro features a large 1-inch sensor, which means it’s capable of capturing more light and creating brighter images with improved color accuracy. It captures detailed 50MP stills, and you can see a few sample images in the gallery above. Greens are vivid and lots of detail has been captured in the highlights and shadows.

The drone can take RAW photos too for more creative freedom in post-production but for those who don’t care much about that, straight-out-of-camera JPEGs look gorgeous too.

You also get access to a 2x and 3x digital zoom when shooting images. To demonstrate the difference, I stood in the same spot and took three photos, as can be seen in the gallery above (1x, 2x and 3x). There’s a minute loss in detail at 3x zoom (third slide), as the edges of my jacket appear a bit fuzzy, but the photo isn’t unusable at all.

Low-light performance is stellar too. The city lights in the photo above have been captured well, and I like that the red light atop the crane isn’t blown out. I love that you can see the dark clouds’ outlines too. Grain doesn’t ruin the photo either, as it does when using a drone with a smaller sensor, such as the DJI Flip with its 1/1.3-inch sensor.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Video quality

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a formidable drone when it comes to video quality. As I mentioned up top, it can record 4K/60fps video which looks stunning with faithful color reproduction. You can see sample footage above. I love the vivid greens and the darker shades of blue and black in the water. The water’s movement is smooth and fluid as well, which is gorgeous.

Thanks to the rotating gimbal, you can shoot vertical 9x16 video too. This is an added benefit for content creators or enthusiasts who like sharing their videos on, say, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts as you don’t need to crop it in post-production.

If you’re shooting in 4K, you get a 1x-3x digital zoom, and a 1x-4x digital zoom when shooting in FHD. You, of course, lose some of the finer details in color when zooming in — such as the grass appearing ever-so-slightly yellow in the video above — but it’s nice having the flexibility to do so if you want to capture something in the distance. I appreciate that the text on my jumper is still discernible even when zoomed in at 3x.

As with most other recent DJI drones, the Mini 5 Pro can shoot in 10-bit 4:2:0 D-Log M, which means it can capture 1.07 billion individual hues and up to 14-stops of dynamic range, giving you more freedom for color grading. The video above shows what the RAW footage looks like.

DJI’s array of QuickShot modes — such as Rocket, Follow, Asteroid, etc. — is also available for drone pilots who want to create short videos without thinking too much about composition and framing. The Mini 5 Pro utilizes ActiveTrack 360º to perform movements around subjects, both animate and inanimate.

I always love playing around with QuickShot modes as they take the guesswork out of aerial videography. As always, the drone returns to its takeoff position once it’s done recording.You can see a couple examples in the compilation above.

As with images, the Mini 5 Pro excels at recording video in low-light environments, thanks to its 1-inch sensor, as you can see in the footage above which isn’t very noisy (aside from the light pollution from the city lights). Also, having advanced obstacle avoidance in the dark helped me fly more confidently, even though I didn’t do any crazy tricks. Having the reassurance that the drone would return to me even if it lost its GPS signal gave me peace of mind.

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Battery life

There isn’t a huge difference between the DJI Mini 5 Pro’s and the DJI Mini 4 Pro’s maximum flight times. Using an Intelligent Flight Battery, the Mini 5 Pro can fly for 36 minutes which is only two minutes longer than the Mini 4 Pro. This gets bumped up to 52 minutes versus 45 minutes when using an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus. Battery life will, of course, take a hit depending on the drone’s speed, firmware version, wind conditions and temperature.

I’ve been using Intelligent Flight Batteries to test the Mini 5 Pro and on a windless day when I was flying the drone away and then back to me, I got approximately 35 minutes between charges which isn’t bad at all. The Mini 5 Pro’s flight time is longer than the DJI Flip’s (31 minutes) and the Potensic Atom 2’s (32 minutes).

DJI Mini 5 Pro review: Verdict

As mini drones go, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is hard to upstage. Its predecessor was already a highly capable quadcopter, and the Mini 5 Pro does nothing but improve on it. Its 1-inch sensor captures lots of detail to produce bright images, even in low-light conditions. Color reproduction is fantastic in 50MP images as well as 4K/60fps video.

Obstacle avoidance has received a huge upgrade thanks to forward-facing LiDAR which helps the drone fly in dimly lit environments and return home without GPS. But perhaps my favorite feature is the 225° gimbal which makes footage appear trippy and allows you to get creative. Add the ability to capture up to 14-stops of dynamic range while shooting in D-Log M and you’ve got a beast for content creation. The best part? The Mini 5 Pro remains lightweight and compact.

The Mini 5 Pro sets a new standard for drone safety and I’m sure its plethora of features will help beginner pilots feel more confident. Right now, there isn’t a better mini drone out there.

At last! A rival suitor has finally arrived. The small action cameras market has, from time immemorial, been bequeathed to Insta360 Go’s line. Now, long overdue, a fearless champion steps into the fray to tourney for the coveted title. What, then, does our rival champion look like? Step forward, DJI Osmo Nano!

Oh. It’s… it’s hideous.

OK, well nevermind. Verily, ‘tis what our brave (if malformed) champion hath inside that matters. And those features are indeed more comely. 4K moving tapestries at 60 frameths per second! A lightweight thumb camera to sit atop thine bascinet, clip to thine hunting dog’s collar, or strap to thine heir’s infant head! And it’ll cost you fewer groats than an Insta360 Go Ultra, too. Much fewer.

I’ll stop messing around now, primarily because there’s no way I can weave 10-bit color and D-Log M into this already laborious medieval metaphor. But hey, it has those as well. And more. Quite a bit more.

Could this be the new best small action camera around? Read my full DJI Osmo Nano review to find out.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Specs

DJI Osmo Nano review: Price & availability

The DJI Osmo Nano is available in two guises based on internal storage. The 64GB version costs $299 at Amazon, while the 128GB version costs $329 at Amazon. In the U.K., that’s £239 and £259 respectively.

$299 massively undercuts the Nano’s only real rival, the Insta360 Go Ultra ($449), which retails for $449. Both offer 4K/60p and a ‘mount anywhere’ approach. While the Go Ultra has the upper hand regarding microphones, battery life and general overall form factor, the Osmo Nano has better stabilization, more pro features and its thumb camera in isolation has a more usable form factor. Overall, the Osmo Nano comes out on top in my book, especially given the cost saving.

U.S. availability

DJI’s ongoing battle with the U.S. government means that, as with all recent DJI products, the Osmo Nano is not officially sold in the States (meaning not sold via DJI’s store). However, third party retailers are already stocking it — like Amazon.

This means you can't purchase a DJI Care package for the Nano. So, if yours gets broken, you may not be able to have it fixed without serious cost implications. This is less of an issue with the Osmo Nano — which uses screw-on lens covers — than on other cameras with fragile lenses like the DJI Osmo 360 ($549). But worth bearing in mind.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Design & controls

The Osmo Nano’s overall form factor is a little odd, to say the least. Similar to the Insta360 Go line, the Nano takes a modular approach by combining a tiny thumb camera with a second unit, which hosts a screen, ports and a second (bigger) battery — on the Nano this is called a “Vision Dock” while the Insta360 Go Ultra uses an “Action Pod.”

Insta360’s form factor makes sense — the tiny camera sits inside the Action Pod, and the whole unit resembles a typical action camera. The Nano, however, sits awkwardly on top of its Vision Dock, which itself sits awkwardly on top of a quick release mount if you want to, y’know, put it on anything.

The result is an overly tall and far from prepossessing combined unit, which not only looks silly when mounted, but can make the whole unit difficult to mount in the first place. In its entirety, it’s too tall and lanky to be mounted on a helmet chin mount, for instance, whereas the Go Ultra inside its Action Pod has no issues (it’s effectively a normally-proportioned action camera, after all).

While the Nano’s overall form factor is gangly when combined with its Vision Dock, the tiny oblong Nano camera itself is more usable than the Go Ultra’s square one. Its stout oblong shape makes the Nano much easier to mount, suffers from less drag and has a lower center of gravity — this makes it more stable on cap peaks and stops it getting flung off its magnetic mounts as easily as the Go Ultra.

