DJI announces Osmo Action 3 with dedicated portrait mode and battery that operates in extreme temperatures

GoPro isn’t the only camera brand to announce a new action camera today. DJI also launched its Osmo Action 3. Coincidence? Conspiracy theorists might say yes, but honestly, who knows? What we do know is that this is a very decent upgrade from the Osmo Action 2, with plenty of new features to sink your teeth into.

So what’s new? Well, quite a lot actually. We’re looking at a considerable amount of redesign from the previous version. First of all, you can shoot 4K video at 120fps and has a very wide 155-degree angle of view. The other most interesting thing is that this camera will happily let you shoot video in a vertical format. Perfect for then uploading directly into Instagram or TikTok.

The camera is, of course, designed for filming adventure. It uses DJI’s RockSteady 3.0 image stabilization even at 4K resolution and 120fps, and HorizonSteady which will keep surfer’s footage level, “even through heavy bumps and 360-degree rotations,” the company says. Finally, the camera has HorizonBalancing which is a perfect mix of RockSteady and HorizonSteady for activities that have elements of both.

The camera will record continuously for up to 160 minutes, and the ‘Extreme’ battery will fully charge within 50 minutes. The camera will be able to handle temperature extremes better than its predecessors, and will apparently operate down to -4 degrees F (-20C). Useful for skiers and snowboarders.

The Osmo Action 3 is the first action camera to feature two touchscreens, allowing the user to access settings from either the front or back. It can also be operated via voice control, for those cliff-clinging moments when you need to be hands-free.

The camera also features three-mic stereo recording for better handling in windy environments, voice controls, and 4x digital zoom. You can plug in external mics via a USB-C connection.

As usual, there is a batch of accessories for the Osmo Action 3. From underwater housing, a selfie-stick style pole and various other attachments. The camera itself is waterproof to a depth of 52 feet (16 metres) without the housing, however.

The camera has copied the style of the Insta360 cameras which crop out the stick creating a drone-esque feel to the footage. Via the app, you can crop out the selfie stick using AI leaving you with some impressive footage that would be difficult to capture any other way.

And of course, all of your footage can be sent wirelessly to the app on your smartphone and edited, then uploaded directly. All on the go. It’s a smart workflow and one that allows you true freedom to operate from anywhere in the world.

Camera
Sensor Type	CMOS 1/1.7″
Sensor Resolution	12 Megapixel
Optics	155° angle f/2.8
Focal Length	12.7mm
Fixed Focus	No
Recording	4K (4:3): 4096×3072 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 a 100/120 fps 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 2.7K (4:3): 2688×2016 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 a 100/120 fps 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 a 100/120/200/240 fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
Media/Memory Card Slot	Single Slot: microSD/microSDHC (UHS-III) [256 GB Maximum / U3/V30 or Faster Recommended]
Video Format	MP4 (H.264/HEVC)
	2.7K (4:3): 2688×2016 a 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps
Slow Motion Mode	4K: 4x (120 fps) 2.7K: 4x (120 fps) 1080p: 8x (240 fps), 4x (120 fps)
Still Image Support	JPEG/RAW
Audio Format	48 kHz; AAC
Live Streaming	Yes
Display	Two touch screens, front and back
Display Type	Fixed LCD
Size	2.25″ 326 ppi 360×640
Secondary Display	1.4″ 326 ppi 320×320
Zoom	4x digital zoom
	1/30 to 1/480 Seconds in Video Mode
ISO Sensitivity	Photo
	100 to 12800
	Video
	100 to 12800
Voice activated	Yes
Features
Image Stabilization	RockSteady 3.0 HorizonBalancing HorizonSteady
Waterproof Depth Rating	16 m (Camera)
Creative Effects	Yes
Built-In Mic	3
Built-In Speaker	Yes
Built-In Light/Flash	Light – Yes
	Flash – Yes
Wi-Fi	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
Input/Output Connectors
Inputs	1 x USB Type-C
Video Output	None
Microphone Input	Via USB Adapter
Headphone Jack	Yes
General
Battery	Rechargeable Battery Pack, 1770 mAh, 3.85 V Functioning temperature: −20 a 45 °C Life per charge: 160 min
Charging Method	USB
Dimensions (W x H x D)	70.5 × 44.2 × 32.8 mm
Weight	145 g

The DJI Osmo Action 3 is available to pre-order and costs $329 for the standard combo, or $439 for the adventure combo which includes extra batteries and the extension rod kit.