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| Osmo Pocket 4 might be getting 'Open Gate" support - like iPhone 17 Pro. Osmo Pocket 3 pictured. |
Just when you thought DJI might take a breather after the runaway success of the Osmo Pocket 3, the company is already revving up for its next act. An official launch event for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 has been confirmed for April 16, and the teaser trailer dropped earlier this week has social media detectives working overtime.
The original Osmo Pocket 3 won over vloggers, travelers, and even semi-pro filmmakers with its 1-inch sensor, gimbal stability, and ridiculously convenient vertical shooting mode. So what could DJI possibly improve? Based on the cryptic wording from DJI Japan’s teaser, the answer might be “more than you think.”
“A world that expands” – two big possibilities
While the global teaser video is fairly standard “coming soon” fare, the Japanese version of the same clip includes an intriguing tagline: “A world that expands.” (Or in Japanese, something closer to “expanding world.”) After digging into what that could mean for a pocket-sized gimbal camera, two strong theories have emerged.
First, a wider native focal length. The Osmo Pocket 3 uses a 20mm equivalent lens (f/2.0). It’s great for selfies and wide shots, but some creators still reach for the optional magnetic wide-angle adapter to get a more expansive field of view. If DJI builds a wider lens directly into the Pocket 4 – say, 18mm or even 16mm – that “world that expands” suddenly makes literal sense. No more fiddling with adapters, just a naturally roomier frame.
Second, and far more interesting for serious creators: Open Gate support. This is where things get really juicy.
What is Open Gate, and why does it matter?
If you’ve been following the smartphone world, you might have noticed that the latest iPhone 17 Pro series (yes, the one that just dropped) added Open Gate recording via the BlackMagic Camera app. In simple terms, Open Gate lets the camera use the full native sensor area – typically a 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio – instead of cropping down to standard 16:9 video.
Why is that a big deal? Because it gives you vertical “headroom” to reframe your footage for multiple platforms. Shoot horizontally for YouTube, then crop a crisp 9:16 version for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts without losing half your resolution. For influencers and social media managers who need to produce both landscape and portrait content from one shoot, Open Gate is a genuine time-saver.
DJI’s “a world that expands” could easily refer to that expanded creative canvas – the ability to frame once and deliver everywhere. And given how aggressively DJI has courted the influencer crowd (the Pocket 3’s magnetic filters, vertical capture button, and rotating screen were all dead giveaways), adding pro-grade Open Gate support would be a natural evolution.
A peek at the teaser that started it all
The official DJI Japan account posted the teaser that has everyone talking. You can see the original tweet here.
In the clip, there’s no hardware reveal – just moody lighting, abstract shapes, and that loaded phrase. But in the world of DJI leaks, even a single word choice gets dissected like a Zapruder film. The fact that DJI Japan chose “expands” instead of a more generic “new adventure” or “next chapter” suggests they’re pointing at a specific technical upgrade.
What about the competition?
It’s no coincidence that both Apple (via third-party apps) and now DJI are leaning into Open Gate. The iPhone 17 Pro’s support for full-sensor recording – again, through apps like BlackMagic – shows that even smartphone giants recognize the demand for flexible, crop-friendly video. Pocket cameras have to fight for relevance against phones that keep getting better, so DJI needs a differentiator. A mechanically stabilized gimbal plus Open Gate flexibility? That’s a combo no phone can match.
What else could the Osmo Pocket 4 bring?
While the teaser is light on specs, industry watchers (including Notebookcheck) expect at least a few other upgrades:
- Better low-light performance – possibly a faster lens or improved noise reduction
- Longer battery life – the Pocket 3 already lasts about 2 hours; adding 30 more minutes would be a welcome bump
- Larger internal storage or faster wireless transfer speeds
- Improved subject tracking – DJI’s ActiveTrack is already class-leading, but there’s always room for smarter algorithms
Bottom line: mark April 16
Whether you’re a daily vlogger, a travel content creator, or just someone who wants cinematic footage without lugging a mirrorless rig, the Osmo Pocket 4 is shaping up to be a meaningful upgrade. “A world that expands” could mean a wider lens, Open Gate support, or both. Given the industry trends, our money’s on Open Gate being the headline feature.
We’ll know for sure on April 16. Until then, keep an eye on DJI’s social channels – and maybe start saving up. The Pocket 3 was already a tough act to follow; if DJI nails this one, the Pocket 4 might just redefine what a pocket camera can do.
Sources: DJI official teaser, Notebookcheck