The Vision Dock weighs 2.5 ounces (72g) — over an ounce lighter than the Go Ultra’s 3.8 ounce Action Pod. Really, though, what matters is the weight of the thumb camera, as that’s the only thing being mounted in delicate places like cap peaks. The Osmo Nano thumb camera weighs 1.8 ounces or 52g, the same as the Go Ultra’s (give or take a half a gram or so). So nothing in it.

Display

The Osmo Nano’s display is a 1.96-inch touchscreen, which is bright, responsive and (just about) big enough for ease-of-use when navigating menus (more on that later). It’d be a misnomer to call it a rear screen, firstly because it’s… under the Nano camera. But also because it can be used facing forward or backward. Rotate the Vision Dock 180-degrees so the display is front-facing and you have a selfie screen!

I still prefer the flip-up display of the Go Ultra. If you want to switch from ‘behind the camera’ to selfie-style vlogging shots, on the Go Ultra you need simply flip up the display and turn the camera — doable without minimal interruption to recording. On the Osmo Nano, you’ll need to unclip the Vision Pod, rotate it 180-degrees, clip it back in and then flip your camera around. It’s messy and will almost certainly require cuts in post-production.

All that said, the Nano’s Vision Dock is fantastic to use as a remote screen/control when detached from the camera (they communicate wirelessly with one another). It’s tiny, so it can just sit in your palm or pocket as you shoot. You can do this with the Go Ultra’s Action Pod, too, but it’s a lot larger and more annoying to carry/pocket.

Controls

The Nano’s onboard buttons are very scant. There are two record buttons which also serve as power buttons — a little confusing when you first pick up the camera.

All control is realistically meant to happen via the screen, which is a little too small for the chubby-fingered like myself. The Go Ultra’s display is much more spacious, making menus and sub-menus much easier to navigate.

DJI’s menu system is comprehensive, sensibly laid out and will be familiar to anyone that’s used a recent DJI device.

My only major gripe with the control system is the status light on the Nano camera. There’s only one, and it’s on the front. That means if you’re shooting anything but selfie-style footage, then you’ll have no idea whether the Nano camera (when off the Vision Dock) is recording or not. I was having to crane my head over the camera to look down and see the status light. An awful UX.

Mounting

The Osmo Nano uses both magnetic and clip mounting. The bottom of both the Nano camera and Vision Dock features a clip bracket for attaching to quick release mounts. This is the same system as used by the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro ($349) and Osmo 360, so your existing DJI accessories will work for the Nano! Awesome in its own right, but especially when compared to the Go Ultra, which also uses a proprietary mount, but one that is not backwards-compatible with other Insta360 products.

The magnetic system is very handy for attaching to metal objects or the supplied neck pendant, although many of the interesting mounts, such as the cap peak and headband, actually use the quick release clip — this is much more secure during intense movement, so I prefer it. This is again a benefit of the shorter, oblong Nano camera profile versus the square Go Ultra — the squat profile allows space to use the quick release clip rather than having to rely on a magnet.

Waterproofing

The Osmo Nano camera is waterproof down to 33 feet / 10 meters, while the Vision Dock is IPX4 splashproof — both matching the Go Ultra’s waterproofing. If you want to shoot the odd clip underwater, the Nano camera is fine, just disconnect it from the Vision Dock first.

If you want to film underwater regularly, I’d recommend the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which has a 65-foot waterproof rating and a bigger battery than the Nano camera alone so you can record for longer.

Connectivity & storage

The Osmo Nano features a USB-C port for charging and wired data transfer, as well as Bluetooth and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity and data transfer.

Inside the Vision Dock you’ll find a MicroSD card slot (up to 1TB cards supported), but there’s also internal storage — a major win over rivals. The Insta360 Go 3S ($399) only has internal storage, while the Go Ultra only has SD storage. Having both on the Nano gives you that extra peace of mind should you fill a card.

Annoyingly, you can’t record directly to the SD card. You have to record to the internal memory and then transfer files to the SD via an on-screen button. This takes absolutely ages for larger file dumps (100GB took over 20 minutes) and is very frustrating. For this reason, I would recommend the 128GB model so you can space out transfers to SD. That said, still make sure you offload regularly in small batches to minimize downtime.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Stabilization

DJI’s RockSteady stabilization is often hit or miss — on some cameras, like the Osmo Action 5 Pro, it’s great. On others, like the Osmo 360, it’s not as impressive.

On the Nano, it’s very strong. This camera is designed primarily for family-friendly pursuits, and it does a fine job of stabilizing lower-octane walking footage. The easiest type of walking footage to stabilize is with the camera strapped to a cap peak, where there’s less motion. However, the Osmo Nano also does a great job of stabilizing footage with the camera strapped to a magnetic neck pendant, which tends to be more jerky, as in the video above.

It does an excellent job of stabilizing (as much as possible) more active footage, such as when strapped to my dog’s collar, as you can see above.

When shooting high-octane footage, like the motorcycling clip in the Audio section below, the bumps in the road and lean angles have been smoothed out nicely too.

The Nano’s stabilization is comparable with the Go Ultra’s. That is to say, both are excellent.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Video quality

The DJI Osmo Nano shoots 4K at up to 60fps. The only other tiny action camera to do so is the Go Ultra, as the Go 3S and GoPro Hero ($199) top out at 4K/30fps. This makes the Osmo Nano and Go Ultra much better for fast-paced content such as motovlogging, skiing etc, as 60fps will smooth out motion and cause less motion blur than 30fps.

Footage looks beautiful and sharp. As always, DJI doesn’t offer multiple color profiles, but the base profile looks excellent — lifelike yet vivid. Interestingly, in the DJI Mimo app, you can apply quick color grades to your footage, so if you do want a stylized look, it’s possible without needing to fire up DaVinci Resolve.

Importantly, the Osmo Nano features some advanced color features that will likely make it the more appealing option for pros when compared to Insta360 cameras — a common theme in all DJI gear. There’s 8-bit or 10-bit color, the latter capturing a wider color gamut for greater flexibility in post. There’s also D-Log M for wide dynamic range capture (up to 13.5 stops).

The Osmo Nano also takes 35MP stills, as you can see above. Again, they look nice and sharp, but this isn't a photography camera. The lenses are designed to be tough and replaceable rather than the pinnacle of optical sharpness — hence the lens flares.

Low light

The Osmo Nano uses a 1/1.3-inch sensor, which is slightly smaller than the Go Ultra’s 1/1.28-inch sensor, theoretically putting the Osmo Nano on the backfoot for low-light performance.

However, the Osmo Nano's low light footage is fairly clean in dim light. As you can see in the video above, I used the Nano to film some 'Groom's Eye View' footage at my wedding on the dimly lit dance floor and I think it looks great (I had to remove the audio for copyright reasons). Yes: I tested this camera at my own wedding — that right there is commitment to the cause!

In super low light, though, footage looks pretty grainy, but it isn't too bad. The Go Ultra's footage in similar conditions is slightly better, but there really isn't much in it.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Audio quality

The DJI Osmo Nano features two internal microphones, both of which are fairly competent in low-volume environments. You can hear in the footage below how well the camera picked up the gentle sound of the stream and my dog drinking.

Of course, it’s possible to hook up DJI wireless microphones such as the DJI Mic Mini ($59) and DJI Mic 3 ($99) for much clearer sound, especially if you’re recording vocals. Wireless connection uses OsmoAudio, which ostensibly uses Bluetooth. Performance is subsequently on par with Bluetooth — that is to say, not very good — so I wouldn’t recommend this for loud environments.

With no wired microphone interface, you’ll need to rely on internal mics for loud environments, such as motovlogging. The Nano’s built-in Wind Reduction algorithm is pretty good, mostly reducing destructive wind noise in the video clip above. It has, however, cut the noise of the engine, too. The Go Ultra’s internal wind reduction system is much better.

With no wired microphone interface, the best way to record audio in very loud situations such as motorcycling is to record separately with a decent microphone using 32-bit float recording and sync up audio and video in post.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Smartphone app

DJI has made big progress with its Mimo smartphone app, and it’s now an excellent tool for quickly offloading and editing video files. It gives you lots of control over editing, with trimming, exposure, filters and some basic effects. There’s also a remote control function for live viewing as you record.

