DJI’s second 360-degree camera looks almost identical to its first. The changes are inside, and reviewers say they matter. This write-up draws on published reviews, not our own testing.
The Osmo 360 II arrives a little over a year after the original. According to Trusted Reviews, the two cameras share the same dimensions, weight, screen, mounting options and button layout. DJI decided the shape was not the problem.
What changed
The headline spec is native 8K video at 60 frames per second. Trusted Reviews calls it the first 360 camera to offer that, and Engadget describes it as the highest frame rate in the category. Expert Reviews adds that the camera has two 1-inch sensors, 10-bit video and a flat D-Log M profile.
The more practical change is the lenses. Both are now user-replaceable, either with DJI’s Lens Replacement Kit or through an authorised service centre, according to Camerajabber. That matters because a 360 camera’s lenses sit exposed on both faces. Trusted Reviews notes that the first model’s lenses could not be replaced cheaply, and that DJI had said it was not designed for underwater filming. The new model addresses both points.
Battery capacity rises from 1,950mAh to 2,150mAh, per Trusted Reviews, though that site says real-world stamina feels much the same as before. Its SuperNight low-light mode now runs at 60fps.
What reviewers saw
Image quality drew the most praise. Engadget, which scored the camera 8.7 out of 10, said the extra dynamic range gave more detail in shadows and highlights, and called the low-light footage some of the best it has seen from an action camera. It also said DJI had fixed its main complaint about the original: heavy motion blur from stabilisation in dim conditions.
SlashGear reached a similar view. It described the 8K/60fps footage as some of the best it had seen from a 360 camera, with good noise control in high-contrast low light. It did see footage turn slightly washed out in some scenes.
Expert Reviews called it one of the best 360 cameras money can buy, citing strong stabilisation and a “spotlight follow” feature that handles framing. Camerajabber was more measured. Side by side, it said, the footage is sharper, with better dynamic range and cleaner low light, but in daily use this is a refinement rather than a reinvention.
Price and the catch
In the UK the standard combo costs £509, according to Expert Reviews. The original started at £410, so the increase is about £100, a point both Expert Reviews and Trusted Reviews raise. Trusted Reviews says the new model is still cheaper than the Insta360 X6, its closest rival, and a more capable all-rounder than the GoPro Max 2.
Availability is the bigger problem for some buyers. Engadget lists lack of US availability as a drawback. SlashGear’s headline says the same thing more bluntly, calling the camera an upgrade if you can find where to buy it. We did not find a US price in the reviews we read.
Software draws mixed comments. Engadget says the DJI Studio app still needs work. Expert Reviews, by contrast, found the app and 360 workflow intuitive. Engadget also notes that 360 video remains soft compared with footage from a regular action camera, a limit it says the Insta360 X6 shares.
Who it suits
Reviewers mostly agree on the upgrade question. Trusted Reviews says existing Osmo 360 owners should probably skip it unless they need a specific new feature. For anyone buying a first 360 camera in a market where it is sold, the critics treat it as one of the strongest options available.
TechRadar’s October roundup of its top-scoring products says the camera fixes the first generation’s flaws and gives GoPro and Insta360 “a serious run for their money.”
- Video: 8K at 60fps, 10-bit, D-Log M
- Sensors: two 1-inch
- Battery: 2,150mAh
- UK price: £509 (standard combo)
- Weak points: price rise, software complaints, no US sale