DJI Osmo Action 6 action camera review: watch out GoPro and Insta360

DJI might be better known for its drones but the Chinese tech company got in on the handheld action camera market with the Osmo Action back in 2019. Its USP was its ‘RockSteady’ stabilisation (which DJI knows a thing or two about thanks to its history in gimbals) and its dual-screen design. Fast forward to 2026 and the Osmo Action is now on its sixth edition and positions itself as the successor to the GoPro. 

It has a point too. Able to shoot 8K video, waterproof to 20m and capable in temperatures from -20°C to 45°C, there aren’t many adventures on Earth that the Osmo Action 6 couldn’t capture. It has a rugged, thermoplastic shell that has survived the odd drop during testing. The replaceable battery and lens mean you don’t have to buy a whole new camera if certain parts of it do get damaged. 

That replaceable lens also means you can swap it out for aftermarket alternatives that change the angle of the footage. A FOV boost lens sent with the test unit produced a wider angle, creating a similar effect (albeit static viewing angle) to a 360° camera from a single lens, while a macro lens lets you get up close with your filming. 

Stress-free set-up

During testing, the Osmo Action 6 was the most straightforward to get started with, and this was partially thanks to its built-in 50GB of storage. It also has a slot for an SD card, meaning you’re not limited to its internal capacity. 

On firing up, it was possible to shoot straight away (unlike the Insta360 X5 that requires you to download the associated smartphone app). The inclusion of a dual direction adapter mount and a curved adhesive base in the box is a good entry point before you start playing around with mounts and harnesses. 

Smooth footage

The footage itself was incredibly smooth and it didn’t struggle with any ruts or potholes when mounted to a gravel bike. Its variable aperture also meant that, in low light settings like morning runs through woodland, it captured the natural light’s warmth rather than making everything look dark and washed out. 

One of the most notable features of the Osmo Action 6 is its square sensor. This means that you can shoot in 1:1 mode and the footage can be edited to work in horizontal or vertical formats – a boon for those who want to create cuts for different social media platforms without having to sacrifice one or the other, or modify any aftermarket accessories to mount the camera vertically. Its dual screens are also great for seamlessly switching between shooting POV or selfies. You don’t have to fiddle about flipping a screen up and down like with the Insta360 Go Ultra. 

Bottom line

Finally, the DJI smartphone app is more intuitive than the Insta360 alternative. This makes cutting, editing and polishing your content a slightly easier proposition, getting you on the path to triathlon influencer in no time at all.

DJI Osmo Action 6 specs