It’s still not quite as feature-packed and user-friendly as the Insta360 app, but there’s really not a lot in it anymore.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Battery life & thermal performance

The Osmo Nano features a 500mAh battery with a 1,300mAh battery in the Vision Dock. In my standard indoor stress test at 4K/60p, the Nano achieved 102 minutes overall. The Go Ultra achieved 110 minutes. This figures, given the Osmo Nano’s slightly smaller total battery capacity, and it’s still a great show from the Nano.

Thermal performance isn’t great, though, with the camera overheating every 24 to 26 minutes. The Go Ultra, meanwhile, shot all 110 minutes without overheating.

That said, while this is a family-friendly camera, it’s still designed to be used outside and while moving. In real world usage along those lines, overheating shouldn’t be an issue. This is especially true when moving quickly during running, skiing, cycling, motorcycling etc.

DJI Osmo Nano review: Verdict

The DJI Osmo Nano isn’t perfect. Its form factor is a little weird, its storage system is frustrating and its low-light performance isn’t the best.

However, the Osmo Nano sits among a new generation of tiny 4K/60p-capable action cameras — devices that are capable not only of capturing family-friendly content at 30fps, but serious, perhaps even professional content at 4K/60p too. Delivering that in packages as small as the Osmo Nano and Insta360 Go Ultra is no mean feat, and always comes with some level of compromise, at least with today’s technology.

With that in mind, among this new generation, the Nano is the best all-rounder and the best value for money by far. Much, much cheaper than the Insta360 Go Ultra, the Nano boasts equally good stabilization and video, a more versatile thumb camera and better mounting options, not to mention professional features like D-Log M and 10-bit color. While the microphones and battery life can’t quite compete with the Go Ultra, they certainly aren’t far off, nor are they bad by any means.

If you need a versatile, ‘mount anywhere’ action camera for a wide array of content, right now the Osmo Nano is the best combination of performance and value for money. Looks like we have a new champion.

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and DJI setting a new gold standard every time it announces a new drone. That seems to be the case with the brand new DJI Mini 5 Pro, too. The Mini 4 Pro's successor is well-endowed, featuring a large 1-inch sensor for improved low-light performance, forward-facing LiDAR for safer night-time flying, and more. I have been flying the drone for a few days now, and boy, I am thoroughly impressed!

But as was the case with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, the Mini 5 Pro, alas, isn't available in the U.S. at launch. According to a spokesperson: "DJI remains dedicated to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions."

I don't know when or if we'll see the Mini 5 Pro land on American store shelves, but my American friends don't need to fret. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives available, and while they might not boast the latest and greatest tech, they are still great in their own right.

I test the best drones here at Tom's Guide, so I've carefully and meticulously picked out the top Mini 5 Pro alternatives to tide you over until DJI's latest mini drone makes it to the U.S.

DJI Mini 4 Pro

Your first alternative to the DJI Mini 5 Pro is, naturally, its predecessor: the DJI Mini 4 Pro. I get it, the Mini 5 Pro is better in a lot of ways, with its bigger sensor and whatnot, but the Mini 4 Pro is still a fantastic drone. I compared both drones' headline specs in my DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro comparison, so make sure to check it out.

The Mini 4 Pro is great for those taking their first steps into serious content creation. It weighs less than 250g / 8.81oz, which means you don't necessarily need to register it with a national governing body, like the F.A.A. in the U.S., making it accessible to most pilots — especially beginners.

While the Mini 5 Pro takes 50MP photos, the Mini 4 Pro takes stunning 48MP photos, and it records beautiful 4K/60fps and slow-motion FHD/200fps footage, which is stable and smooth thanks to the three-axis mechanical gimbal. It also features omnidirectional obstacle avoidance so it can brake in front of or bypass objects in its way.

The Mini 4 Pro was one of the first drones I ever flew, as a friend owned it, and I remember having so much fun with it. As a then-beginner, I found it extremely easy to fly and control with the RC 2 controller. It's an outstanding drone that both beginners and content creators will be satisfied with.

Further reading: 5 things I like about the DJI Mini 4 Pro — and 2 things I hate, and DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro — I’ve flown both and there’s a clear winner

DJI Air 3S

The DJI Air 3S belongs in the "prosumer" category so it's slightly detached from the DJI Mini 5 Pro's place in the market, but it's an amazing alternative, costing just slightly more than the Mini 5 Pro. The Air 3S, to this day, remains my favorite drone, and I rarely leave the house without it.

This one's for serious content creators as it boasts 4K/60fps. It shares a few features with the Mini 5 Pro, such as phenomenal obstacle avoidance with forward-facing LiDAR, a 1-inch sensor, 42GB internal storage, great low-light video with noise reduction technology, and a three-axis mechanical gimbal for stabilization.

You can also shoot in 10-bit D-Log M or HLG profiles to preserve a wide dynamic range, as the Air 3S is capable of capturing up to 14 stops of dynamic range. 10-bit video means it's capable of capturing 1.07 billion individual hues, giving you a lot of flexibility and freedom in post-production and while color grading.

Further reading: The DJI Air 3S is the one drone I’d buy with my own money — here’s why it brings me unbridled joy

Potensic Atom 2

Of course, DJI isn't the only brand making some of the best drones out there, and the Potensic Atom 2 gives DJI's lineup of mini drones a run for its money. This sub-250g is a great option if you want a budget-friendly quadcopter while you wait for the Mini 5 Pro. Video quality takes a slight hit at the Atom 2's is limited to 4K/30fps, but it's still smooth and stable, and colors appear true to life.

The Atom 2 also captures 48MP stills, and you get a 3x digital zoom to get stuck in the detail. For shooting at night, the Atom 2 has a dedicated AI Night Video mode which drastically reduces noise and makes, say, buildings appear sharper. As the drone doesn't feature obstacle avoidance, you'll at least be able to see your surroundings clearly on screen, giving you some reassurance when flying at night.

The Atom 2 succeeds the Atom, and it introduces some handy upgrades, including an improved controller with a mobile mount. The controller, with its chunky grips, is comfortable to use as it resembles a mobile gaming controller. If, for some reason, you can't get a DJI drone or aren't too fussed about grabbing a non-DJI alternative, I can't recommend the Atom 2 enough.

Further reading: I've been testing this mini drone for a month — and it’s the ultimate DJI alternative

More from Tom's Guide

• Best drones in 2025
• DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro — I’ve flown both and there’s a clear winner
• I’ve been testing the DJI Mini 5 Pro — and my first impressions tell me this could be the drone to beat

DJI has been having a pretty solid year so far, with some mind-blowing product launches (and we aren't even done with the year yet). The Chinese giant thoroughly impressed us with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Osmo 360, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Today, DJI announced the brand new DJI Mini 5 Pro, the successor to the two-years-old DJI Mini 4 Pro — one of the best drones on the market.

As someone who reviews drones for a living (I know, it's very cool), this has been my most anticipated product launch for the back half of 2025, and if this is the last quadcopter DJI releases in the final quarter, what a way to end the year. I've been spending a few days flying the Mini 5 Pro and before I've conducted thorough testing to bring you the in-depth review, I thought I'd share my initial thoughts. Spoiler alert: this is a very, very, very good drone.

The Mini 5 Pro takes what the Mini 4 Pro did well and improves on it by introducing a significantly larger 1-inch sensor, front-facing LiDAR for night-time obstacle avoidance, wide-angle 225° gimbal rotation, upgraded ActiveTrack 360° for sports scenarios, and more. Currently available to buy in the U.K. and the E.U. starting at £689 / €799, the Mini 5 Pro costs as much as its predecessor, making it a formidable (and accessible) upgrade.

If you've been following the rumors and have put buying decisions on hold because of the Mini 5 Pro, you've made the right decision. Read on to find out what my first impressions of the Mini 5 Pro are, and make sure to read my DJI Mini 5 Pro vs. DJI Mini 4 Pro comparison!

