Osmo Pocket Vs. Osmo Mobile 2 – Portability, Features, Build Quality

Let us stabilize. Let us vlog. Let Us Drone. If you are getting into vlogging or just want to add a handheld gimbal to your arsenal, DJI's Osmo Pocket and Osmo Mobile 2 are two very capable options. I've created a comparison guide that looks at features such as the build quality, portability, setup times, capabilities, and more.

I will feel accomplished if at the end of this post you're more confident about choosing the right handheld gimbal for you.

Full disclosure: I have owned an Osmo Mobile 2 for almost a year now and have spent significant time testing its features and capabilities in a variety of environments. DJI let me borrow the Osmo Pocket for a temporary period, so the experience I have with it is not to the same extent. With that being said, numerous hours have been spent testing the Osmo Pocket and I feel that I have a good grasp on what it has to offer, minus the long-term reliability.

First Impressions

Osmo Pocket

Tiny. That was my first impression with the Osmo Pocket. At 6'4″ and weighing in at about 240 lbs, I'm not exactly a small individual. Even if I was a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter I'd still consider this handheld gimbal tiny. The dimensions are as follows: 121.9×36.9×28.6 mm.

It was the solid feel of the Osmo pocket that impressed me after I got over just how small this device was. Coated plastic on the housing allowed for a comfortable feel in my palm, and the 4.1 ounces that this little guy weighs in at is just right. I felt that I was holding a professional tool, not a toy. There are only two physical buttons on the Osmo Pocket, which I like for the sake of simplicity and the fact that there is less to potentially damage with use.

Now, for the not so good. There were a couple of attributes that I was not thrilled about at first glance. The gimbal, for one, feels very exposed. The idea of the Osmo Pocket is to be able to quickly pull it out of your pocket and begin recording within seconds. All the jarring and commotion that takes place in one's pants pocket left me wondering just how sturdy DJI made the gimbal. Could it withstand such abuse? I'll dive into my thoughts in a section below about how I felt after performing numerous field tests.

The location of the microphone was another thing I wasn't over the moon about. The single mic on the Osmo Pocket is on its face, right where my thumb comfortably rests. Tests revealed that although there is a slight change, the difference in audio quality when my thumb was resting over the microphone was not that significant.

Lastly, after holding the Pocket in my hand for a few minutes I was left wondering if this little powerhouse isn't too tiny. I know the idea is to be very portable, but something tells me that it would just feel a tad more natural holding this thing if it was a little bigger. The 1″ screen on the face of the Osmo Pocket also looks very small in our world of giant smartphones.

Osmo Mobile 2

Comfortable, but awkwardly bulky. When first picking up the Osmo Mobile 2 I recall thinking “wow, this fits in my hand perfectly”. My thumb rests nicely on the gimbal joystick, and I don't get the feeling that the device could slip out of my hand if I loosened my grip for a second. The dimensions are as follows: 295×113×72 mm and the device weighs just over a pound (without the phone).

The four lights on the face make it easy to see the battery level, and the three physical buttons below the lights are intuitive and are located in ergonomic positions.

There is a mounting hole on the bottom of the handle to place the Osmo Mobile 2 on a tripod or base, which the Osmo Pocket lacks.

I feel that I'm holding the byproduct of extensive engineering and design with the Osmo Mobile 2, but it honestly doesn't feel as sturdy as the Osmo Pocket. You are greeted with a hollow sound when you tap on the body of the Osmo Mobile 2, whereas a tap on the Osmo Pocket produces a deeper, dense sound. I'm sure that this is mostly just because of the sheer size difference between the two handheld gimbals, but I can't help but feel that the Pocket is the sturdier built device.

I mentioned that the Osmo Mobile 2 feels awkward and bulky, and this is because the gimbal/phone holder combo makes it difficult to put Osmo Mobile 2 in a backpack, bag, or any other storage case if it's not in its box. I feel that throwing it in a bag with other equipment while unprotected would really jeopardize the gimbal due to its exposure.

Build Quality

Osmo Pocket

As mentioned above, the Osmo Pocket feels sturdy and professionally built. I wouldn't compare it to a GoPro in terms of durability, but then again the GoPro doesn't have a 3-axis mechanically stabilized gimbal. The two buttons have a rubber coating and the SD card is depressed a couple of millimeters when inserted in the side of the handle, which doesn't leave you worrying about accidentally releasing the card.

