DJI has established itself as the leader in producing smartphone gimbals with its Osmo Mobile lineup. The latest additions for smartphone videography are the Osmo Mobile 6 and the more budget-friendly Osmo Mobile SE. These compact yet powerful gimbals allow anyone with a smartphone to shoot smooth, stabilized footage on the go.
While the flagship Osmo Mobile 6 offers some premium features and design flourishes, the pared back SE retains the core stabilization functionality in a more affordable package. Both can transform your smartphone footage, but each caters to slightly different users and budgets.
Launch Dates and Pricing
The most obvious difference between the Osmo Mobile 6 and Osmo Mobile SE is the price.
The Osmo Mobile 6 launched on September 22, 2022 and is DJI’s flagship smartphone gimbal originally priced at $159. It is currently priced at $149. See the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on Amazon.
The Osmo Mobile SE arrived a little later in early 2023 as a more affordable entry in the Osmo family, originally priced at $109 and currently priced at $99. See the DJI Osmo Mobile SE on Amazon.
Key Differences
Despite the pricing gap, the core stabilization gimbal functionality remains largely the same between the two gimbals. Both have the same ActiveTrack and gesture control features, so the SE is not dumbed down on software.
But the Osmo Mobile 6 does showcase some standout features and design upgrades over the stripped down SE.
1. Osmo Mobile 6 has a Selfie Stick
A key difference is the Osmo Mobile 6’s selfie stick, which was first introduced on the OM5. The SE lacks this extendable arm, meaning you can’t get the same high and long angle shots, as well as record selfies from a higher and further distance.
I own the Osmo Mobile 6 and Insta360 Flow, both of which have an extendable selfie sticks, and occassionally use them to get high angle shots in my travel vlogs, especially when I find myself in busy crowds.
2. Osmo Mobile 6 has the new Side Wheel
The OM 6 features a unique side wheel controller for manual focus and zoom adjustments. The SE only has a slider on the side to adjust zoom like you find on the older OM4 and OM5 models. The side wheel allows for more smoother zooming in and out than the slider.
3. Osmo Mobile 6 has the Quick Launch Feature
The Osmo Mobile 6 gives you the option to enable Quick Launch. When enabled, snapping on your phone to the gimbal using the magnetic clamp will automatically launch the DJI Mimo app. This saves you time because you don’t need to manually open the app before shooting.
4. Slight Size and Weight Differences
There are a few differences in size, but they are both pretty compact, especially when folded. Surprisingly, the Osmo Mobile SE weighs more even though it lacks the selfie stick, partly due to its bigger battery capacity.
Osmo Mobile 6:
- Unfolded dimensions: 276×111.5×99 mm (L×W×H)
- Folded dimensions: 189×84.5×44 mm (L×W×H)
- Weight (Gimbal): 305 g
- Weight (Magnetic Phone Clamp): Approx. 25 g
Osmo Mobile SE:
- Unfolded: 262.5×119.5×104 mm (L×W×H)
- Folded: 167×108.5×46.5 mm (L×W×H)
- Weight (Gimbal): 352 g
- Weight (Magnetic Phone Clamp): 31 g
For handling, the Mobile 6 boasts a slightly more ergonomic grip design versus the SE.
5. Osmo Mobile SE has (slightly) longer battery life
Battery life favors the cheaper SE, with its 18650 Li-ion battery providing 8 hours versus the 6.5 hours from the Osmo Mobile 6’s Li-Po 2S battery. However the Mobile 6 recharges faster.
On the software side, the Mobile 6 debuts a handy Quick Launch feature where it powers on instantly when unfolded. The SE still boots very quickly with the push of a button however.
6. Osmo Mobile SE has better range of motion
The to gimbals have similar ranges of motion in the pan and roll axes. However, the Osmo Mobile SE has a much wider range of motion in the tilt axis compared to the Osmo Mobile 6 (-106.54° to 235.5° vs -101.64° to 78.55°).
Who Should Buy What?
With more similarities than differences between the two gimbals, which Osmo Model is right for you? Here are some guidelines:
The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is ideal for:
- Those who constantly mount and unmount their phone (quick launch feature)
- Those who will make use of the integrated selfie stick
- Those who value precision control from the manual focus/zoom wheel
- Users who need faster recharge times between shoots
The DJI Osmo Mobile SE is better suited for:
- Casual users on a budget
- Travelers who need the longest battery life possible (though difference is small)
- Those who will never need the built-in selfie stick/extension pole
- Those who want a less limited tilting range of motion
Personally, I think the small but thoughtful features the Osmo Mobile 6 provides makes it worth the extra price. Even if you don’t think much of them individually, they come in handy at unexpected times and make for a better experience overall.
However, the Osmo Mobile SE costs one-third less than the Osmo Mobile 6 while retaining the same core gimbal performance, making it a sensible choice for those who don’t mind its small shortcomings. There are also other gimbals worth considering, like the Insta360 Flow and Hohem iSteady M6 and MT2, which I discuss in my iPhone gimbal buying guide.