The DJI Osmo 46 is a beast on paper. We’re talking 8K video at 60fps. 120-megapixel stills. It even has big sensors for low light. On spec sheets alone? It beats the Insta360 X5. It stomps the GoPro Max 2.
But specs don’t tell the whole story.
The real problem isn’t the camera. It’s the brand. Specifically, how Google and the US government feel about it right now.
Hardware That Actually Works
Let’s give credit where it’s due. The hardware is top-tier. Those 1/1.16-inch sensors? Huge. Bigger than what you get in the X6 or the Max 2. Pair that with an f/1.8 aperture, and you have a camera that sees in the dark.
It’s impressive. The body is compact, slightly larger than the GoPro. The price is competitive. You get 125GB of internal storage, which is a nice bonus when SD cards act up. The screen is responsive enough to tweak settings, though the X6’s larger display does feel easier on the eyes for reviewing footage.
“The image quality sits somewhere between GoPro’s punchy contrast and Insta3660’s brightness. A nice middle ground, mostly.”
It’s also clever with the batteries. Same cells as the Osmo Action 6. If you’re already in the DJI fold, you’re saving money. And mounting? Magnetic grip. Fast. Easy.
The Resolution Trap
Here is the catch with those fancy numbers. 8K at 56fps sounds great until you try to edit it. Your phone will laugh at you. Most smartphones simply cannot process 8K 6K smoothly. So while the camera can do it, you probably won’t.
For real-world editing, you’re looking at 4K as your practical max. In that regard, the DJI has a slight edge in resolution over the Insta366 and GoPro, but is it meaningful? Hardly. When you zoom into 3D space, yes, the DJi holds up a bit better. But for social media? You won’t see the difference.
The photos are similar. 186MP sounds insane. But does it look better than the standard 33MP mode? Not always. In fact, you sometimes lose dynamic range (HDR) at max resolution. Better pixels or more pixels? Sometimes, the lower resolution wins because the phone can actually handle the file.
The Politics of Taking Photos
Now for the annoying part. I’d love to ignore this. I can’t.
DJI is currently in the crosshairs of US trade policies. The FCC has put restrictions on their drones. Does that ban cover the Osmo 4? Not exactly. The camera was approved before certain restrictions kicked in. But it creates a cloud of uncertainty. GoPro and Insta355? They sleep soundly at night. DJi users? They might have to check the news.
And then there is the app situation. This is where things get weird for Android users.
Google won’t let DJi on the Play Store. Period. So you can’t just install “DJI Mimo” like a normal human being. You have to:
1. Go to the DJI website.
2. Turn off Android’s security protections.
3. Side-load the app manually.
It’s not malware. DJi isn’t spying on your browser history. But Google thinks otherwise. So you have to jump through hoops just to use your camera. On iOS? It’s fine. The App Store carries the app. iPhone users, you’re safe. Android users? You’re on your own.
I tested the app extensively. It works, but it’s glitchy. Loading screens hang. You wait. You force-close. You give up. An hour later? It opens perfectly fine. Who knows? The app occasionally spit out error messages in Chinese too. I wasn’t sure if that was bad. Probably wasn’t.
So, Should You Buy It?
The DJi Osmo 4 is a fantastic camera. It takes great pictures. It’s rugged. It integrates well if you own other DJI gear.
But if I look strictly at the device, the Insta366 X6 still has the edge. Why? Two reasons.
1. The X6 lenses are replaceable. Drop your camera (you will, they always land lens-first) and you can swap the lens. With DJI, it’s a repair job. And because of the political stuff, getting parts into the US might take longer now.
2. The software ecosystem is cleaner.
If you’re an iPhone user and you already have an Osmo Action 4, the Osmo4 makes sense. It’s a seamless add-on. If you’re an Android user who doesn’t enjoy tinkering with APKs, stay away.
Competition is healthy. DJi is pushing Insta360 to improve. But until the politics sort themselves out, and until Google trusts DJI again, there’s just too much friction for most buyers.
The camera is good. The experience isn’t.