A quick rundown

• What is it? The DJI Mini 5 Pro, as its name suggests, is a mini drone, and it succeeds the DJI Mini 4 Pro which came out two years ago. It features a larger 1-inch sensor for better low-light performance as well as LiDAR for improved obstacle avoidance in the dark. Slow-mo video specs have been bumped up to 4K/120fps and FHD/240fps, and the Mini 5 Pro captures 50MP photos with 225° gimbal rotation.
• Who is it for? Thanks to how easy it is to fly and given its sub-250g weight class, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is great for beginners although it isn't the cheapest, which makes it ideal for content creators looking to up their social media or video game.
• How much does it cost? There's no U.S. pricing details yet as DJI continues to assess the market situation there, but in the U.K. and the E.U., the Mini 5 Pro starts at £689 / €799 and goes all the way up to £979 / €1,129 (depending on the Fly More combo you buy). And yes, it costs the same as the DJI Mini 4 Pro — nice.
• When is it available to buy? The DJI Mini 5 Pro is available to buy direct from DJI or authorized retail partners in the U.K. and the E.U. The launch date for the American market is yet to be announced, with no date set for an official launch in the U.S., although we're expecting the Mini 5 Pro to be available via third party sellers (like Amazon) soon.

Upstaging its predecessor

What's the point in releasing a new drone (or any product) if it doesn't upstage its predecessor in more ways than one? The DJI Mini 5 Pro packs a punch and, at the same price as the DJI Mini 4 Pro, delivers unmatched performance in a compact body. I've detailed the specs in my Mini 5 Pro vs. Mini 4 Pro comparison, so I want to talk about the headline specs in real-world usage here.

The Mini 5 Pro has a large 1-inch sensor, which is the most significant upgrade as the Mini 4 Pro had a small 1/1.3-inch sensor. This, combined with a much wider ISO range, means the Mini 5 Pro boasts better low-light performance and up to 14-stops of dynamic range. A 1-inch sensor can capture more light to deliver cleaner, noise-free photos. The 1-inch sensor also takes it out of beginner territory into serious content creator territory — the DJI Air 3S, for example, which is a powerful drone for serious creators, also has a 1-inch sensor.

'Okay, so it's got better low-light performance, but I can't fly a drone at night if I can't see the surroundings!' is what I've thought every time I've tested a drone that claims it performs well in the dark. The Mini 5 Pro fixes that problem by introducing forward-facing LiDAR, fisheye lenses on the front and rear, and a 3D infrared sensor — a major step forward in night-time obstacle avoidance.

Even as a licensed drone pilot and someone who flies drones for a living, I really appreciate having this technology and the reassurance that the Mini 5 Pro won't struggle to return home should anything go wrong (or batteries run out) as it can memorize paths even in dimly lit environments. Color me impressed that DJI has packed this tech into a drone aimed at beginners/enthusiasts.

Stunning 4K/60fps video, as always

If there's one thing I can trust DJI to deliver, it's solid imaging performance — after all, the brand owns a majority stake in Hasselblad. And the DJI Mini 5 Pro doesn't disappoint when it comes to the photos and videos it captures. As opposed to the DJI Mini 4 Pro capturing 48MP images, the Mini 5 Pro captures 50MP ones, and its 225° gimbal rotation allows for more dynamic camera movements.

As I mentioned up top, a larger 1-inch sensor means better low-light performance, as you can see in the video above. There is no distortion or warping when the frame changes or the drone goes from capturing blacked-out video to a vibrant, lit-up scene. Even though I didn't do any crazy flying at night, I appreciated the confidence the Mini 5 Pro's advanced night-time obstacle avoidance instilled within me — and I can't wait to fly more in dimly lit environments.

What's even better is that the Mini 5 Pro has better wind resistance and can withstand winds up to 12 m/s (26.84mph), which is up from 10.7 m/s (23.9mph) on the Mini 4 Pro. The compilation of clips you see in the video above were shot in 21mph wind, according to the weather app on my phone — there were wind warnings in place that day, and trees were blowing over in Bath U.K., where I work... so yeah, it was pretty windy.

I love that there are no jitters or stutters, and the footage is smooth and stable. Even though I could see the drone struggling to hover in one spot, you couldn't tell from the footage that it broke a single sweat to capture stunning sights. Considering the unpredictable British weather, I'm sure many pilots around the country (and around the world) will appreciate the Mini 5 Pro's ability to withstand strong gusts of wind.

Crystal clear photos

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is a fantastic drone for capturing photos. It takes 50MP images packed with plenty of detail, as you can see in the gallery above. I haven't edited these in any way; what you're seeing is what you get straight out of the camera (or drone, in this case) when capturing JPEGs. There's also the option to shoot RAW photos for more flexibility in color grading but I haven't had a chance to test this yet.

Having 50MP at my disposal (and a 1-3x digital zoom) means I can crop into images and still retain a respectable level of detail and resolution. The adjustable shutter speed of 1/8000s-2s (or 2.5-8s for long exposures) means I can experiment too and treat the Mini 5 Pro as, say, one of the best mirrorless cameras.

DJI Mini 5 Pro: Outlook

More from Tom's Guide

• DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro — I’ve flown both and there’s a clear winner
• 5 things I like about the DJI Mini 4 Pro — and 2 things I hate
• Best drones in 2025

For a few months now, there have been rumblings on online forums about DJI's latest drone, and the rumors were true as today marks the birth of the DJI Mini 5 Pro. This mini drone succeeds the very popular DJI Mini 4 Pro and it hopes to become the new king of the skies.

I've been flying the Mini 5 Pro for a few days now, in between constant torrential downpours (as I live in Britain). However, my first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. The Mini 5 Pro takes what the Mini 4 Pro did well and improves on it to deliver perhaps the smartest and strongest mini drone yet. This is undoubtedly one of the best drones around.

If you've been holding off on buying the Mini 4 Pro, you might want to consider its successor instead. Let me show you why...

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Specs compared

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Price & availability

The DJI Mini 4 Pro came out in September 2023, and today, it starts at $759 / £689. Two years on, the DJI Mini 5 Pro was announced on 17 September 2025 but at the time of launch, it isn't available to buy in the U.S. This is similar to the recent release of the DJI Osmo 360, which still isn't available 'officially' from DJI in the U.S., but was available via Amazon and other third party retailers in the States soon after its launch.

According to a DJI spokesperson: "The DJI Mini 5 Pro will not be available officially in the United States upon its global launch on September 17. DJI remains dedicated to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions."

However, if you're located in the U.K. or in Europe, you can grab it for £689 / €799.

That's right: the Mini 5 Pro has the exact same price as its predecessor, and I think that's a fantastic move by DJI. The brand is keeping drone photography accessible and still adding more features. I'll update this article if/when an official release date is announced for the U.S., but you can expect the Mini 5 Pro to be available via third party retailers soon.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Design

As opposed to the DJI Mini 4 Pro which comes in a light grey color, the DJI Mini 5 Pro comes in a darker shade which makes it look like the child of the DJI Air 3S and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro.

As their names suggest, both are mini drones, so they're compact and can easily be stored away in a small bag for easy transport. When unfolded and with propellers installed, the Mini 4 Pro measures 14.68 x 11.73 x 3.97 inches. On the other hand, the Mini 5 Pro measures 14.96 x 11.96 x 3.58 inches. DJI has still managed to pack a ton of performance into such a compact form factor.

The Mini 5 Pro's and the Mini 4 Pro's weight difference is negligible and both drones weigh just under 250g / 8.81oz (with Intelligent Flight Battery) which means you don't necessarily need to register with the F.A.A. in the U.S., the C.A.A. in the U.K., and other local governing bodies.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Features

A big difference between the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro lies in their ability to avoid obstacles. Both drones feature omnidirectional obstacle avoidance but the Mini 5 Pro's is supplemented with forward-facing LiDAR and an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft, which makes it more capable of either braking in front of or bypassing obstacles even in low-light conditions.

Internal storage has also received a massive bump with the Mini 5 Pro boasting 42GB (versus just 2GB on the Mini 4 Pro), and both drones also have microSD card slots (V30 or higher recommended).

Wind resistance has also been bumped from 10.7 m/s (23.9mph) on the Mini 4 Pro to 12 m/s (26.84mph) on the Mini 5 Pro. I flew the Mini 5 Pro on a very windy day in Bath, U.K., and my weather app noted the wind was blowing at 21mph. The Mini 5 Pro held its own and didn't waver, with the resulting footage being stable and smooth.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Photo & video quality

Both the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Mini 4 Pro utilize one camera each to capture stunning photos. The biggest difference between the two drones is that the new Mini 5 Pro features a significantly larger 1-inch sensor (versus a 1/1.3-inch sensor on its predecessor). This delivers reduced noise and a wider dynamic range than the Mini 4 Pro and means the Mini 5 Pro should demonstrate better low-light performance. The lens' maximum aperture has narrowed, though, from f/1.7 to f/1.8, which will theoretically decrease low light performance, but the different should be pretty negligible.

