DJI Osmo Nano review – pro power, smaller than a GoPro, and you can wear it? Is this the future?

Not so long ago action cameras all looked like GoPros. Times have changed; even GoPros don't all look like GoPros (on the same day this camera launched, that company eschewed its traditional launch schedule for a 360 degree camera and one with a built-in light).

The Osmo Nano is a tiny, waterproof, body-wearable camera which can go in all kinds of places – round your neck, on your hat, hidden in a glass of water if you want – and still be operated remotely via the live view on the detachable monitor. The camera is super lightweight. it can also last for ages with the extra battery power and the touchscreen of the dock attached magnetically – and serve as a vlogger's best friend because it can be mounted either way around.

This body-worn category was something DJI flirted with back with the Action 2, before seeming to go hard for the 'classic' GoPro category with its other Action cameras. Now, with a high-quality offering in the best action camera guide, it seems DJI is back in this game. Perhaps it also adds some spice that the company's biggest domestic rival, Insta360, has a series of body-worn action cameras, the latest of which – the Insta360 Go Ultra – has only just been launched?

It's clearly a case of doing battle, so is this the camera to win?

DJI Osmo Nano: Pricing

There is no other way to say this: at launch the DJI Osmo Nano pricing is incredibly good value. It is MUCH cheaper than the GoPro Hero Black 13 or the Insta360 Go Ultra despite having similar camera specifications to the GoPro and similar remote operation and tiny lightweight cleverness to the Go Ultra.

DJI Osmo Nano: Specifications

DJI Osmo Nano: Build and handling

Shaped like a small rectangle, a bit larger than my thumb, with a pronounced lens at one end, the the camera shares the dark semi-transparent plastic build material that we have seen on some DJI microphones, though in this case with a rough finish that makes it look more matte (and feel reassuringly like it won't slip out of the hand).

The rectangle makes it easier to balance on some surfaces, and it can be magnetically mounted to, say, a fridge. The shape makes it very easy to work out which way up you've put the camera if you don't have the dock to hand.

On the subject of the dock, you'll find two sprung buttons at either end to release the camera because, once you've dropped it into place it is guided in by magnets but held by clips which need to be released. I found this reassuring. To switch the camera into 'vlogging mode' (i.e. to put the lens facing the screen side) you'll need to physically remove it and turn it this way because there is only an OLED display – a touchscreen – on one side of the dock, but that isn't really an inconvenience. I would argue it's something of an advantage compared to using the smaller vlogging screen on the DJI Action 5 Pro or the GoPro Hero 13.

Using the screen is, I think, something of a personal experience. I know some people are happier with the GoPro menu system, but I have long used DJI devices (mostly drones) and feel familiar with the iconography. The menus seem very logical to me and have clear icons on the 2-inch screen, which is sharp and bright, so I had no issues.

There is a 5-use limit before activation which irks me, but DJI are far from alone with that kind of feature these days. You'll just need some wi-fi.

When the camera is not connected to the dock, my experience was that an hour was about the limit of battery life you could rely on, but it charges fast when re-connected (DJI say 80% in 20 minutes). DJI say 200 minutes at 1080P/24fps are available but, again, in reality you'll likely have wi-fi and other features on which will bring this down.

No problem at all if you use the device for occasional action, but a power bank or the mains is the only way to top up the charge (via the dock's USB-C port) for continuous recording. The camera will also connect to DJI's microphones, though in my testing I did find the stereo mics picked up my talking to the camera reasonably well even where there was some background noise.

DJI Osmo Nano: Performance

In my testing I was throughly impressed with the camera to be honest. Despite the small size, the camera showed little evidence of fringing and when I made things challenging – walking toward the sun, for example, the auto modes seemed to know what to do, important as you're unlikely to be playing with a lot of manual settings with a device like this.

The HorizonBalancing and RockSteady 3.0 image stabilization systems are not equivalent to the gimbals on a drone (or like those like DJI's Osmo Mobile 7 for phones), but the results are up there with the best of action cameras.

The camera can shoot in 10-bit flat profiles for grading (though its SuperNight Mode is 8-bit and 30fps only) but is able to handle all but into direct sun otherwise, where there was some inevitable – and entirely forgivable – image blow out.

The low light does use AI smoothing, as you would expect, but it's of good quality (especially given the device size).

Walking though creepy dark wooded pathways in East London isn't as nice as West London, but it also shows the camera handling less light and still finding the color – even if that color does come from litter!

Simple aspects of the system performance – menu swipe speeds and the like – were never remotely laggy or slow either, despite the relatively high resolution OLED.

DJI Osmo Nano: Overall verdict

Not long ago, you would need to spend premium prices to get this kind of image quality, and you still wouldn't have got close to the level of flexibility that the tiny size makes possible. Given that, for my money the Nano might actually be a better choice as an action camera than a traditional GoPro (or, of course, DJI's excellent alternative, the Action Pro 5).

In other words, DJI has created a choice, and one which makes the action camera market a bit harder to navigate. Now you have to choose between small and very rugged cameras and tiny and still quite rugged cameras, and I suspect that – for most casual creators – it is more useful to have something you can occasionally attach to your chest or your pet's collar than a camera with replaceable batteries, because we're all used to charging devices these days.

Power is the crucial compromise. With the traditional GoPro/Action Pro you can replace the main battery and carry a stack. Here you can't. But this isn't just a device for the TikTok generation; sensible management of that power and it's also an asset that can get seemingly impossible angles for any production because of that 10-bit video – but short-form users need not even worry.

Is this perfect? Not quite. There are some things I'd have liked to see which you can find elsewhere, like an adjustable angle on the magnetic pendant (which is worn underneath clothing), but the field of view is wide enough this isn't a big issue. The high-end options and the flexibility are very tempting (and the UI didn't trouble me).

DJI Osmo Nano: Alternatives

The Insta360 Go Ultra is another tiny wearable waterproof action camera (with a very slightly bigger image sensor), making it the obvious alternative. It misses out on 10-bit recording, but it has some subtle improvements when it comes to things like an adjustable magnetic pendant. The flip screen design also provides for a larger touchscreen visible from either side, and a slightly more traditional camera body shape.

DJI's own Osmo Action 5 Pro is still just about my pick for the best action camera at the time of writing, but it's a close call. If you're looking for something a little more rugged and with longer battery life then this is the way to go – but you will sacrifice the wearability. Traditional 'GoPro' shaped cameras like this are a bit heavy for wearing on a lot of clothing without a heavy chest strap.

How I test

Testing action cameras, especially body-worn ones like this, is mostly about getting out there and using it in different circumstances. There are a lot of difference scenarios that DJI Osmo Nano can be used in, so testing is in as many of them as possible is my main goal – that is mounted to clothing, used as a vlogging camera, and attaching to objects.

Features I'm especially keen to check on include those promoted by the company, but I'm also always on the look out for day to day practicality, which includes everything from running the battery down.

I use my own MacBook Pro M3 to review most of the video and images, which has a good 16-inch screen that gives a chance to get into the detail.