Although very solid with no play around the joints, the exposed gimbal is what I was concerned about with the Osmo Pocket. Many trials with different types of pants/shorts pockets leave me a little less concerned as the Osmo Pocket retains the structural integrity it arrived at my doorstep with a month ago. It's worth noting that I did not use the case that the Osmo Pocket comes with when storing it in my pants pocket, as I felt that you as the reader deserves some aggressive, real-world data.

Osmo Pocket can go from off to recording video in about four seconds and having to deal with removing a case would certainly add a couple of precious moments onto the setup time. My verdict is that I would feel comfortable throwing a caseless Osmo Pocket in my pocket for short periods, but I'd recommend using a case for longevity purposes.

Osmo Mobile 2

The Osmo Mobile 2 is sturdy enough when you're using it, but there is significantly more plastic on it than the Osmo Pocket. The plastic buttons on the face feel cheaper than the rubber coated buttons on the Pocket, and the cumbersome gimbal/phone holder leads me to believe there are more stress points on the Osmo Mobile 2.

As I mentioned, I feel very uncomfortable any time I store my Osmo Mobile 2 in a bag while it's not in its case. Even while I'm walking around with the gimbal off I feel like the device is susceptible to damage because of the way the gimbal and phone holder portions swing freely, every-which-way. I've developed a technique to hold the gimbal stable when the device is off which involves me locking my index finger around the bottom gimbal arm, but even still the phone holder continues to rotate freely as I walk.

The Osmo Mobile 2 is not cheaply made in the least, but I have to give the build quality win to the Osmo Pocket.

Consider Osmo Shield

With either handheld gimbal, I strongly recommend purchasing Osmo Shield, which is a warranty for DJI's handheld gimbals. I dive into all of Osmo Shield's details in a post I wrote here.

Portability

Osmo Pocket

Is there really any comparison here? The fact that “pocket” is in the name of this DJI handheld gimbal implies that the Osmo Pocket was created with portability as a top priority.

Osmo Pocket will fit pretty much anywhere you need it to. Pockets on clothing attire are not the only places where you can quickly store this tiny handheld gimbal. Throw it in your backpack, drone or camera bag and you'll notice that it hardly encroaches on your other equipment's space.

Osmo Mobile 2

This is a comparison between the Osmo Pocket and the Osmo Mobile 2, which is almost unfair when it comes to the portability portion of this post. The Osmo Pocket is a pioneer and is truly in a league of its own. There have been many other handheld gimbals from DJI and other companies that are close in size and capabilities, but this isn't the case with the new Osmo Pocket.

Osmo Mobile 2 is not oversized and can certainly be transported with relative ease if space is not a huge issue for you. Something that I don't love about the Osmo Mobile 2 is that you really feel the need to store it in the box it comes with which holds the gimbal and phone holder in place before you throw it in your bag.

You can stick the handle portion in an outside pocket of a backpack, then the gimbal will likely be swinging around with your stride. Not to mention that it will be exposed to people or objects that you may bump into.

The obvious winner is the Osmo Pocket when it comes to portability, but the Osmo Mobile 2 is not a pain to bring along if you have space and a proper case for it.

Setup speeds

Osmo Pocket

You have the option to use the Osmo Pocket as a stand-alone device to capture pictures and video, or you can connect it to your mobile device which allows you to adjust settings, have more control over the gimbal, and see what's in the frame on a much larger screen.

When using the Osmo Pocket by itself, numerous tests yielded an off-to-recording time of just 4 seconds. That is incredibly fast, and very convenient if you are needing a device capable of capturing footage on a moments notice.

The off-to-recording time is not quite as impressive when you are using the Osmo Pocket with your phone. The nice part is that the Mimo app will automatically open when the Osmo Pocket is plugged into your phone and turned on.

I was consistently able to go from off-to-recording in 11-12 seconds when using my phone with the Osmo Pocket. Not too shabby, but not as impressive as the stand-alone Pocket capability.

Lastly, even if you do want to connect your phone to the Osmo Pocket, both devices are designed to fit in your pocket which means that you likely won't have to go digging for either of them in a bag when it's time to record.

Osmo Mobile 2

Since the Osmo Mobile 2 does not come with a camera, you are required to fit your mobile device in the spring loaded phone holder before using it. Before using the Osmo Mobile 2 for the first time, you will need to balance your phone in the holder using the adjustment knob. The adjustment process takes about 30 seconds, but will only need to be done once if you'll be using the same mobile device each time.

