On June 2nd, during DJI’s “Twelve Years of Light and Shadow” handheld imaging tech summit, company spokesperson Zhang Xiaonan addressed the ongoing Pocket 4 shortage head-on, firmly shutting down rumors of hunger marketing.
Her message was straightforward: whenever stock hits the warehouse, it’ll ship across all channels immediately. The Pocket 3 has seen production ramp up steadily all year, with monthly output doubling back-to-back. As for the Pocket 4, orders have blown past expectations, so factories are running overtime to catch up. At the end of the day, it’s just a case of unprecedented market heat outpacing early production forecasts.
Dropping some major numbers during the event, Zhang also shared that by 2025, global Pocket series sales had officially smashed through the 10 million unit mark.
Let’s quickly recap what we’re dealing with here. The DJI OSMO Pocket 4 launched on April 16th this year, packing a 1-inch CMOS sensor capable of shooting 4K video at 240fps, boasting a massive 14-stop dynamic range, SmartFollow 7.0, and 2x lossless zoom. It’s loaded with new shooting modes, too. You can grab the Standard Kit for 2,999 RMB or go for the Ultimate Bundle at 3,799 RMB.
But that’s not all. Earlier this year, DJI teased the Osmo Pocket 4P, a dual-camera handheld gimbal featuring another 1-inch CMOS paired with a 3x medium telephoto lens. With 17 stops of dynamic range and the D-Log 2 pro color profile, DJI is positioning it squarely as a “cinema camera that fits in your pocket.”
The shortage hit hard right from the start. Back before the May Day holiday, reports noted that the Pocket 4 was sold out everywhere online. Within days of launch, platforms ran dry, offline store waitlists stretched out over a month, and the official website became the only reliable drop point. Meanwhile, scalpers on secondhand markets were listing units at steep markups.
Fast forward to June 3rd, and if you check any major e-commerce site, you’ll see the Pocket 4 is still officially out of stock. Customer service at DJI’s flagship store put it plainly: “Restocks are scheduled for 11 AM daily, but quantities vary. Set an alarm, log in early, and you’ll stand a chance.”
On the bright side, if you can’t wait, the store is currently running a limited-time discount on the Pocket 3. You’re looking at savings of up to 1,400 RMB, bringing prices down to 2,299 RMB. Specifically, the Standard Kit drops from 3,499 RMB to 2,299 RMB, while the Ultimate Bundle falls from 4,499 RMB straight to 3,099 RMB.
It makes sense why the frenzy is so intense—the handheld gimbal market is exploding. According to recent IDC data, the global handheld smart camera market (which covers action cams, 360° cameras, and gimbals) witnessed serious acceleration last year. Shipments hit 16.65 million units, up 83% year-over-year, while total revenue smashed past 46.1 billion RMB, jumping 86%.
DJI isn’t just participating; they’re dominating. They command a staggering 62% market share by volume, crossing the 10-million-unit shipment milestone for the first time. Every single product line is hitting its targets, cementing their lead even further.
The report points out that short-form video, Vlogging, and social media creation are fundamentally shifting how people shoot. Traditional cameras are taking a back seat to handheld smart cams because they’re ridiculously portable, plug-and-play simple, and deliver buttery stabilization. IDC projects the global market will swell to 40 million units by 2030, riding a steady 20% compound annual growth rate over the next five years.
When a pie that big starts growing, everyone wants a slice. Other tech giants are circling the handheld gimbal space now, which means DJI’s current monopoly is likely about to face some serious heat.
Taking direct aim at DJI’s Pocket lineup, vivo officially confirmed they kicked off internal Vlog camera development back in late 2025. They’ve already assembled a dedicated team of nearly 100 engineers, with a launch slated for 2026. “Our goal is to roll out a device built around a completely fresh design approach before the year ends,” shared vivo President and COO Hu Baishan.
Adding to the buzz, Blue Whale News reports that insider sources claim Luxshare Precision will handle manufacturing for vivo’s Pocket gimbal. Expect it to land in Q4 of this year, sporting a 1/1.1-inch sensor, with initial inventory plans targeting roughly one million units.
Following vivo’s move, news broke last September that OPPO jumped into the ring as well. Their upcoming handheld smart camera will target market leaders like GoPro and DJI. The project falls under the Find series planning department’s smart imaging squad, led by Li Yang, the former GTM for the Find lineup.
And let’s not forget DJI’s biggest rival in imaging, Insta360. They’re rolling out their own handheld gimbal gear soon. The Luna Ultra, a joint venture between Insta360 and Leica, made its grand debut earlier this year at the NAB 2026 show in Las Vegas (April 19–22).
This thing is packed. It features 6x optical zoom plus advanced hybrid zoom, carries the Leica co-branding stamp, and shoots stunning 6K at 50fps or 4K at 120fps in 10-bit i-Log. Thanks to a sleek modular build, you can detach the gimbal from the main body, keeping the whole chassis under 150 grams. Plus, it comes with a removable OLED touchscreen.
Back on May 14th, founder Liu Jingkang stepped in to address complaints about the Luna’s steep pricing. He confirmed the rumored prices—5,299 RMB for the standalone unit and 6,499 RMB for the full kit—but clarified that those figures applied strictly to the US market. He initially joked that selling overseas at a premium would somehow subsidize domestic buyers, but just minutes later, he quietly edited the post. The “subsidy” comment vanished, replaced by a more standard explanation pointing to higher operational costs abroad.
Insta360 isn’t stopping at cameras either. They’ve officially crossed into DJI’s home turf: the drone market. Last December, leveraging their third-party incubator brand Antigravity, they dropped their very first panoramic drone, the Antigravity A1. Starting at 6,799 RMB, it rolls out in three solid configurations, including a base model and a long-battery-life edition.
To keep up with mounting external pressure, DJI has strategically diversified far beyond their consumer drone roots. They’re now heavily invested in handheld imaging, agricultural drones, automotive autonomous driving, and even robot vacuums.In a recent media interview, founder Wang Tao admitted that the role has shifted dramatically for him. What used to be purely about deep-tech engineering has now “forced” him to evolve into a multi-business line executive juggling everything.