With the Mini 5 Pro's bigger sensor comes a wider ISO range: ISO 100-12,800 (Normal) or ISO 100-3200 (D-Log M, HLG). These values are wider than equivalent values the Mini 4 Pro, which could shoot at ISO 100-6400 in Normal mode and ISO 100-1600 in D-Log M and HLG. The drones are both capable of shooting 12MP photos, but the Mini 5 Pro can take 50MP shots too while the Mini 4 Pro is limited to 48MP (which is still very good).

Video specs remain fairly similar with both drones being able to record 4K/60fps footage. The Mini 5 Pro can shoot slow-mo 4K footage at 120fps (versus 100fps on the Mini 4 Pro) and FHD slow-mo is bumped up to 240fps too (versus 200fps on the Mini 4 Pro).

Check out the article I wrote detailing my first impressions of the Mini 5 Pro for more video footage and stills.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Battery life

The DJI Mini 5 Pro has better, longer battery life compared to the DJI Mini 4 Pro. When using an Intelligent Flight Battery, the Mini 5 Pro lasts 36 minutes, while the Mini 4 Pro lasts 34 minutes. Using an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus bumps the Mini 5 Pro's battery life to a whopping 52 minutes as opposed to the Mini 4 Pro's 45-minute flight time.

Of course, using a bigger Intelligent Flight Battery Plus will add more weight to the Mini 5 Pro, so pilots must be careful before taking off.

DJI Mini 5 Pro vs DJI Mini 4 Pro: Outlook

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been flying the new DJI Mini 5 Pro — and my first impressions tell me this could be the drone to beat
• Best drones in 2025
• 5 things I like about the DJI Mini 4 Pro — and 2 things I hate

I'm an avid Reddit user, and I often fall down the rabbit hole of reading what people think about a particular product — whether that's a video game I'm playing at the moment or a camera I recently reviewed.

Now, I review the best drones for a living, and my curiosity recently got the best of me. I wanted to know what Reddit thought, so I typed "Reddit best drones for beginners" and et voilà: I found an active thread on r/DJI.

I spent some time reading through the several comments, and two things stood out for me. One, Redditors prioritize value over everything else, especially if the drone is meant for beginners, as anyone who's new to the hobby doesn't want to spend a lot. Two, they look for ease of use and how good the drone feels to fly.

What is the best beginner drone? from r/dji

Both of these are valid points and something I always evaluate when I review quadcopters, regardless of the level of expertise they require to pilot. And to give the users in the thread credit, some of the recommendations are fantastic and in line with what I think.

With that out of the way, read on to see what I think of Reddit's top picks. Spoiler alert: I kinda agree (but also not).

DJI Neo

The DJI Neo is one of the easiest drones to recommend and I rate it as the best budget drone — and clearly Reddit seems to agree. Many users in the aforementioned thread recommend it too with some even saying that they have "no regrets" spending money on it. You won't be spending a lot on it either as the Neo retails for just $199 / £179, which is what makes it one of the top choices for beginners.

If you want a no-frills, stripped-back drone, I can't recommend the Neo enough. It focuses more on the aspect of having fun than chart-topping specs. Battery life is limited to just 18 minutes, image resolution tops at 12MP, and video footage is captured at 4K/30fps. It's also got built-in propeller guards so you can use it indoors and around other people without worrying about hurting them.

So it isn't about the specs at all — something I realized after having flown the drone for 10 months. What makes the Neo a top recommendation is the fact that you don't need a controller to fly it — you can use your smartphone or the button on its body that lets you toggle one of several short-form QuickShot video modes.

Further reading: I tested the DJI Neo and it's so good that all I can think about now is flying it

DJI Flip

If there's one drone you won't go wrong with as a beginner it's the DJI Flip. It is, hands down, the best drone for beginners for a number of reasons. It's the easiest drone to get a hang of and if you fly in mostly windless conditions, you'll be just fine. It strikes a fantastic balance between features and price, offering great value for money at just $439 / £369.

If you want a well-rounded drone that's good at nearly everything, you'd pick the Flip. Unlike the DJI Neo, it features front-facing obstacle avoidance which gives newcomers some reassurance while flying amongst trees, for example. Other safety features include propeller guards as well as palm takeoff and landing — all you need to do is place your palm under the Flip for it to land.

The Flip is a top choice for beginners because not only is it easy to fly, but it offers premium features at an accessible price point. This includes 4K/60fps video, 48MP stills, D-Log M for capturing a wider dynamic range for more freedom in post-production, 31-minute flight time, and more. The Flip is the perfect starting point to figure out whether you like aerial photography as well as improving your creative skills.

Further reading: I just tested the new DJI Flip and it might be the best drone for newbies — here’s why

DJI Mini 4 Pro

I can't deny the fact that the DJI Mini 4 Pro is an outstanding drone — it is, in fact, the best mini drone. Several Redditors recommend it as a top pick for beginners but there's a caveat: you should buy it only if your budget allows because it doesn't come cheap.

I'd say this one's more for enthusiasts than total beginners; it's a drone you upgrade to from, say, the DJI Neo.

On the off chance you do decide to buy the Mini 4 Pro, I know you'll be pleased with its performance. This one, again, weighs just under 249g so no need to worry about registering it with your country's regulatory organization. The drone captures stunning 4K/60fps and slow-motion FHD/200fps footage, and beautiful 48MP photos too.

The Mini 4 Pro is extremely easy to fly and control too, just like the DJI Flip and Neo. But I'd think twice before buying it only because it's a lot of money to be spending on your first drone. What if you don't actually end up enjoying it, and realize perhaps drone flying isn't for you? That's why it's best to start with a much cheaper quadcopter and upgrading to the Mini 4 Pro (or another drone of its calibre) in the future.

Further reading: 5 things I like about the DJI Mini 4 Pro — and 2 things I hate

More from Tom's Guide

• Best drones in 2025
• I review drones for a living — here are 5 things to consider when buying one
• I’d never flown a drone until the Antigravity A1 but look at what I could shoot after only five minutes

The DJI Osmo 360 is the Chinese camera giant’s first foray into 360-degree video imaging. For the last couple of years, Insta360 (DJI’s chief rival in this arena) has held unchallenged supremacy over this niche in the camera market, making the best 360 cameras you can buy.

2024’s Insta360 X4 and its successor the X5 have, until now, been the only cameras capable of shooting 8K/30p 360 footage — and therefore the only devices allowing 4K resolution when footage is reframed to a 16:9 aspect ratio for viewing.

The Osmo 360, however, is aimed at disrupting that status quo with some Insta360-beating specs: 8K/50p recording, 1/1.1-inch square sensors, and a staggering 110 minutes of battery life at 8K/30p.

So does the DJI Osmo 360 do enough to take Insta360’s crown? Not quite. It’s a fantastic camera and a brilliant first attempt, but has a couple of flaws that keep it on the back foot (just). Find out more in my full DJI Osmo 360 review.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Specs

DJI Osmo 360 review: Price & availability

The DJI Osmo 360 starts at $549 / £409 for the base bundle, which includes the camera, a battery, a pouch and a rubber lens protector. You can easily spend a lot more on the bundles, though. I would recommend picking up the $699 Adventure Combo with its spare batteries and charging case.

$549 is the same price as the Insta360 X5 — interesting, as DJI usually undercuts Insta360, at least in its action camera lineup. Indeed, in the U.K. and Europe, the Osmo 360 is more competitively priced, demonstrating that this is a U.S. tariff issue. To be fair, while I feel the X5 is (just about) the better camera, I think the Osmo 360’s specifications justify equal pricing anyway. But let’s be real: at $549, both cameras are overpriced.

