Just eight months after introducing the Osmo Mobile 7 Pro, DJI has already announced a follow-up. The new Osmo Mobile 8 doesn’t reimagine the now well-established design of the company’s smartphone stabilizers. But it introduces new functionality, including the ability to rotate and pan a smartphone a full 360 degrees, and support for Apple’s DockKit, giving the stabilizer another method to track and follow subjects autonomously while using a wider variety of camera apps.
Similar to other products that DJI announced this year, the company hasn’t finalized plans for a US or international release for the new Osmo Mobile 8. “The Osmo Mobile 8 is currently only available in China, and we do not have an estimated timeline for other markets at this time,” according to DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong. Pricing for the stabilizer there is 898 Chinese Yuan, or around $126.
The new OM8 features the same Multifunctional Module as the OM7, which attaches to the side of its now stronger and more secure magnetic phone mount. The module includes an LED fill light, doubles as a wireless receiver for DJI’s wireless microphones, and can track and keep subjects in frame by controlling the stabilizer’s movements, no matter what camera app you’re using. DJI has also upgraded the module’s tracking capabilities to include dogs and cats.
Battery life is still rated at up to 10 hours, and the OM8 carries forward its predecessor’s built-in tripod legs and 8.4-inch telescoping extension rod. DJI has also added a counterweight mount so the gimbal remains balanced even when you use a smartphone with a large lens or when other bulky accessories are attached.
