The DJI Osmo Mobile 3 phone pod is finally in your bag

The DJM Osmo Mobile 3 is the third generation compact phone stabilizer gimbal that allows you to take better videos. The company added some new modes, significantly updated the software and even improved the button layout. But the most important novelty is that it bends in half.

The Osmo Mobile 3 folds and locks now in an extremely small form factor and much easier to store. There are no latches or locks to do it either; just click up and down. The best part is that once you have put your phone in it, only the roll axis needs to be adjusted by sliding your phone from left to right. I can already say that this is much less complex than the previous generation, which could be difficult to balance.

DJI has kept the same layout of the physical buttons while adding the trigger of Osmo Mobile 1. These commands communicate with the DJI Mimo application of your phone via Bluetooth 5.0. It's very fast and I have not had a connection problem in recent days.

A feature that does not seem very serious but that actually counts is the ability to quickly switch between portrait and landscape modes. Just double-press the M button on the cardan so that the phone automatically rotates the phone. This is a huge upgrade from Mobile 2 which required manually switching the increase by unscrewing a latch on the gimbal.

This has the added benefit of leaving the bottom port of your phone open in both orientations. This means that you can leave an external charger or mic plugged in when taking pictures in landscape mode, which Mobile 2 can not remove.

The grip is comfortable with more of an angle leading to the cardan than in previous models. DJI has also added a sticky pad where your palm rests. With only 405 g, the Osmo Mobile 3 is a bit lighter than previous models, making it easier to hold for long periods.

Although the hardware has been improved, many important changes have been made to the software, via the DJI Mimo app. It now includes DJI's computer vision tracking software, Active Track 3.0, a Hyperlapse setting, and some creative shooting modes like "Mode".

There is a gesture control feature that may work well if you shoot solo. When she sees you flash a peace sign, the application starts to film and activates Active Track 3.0. It blinks to let you know that he has found you, and then again when he starts recording. Active Track 3.0 follows a face, then moves the gimbal so that face remains in the frame. Unfortunately, it only works on people, and it can be a buggy. Once he has lost a face, he clings to random objects in the frame or to the nearest human face that he can find.

The Osmo Mobile 3 has a new "sport mode" that allows the cardan to react much more quickly to the user's movements. This is especially useful when tracking a fast subject, such as a biker or a thrown ball. When I was running with Osmo Mobile 3 for a day, I had almost never left Sport mode. I felt more sensitive. But I also use weekly gimbals to the Edge and had self-control to know that you have to slow down to get smooth shots. If you do not have any experience with the gimbals, it may be a bit too fast to get a usable shot.

DJI claims that the Mobile 3 recharges from 0 to 100% in about 2.5 hours, with a battery life of 15 hours with a full charge. It recharges via USB-C.

The DJM Osmo Mobile 3 is already available. It starts at $ 119 for the standard version, which includes a wrist strap, a storage pouch and non-slip pads. That's $ 139 for all this, with the Osmo Mobile Grip Tripod and the Osmo Mobile Carrying Case. If you want to shoot yourself, the tripod mount is a must, and for just $ 20 you'll avoid your arm having to constantly hold the basket while it's on.

The Osmo Mobile 3 is ideal for those who want to make perfectly smooth shots with the camera already in their pocket. Professionals will certainly be better off with one of the stabilizers that DJI manufactures for larger cameras (or one of DJI's competitors). Nevertheless, Osmo has priced this gadget very aggressively to make it an impulsive buy possible for those who spend a lot of time recording videos with their smartphone.

Photograph of Becca Farsace / The Verge