Likewise, at the time of writing the Osmo 360 is still unavailable via the U.S. DJI store, again due to tariffs. However, it’s readily available from Amazon U.S. and other major retailers.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Design & controls

The Osmo 360 is surprisingly compact given its powerful features, measuring 2.4 x 1.4 x 3.1 inches / 61 x 36 x 81mm. According to DJI, this is partly thanks to the use of square 1/1.1-inch sensors that have allowed the height to be reduced. As such, it’s a squat little thing, especially compared to the lanky X5.

It’s fairly lightweight, too — at 6.4 ounces / 183g, it weighs around half an ounce less than the X5. It’s still a little bulky for chin mounting, but I’d be much happier mounting the Osmo 360 on a helmet or in a tricky position than the X5, whose long profile makes it generally more awkward.

Waterproofing

The DJI Osmo 360 is waterproof down to 10 meters / 32.8 feet, which is less than the Insta360 X5’s 15 meters / 49 feet. Again a little surprising as DJI is typically market leader for waterproofing in the action cameras world.

10 meters should be fine for most people using this camera, though. If you’re doing lots of underwater work, check out the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro ($349) instead.

Internal storage

Just like the Osmo Action 5 Pro, the Osmo 360 comes with internal storage — 105GB of it. This is incredibly useful, especially given how quickly 8K files fill up space. I actually filled a 256GB microSD on my first test runs, and was able to flick over to the internal storage and carry on shooting. You don’t get that on the X5.

Lenses

A sore point for many will be the Osmo 360’s lack of replaceable lenses — at least that you can replace yourself. This is theoretically a big deal, as 360 cameras are often used for motovlogging where the risk of stone chips is ever present. In fact, I had to get a second review unit from DJI for this very reason.

The Insta360 X5 can have its lenses replaced as many times as needed with affordable kits. The Osmo 360 will have to be sent back to DJI for repair. You’ll need to buy an Osmo 360 care plan from DJI for this, which you can’t currently buy in the U.S. because DJI isn’t officially selling the camera there. It’s a mess.

Now, is this really a problem? The incident I described above was the first time I’ve ever had a stone chip in over two years of testing 360 and action cameras. It’s a risk I’d be willing to take.

Display

Unfortunately, the Osmo 360’s stocky stature results in an equally squat rear screen. It’s nice and bright, but nowhere near as easy to use as the X5’s capacious display, nor indeed the Osmo Action 5 Pro’s wide OLED screen. I found it tricky to use even with thin summer motorcycling gloves.

Controls & menu

The physical controls, however, are great. There are only three buttons, but all are easy to locate and press with gloves on, providing plenty of tactile feedback so you know you’ve hit them without looking.

The Osmo 360’s menu will be familiar to anyone who has used recent DJI products, including the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 ($519) and Osmo Action 5 Pro. It’s sensibly laid out and provides a high level of control.

Connectivity

The Osmo 360 features Wi-Fi 6.0 for 90MB/s wireless transfer speeds and USB-C 3.1 for 600MB/s wired transfer speeds, which are both useful for quickly offloading large 8K files. Transferring 8K 360 files to my phone for editing was a quick seamless experience.

The Osmo 360 can also hook up wirelessly via ‘OsmoAudio’ to DJI audio devices, including the DJI Mic 2 ($349) and DJI Mic Mini ($59), potentially making the Osmo 360 a strong choice for creators already invested in DJI gear. I’ll touch on this more in the audio section, though, as it’ll depend on the kind of content you’re shooting — OsmoAudio is far from perfect.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Stabilization

The DJI Osmo 360 uses the brand’s RockSteady stabilization system, which has been a little hit or miss in the past — at least in DJI’s non-gimbal cameras.

On the DJI Osmo Action 4 it was a little disappointing, whereas on the Osmo Action 5 Pro, it worked much better thanks to the larger sensor real estate (more space for the electronic stabilization to line up frames).

RockSteady 3.0 is a bit of a miss on the Osmo 360, unfortunately. It isn’t terrible, and for slower-paced content, it’s more than up to the task. But as you can see in the higher-octane 360 motorcycle clips below, it gets a little shaky at times. The Insta360 X5’s footage, by comparison, is buttery smooth.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Video

The Osmo 360 excels in the video department. Naturally, 360 footage is what matters the most. The Osmo 360’s 8K 360-degree recording allows up to 4K exports when reframed in 16:9. The footage directly below was exported as 1080p, though, and still looks great (you can also see 4K footage throughout this and the next section).

The actual resolution you’ll be left with depends on the FoV you choose in post. Wider angles mean more resolution retained. Crop into the frame with a linear FoV, for example, and you’ll lose resolution and slip under 4K.

Exported footage looks fantastic for the most part. Stitching is handled well with no obtrusive stitch marks even at super wide angles. Obviously, you get the inherent benefits of a 360 camera, so in the example footage above I’ve been able to change fields of view and camera angles as I please in post, as if I had a camera operator while shooting. And in the footage below you can see the Invisible Selfie Stick and Asteroid mode (DJI's equivalent of Insta360's 'Tiny Planet').

When I say “for the most part” I mean that some of my footage (like the 360 footage in the audio section below) is shot using lens guards, which degrade image quality. Again, it’d be nice to have the option to replace lenses myself and therefore have the peace of mind to shoot without lens guards.

While the Insta360 X5 tops out at 8K/30p, the Osmo 360 tops out at 8K/50p, which is weird. 50p is the 50Hz PAL standard and isn’t ideal in 60Hz NTSC countries — nor is it ideal for people shooting for YouTube using the 30p/60p online standard. I have a feeling this was simply as far as DJI could push the Osmo 360 right now given battery and/or overheating constraints. But the brand wanted this camera out asap in light of Insta360’s foray into 360 drones with the Antigravity A1, so just rolled with 50p.

But hey, 50p is great if you’re shooting video for… European television?

As with other Osmo products, the Osmo 360 shoots D-Log M for wide dynamic range capture, and 10-bit color, for extra grading flexibility in post — a boon for people using the camera professionally.

Single lens

The Osmo 360 also shoots in single lens mode at 4K or 5K at up to 60fps, allowing you to use the device like a one of the best action cameras.

There’s also a Boost mode, which bumps 4K maximum frame rates up to 120fps for slow motion footage. Boost mode also widens the single lens FoV to a mammoth 170-degrees, as you can see in the footage above. This is awesome for immersive scenes, especially if you want 4K at higher than 50fps (in 360 mode, 4K exports will be limited to 50p due to the 8K/50p maximum 360 resolution/frame rate).

In either single lens mode you can switch between lenses while recording, giving you the ability to flick between two angles in camera. Very handy.

As with the Insta360 X5, there’s also an invisible selfie stick single lens mode. This roughly replicates the invisible selfie stick style of footage without using the entirety of both sensors in full 360-degrees, giving you access to that style of footage but at 60fps. It isn’t as good as the full 360 version, but it’ll work in a pinch if you need 60fps.

Low light

The Osmo 360 uses a 1/1.1-inch sensor, which is bigger than both the 1/1.28-inch in the Insta360 X5 and the 1/2-inch sensor in the X4.

Larger sensors theoretically deliver a cleaner image in low light versus smaller sensors. I shot the footage above in very low light using the Osmo 360’s SuperNight mode and I think it looks, well, okay.

The image has been brightened substantially, but has obviously lost a significant amount of sharpness due to higher noise and the smoothing effects of noise reduction. I was much more impressed with the low light performance of the X5, which produced a much sharper image in low light.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Audio

Audio is my primary sticking point with the DJI Osmo 360 and is the chief place the camera loses out to the Insta360 X5. High octane outdoors 360 footage means speed, which means wind noise. And wind noise ruins footage. As such, action and 360 cameras often come with wind reduction noise cancelation algorithms. The X5’s are top notch.

The Osmo 360’s four internal mics and wind reduction algos are okay but not great. They do a fairly decent job of canceling wind noise, but the soundscape is wide and echoey, with noticeable distortion of high frequencies in the footage above. It’s a little disappointing.

You can pair the Osmo 360 to a DJI audio device, such as a DJI Mic 2, but that pairing takes place over OsmoAudio. DJI has been conservative about telling me what this actually is, which fuels my suspicions that it uses Bluetooth, and Bluetooth is bad for audio quality.

As you can hear in the OsmoAudio footage above, shot using the Mic 2, it’s terrible. You could solve this by hooking up a decent mic via wire. But to add insult to injury, unlike the X5, the Osmo 360 has no interface for wired microphone connections — even to its own mics. Big win for the X5.

