GoPro Hero 8 Vs DJI Osmo Pocket: Which Is The Better Travel Camera?

GoPro Hero 8 vs Osmo Pocket – which is the better camera for travel photography? It’s a debate I’ve had with myself many times. In the end, I ended up buying both devices, so I created this post to share my experience with both so you can choose the best camera for you!

They are both amazing action cameras, but choosing between the GoPro Hero 8 and DJI Osmo Pocket will really depend on the type of trip you’re planning and the activities you want to use the camera for. Continue reading to find out which travel camera will suit you best!

Features of the GoPro Hero 8 vs. Osmo Pocket

Video Quality

Both the GoPro Hero 8 and DJI Osmo Pocket can record 4K and time-lapse videos, which is one of the few features they have in common. They can also record slow-motion videos in 1080p/24fps, so I’d call video quality a tie between the two cameras. You can see the video quality in both cameras in the videos below:

GoPro Hero 8 Vs Osmo Pocket: Stabilization

The built-in stabilization on the DJI Osmo Action is incredible. The Osmo Pocket offers full 3-axis mechanical stabilization. The gimbal counteracts your shaky hands and bouncy walking patterns, leaving you with perfectly smooth footage. You can literally jump up and down while filming, and it will come out nice and smooth. I’ve done this at music festivals!

GoPro has also really upped their game when it comes to stabilization on the 8, especially compared to previous models. It now has HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization, which is done digitally. I also have tried jumping up and down with my GoPro Hero 8 and still had smooth AF footage. I upgraded from the 5 and noticed a HUGE difference.

Both devices can provide smooth footage, but I’d give this one to Osmo Pocket – you can’t beat that 3-axis stabilization.

Osmo Pocket vs GoPro: Still Image

Both cameras can capture images at 12MB, but the GoPro Hero 8 camera has a wider range of features. For example, it has one camera setting called LiveBurst, which will record everything 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter is fired. By using this setting, you can select still images from the entire sequence, so you don’t have to worry about perfectly timing the action.

GoPro Hero 8 also has the ability to change the field view of narrow, linear, wide, or SuperView settings, whereas the DJI Osmo Pocket has a fixed 80-degree field of view. I also love the vibrant look that the GoPro gives on sunny days, so I’d give this category to the GoPro Hero 8.

Battery Life

The Osmo Pocket battery capacity is 875 mAh. That can last for a recording time of 140 minutes when set to 1080p 30fps. The charging time is an hour and 13 minutes.

The GoPro hero 8 battery capacity is 1,220 mAH. That lasts around 50 minutes when continuously shooting in 2.7 or 4K at high frame rates, but you can stretch that out to more like 2 hours for lower resolution footage or TimeWarp video.

It takes around three hours to charge a GoPro battery, but they are replaceable. This means you can buy extra batteries for the GoPro and replace them on the spot, which is a huge advantage to the Osmo pocket batteries built-in to the camera. This category goes to GoPro just because you can change the batteries out.

Water Resistance

The GoPro Hero 8 wins hands down when it comes to water resistance because it can be submerged in water, whereas the DJI Osmo Pocket cannot go without a case. And trust me, it’s really not. I got a small amount of water on the inside of my Osmo, and it completely toasted it.

If you want to use the DJI Osmo under rain or water, you have to purchase special housing for the camera. Plus, the unconventional design of DJI Osmo Pocket means that you won’t be able to use third-party housing easily. Note that the GoPro 8 can only go in the water to a depth of 10m (33 feet); otherwise, you’ll need underwater housing if you want to go deep (i.e., for diving). You can buy this housing from Amazon.

DJI Osmo Pocket vs GoPro Hero: Durability

The Osmo Pocket is not nearly as durable as a GoPro Hero 8, which is built to withstand drops, water, and just about anything you can think of when it comes to this feature.

If you drop your Osmo Pocket, there’s a good chance it will break the gimbal (I’ve done this). GoPro is made for adventures and can do just about anything with it. GoPro easily wins this category.

Size/Stealthness

I LOVE the size of the DJI Osmo Pocket. As you can see, it can fit in the palm of my hands, so you can throw it in your pocket and take it out easily to shoot amazing videos. It measures 121.9 x 36.9 x 28.6mm and weighs 116g, about half the length and width of an iPhone 11 Pro smartphone and two-thirds of the weight.

The GoPro Hero 8 doesn’t come with a handle to hold it, so you’ll have to buy an extra accessory if you want something to hold it with (which you will). I purchased the GoPro shorty mini extension pole, which is great, but it is an additional cost. Also, it looks much less stealthy with the stick and square shape on top than the Osmo Pocket.

DJI Osmo Pocket Vs GoPro Hero 8: Mobile App

The GoPro Hero 8 comes with the Quik app, which is amazing for making travel videos quickly on your phone. It takes your GoPro footage and automatically turns it into a video that you can export and share on social media. The downside is that GoPro connects to your phone via Wi-Fi, which can sometimes take a long time to transfer video files.

The Osmo Pocket can actually connect to your phone via a cable that goes into the power port, allowing you more control, faster video transfers, and exclusive features like motion time-lapses and active face tracking. It also has a built-in app for editing videos called DJI Mimo, but I like the Quick app more.

The Osmo Pocket wins for transfer speeds, but GoPro wins for the overall mobile app.

Osmo Pocket vs GoPro: Accessories

One thing I love about the GoPro Hero8 is that it doesn’t require a frame attachment to work with mounts or accessories. Instead, it now has two fingers that can be pulled out from the base to attach any existing GoPro mount or accessory securely.

When it comes to accessories, GoPro is King. You can buy so many different versions of selfie sticks directly through GoPro or off-market on Amazon. More to that, there are accessories for every sport imaginable – helmet mounts, bike mountains, snowboard mountains, etc.

The Osmo Pocket has a lot more limitations when it comes to attachments and accessories. However, one way it does beat the GoPro is that you can attach it to your smartphone and then use your phone screen to control it, allowing you more options for video control.

While the GoPro can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, this isn’t as seamless. However, I’d still give this category to GoPro as there are so many different accessories to choose from.

GoPro vs Osmo: Cost

The DJI Osmo Pocket sells for around 233 USD on Amazon, while the GoPro Hero sells for around 289 USD. So simply based on price, the Osmo Pocket is a better deal!

Check prices of Osmo Pocket on Amazon Here.

Check prices of GoPro Hero 8 on the GoPro website here

Check prices of GoPro Hero 8 on Amazon here

GoPro Hero 8 Vs Osmo Pocket: Overall Winner

As you can see, both cameras have amazing features, but the GoPro Hero 8 offers more in terms of what you can do as it can be attached to just about anything and can go underwater without accessories.

That’s not to say the Osmo Pocket isn’t a solid option. It’s an amazing travel camera and offers smoother video, much faster transfer rates, and exclusive features like motion time-lapses and active face tracking.

If you’re an active traveler like me and enjoy adventure activities like snorkeling, diving, paragliding, rock climbing, and all the other fun things, then the GoPro is the best option for you. If you take your Osmo Pocket on these kinds of adventures, it’s probably not going to go well. However, if you plan to do city sightseeing, then the Osmo Pocket may be a better choice.

Let me know which camera you prefer in the comments below!

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