DJI's reputation rests largely on its drone lineup, but at CES 2018 the company turned its attention away from the sky and toward handheld gear. Alongside a freshly announced gimbal built for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, DJI introduced a brand-new Osmo Mobile tailored for steadying iPhone footage.
The standout revelation? The pricing. The new Osmo Mobile 2 will cost just $129—and yes, that number is real.
For roughly two years, the original Osmo has been on the market, and it continues to earn praise from mobile filmmakers worldwide. Yet it came with notable shortcomings, the most glaring being its price. When it first hit shelves, the device retailed at $299.
With the Osmo Mobile 2, DJI appears to have addressed nearly every complaint aimed at its predecessor. The asking price drops to $129—a massive reduction compared to what the original still sells for. The unit is also lighter, and relocating the battery internally extends runtime from five hours up to fifteen per charge. The tripod threading has finally been repositioned to the bottom of the handle, and a built-in USB port lets you top off your phone directly from the gimbal.
Several fresh features arrive on the Osmo Mobile 2 as well, including an onboard zoom slider that joins returning favorites like active tracking and motion timelapse. Perhaps the most exciting addition for the social-media crowd, however, is native portrait video support—meaning your Snapchat clips and Instagram Stories can now enjoy the same buttery smoothness.
Sales kick off at the Apple Store, where pre-orders open on January 23. In February, the device will roll out through DJI's own storefront and authorized retailers, while Apple expands its offering to additional regions.