Of course, you can always record audio with a standalone mic and align everything in post, but it would be nice to see the DJI having the extra flexibility of the X5.

DJI Osmo 360 review: App & software

DJI has made big strides with the DJI Mimo app — this was an absolute necessity for launching an X5 competitor. Editing 360 footage involves lots of manipulation of angles, FoVs and effects. The Insta360 smartphone app makes this a doddle and now so does the Mimo app, which used to be pretty crappy.

I found editing my 360 footage easy and intuitive on the Mimo app, although the Insta360 app offers more in the way of fun effects and filters, making it the better choice if you’re shooting for social media. It also offers a handy detection and tracking feature, which makes light work of reframing if you need to follow a subject, as you can see in the screen capture above.

Professional users will want to edit footage on DJI’s Mimo desktop application. I tested the camera while in the process of moving house with no access to my desktop editing machine. I’ll update this review with an appraisal of the Mimo desktop application when I can.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Battery & overheating

According to DJI, the Osmo 360 can shoot for 110 minutes on a single charge at 8K/30p, which is frankly astounding. I actually achieved 112 minutes, including using the device and altering settings between recording. Ramp up to 8K/50p and that battery life drops off significantly to the 30 minute mark. But I mean, who is shooting at 50p?

The Osmo 360 uses the same 1,950mAh battery as the Osmo Action 5 Pro — literally the same one, so Action 5 Pro users can use their existing batteries — where it’s also good for 112 minutes at 4K/60p. How DJI managed the same longevity when doubling the sensors and resolution is beyond me. However it did it, it did it. What an achievement.

Indoors at 4K/60p in single lens mode, the Osmo 360 lasted for (surprise, surprise) 112 minutes, without any overheating.

The camera features rapid charging, and I was able to charge from 0% to 25% in just over five minutes. It can also charge wirelessly via a magnetic charging grip, which I was unable to test as DJI didn’t supply me with one.

DJI Osmo 360 review: Verdict

The DJI Osmo 360 is a fantastic 360 camera. It doesn’t quite pip the Insta360 X5 — which I awarded 5 stars — due to the Osmo 360’s weaker internal audio, lack of support for wired external microphones and non-user-replaceable lenses.

However, there are still plenty of reasons to buy the Osmo 360, especially in non-U.S. markets where it’s cheaper than the X5. If battery life is paramount, there’s no contest — the Osmo 360’s performance here is nothing short of amazing. If you need higher than 30fps 360 footage and/or you’re shooting content for professional purposes, the Osmo 360 is a stellar choice thanks to its 50fps frame rate, D-Log and 10-bit color.

Being able to use the same batteries as my Osmo Action 5 Pro has already made my life easier when shooting content, and of course there’s the easy hookup to my DJI mics. So if like me you’re already invested in the DJI ecosystem, the Osmo 360 will be a no-brainer.

It isn’t perfect, but as first entries into a new market go… what a start.

I test every 360 and action camera out there — good, bad and ugly. (Well, they’re all rather ugly to be fair.) For a long time now, Insta360 has made the best 360 cameras you can buy, totally dominating that side of the market.

The closest competitors from GoPro and Ricoh top out at 5.7K or 4K maximum resolution. That means when you reframe the footage in 16:9 for YouTube or 9:16 for social, you can only hit 2.7K or 1080P resolution exports, although it’ll be even lower if cropping into frame. Meanwhile, Insta360’s last two cameras (the Insta360 X4 and X5) top out at 8K/30p, for up to 4K exports.

The Insta360 X5 is a simply outstanding camera, following on from an only-slightly-less-outstanding predecessor. And for a few months, nothing else could come close: the X5 experienced its honeymoon phase.

Then Insta360’s greatest rival, DJI, decided it had had enough. It wasn’t going to accept Insta360 dominating any market. And so the DJI Osmo 360 was born — a 360-degree camera with 8K/50p maximum res, some powerful specs and a big old appetite for devouring any preconceived notion of who’s boss.

On paper, the Osmo 360 has the power to topple the X5. I’ve been testing it for about three weeks now ahead of publishing my in-depth review. DJI's action camera does a lot of things right, but it has one crucial flaw that would stop me buying it. And importantly, this flaw is a biggie for the Osmo 360’s target market, too.

It all comes down to audio.

If your audio is terrible, viewers might not come back

Putting aside things like resolution and battery life — which are important, of course — a major element of 360 cameras is their internal audio. These things are designed to be used in large part by motovloggers, for whom sound is paramount.

Motovlogging is an extreme test for, well, just about any microphone. Above 50MPH on a bike or the outside of a car, wind noise is deafening. Most car drivers don't realize this until they get onto a motorcycle for the first time. Wind buffeting will completely obscure engine and exhaust noise in videos — two elements many motovlog viewers want to hear.

The quality of internal mics, wind guards and wind noise reduction algorithms are very, very important to the target market. You can post great-looking video, but if your audio is terrible, viewers might not come back.

The Osmo 360’s internal mics and wind reduction (a type of software noise cancelation) don’t hold up as well against the Insta360 X5’s. The X5 features a physical wind guard and, well, simply better noise cancelation algos. Listen for yourself. below is footage shot on the DJI Osmo 360 with wind reduction at its highest.

Wind noise has certainly been reduced well, although some scratchy wind and road noises are still audible — I don't know about you, but these really hurt my ears when I listened back, especially through headphones.

The engine noise of the bike is audible, although the higher frequencies have clipped, resulting in distortion — despite me dialing in negative gain. There's also a general hollow, echoey sound profile.

It's fine, but it doesn't sound particularly pleasant. Compare that to the Insta360 X5 footage below, also in its highest wind reduction mode.

The X5 has done a much better job at isolating engine and exhaust notes, without distorting the higher frequencies as much, although these have clipped in a couple of places.

Wind and road noise is still audible, but isn't overly distracting. In general, the X5 has done a better job at isolating the sound of the upper engine and exhaust tones using a high pass filter. Admittedly, this sounds a little unnatural, but is still preferable in my eyes (or ears, I should say) — if I'm watching a moto-themed channel, I want to hear engine and exhaust noise!

The X5 has done a much better job at the general sound profile. It's less hollow and echoey than the Osmo 360, with the deeper notes of the exhaust still audible.

For a more natural sound, though, you can lower the X5's wind reduction, as in the video above. This generates less isolation and brings the sound more in line with the Osmo 360 in terms of wind and road noise, although I'd say the X5 fairs slightly worse here.

The X5 still comes out on top, though, as exhaust sounds haven't been clipped and distorted, and the sound profile is wider with those deeper notes maintained.

There’s a clear winner here for me, and it’s the Insta360 X5.

But what about wireless mics?

So why does this matter? Can't you just hook up an external microphone to the Osmo 360?

Good question, and ostensibly this is where the DJI Osmo 360 has a leg up. It hooks up wirelessly and seamlessly with the DJI Mic 2, which is one of the best microphones for content creation. With its noise cancelation and 32-bit float recording, it’s a great mic for motovlogging content.

But that's only if you’re hooked up via a wired connection... which isn't possible with the Osmo 360 due to the camera having no wired audio interface at all.

The DJI Mic 2 can only hook up to the Osmo 360 wirelessly via OsmoAudio. DJI was tight lipped about what OsmoAudio actually is when I asked, but my informed opinion is that it’s basically just Bluetooth.

Recording audio over Bluetooth is not great with 50mph-plus winds added into the equation — even with cancelation algos switched on. You can hear some footage using OsmoAudio below, which is ruined by distortion.

I’ve asked DJI about whether OsmoAudio is to blame here, and will update this if not, but I have the same issue with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro when paired with the DJI Mic 2. Bluetooth just kinda sucks for this type of recording.

I'm not hating

This is not to hate on any of the DJI products named above. Being able to hook up DJI gear so easily using OsmoAudio/Bluetooth is still fantastic for slower-paced content like general vlogging.

My point is that to get the benefit of an external mic, you’d have to hook one up via wire to begin with. Insta360 offers USB-C adapters for the X5, although there's no wired interface for the Osmo 360 to connect to external microphones — a major blow.

