DJI Pocket 3 leaks suggest the long-awaited video camera is close to launch
A closer look at the imminent Pocket 3
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The charming littleDJI Pocket 2video camera is now almost three years old, but some fresh leaks suggest that its long-awaitedDJI Pocket 3successor is nearing an official launch.
The source of several new Pocket 3 images, including close-ups of its camera module and larger screen, is@Quadro_Newson X (formerly Twitter), an account that has reliably leaked almost every newDJIproduct this year.
Strangely, one of the leaked images shows the new Pocket mounted on a tripod. That’s a slightly unusual setup considering the main appeal of the Pocket series is that they’re gimbal-stabilized4Kcameras that are great for handheld shooting (which explains why the Pocket 2 is still among thebest vlogging camerasaround).
Still, the Pocket 2 is also an excellent camera for panoramas and timelapses, which might explain the image below – and two other interesting features in the Pocket 3 leak are what look like a larger, rotating screen and a slightly bigger camera module.
👉Wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle, but no fate) A friend DJI Pocket 3 looks at the sunset and waits…#dji #djipocket3 pic.twitter.com/dsiPmjKjfjSeptember 26, 2023
One of our main criticisms of the Pocket 2 was that its small touchscreen was fiddly to use, and not great for previewing your shots. These new leaks suggest DJI has fixed that with a new larger display that also rotates for portrait shots, which should mean that users no longer need to rely on DJI’s companion app.
Aseparate imageof the Pocket 3’s camera module unfortunately doesn’t confirm that it’s definitely getting an imaging upgrade on the Pocket 2’s smartphone-style 1/1.7-inch sensor with a 20mm f/1.8 lens.
But the proportions of the camera and lens do look a little larger than the Pocket 2, so it seems likely that DJI’s new version could get the same 1/1.3-inch sensor as the one seen in theDJI Osmo Action 4andDJI Mini 4 Prodrone.
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Analysis: the Pocket still has great potential
DJI might be best known for making most of the world’sbest drones, but the Pocket series has carved out a popular niche among video shooters, because it still does things that smartphones can’t.
Video stabilization on smartphones like theiPhone 15 Pro Maxhas improved dramatically since the Pocket 2 launched, withApple’s new Action mode capable of some impressive results when combined with its new 5x telephoto lens (as shown recently by YouTuberTyler Stalman).
But there are still unique advantages to having a gimbal-stabilized camera like the one on the Pocket 2 and upcoming Pocket 3. Because the camera can move independently of the camera body, it can use autofocus-tracking to follow solo videographers around a scene – or automatically shoot a smooth, clean timelapse.
The main drawback of the Pocket 2 has been its reliance on dated camera hardware. And while the Pocket 3 may not bring the 1-inch sensor that many fans have been calling for, a larger one like the 1/1.3-inch chip seen on DJI’s most recent launches would certainly be a big improvement.
We don’t yet have an exact Pocket 3 release date, but the increasingly frequency of these leaks suggest it isn’t far off – and DJI could even decide to launch on the third anniversary of the Pocket 2’s release, which would be October 20.
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Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he’s contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph’s Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London’s Square Mile.
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