It takes me about 25 seconds to go from off-to-recording with my Osmo Mobile 2. This process includes placing my phone in the phone holder clamp, opening up the DJI GO app, and powering on the Osmo Mobile 2.

Yes, it takes twice as long for the Osmo Mobile 2 to go from off-to-recording as it does for the Osmo Pocket (when using the Mimo app), and about six times as long when using the Osmo Pocket as a stand-alone device.

Unlike the Osmo Pocket, Osmo Mobile 2 isn't designed to be stored on your person, so you need to take into account the time it takes you to pull the Mobile 2 out of your bag or wherever it resides when not in use.

With or without a mobile device connected, the Osmo Pocket is the clear winner when it comes to setup speeds. One of my big gripes with the Osmo Mobile 2 has always been that it takes too long to set up before it's ready to record. I must have not been the only one because it sure looks like DJI addressed this when designing the Osmo Pocket.

Gimbal operation

Osmo Pocket

When using the Osmo Pocket without your phone attached, you will only be able to control the tilt function, not the pan. This is kind of a bummer that we are limited by the 1″ touchscreen and the lack of a joystick on the face of the gimbal.

When the Osmo Pocket is connected to your phone you will be able to control the tilt and pan. Let me tell you though, there is nothing like the tactile feel of a physical joystick. When tilting the gimbal I would occasionally start panning, and vice versa. You just simply don't get the needed feedback when using the joystick on your touchscreen.

DJI does make a gimbal controller wheel which should take away some of this frustration. I'll get into that in the accessories section below.

Osmo Mobile 2

One of the great things about having more room on the handle is that there is space for a joystick. Yay! This makes it very easy to control the pan and tilt on the Osmo Mobile 2.

Osmo Mobile 2 is definitely the winner in this category. The physical joystick on the Osmo Mobile 2 made for much smoother and more precise gimbal movements compared to the often unintentional and jumpy movements of the Osmo Pocket.

Ergonomics

Osmo Pocket

I have already discussed how tiny the Osmo Pocket is. Because of its size, I never really feel comfortable holding it. It simply was not designed to take up the entire real-estate of a person's hand. If I get a good grip on it I don't feel that it will slip out of my hand, but reaching for the power and record buttons is an awkward endeavor.

A saving grace is the rubber coating on the front of the Osmo Pocket. It is very slip-resistant and with just one thumb resting on it, I feel confident that it won't go anywhere.

Additionally, when a phone is connected to the Osmo Pocket it requires two hands to hold. The lightning or USB-C adapter from the Osmo Pocket fits snugly into the charging port of the phone, but I don't really feel comfortable holding either the Pocket or the phone without a hand on the other.

Osmo Mobile 2

The Osmo Mobile 2 fits perfect in my hand. There isn't a square inch of my palm left wanting something to get hold of, and the smooth contour just beneath the buttons welcomes the area between my thumb and index finger.

I don't feel that my thumb has to travel for a mile when reaching for one of the buttons, and the strength of my grip is maintained when I'm operating the joystick or one of the other buttons.

Osmo Mobile 2 takes the cake when it comes to ergonomics. It fits more comfortably in a person's hand and you don't get the feeling that a missed step could jarr it from your grip.

Tracking modes

One of the features that make these handheld gimbals so popular is their ability to track a subject. That subject could either be your face as you're holding the handheld gimbal or a subject in front of you that is moving. The idea is for the camera to keep the subject in the frame at all times.

Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket is equipped with FaceTrack and ActiveTrack. If a face is detected, FaceTrack will be enabled, and when the camera is facing the user, FaceTrack is automatically enabled.

ActiveTrack is available if you would like to track a subject that is moving. You can use ActiveTrack with or without a phone connected to the Osmo Pocket.

Osmo Mobile 2

Osmo Mobile 2 allows you to use ActiveTrack on the DJI GO app. As with the Osmo Pocket, you can use ActiveTrack to follow you or another subject. Osmo Mobile 2 doesn't have “FaceTrack” as Osmo Pocket does, but ActiveTrack will still track your face if you instruct it to.

The winner of the tracking mode contest is the Osmo Pocket. The convenience of Osmo Pocket automatically tracking your face when the camera is turned toward you is pretty awesome, unlike the Osmo Mobile 2 where you have to select your face on the screen in order for it to track you.

