Phone Gadgets

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Review – Phone Gimbal Heaven?

Can the Osmo Mobile 3 phone gimbal take your videos to the next level? ๐Ÿ“ฑ ๐Ÿ“น
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Ever wonder how YouTubers manage to keep their cameras so steady even when theyโ€™re on the move? Thatโ€™s because theyโ€™re likely using a nifty stabilising device called a gimbal, and the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 might just be the only thing missing for you to kickstart your YouTube career.

While smartphone gimbals are most commonly associated with vloggers, theyโ€™re known to be used by online streamers whenever they need to stream on-the-go. A nice portable one could also be perfect for people who just love taking awesome videos.

Osmo Mobile 3 Review
  • Look Station
  • Features
  • Total Value

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Review Summary

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is an extremely well-built gimbal that sits at the top of its class for its price point. Its foldable design and remarkably light weight truly attest to DJIโ€™s claim of it being the ideal travel companion. Easily one of the best budget smartphone gimbals around that can please both novices and veterans alike.

Overall
4.7

Pros

โœ“ Sturdy Design

โœ“ Affordable

โœ“ One of the smallest and lightest phone gimbals on the market

โœ“ DJI Mimo app is fantastic

โœ“ Easy to operate, even using one hand

โœ“ Impressive 15-hour battery life

Cons

โœ— Canโ€™t accommodate larger phones with filters or lenses

In this DJI Osmo Mobile 3 review, weโ€™re going to find out if this little gadget lives up to DJIโ€™s claim of being the โ€œbest phone gimbal for travellingโ€, and whether or not itโ€™s as โ€œeasy to useโ€ as they say.

Short on time? Simply click on one of the links below to jump right to that section of the Osmo Mobile 3 review:

What is the DJI Osmo Mobile 3?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is DJIโ€™s third release in the world of smartphone stabilisers. It is essentially a portable tri-axis gimbal that ensures a smartphoneโ€™s camera motion remains stable even if the holder moves about. This way you get a silky-smooth video thatโ€™s relatively free from all that nasty shakiness you usually get from jittery hands.

It improves upon its predecessor by adopting a foldable design making it even more compact. DJI has also added some quality of life features and extra shooting modes that weโ€™ll get into a little later. While the Osmo Mobile 3 doesnโ€™t exactly reinvent the wheel by being foldable, DJI has opted to simplify the unfolding process by getting rid of the knobs and latches that are usually found on most phone gimbals. Instead, all you have to do is extend it and youโ€™re good to go.

OSMO 3 Mobile Folded

Folding it is just as easy. Just make sure that the middle axes are aligned correctly and you can collapse it back into its folded position, even with your phone still latched on. Mounting your phone is a painless process since the Osmo Mobile 3 utilizes a spring-loaded grip as opposed to the screws and knobs used by some of its competitors.

Budget-wise, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 standard price point of $119 makes it one of the cheapest phone gimbals on the market so itโ€™s not only lightweight but light on the wallet as well. It also comes in a Combo version which is $20 extra and includes a tripod and carrying case. As an added bonus, the deviceโ€™s sleek design is quite easy on the eyes, if looks are a big deal for you.

Man holding the DJI OSMO MOBILE 3

Features

A big part of the Osmo Mobile 3โ€™s beauty lies in its simplicity. The gimbal is designed in a way that allows its user to access most of its functions with just one hand. Thereโ€™s a trigger on the front of the device that can be used to lock the gimbal, recentre it, enable Sport Mode, or switch from front to rear camera. Sport Mode makes the gimbal more sensitive to movements.

OSMO 3 Mobile Product Shot Side Angle

Aside from the trigger, there are two buttons and a joystick under where your thumb should be, and a slider on the left side of the device. You can use the joystick to adjust the position of your phone without having to physically touch it. The button on the lower right is known as the โ€œMโ€ button and has multiple functions, which includes switching from portrait to landscape view and vice versa. The slider allows you to quickly zoom in and out whenever needed.

DJI MIMO App

Another thing that sets the Osmo Mobile 3 apart from its competitors is its patented DJI Mimo app which comes with a bunch of great shooting modes. Gesture Control lets you take a picture or start recording a video using simple gestures, which is perfect when youโ€™re filming on your own. Story Mode helps you create cinematic videos by providing pre-made templates that add music, movement, and effects to your clips. Active Track is an especially useful feature that automatically tracks a person or object that you specify. The DJI Mimo app also allows for some of the smoothest Hyperlapse videos around.

