Danny Weber
09:23 04-12-2025
© A. Krivonosov
Hands-on with DJI Osmo Action 6: a square 1/1.1-inch sensor, variable f/2.0–f/4.0 lens, 4K/120 video, RockSteady stabilization, dual OLEDs, 64GB and Wi‑Fi 6.
The DJI Osmo Action 6 comes across as an action camera designed not just to be faster and sharper, but to match how people actually shoot in 2025: horizontal footage for YouTube today, vertical clips tomorrow, and then a quick handoff to a phone for trimming and posting without extra hassle. Pepelac News got one of the first units of this new generation and is ready to share early impressions.
The core intrigue of the Osmo Action 6 lies in the pairing of sensor and optics. DJI uses a new square 1/1.1-inch CMOS sensor, and the square idea is here for a reason: it gives more framing flexibility, especially when the same material needs to be repurposed for both 16:9 and vertical 9:16 without turning the edit into a fight for pixels. In practice it feels like extra breathing room along the edges—less stress for stabilization, more options when cropping, and an easier life for those who shoot on the fly and build the story later on a phone.
The second half of the duo is a lens with a 155° field of view and, unusually for an action camera, a variable aperture of f/2.0–f/4.0. This feels like a rare upgrade that truly matters, since action cams often hit limits not in resolution but in light and image control. Open the aperture for more light in dusk or overcast conditions; stop it down to manage exposure in daylight and handle depth of field more gracefully without constantly reaching for ND filters. It’s fair to say the adjustable aperture is one of the headline ideas of this model.
On video, DJI takes a pragmatic route: a focus on 4K and high frame rates rather than chasing exotic 8K for its own sake. The specs list 4K up to 120 fps in several formats, including 16:9, 4:3, and vertical 9:16, plus a dedicated 4K Custom at 3840×3840—the very square that’s convenient to slice for different platforms. For a first look, that sounds spot-on: capture the trip, the action, a self-shot against the road—and decide at home what becomes a long-form piece and what turns into a 20‑second clip. The maximum bitrate is 120 Mbit/s, with MP4 (HEVC) encoding, signaling a modern edit workflow and a sensible file-size balance.
Stabilization has traditionally been an Osmo Action strength, and the sixth iteration supports RockSteady 3.0/3.0+, HorizonBalancing, and HorizonSteady, with mode and frame-rate caveats. That matters for sports: a camera that holds horizon and keeps the image together over bumps saves hours in post and makes raw footage publishable. Holding off on conclusions from real-world use is deliberate—around here there’s neither proper snow nor clean asphalt yet. Still, the emphasis on multiple stabilization modes and their fps limits already frames the choices: sometimes the call will be between maximum smoothness and maximum slow motion.
On the hardware side, the Osmo Action 6 looks grown-up. The 149 g weight and compact dimensions stay within the usual action-cam logic, while water resistance to 20 meters without a housing and up to 60 meters with one means rain, splashes, and puddles become non-issues. Two OLED screens (a 1.46-inch front and 2.5-inch rear) with claimed brightness up to 1,000 nits on the back display hint that this camera isn’t just for a helmet mount and forget setup—it’s meant to let you glance at framing and settings under direct sun.
The storage approach is a pleasant surprise. There’s 64 GB built in, with about 50 GB available, plus microSD support up to 1 TB—handy for those who prefer to start without a card and for those who shoot long and often. Wireless includes Wi‑Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, which in practice means snappier transfers to a phone and steadier links to accessories. Audio is captured by three microphones, raising hopes for cleaner speech and less wind in everyday scenarios, though how it holds up at speed is best verified on the road.
On paper, battery life sounds boldly optimistic: up to 240 minutes under specific conditions (1080p/24 fps, stabilization on, screens and wireless off). Translated from lab to real life, that reads more like a promise of headroom than a guarantee of four uninterrupted hours. Still, the intent to prioritize endurance matters: an action camera shouldn’t beg for a charger at the most exciting moment.
There’s also market context that rounds out this first look. In China, the camera went on sale immediately after its premiere, and this unit was purchased there a few days later. On the official website, the base kit—camera, battery, and protective case—starts at 3,000 yuan. Availability in other countries remains an open question, as DJI has yet to share details.
As expected, the Osmo Action 6 comes in several bundles with different accessories, from extra filters and batteries to an underwater housing and a wide range of mounts.
As a first encounter, the impression is this: DJI has again built a camera that aims to be an everyday tool rather than a once-a-year vacation toy—leaning on flexible framing from the square sensor, more deliberate light control from the variable aperture, and practical recording modes where 4K/120 is a workhorse for action, not a gimmick. The most telling part will come with the riding season: how stabilization handles vibration, how confidently the camera manages exposure in the road’s patchy light, how voice sounds inside a helmet, and how the battery holds up during constant shooting with frequent starts. Once the roads dry out, those answers will shape the final verdict; for now, it looks like a strong and very logical step forward.