DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Big audio downgrade compared to Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo?

Thanks to the wild success of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera, the rumor mill around the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 hasn’t stopped spinning, with the freshest of leaks claiming the Osmo Pocket 4 is expected to break cover on April 20 (starting at $499).

While the “14 stops of dynamic range”, improved tracking, and 107GB of built-in storage might be the most notable upgrades, leaked retail box photos suggest a big change is coming to the Osmo Pocket 4 Creator Combo. Unless DJI decides to be more generous and bundle a mic with all Osmo Pocket 4 variants.

The leaked packaging clearly shows a new, redesigned mic, which looks nothing like the DJI Mic 2. Judging by the graphics on the box, the Osmo Pocket 4 should come bundled with the new DJI Mic 3 - you can tell this is the DJI Mic 3 and not the affordable DJI Mic mini by the (centred) logo placement.

The DJI Mic 3 is currently DJI’s most premium mic, featuring 32-bit float internal recording and timecode support (to easily sync audio to video when recording internally). However, compared to the DJI Mic 2, the DJI Mic 3 famously dropped the 3.5mm input, meaning you can no longer hook up an external wired lav mic - a valued feature for professionals.

While the affordable DJI Mic 3 brings improved sound, it was designed for simplicity and portability, which is going to come at a cost. Of course, other wireless mics are available, but you’ll need to rely on the provided USB-C receiver to connect them to the Pocket 4 - unless you use Bluetooth, which significantly degrades sound quality.