Hyperlapse

Another thoughtful feature is the placement of the phone holder which makes it possible for you to charge your phone while you shoot. The one flaw in its design is its inability to accommodate larger phones with lenses or filters attached.

On top of all of these clever features, DJI hasn’t forgotten the simple pleasures in life. One of which is USB C. Thos won’t make or break your videos shoot, but from an organisation perspective, having USB C across as much of your gear as possible makes things so much easier from an organisation point of view.

Osmo Mobile 3 Specs

Dimensions

Unfolded: 285ร—125ร—103 mm, Folded: 157ร—130ร—46 mm

Weight

405 g

Battery Life

15 hours

Gimbal Range

Pan: -162.5ยฐ to 170.3ยฐ;

Roll: -85.1ยฐ to 252.2ยฐ;

Tilt: -104.5ยฐ to 235.7ยฐ

Maximum Controllable Speed

120ยฐ/s

Compatible Phone Size

Width: 62 to 88 mm, Thickness: โ‰ค 9.5 mm

Connections

Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0

App

DJI Mimo

Design

Similar to its previous iterations, the Osmo Mobile 3 comes solely in grey but features a sleeker and curvier grip and axes compared to the last two generations. This new ergonomic grip has a 15ยฐ angle which is designed to feel more natural in your hand, increasing the level of comfort during extended use. DJI implemented the Osmo Mobile 3โ€™s foldable design for both portability and functionality since phones can stay mounted even in its folded state. Theyโ€™ve even optimized it further to allow you to use your phone while the gimbal is folded and on Standby Mode.

How does it feel?

Despite sporting a folding design, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 feels sturdy and very well put together. Its ergonomic grip, coupled with its intricate button placement, ensure maximum comfort while filming for long periods especially while doing so using just one hand.

Osmo Mobile 3 Vs Zhiyun Smooth 4

Due to their similar price points and features, the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is often compared to the Zhiyun Smooth 4. So how well does it match up in terms of specs?

Well, first off, the Osmo Mobile 3โ€™s foldable design means it takes up much less space. Its weight of 405 grams is also significantly lighter than the Smooth 4โ€™s weight of 547 grams, making it overall superior in terms of portability. DJI claims that the Osmo Mobile 3โ€™s battery can last up to 15 hours, which is 3 hours longer than the Smooth 4โ€™s alleged 12-hours battery life. While it all comes down to user preference, the Osmo Mobile 3 takes advantage of the patented DJI Mimo app thatโ€™s known for its ease-of-use, making it the more attractive choice for the average user.

OSMO 3 Mobile Product Shot Side Angle

Final Thoughts

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is pretty much as good as it gets for its price range. Its lightweight and foldable design make it perfect for travelling, while DJIโ€™s stellar Mimo app makes creating cinematic videos easier than ever. The gimbalโ€™s button placement thatโ€™s geared toward one-handed use is also incredibly comfortable and well-thought-out, while its 15-hour battery life just canโ€™t be beat. Its only minor blemish remains its inability to cater to larger phones with filters or lenses.

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Review Summary

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is an extremely well-built gimbal that sits at the top of its class for its price point. Its foldable design and remarkably lightweight truly attest to DJIโ€™s claim of it being the ideal travel companion. Easily one of the best budget smartphone gimbals around that can please both novices and veterans alike.

FAQs

Yes, the DJI Osmo 3 is absolutely worth buying if you’re looking for a quality phone gimbal. It excels in every area and offers excellent value for money.

Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 is an excellent phone gimbal because of its long battery, life, compact design, and stability technology. There are other phone gimbals out there that do a good job in certain areas but none that offer the complete package like the Osmo 3 Mobile.

Most major tech retailers should sell it. Amazon certainly do!

You can, but you will need to purchase a third-party adapter. Make sure you do your research.

Author

Mo Alshorbaji is a seasoned content writer who specializes in video games and all things tech. Heโ€™s been in love with video games ever since he learned how to properly hold a controller and enjoys nothing more than putting PCs together in his spare time. When heโ€™s not gaming or thinking with computers, youโ€™ll likely find him enjoying a good book or reading up on the latest in tech.

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