But again, all this is a little redundant when it comes to 360 cameras, as wired mics aren’t ideal for use with them anyway, even when you can hook one up.

Firstly, you have to strap an RX or TX (if wiring it straight into the camera) to the side of the camera. You need a cold shoe to do that, and the whole assembly becomes bulky, so you’re left with wires and mics intruding into your 360 frame. I’m also not comfortable with rigging up an expensive external mic when the camera is located 2.5 meters in the air on a selfie stick at 60MPH.

All this means that external mics are much less relevant (let alone usable) for 360 cameras as for action cameras. It’s an internal mic arena, and the Insta360 X5’s mics are so good that, for me at least, it’s a done deal.

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As Tom's Guide's resident drone pilot and expert, I spend a lot of my time testing the best drones or thinking about them when I'm not reviewing them. Aerial photography is one of my favorite hobbies as it helps me unwind, and viewing the world from a bird's eye view usually puts my troubles into perspective. But the field of view on most drones is quite limited, usually under 100°, so you can't actually see everything around you unless you turn the drone's camera.

But what if you could see the whole world around you? 360° immersion would change the aerial photography game, right? And with advances in technology, these drones will surely be with us soon — and it might actually be sooner than you think.

A few weeks ago, 360° and action cameras giant Insta360 launched a brand called Antigravity, heralding in a new era for quadcopters.

While no products from Antigravity have been confirmed yet, I've been thinking a lot about what the brand will need to do to upstage DJI. DJI, whose drones dominate the market, and who just launched the Osmo 360 to compete with the Insta360 X5 — and perhaps prepare for its own 360° drone. So, can Antigravity take the fight to DJI? If it nails these three things, then yes.

1. App-reliant products need a good app

Because Antigravity is "incubated by Insta360," which uses a (very fantastic) companion app for stitching footage together, I think it's safe to assume that Antigravity's future products will rely on some sort of software.

If Antigravity's app is anything like Insta360's, you should be able to add cool effects and edit keyframes.

This is one area where I think DJI falls short. The DJI Fly app is great and user-friendly, and it gives you quick previews of footage you've just shot. While this allows you to transfer videos from your drone to your smartphone, its editing capabilities are limited.

While there are pre-made templates you can use, I'd like to see Antigravity introduce crazy effects that compels DJI to improve the Fly app.

2. 8K video would seal the deal

DJI's consumer drones primarily shoot 4K footage, with 6K video reserved for prosumer drones like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, and 8K resolution limited to professional cinematography drones like the DJI Inspire 3.

The only drone I've tested that does 8K video is the HoverAir X1 ProMax, and I'd love to see Antigravity do the same.

If Antigravity's drones rely on an app, as I discussed up top, 8K or at least 6K resolution will be crucial. Editing in an app should allow you to zoom in and out, reframe footage, add different effects, and so on, and you'll end up losing a lot of resolution if video is limited to 4K, with the outcome appearing pixelated.

Think of it as shooting with a medium format camera, like the Fujifilm GFX100RF, where you have over 100 megapixels at your disposal. You can make extremely tight crops in post because there's so much resolution to spare. Antigravity packing 6K or even 8K resolution into its first drone would be game-changing.

3. Long flight time while retaining a compact size

This might be a tall order and a bit out there, but it would blow my mind if Antigravity can find a way to squeeze a big battery into its first drone.

The reason I say that my vision is a bit out there is because it's difficult to fit a massive battery while adhering to weight restrictions. I'd wager that its first drone will be under 249g / 8.78oz as it would want to appeal to as many people as possible (and drones weighing under 249g don't necessarily need to be registered).

So if a drone weighs that little, how much juice can you really fit into it? To give you some context, here are some of the sub-249g drones I've tested and how long they last:

So how much battery life am I expecting Antigravity's first drone to have? At least 35 minutes; 40 minutes would be pushing it, but hey, dream big. If Antigravity can manage a bigger battery life than any of the aforementioned DJI drones, it will be a win in my books.

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The brands behind the best robot vacuums are facing added competition from an unlikely source. DJI, the Chinese company responsible for many of the best drones you can buy, is reportedly launching its first robot vac in China this week.

The DJI Robo's August 6 launch date was roundly leaked back in July on X after a leaked photo of the vacuum from behind some glass was posted lasted November. And it looks like the brand's Chinese site has, as anticipated, gone live with all the details.

Of course, the big question is whether or not customers in the U.S. or the U.K. will ever actually get a chance to try it.

DJI's drones were targeted by bans passed by the US House of Representatives, despite the company itself noting on its official blog that its products are not banned in the U.S. at this time. But even without the ban, the continued uncertainty around high tariff rates likely have the company on the back foot when thinking about launching any new product in the U.S.

It's worth pointing out that other top robot vacuum brands like Roborock, Ecovacs, and Dreame are all Chinese and are shipping new products to the U.S. So hopefully we'll see a release date in the future.

Okay, but what about the product?

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The best drones come in all shapes and sizes — from heavy models that weigh over 2 pounds to really light ones that weigh less than 8 ounces.

I test drones for a living and put them through rigorous testing to determine whether they're good value for money. I've reviewed some fantastic quadcopters from DJI, HoverAir and Potensic — each with its own unique selling points.

If you're on the hunt for a drone and buying for the first time, it can feel overwhelming at first. Drone technology has come a long way, and today, there's one for every purpose and everyone — whether you're a professional or a hobbyist.

Since flying drones is one of my favorite hobbies (and my job), I thought I'd take you through the five things you need to consider before dropping your hard-earned money on a drone.

1. Intended purpose and use

I'm going to keep the first tip short and sweet. The most important question you need to ask yourself is a simple one: "What do I need the drone for?" Answering this question will help determine not just the purpose of the drone, but your budget as well.

See, if you're getting a drone just for fun, you won't need to spend thousands of dollars. But if you're getting it for professional work, you'll need to extend your budget by a lot. There are many different drones available — ones specifically designed for selfies, mini drones, drones for prosumers, the list goes on.

2. Safety features

Many drones today come equipped with safety features that help instill more confidence in pilots, both new and old. Return to Home (RTH) is one such feature, and most drones have it. Basically, you can hit a button on your controller or smartphone and it'll make the drone to return to its last known take-off point. Drones like the DJI Flip also automatically return to home when their battery is low.

Another feature to think about is obstacle avoidance. The pricier your drone, the more adept it as at avoiding obstacles. Some drones, like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, feature omnidirectional collision avoidance thanks to the multiple sensors on their body. This, essentially, means that the drone will either brake or swerve to avoid obstacles in its path or around it.

But this technology is expensive. Cheaper drones, like the HoverAir X1 Pro, feature either front- or rear-facing obstacle sensors only, making them trickier to fly in complex environments. However, having unidirectional obstacle avoidance is better than having none (the DJI Neo doesn't have any).

3. Cameras and resolution

How many cameras is too many? Depends on who you ask — or the drone you get. There are many single-camera drones out there, such as the DJI Neo which takes 12MP images and 4K/30fps video only. Then there are dual camera drones, like the DJI Air 3S which captures either 50MP (wide-angle) or 48MP (tele) photos and 4K/60fps footage. And then you've got triple camera drones, like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro which has a 100MP Hasselblad camera, a 50MP tele and a 48MP medium-tele camera.

For most casual pilots, a single camera drone will more than suffice. Because many drones feature intelligent flight modes (where the drone flies autonomously, records short-form video and returns to its take-off position), you can still have a lot of fun with just one camera.

Dual- and triple-camera drones offer versatility and can help take photos from different angles and at various zooms, but they aren't necessary for everyone. Again, consider your budget and purpose before frivolously spending more money than you originally intended.

4. Battery life

Battery life is another important consideration, and it ties into the first point I made up top: how long you want a drone to last will depend on its intended purpose and your budget. Of course, we all want to keep flying our quadcopters forever and never worry about running out of juice, but that isn't the reality.

Smaller drones, like the DJI Neo (18 minutes) and the HoverAir X1 ProMax (16 minutes), don't last nearly as long as bigger ones, like the DJI Mavic 4 Pro (51 minutes) and the DJI Air 3S (46 minutes). You've also got drones that fall in the middle, such as the Potensic Atom 2 (32 minutes) and the DJI Flip (31 minutes).