The fact that you can use ActiveTrack and FaceTrack on the Osmo Pocket without it being connected to a phone is pretty great as well.

Stabilized video

Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket has a 3-axis gimbal that is designed to mechanically stabilize the video you are capturing. For a device that is less than 5″ tall, the end result is impeccable. There are no other handheld gimbals similar in size to the Osmo Pocket on the market right now, but how does it compare to the larger Osmo Mobile 2?

Osmo Mobile 2

Osmo Mobile 2 also has a 3-axis mechanically stabilized gimbal that is designed to give you that buttery-smooth footage. Side by side tests reveals that the video captured from the Osmo Mobile 2 is similar to the video of the Osmo Pocket but slightly better.

I believe the simple fact that the Osmo Mobile 2 has significantly more size than the Osmo Pocket enables it to absorb the jarring movements of walking better, translating to smoother video.

Although very close, the Osmo Mobile 2 nudges out the Osmo Pocket when it comes to stabilized video.

Mimo vs. GO app

Osmo Pocket Mimo app

Osmo Pocket uses the Mimo app, which is a new app from DJI designed for the Osmo Pocket. Mimo is designed to perform similar to how the GO app performs with the Osmo Mobile 2. Although it has only been a month, I have to say that I am pleased with my experience thus far. Navigation of the Mimo app is intuitive, I haven't experienced any crashes, and the app is rich with features.

Here are some of the intelligent modes that are accessable with the Mimo App:

Osmo Mobile 2 GO app

It's been almost a year that I have had my Osmo Mobile 2, and my relationship with the DJI GO app has been one of love and hate. I love the capabilities and features the GO app comes equipped with, but I hate that the app seems to have such a hard time demonstrating those features.

What I mean is that I have had so many app crashes, glitches, and other random errors that I have often resorted to using the stock camera app on my iPhone with the Osmo Mobile 2 instead of the GO app.

I do like that DJI let's you use the stock iPhone app instead of the GO app, which cannot be said for the Osmo Pocket, which must use the Mimo app.

I will say that I noticed an increase in performance when I upgraded to an iPhone 8+ from an iPhone 6+, but the GO app still is still glitchy. Lastly, the GO app drains my phone battery a lot quicker than the Mimo app does.

Here are some of the features offered with the GO app:

With fewer app crashes and more features than the GO app, the Mimo app wins this round.

Camera capabilities

Due to the fact that the Osmo Pocket comes with a camera and the Osmo Mobile 2 does not, this section will be brief as it's not a fair comparison.

Osmo Pocket

For the size of this device, the footage it captures is absolutely stunning! The camera has a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor, can shoot up to 4K video at 60p with a max video bitrate of 100 Mbps, and can capture 12MP stills.

I remember thinking “how on earth can this thing capture such good footage” while looking at the tiny 1″ screen when I was first playing with the Osmo Pocket. It's not until you pop in that SD card to your computer that you realize what truly amazing technology you're holding in your hands.

Osmo Mobile 2

Since the Osmo Mobile 2 does not come with a camera, the quality of your footage is solely dependent on which mobile phone you are using with it. The good thing about this is there is practically a new smartphone being released every month and the cameras on them are getting better and better.

The bad thing is that in order to buy a mobile phone that can compete with the Osmo Pocket's camera, you're going to have to spend upwards of $1,000 (or more).

Due to not coming equipped with a camera, it looks like the Osmo Mobile 2 forfeited this round. Even still, the Osmo Pocket has a camera that not many (if any) of today's mobile phone cameras can touch.

Built-in features

Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket has some pretty desirable features and capabilities. Of note, here are a few of them:

Osmo Mobile 2

Gosh, this one is really close. I would say that Osmo Mobile 2 has more of the functional real-world features that a larger handheld gimbal can fit (joystick, 1/4″-20 port, external mic port). Osmo Pocket has more of the “new tech” features like the one-touch gimbal centering, one-touch 180-degree gimbal rotation, story mode, and FaceTrack. I'm going to have to say this one is a tie.

Battery life

Osmo Pocket

Osmo Pocket has a USB-C charging port, and it takes approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes to charge when using a 5V/2A adapter. DJI claims that the Osmo Pocket has an operating time of “140 mins (when shooting 1080p/30 fps video)”, but these times will vary depending on what settings are used, how much the gimbal is working, etc..

