Any device that lets you tap into its smarts without needing to download a separate app is a win in my eyes. So, DJI’s updated Osmo Mobile 8 phone gimbal comes with welcome news.
Arriving less than a year after the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P, the 8 adds support for Apple DockKit, the brand’s built-in subject-tracking technology. Belkin’s auto-tracking dock was one of the first devices to officially support Apple’s technology when it debuted last year.
Older DJI gimbals required downloading the Mimo app to access DJI’s proprietary auto-tracking software. That requirement was somewhat mitigated by the Osmo Mobile 7P including a module that let phones track subjects without using the app. However, for folks with an iPhone 12 or newer, that module isn’t needed, with DockKit taking care of the tracking, regardless of the chosen camera app.
Still, DJI’s module has its uses, particularly for Android or older iPhone users. It doubles as a connector for DJI Mics, while also now supporting cats and dogs as trackable subjects.
Also new to the DJI Osmo Mobile 8 is full 360-degree horizontal panning. Prior models could only pan left or right to a certain point before needing to turn back the other way. It also retains the built-in extension rod of the 7P model, functioning as a selfie stick with three-axis gimbal movement.
DJI Osmo Mobile 8 price in Australia
In Australia, the Osmo Mobile 8 costs $219, the same as the 7P cost when it launched. With the new model out in retailers like JB Hi-Fi, the 7P is now a slightly cheaper $189, while the 7 costs $139.
I’ve got an older Osmo Mobile and can attest to its prowess as a handy phone gimbal. If you’ve got a phone with a good camera, it’s a lot cheaper than the standalone DJI Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera. Although I confess to buying one of those, too, because I can’t help myself when it comes to cool portable camera tech.
