DJI has just released the successor to the Osmo Mobile 7, with the aptly named Osmo Mobile 8.
Although we’re yet to review the DJI Osmo Mobile 8, we have reviewed the Osmo Mobile 7 and awarded the gimbal with a 4.5-star rating. With that in mind, how do the Mobile 8’s specs look set to compare?
We’ve looked at the specs and highlighted the key differences between the two stabilisers below. Keep reading to see what’s new and whether the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 has a chance at making it into our best smartphone gimbal list.
Price and Availability
Hailed as the best affordable gimbal, the DJI Osmo 7 is a budget-friendly option at £85 / $89. Plus, being an older model, it’s possible to pick the gimbal up with a price cut too.
The DJI Osmo 8 is slightly more expensive than its predecessor at £135 / €159.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7 is lighter
Portability is undoubtedly an important factor when choosing a smartphone gimbal, as ideally you want something that will slip easily into bags. Although both the Osmo Mobile 7 and 8 are undoubtedly small and compact, the former boasts the edge at 300g compared to 370g.
The main reason for this, however, is because the Mobile 7 doesn’t have a built-in extension rod whereas the Mobile 8 does, which allows you to expand your smartphone’s field of view. You do have the option to purchase the Multifunctional Module separately which not only extends the view, but also gives you access to intelligent tracking and gesture controls outside of the Mimo app.
However, both the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 and 8 are equipped with a built-in tripod too.
DJI Osmo Mobile 8 supports 360° Pan Rotation
The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 supports unlimited 360° horizontal rotation for “sweeping panoramas and full-circle shots” while the Mobile 7, nor the pricier Mobile 7P, falls short at up to 222° mechanical pan.
The Mobile 8’s 360° support, paired with intelligent tracking which we’ll explain in more detail later, means the gimbal is promised to capture from “every angle”.
DJI Osmo Mobile 8 supports Apple DockKit
Developed by Apple, DockKit is a somewhat new technology that automatically tracks a subject using an iPhone’s camera and a DockKit-supported motorised stand. Essentially, when an iPhone is paired with a compatible stand or gimbal, the device will extend the camera’s field of view by up to 360° of pan and 90° tilt to keep the subject in frame.
DJI elaborates that the Osmo Mobile 8 enables DockKit in both the native iPhone camera app and in compatible third-party iOS apps such as YouTube and Blackmagic Camera.
That’s not to say the cheaper DJI Osmo Mobile 7 doesn’t support subject tracking, which brings us to our next point.
Both feature ActiveTrack technology
Sure, the Osmo Mobile 8 benefits from Apple’s DockKit, however it’s worth keeping in mind that both the Mobile 8 and Mobile 7 are fitted with DJI’s ActiveTrack technology. The feature allows you to lock on to a human, pet or object and keep them centred in the frame, even when moving around.
While we haven’t reviewed the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 yet, we were impressed with the Osmo Mobile 7’s ActiveTrack technology and found its tracking to be “incredibly effective” and ensured the subject stayed in the frame. However, as the Mobile 8 does benefit from 360° rotation, we can assume ActiveTrack remains on, even when the gimbal is dealing with harder camera angles.
Both offer up to 10 hours of battery
Although DJI hasn’t improved on the battery life, that’s not to say this is necessarily a bad thing. Both the Osmo Mobile 7 and 8 are promised to offer up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, and can even double as a portable charger for your smartphone too.
Early Verdict
Although we haven’t reviewed the DJI Osmo Mobile 8, its built-in extension rod, Apple DockKit support and 360° pan rotation means it looks set to be a brilliant smartphone gimbal for those who don’t want to lug around heavy and more expensive equipment.
On the other hand, if you want a more affordable gimbal that does a solid job of stabilising your footage and keeping yourself or another subject in frame, then the DJI Osmo Mobile 7 remains a brilliant choice.
We’ll update this versus with a more conclusive verdict once we’ve reviewed the DJI Osmo 8.