It's important to note that the Osmo Pocket will use your phone to charge when it is plugged in. The battery percentage will still decrease, but at a much slower rate.

Osmo Mobile 2

Osmo Mobile 2 is charged with a Micro USB and has a charging time of 2 hours and 30 minutes when using a 5V/2A adapter. DJI claims that Osmo Mobile 2 has an operating time of 15 hours if the gimbal is balanced correctly.

It isn't the Osmo Mobile 2 that tends to run out of battery, it's my phone. The GO app really depletes my phone's battery so quickly that I always make sure that my phone is fully charged if I'll be using the gimbal for a while.

With an operating time of 15 hours, the Osmo Mobile 2 is able to last quite a bit longer than the Osmo Pocket's 2 hours and 20 minute operating time.

Which is better for vlogging?

Osmo Pocket

It really seems like DJI set out to create a one-stop-shop vlogging camera/gimbal when they created the Osmo Pocket.

Osmo Pocket is as portable as it gets, can go from off-to-recording in four seconds, and comes with a camera that has features some $5,000 cameras don't have.

Sure, the poor internal mic audio, small screen and lack of a joystick make this handheld gimbal far from perfect, but the Osmo Pocket could very easily be used as a vlogging camera.

Additionally, there are many accessories that make the above listed deficiencies disappear.

Osmo Mobile 2

Osmo Mobile 2 is an affordable option if you are just getting into vlogging and you have a phone with a decent camera.

If you are attempting to make some YouTube videos with just your mobile phone, the Osmo Mobile 2 will 10x the quality of those videos.

The fact that Osmo Pocket is an all-in-one package makes this handheld gimbal the better vlogging camera.

Accessory options

Osmo Pocket

You will find a plethora of accessory options for any piece of technology, but how many of them are actually useful?

Here are the must have accessories for the Osmo Pocket.

Controller Wheel

This controller wheel allows you to control the pan and tilt of the Osmo Pockets gimbal, which is exponentially easier than use the joystick on the phone screen. This is a must-have!

Get the controller wheel here

Charging Case

Not only does this case protect your Osmo Pocket but it charges the device at the same time with the 1500mAh battery pack. A great buy if you plan to do some longer shoots to extend the 140-minute battery life record time.

Get the charging case here

3.5mm Adapter

The audio quality of the internal microphone on the Osmo Pocket will get you by in a pinch, but an external mic will need to be used if you want some professional sounding audio. This 3.5mm adapter allows you to plug in an external mic.

Get the 3.5mm Adapter here

Osmo Mobile 2

Base

Being able to set the Osmo Mobile 2 in this base has saved me from attempting to balance the device in precarious positions on many occasions. For the price, this really is a must-have accessory.

Get the base here

PGYTECH Case

One of the downsides to the Osmo Mobile 2 is that it's not always quickly accessible when you need it. This case can be worn so the Osmo Mobile 2 is across your chest at all times which makes for a quick setup. And to top it off, DJI claims that this case is waterproof.

Get the PGYTECH case here

Although I only listed three accessory options for the Osmo Pocket here, there are many more options than the Osmo Mobile 2 has.

Price

The Osmo Pocket is understandably more expensive than Osmo Mobile 2 for the simple fact that it comes with a camera. At first glance the higher price of the Osmo Pocket may be a turnoff for some, but not when you start to add things up.

When you think about the price of buying a smartphone with a camera that can compete with the Osmo Pocket along with the price of the Osmo Mobile 2, the price of the Osmo Pocket doesn't seem so high anymore.

Check the current price of the Osmo Pocket at the DJI store here.

Check the current price of the Osmo Mobile 2 here.

Winner

Although this wasn't a completely fair comparison, one handheld gimbal definitely was definitely more impressive. Although Osmo Mobile 2 has some pretty sweet features, the Osmo Pocket is the superior device here.

You really can't beat what the Osmo Pocket has to offer. Not only is it extremely portable and quick to set up, but the incredible camera also makes the Osmo Pocket a very capable vlogging camera. There are accessory options for the areas where the Osmo Pocket falls short, making this handheld gimbal close to perfect.

If you already have a phone with a great camera and portability is not a priority for you, then the Osmo Mobile 2 is certainly not a bad choice. I have loved having mine and for the price, it really is worth it.

In the end, the Osmo Pocket takes the cake for being the better overall piece of technology.

FAQ