DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Review: Quick Launch and Better Controls
DJI Osmo Mobile 6
While it looks nearly identical to the DJI OM 5, the new Osmo Mobile 6 is easier and faster to set up and has improved software features and integrations thanks to Quick Launch and Active Track 5.0, which gives users more reliable subject tracking. It’s unfortunate, however, that DJI’s Mimo app is still not available officially from the Google Play Store, especially for a company as large as DJI.
While the advanced built-in stabilization in the latest smartphones including the iPhone 14 or Samsung S23 is certainly impressive, mobile gimbals like the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 are still a useful addition for content creators and those looking to enhance their smartphone videography with minimal effort.
Although its balancing performance remains unchanged, with its refined lightweight and compact design, new quick setup, and easier-to-use controls, it has a few key advantages over its predecessor, the DJI OM 5.
The Osmo Mobile 6 also introduces new software improvements in its DJI Mimo app, including the updated ActiveTrack 5.0 which allows you to drag a box over a subject you want the gimbal to follow, as well as motion control for creating customizable time-lapses.
Whether you’re a content creator, dabbling with videography, or just want to take better family videos with your phone, the Osmo Mobile 6 is one of the most portable, easiest to use, and has one of the best software experiences of any mobile gimbal we’ve tested.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI OM5
The Osmo Mobile 6 has a new physical control wheel that replaces the old zoom slider on the Osmo Mobile 5. We find that new wheel to be more intuitive to use, making it easier to make fine-tuned adjustments to zoom and focus while shooting. Within its software, you currently aren’t able to change parameters such as its speed or direction, which can make it difficult to get smooth zooms.
Some users might find it to be too sensitive, as we did, but with a little practice, you can get used to it, though it still won’t be perfect. I found myself rarely using this feature as I much prefer to only use my camera’s default focal lengths. Instead, I programmed the wheel to adjust manual focusing when I wanted more control.
Additionally, the Osmo Mobile 6 has a new Quick Launch feature that automatically powers the gimbal on as soon as you unfold it, whereas the Osmo Mobile 5 needs to be manually powered on by pressing and holding the power button. This is one of the best new upgrades, and I’ll discuss this further later in this review.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 features a nearly identical sleek design though there is a slight increase in size and weight compared to its predecessor, weighing in at 309g (10.9 oz) versus the OM 5’s 292g (10.3 oz), and measuring 189 x 84.5 x 44mm (7.44 x 3.33 x 1.73 inches) when folded up. This is likely due to the addition of the new physical control wheel on the Osmo Mobile 6 and a few other minor changes. The weight difference will not be noticeable, but it will be slightly more difficult to carry in your pocket compared to before.
The Osmo Mobile 6 is only available in a Slate Grey color, while the OM 5 was manufactured in two different Athens Grey and Sunset White.
The gimbal has a built-in extension rod that is 215mm (8.46 inches) in length, which is unchanged from the OM 5. This is one of the more useful features that set it apart from most of the competing mobile gimbals. For vloggers and selfie-takers, the built-in extension rod allows you to get more creative with your shots.
Quick Setup and Launch
The setup process for the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is one of the fastest we’ve tested. The Osmo 6 uses an improved folding arm design which only needs to be twisted to unlock, and then you unfold its hinge.
Once opened, the gimbal automatically turns on. I still find the mechanism to be a bit awkward, and it takes time to get used to. In my experience, I frequently would forget to twist the arm first, which would prevent me from being able to unfold its arm.
After attaching the magnetic mounting grip (which is unchanged from last year’s model) to your phone, click it on the Osmo’s arm, and the gimbal will automatically balance itself.
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6’s clamp is designed to hold smartphones up to 10mm (0.39 inches) thick and 67-84mm (2.64-3.31 inches) wide. The gimbal can support phones up to 290g (10.2 oz), which covers most modern smartphones. I recommend doing an initial balance calibration within the app to ensure that the gimbal performs as best as possible and that your horizon line is level.
With the iPhone 14 Pro, its balance point is slightly closer to its cameras. An indicator on the clamp tells you which side should be pointed toward the phone’s camera. With its separate magnetic attachment, I find making adjustments much easier than gimbals with the traditional built-in grip. Like other gimbals, though, the grip will still block the volume and power buttons, making it awkward to use other functions of your phone while it’s still attached.
Oddly, DJI’s Mimo app is not officially available on the Google Play Store. Instead, users will need to sideload it or use an alternative app store, which can be confusing or frustrating depending on your device model and security settings. It’s unclear if and when DJI will return the Mimo app to the Play Store; however, it’s been several years without it.
It’s unacceptable that a company as large as DJI still has this issue, and is a major downside for Android users. Beyond this, there is another significant difference between iOS and Android.
iPhone users can further simplify the setup with DJI’s new Quick Launch feature. This feature prompts a notification on your phone when it’s attached to the mount, giving you instant access to the DJI Mimo app. To activate this feature, you’ll need to accept some security prompts that allow the Mimo app to open automatically when the gimbal establishes a Bluetooth connection with your phone. With Quick Launch, you can save time and quickly capture shots without worrying about navigating through your phone’s menus to launch the app.
Performance and Controls
For simple pans, tilts, and even slower walking shots, my iPhone 14 Pro produces extremely smooth footage using its electronic and optical image stabilization alone. Still, just as with every other smartphone, its quality dramatically decreases in darker scenes, in part to slower shutter speeds to compensate. Similarly, phones tend to produce a jello effect and occasionally other weird artifacts from their electronic stabilization, which can ruin your footage. This is especially true when shooting in low light, but also with faster movements such as running.
