DJI Osmo Pocket 4 new buttons and magnets closer look: Smoother zoom, custom controls

As of a few hours ago, a leaked unboxing video finally pulled back the curtain on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4, hinting at a launch as early as April 16 in China, with a global release expected later this month.

While the unboxing video confirmed the Osmo Pocket 4’s design remains largely similar to that of the Osmo Pocket 3, the most significant physical change involves the addition of two dedicated hardware buttons, addressing minor (or even major) pain points for pro-oriented videographers

The latest DJI Osmo Pocket 4 image leaks (upscaled using Gemini), show the text on the protective guide stickers of the vlogging camera gimbal, confirming the functionality behind the new buttons.

• The Osmo Pocket 4 does indeed get a dedicated zoom button, allowing for precise zooming without having to fumble around with the tiny touch screen and the frustratingly minuscule 2x zoom toggle.
• The second button, marked with a “C”, isn’t a “Centre” button as some might’ve thought - it is rather a "Custom" key, which enables users to map quick settings like toggling gimbal modes on the fly, or specific pro video/audio shooting parameters.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4's new magnetic gimbal head opens the door for cool new accessories

All in all, while far from groundbreaking, the Osmo Pocket 4’s new controls ensure creators will be less likely to miss "the moment", making the new Pocket more responsive in real-world use.

As reiterated by the close-up snaps, the Osmo Pocket 4’s gimbal head features a magnetic rear attachment point. While currently used for the new modular fill light, the magnets might just open the door to a wider ecosystem of accessories.

For example, there are videographers who swear by a good, compact shotgun, and being able to mount one magnetically sounds even better. If DJI expands its audio lineup to include such a microphone, the Pocket 4 could more effectively defend its position as a market leader against the dual-camera Insta360 "Luna”, which is coming in hot.