DJI Osmo Action 4 Review

Overview

The Osmo Action 4 is DJI’s fourth-generation action camera: a 145 g, metal-bodied, waterproof box that clips to a pack strap with a magnet and shoots stabilized 4K at up to 120 fps. Its headline upgrade over the Action 3 is a 1/1.3-inch sensor, which cleans up dim light and shadows. The trade-off is a longer minimum focus distance and a weight that, while modest for what it does, is still real money on a base-weight spreadsheet.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	145 g (5.1 oz)
Battery weight	33.5 g
Dimensions	70.5 x 44.2 x 32.8 mm (L x W x H)
Sensor	1/1.3-inch CMOS, 2.4 μm equivalent pixel size
Lens	155° FOV, f/2.8, 0.4 m to infinity focus
Video	4K/120 (16:9), 4K/60 (4:3), 1080p/240 slow motion
Color	10-bit, D-Log M profile
Stabilization	RockSteady 3.0/3.0+, HorizonBalancing, HorizonSteady
Photos	10 MP (3648 x 2736), JPEG and RAW
Screens	1.4-inch front, 2.25-inch rear, both touch, ~750 nits
Waterproofing	18 m bare, 60 m with waterproof case (IP68)
Cold rating	-20°C (-4°F)
Operating time	Up to 2.5 h (160 min at 1080p/24 in DJI’s testing)
Storage	microSD, up to 512 GB
Kit includes	Protective camera cage and battery

Performance

Image quality. The bigger sensor is the reason this camera exists. TechRadar’s reviewer found highlights such as bright clouds and evening lights hold detail the Action 3 could not manage, with cleaner shadows. Tom’s Guide notes the sensor is a step above both the Action 3’s 1/1.7-inch chip and the 1/1.9-inch unit in the GoPro Hero12 Black. Owners on Reddit are more split: the camera earns praise for reliable footage, but low-light performance is a recurring point of argument, and some users report weak 1080p quality, so 4K is the mode to shoot in. For a trail camera, that means golden-hour ridgelines and tent-door shots at dusk look good, while deep-woods dusk still shows noise.

Stabilization. This is where the Action 4 earns its reputation. RockSteady 3.0+ is described by TechRadar as incredibly effective, to the point that downhill bikers will not need a gimbal. An owner who upgraded from the original Osmo Action said the footage looks great straight out of the camera, with no post-processing needed. Hikers get the same benefit: footage from a chest-strap or pack-strap mount stays watchable at a walking cadence and holds up on scrambles. HorizonSteady keeps the frame level, though it is limited to 2.7K or 1080p at 60 fps or below.

Durability and weather. The body is metal, and Tom’s Guide calls the build impressive. At 18 m bare, it is rated 8 m deeper than the Hero12 Black. For hikers, that means creek crossings, rain and a dropped camera in the mud are non-events, and the -20°C rating covers shoulder-season and winter trips. Reddit owners list reliability and durability among the camera’s top strengths. File corruption has shown up in owner complaints, so a quality microSD card and a backup routine are worth the effort.

Battery. DJI quotes up to 2.5 hours of operation, with 160 minutes at 1080p/24 and about 150 minutes in extreme environments. Owners consistently rank battery life among the camera’s best traits, and the battery is removable. A spare at 33.5 g is the lightest way to double capacity, which beats a power bank and cable for most itineraries. Fast charging reaches 80% in 18 minutes.

Mounting and handling. The magnetic quick-release system is the feature reviewers praise most. TechRadar says it outdoes the GoPros on convenience, and Reddit owners list it among the top pros. It lets a camera come off a shoulder strap for a quick summit selfie, then go back on in seconds. The dual touchscreens make framing easy, and the front screen is useful for vlog-style trail updates. Wearing gloves in cold weather is a separate matter, since small touch targets are no friendlier to mittens.

Limitations. The 155° lens is very wide, and the larger sensor raised the minimum focus distance from 0.3 m to 0.4 m. TechRadar notes this pushes users toward all-encompassing views rather than close details, so wildflower macros and gear close-ups are not what this camera does well. Digital zoom is limited to 2x in video. There is no resolution above 4K, which matters little for web delivery. The Action 4 has also been succeeded by the Action 5. Reddit users say the newer camera is similar overall, with somewhat better low-light handling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 1/1.3-inch sensor gives cleaner low-light and shadow detail than the Action 3 and GoPro Hero12 Black
• Excellent stabilization that works without a gimbal
• 18 m waterproofing with no case, plus -20°C cold rating
• Removable battery with fast charging; a spare weighs 33.5 g
• Magnetic mounting is quick and easy on a pack strap
• 4K/120 slow motion and 10-bit D-Log M color

Cons

• 145 g is a real addition for a gram-counter, and it sits on the shoulder strap
• 0.4 m minimum focus rules out close-ups
• Low-light results are inconsistent according to some owners; 1080p looks soft
• Some owners report file corruption
• Superseded by the Action 5

Who Should Buy This

Hikers, packrafters and bikepackers who want to film a trip as they move through it, in rain, water and cold, will get the most from the Action 4. It suits those who want footage they can use without a gimbal or heavy editing. Gram-counters who shoot a handful of photos a day should stay with their phone, which already weighs less than a dedicated camera and spare battery. Anyone who wants close-up detail, such as flowers, gear and food shots, will find the focus limit annoying.

Verdict

The Osmo Action 4 is a tough, well-stabilized action camera with a sensor that gives it better image quality than the Action 3 or Hero12 Black, in a package that weighs about 5 oz. Hikers who want to film in the weather rather than around it should buy one, preferably at a discount now that the Action 5 has arrived. Those who shoot mostly stills and snapshots should stick with a phone.