This is where having a mobile gimbal like Osmo Mobile 6 comes in handy. Its performance is on par with other competing options, including the Zhiyun Smooth 5S. Just as with other mobile gimbals, the bobbing motion from walking can still be very obvious. But when standing still and panning or tilting, the Osmo makes it very easy to capture smooth and cinematic videos.
The Osmo Mobile 6 has several controls, including a joystick, trigger, mode and switch buttons, and a zoom/focus wheel. The trigger can lock the tilt and switch between modes.
The mode and switch buttons have various functions, including toggling between modes, powering on/off, and toggling between front and rear cameras. The new zoom/focus wheel can also switch between modes. The display shows the corresponding icon for the mode being used.
Optional Fill Lights
Similar to theZhiyun Smooth 5S we recently reviewed, DJI has its own solution for adding fill lights to your gimbal. This is not something that we were able to test. However, it could be useful if you find yourself filming in low light a lot or you want a nice key light on your subject without needing an external setup.
DJI offers a Fill Light Phone Clamp as an add-on to the Osmo Mobile 6 which includes a fill light with multiple tones and brightness settings. The Fill Light Phone Clamp replaces the included magnetic clamp and costs $59. They also offer an Osmo Mobile 6 Vlog Combo kit that consists of the standard gimbal package and a wireless microphone. These tools could create a highly portable and professional vlogging kit.
The DJI Mimo app offers several features and modes to enhance your shooting experience. The app is similar to the stock camera app on iPhones, with a mode carousel that includes Photo, Video, Slow Motion, Time-lapse, and Hyper-lapse modes. It’s extremely easy to use, and although it doesn’t offer all the features I’d like, it’s one of the best companion apps for a gimbal I’ve tested.
The Mimo app also offers a variety of advanced manual settings for more experienced users, including the ability to adjust shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. you’re able to also adjust the gimbal’s settings, such as tilt and pan speed.
In addition, the app has built-in editing tools that allow you to trim, crop, and add music and filters to your videos. It also supports live-streaming to popular social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Competing brands like Zhiyun have companion apps that, although not as convenient to use, include the option for shooting in different picture profiles, such as Flat and Log, which make it easier to color-match your footage to other cameras when editing.
On the other hand, DJI has other advanced shooting modes, including Active Track, Story Mode, Gesture Control, and Dolly Zoom. Active Track 5.0 uses advanced software to keep the camera locked on the subject, while Story Mode has a range of preset templates that can be customized to create a professional-looking video with minimal effort.
The Mimo app does a surprisingly excellent job at helping users learn to take full advantage of their Osmo Mobile 6 to create high-quality mobile content. DJI includes several social media-style videos to inspire or help you learn how to create similar shots.
Gesture Control allows you to use hand gestures to control the gimbal, which is especially useful when trying to film yourself or take a wider group shot.
Dolly Zoom replicates the Hitchcock-style effect of zooming in or out while moving away from or closer to your subject. Because the app is relying on a digital zoom compared to a real lens zoom, the footage will look noticeably less sharp. Similarly, the bobbing motion as you walk forwards or backward is significantly more obvious with digital zoom, so you’ll want to pay extra attention to your steps. Your results will vary, but the effect is fun nonetheless and can be an easy way to up your production quality, even if it isn’t always so convincing.
Active Track 5.0
Active Track 5.0 is a software feature exclusive to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal. It allows the camera to lock onto a subject and keep it centered in the frame, no matter where the subject or the user moves.
With this new version, Active Track is even better than before, works more efficiently on smaller and faster-moving subjects, and can now track subjects with more precision. It did a good job of tracking people as they moved briefly behind trees or other foreground elements. Provided the subject isn’t lost or completely blocked for too long, Active Track seems smart enough to lock back on to the subject when it finds it again.
The feature works especially well when filming people or faces directly in front of you, making it great for lifestyle videos.
One of the new features of Active Track 5.0 is that it works on the front-facing camera as well, which is good news if you take selfie videos. This is handy for vloggers who need to move around while filming themselves and still want to see their framing.
Beyond that, Active Track 5.0 can track multiple subjects at once, which is helpful for group shots or filming scenes with several people.
It’s important to note that while Active Track 5.0 has improved significantly over the years, it’s still imperfect and may not work in all situations. It struggles with close-up subjects or when using the telephoto lens. With that said, DJI still offers one of the best tracking software tools we’ve tested. Provided you have enough light and your subject isn’t moving too quickly or erratically, you can capture smooth, stable footage, which is a significant selling point of the Osmo Mobile 6.
The Best Choice for New Gimbal Users
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is a solid and reliable smartphone gimbal with excellent stabilization performance, as well as new features like Quick Launch and Active Track 5.0.
Priced on the higher end for a smartphone gimbal at $159, several competing options will give you the same quality of stabilization for less, though they often lack many of the conveniences offered with Osmo Mobile 6, such as the built-in selfie stick and unique magnetic mounting grip.
Although the software experience is limited by the absence of shooting in flat picture profiles as well as the awkward installation process for Android users, the Mimo app provides one of the best user experiences thanks to its advanced modes and helpful tutorials.
For existing OM 5 owners, however, the Osmo Mobile 6 offers identical balancing performance and only minor upgrades, which may not be worth upgrading for.
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