When it was first released, DJI Osmo Action offered a lot of advantages over the GoPro flagship model of the time, Hero 7 Black. It has remained a popular choice since then. However, we now have GoPro Hero 9, and these two action cams seem to be very attractive choices. Below, we are going to compare GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action to find out which one is the best action cam in the market right now.
Highlights of the comparison:
- GoPro Hero 9 has followed DJI Osmo Action by introducing a color display on the front
- GoPro Hero 9 is a little bit bigger and heavier, but it packs more power
- GoPro Hero 9 sets itself apart with the robust app and subscription service
- DJI Osmo Action has a better, more responsive touchscreen
- DJI Osmo Action is not only cheaper but also without any recurring fee
- GoPro Hero 9 is for the absolute best output quality, whereas DJI Osmo Action is for easier usability and practicality
Contents
GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action: Design
It is surprising to see GoPro Hero 9 for the first time. While previous models were made to keep consistent dimensions, GoPro Hero 9 has decided to abandon all that. This new action cam is a little bigger and heavier at 2.8” x 2.2” x 1.3” and 5.6 ounces. Obviously, many old accessories won’t be compatible with this model, so it comes with its own set of stuff. Read also: Gopro Max vs Insta360 One X2.
However, GoPro Hero 9 is still a fairly compact 4K camera, and is definitely the smallest that supports 5K recording. Plus, it makes use of the additional space really well. It works with a larger battery, features a wider touchscreen on the rear, comes with a full-color display on the front, and once again has a replaceable lens. What’s more, the action cam is truly tough; it is waterproof to a maximum depth of 33 feet without requiring any additional housing. You can go even deeper by equipping one.
The interface remains similar to that of the previous model, Hero 8 Black, which is a good thing. You can quickly access custom video presets. Meanwhile, the front screen is really handy for framing your shot and whenever you want to put yourself into the view.
DJI Osmo Action is the smaller and lighter unit of the two. It measures 2.6” x 1.7 “ x 1.4” and weighs only about 4.4 ounces. Various mounts and cases are available for this action cam. And, just like the GoPro, DJI Osmo Action is waterproof by itself without any additional housing – to a maximum depth of 36 feet, slightly deeper than GoPro Hero 9.
The rear touchscreen is really nice and easy to use. It also has a smudge-resistant finish, which is very convenient. You only need to swipe in certain directions to access various modes and settings quickly. DJI Osmo Action was among the very first action cameras featuring a full-color front display. You can switch the front display between the center crop view and the letterbox view.
| GoPro Hero 9 | DJI Osmo Action | |
|---|---|---|
| Shop now at Amazon | click here | click here |
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| Product Dimensions | 9.08 x 5.42 x 3.25 inches | 2.56 x 1.65 x 1.38 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.11 ounces | 4.4 ounces |
GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action: Connectivity
You can add a number of accessories, which are called Mods, to GoPro Hero 9. As mentioned above, the increased dimensions mean this action cam is not compatible with old accessories. But you can add various mounting shoes, plus the Media Mod (a powerful weather-resistant external mic for serious audio recording), a 2-inch front-facing LCD mod, a light mod, and the Max Lens Mod (a 155-degree lens with a horizon lock that is available in every stabilization mode).
Of course, GoPro Hero 9 also comes with built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. There is also a USB Type-C port for computer connectivity and charging, and a MicroSD slot for storage. The camera works with an impressive battery; it can last for 80 minutes when recording in 5K at 30 fps – which is even longer than what its predecessor GoPro Hero 8 can do in 4K at 60 fps.
DJI Osmo Action does not have a microphone input, but there is a possibility to use a 3.5 mm adapter on the USB-C port for an external mic. It also lacks the GPS, but at least it still has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The action cam works with the DJI Mimo mobile app, available for Android and iOS devices, for remote control and live feed. A MicroSD slot is of course available for storage.
The battery life is decent, but it can’t exactly beat GoPro Hero 9. DJI Osmo Action can record up to 55 minutes in 4K at 60 fps. However, if you drop it to 30 fps, you can record continuously for up to 90 minutes, which is still quite impressive.
GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action: Features
One small issue with GoPro Hero 9 is the touchscreen control, which is a little bit slow and unresponsive. Fortunately, you can always use your smartphone for remote control, or, alternatively, use voice commands. If you don’t want the camera to randomly listen to your talks when you are not recording, you can toggle the Wake on Voice so that the camera will only listen when it is turned on.
The GoPro app is robust, user-friendly, and functional, and the automated edits are really handy. It will also allow you to record short clips of specific lengths. The Hindsight mode will buffer 30-second shots continuously and will save the recording only when you want to.
You can then pair it with the GoPro subscription service. In fact, the price of GoPro Hero 9 already includes a one-year subscription. This will allow you to use the camera for live streaming to YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. You also get an unlimited cloud storage, 50% discounts on GoPro’s official accessories, and up to two replacements a year if you somehow manage to break the camera. Note that the replacement is not free, but the cost is much cheaper than buying a new camera. After one year, the subscription costs 50 USD a year.
The control of DJI Osmo Action is generally better. It is more responsive, hence allowing an easier and more pleasant operation. Of course, you can also use your smartphone as a remote control, or even use voice commands.
The lens is protected by a transparent filter, which is replaceable. You can swap it with a neutral density (ND) filter, which is great for maintaining an ideal shutter speed when shooting in bright light. There are also polarizer and underwater color-balance filters, which are effective in their own ways.
The DJI Mimo mobile app works as expected. It is intuitive and easy to use. You can transfer your photos and videos directly via the app, which is very convenient. The file transfer is fast and smooth. There is no streaming feature, but at least there is no recurring fee associated with the software.
GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action: Image Quality
In terms of image quality, GoPro Hero 9 is the champ, and perhaps the very best action cam in the market right now. It can capture 5K videos at 30 fps or 24 fps, which is an awesome thing if you want to create some cool content or cinema project. In 4K, you can use a maximum frame rate of 60 fps. Slow-motion videos are possible in 2.7K at 120 fps, or in 1080p at 240 fps.
You can capture still images in 20 MP. Alternatively, you can pull out still images from your 5K recordings in 14.8 MP. The color quality is very good, and there are various color filters that are ready for use right away. You can switch easily between the wide-view modes and the linear mode, and the HyperSmooth image stabilization, which is really effective, is available in every mode.
DJI Osmo Action is a very good action camera, but it can only capture videos in up to 4K at 60 fps. It can also create slow-motion videos in 1080p at 240 fps. You can switch the aspect ratio between landscape and portrait modes. However, in portrait mode, the frame rate is limited to 30 fps and the image stabilization is not available.
Talking about the image stabilization, it is quite good, but it is not at the same level as GoPro Hero 9. With DJI Osmo Action, you can still see subtle artifacts from the removed shakes and jitters. Meanwhile, for still images, the maximum resolution is 12 MP.
GoPro Hero 9 vs DJI Osmo Action
Conclusion
Between the two, GoPro Hero 9 is the better action cam. It is a very powerful action camera with better features, connectivity, and image quality. The HyperSmooth image stabilization is particularly amazing. However, if you want something that is more budget-friendly, DJI Osmo Action is a good alternative.