The Osmo Pocket 4 has AI-powered tracking that beats any smartphone gimbal – but the US government banned it before Americans could even try it

I have used Osmo Pocket 3 before It use to follow you pretty well, but gets confused if someone walks between you and the camera.

I tested the Osmo Pocket 4. It’s fantastic. You can’t buy it.

I’ve been testing the new DJI Osmo Pocket 4 for a few days now. And I have a problem: I really, really like it.
That is the problem – because you can’t buy it in the United States.

If you’ve been searching for “why is DJI Osmo Pocket 4 not available in USA?” – you’ve come to the right place. The short answer is the FCC. The long answer is politics, a missed audit, and a whole lot of frustration for content creators.

The Osmo Pocket 3 was already my favorite vlogging camera. Tiny, gimbal-stabilized, ridiculously easy to use. I took mine to the Arctic, into crowded markets, on a moving boat – it never let me down. So when DJI announced the Pocket 4, I was skeptical. How much better could it be?
Turns out: a lot. But also, none of that matters if you live in the US.

The AI trick that actually works (Active Track 7.0)

Here’s the thing that surprised me most. The Pocket 4 has Active Track 7.0 – DJI’s latest AI-powered subject tracking. And it’s not the usual gimmick. You double-tap a person, a dog, even a bike, and the camera just… sticks to them. Like glue.

I tested it while walking backward through a crowd. The gimbal followed my face, kept me centered, ignored everyone else. Then I tried it with my dog running in a park – which makes this legitimately the best vlogging camera for dogs 2026. The Pocket 4 tracked her like a little robot paparazzi.
TechRadar calls it the “stickiest subject tracking” they’ve seen, and I agree.

Osmo Pocket 4 vs Pocket 3: Is it worth the upgrade?

Feature	Pocket 3	Pocket 4
Slow motion	4K at 120fps	4K at 240fps (8x slo-mo)
Dynamic range	~11 stops	14 stops (16 in low-light mode)
Photo resolution	9.4 MP	37 MP (SuperPhoto mode)
Built-in storage	None	107 GB
Battery life	1,300 mAh	1,545 mAh (4 hours runtime)
Charge speed	~45 min to 80%	18 min to 80% (32 min full)
Subject tracking	Active Track 6.0	Active Track 7.0 (zoom+photo)
Physical controls	Basic joystick	Pressure-sensitive joystick + 2 new buttons

If you already own a Pocket 3: don’t panic. The Pocket 4 is better, but not “throw away your old camera” better. The footage looks similar unless you’re pixel-peeping dynamic range or need that Osmo Pocket 4 4K 240fps slow motion test – which, honestly, is gorgeous.
If you’re buying your first vlogging camera? The Pocket 4 is the clear winner. Too bad you can’t get it.

🇺🇸 The US ban explained (FCC Covered List, NDAA, and confusion)

So why can’t Americans buy it? Here’s the DJI FCC Covered List April 2026 status update.

The US government added DJI to the FCC’s “Covered List” back in December. It’s part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – a security audit that never happened. When the deadline passed, the FCC banned not just DJI drones, but all of its “communications or video surveillance equipment.” That includes cameras, gimbals, wireless mics.

The Pocket 4 was submitted for FCC approval, but it didn’t get the green light before DJI landed on the list. So now it’s stuck in limbo. DJI says it’s “pending.” CNET points out that some previous DJI products (like the Osmo Nano) still show up at Best Buy and B&H, even if DJI’s own store won’t sell them. So maybe – maybe – the Pocket 4 sneaks through.
But PCMag’s reporter says an about-face is “as close to the highest setting on Douglas Adams’ Infinite Improbability Drive as it gets.” In English: don’t hold your breath.

🛒 How to buy DJI Osmo Pocket 4 in the United States (or not)

Here’s the honest truth: you can’t – not officially.
Your options right now:

• Wait. DJI’s lawsuit could change things, but that’s months away.
• Import from the UK or Australia. £445 (~$600) + shipping & fees.
• Buy the Pocket 3 instead. This is what I’d do.

💰 What to buy instead: DJI Pocket 3 price drop April 2026

The good news? The Pocket 3 is still available – and it’s cheaper than ever.
PCMag reports it’s selling for around $500 (down from $799 at launch). But I dug deeper. You can find “Renewed” or used units for as low as $399 on Amazon and eBay. For that price? It’s a steal.
The Pocket 3 doesn’t have Active Track 7.0 or 4K240 slow-mo. But it’s still the second-best vlogging camera on the market – and you can actually buy it.

⚔️ How it stacks up against the competition (Pocket 4 vs GoPro Mission 1)

You might be wondering about the Pocket 4 vs GoPro Mission 1 comparison. GoPro launched the Mission 1 series this year as a direct response to DJI’s dominance.
GoPro Mission 1: Tougher, waterproof, better for action sports. No gimbal – relies on digital stabilization (good, not great).
DJI Pocket 4: Much better image quality, actual mechanical gimbal, AI tracking. Fragile. Not for skydiving.
For vloggers? Pocket 4 wins easily. For mountain bikers? GoPro. But again – you can buy the GoPro in the US today. The Pocket 4? Not so much.

A few other smart upgrades

Built-in storage vs SD card: The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 built-in storage vs SD card debate is over. It has 107GB internal. That’s hours of 4K footage. Plus a protective door over the microSD slot – the Pocket 3 left it exposed. Thank you, DJI.

Charging: Using a 65W PD charger (sold separately), the Pocket 4 goes from 0 to 80% in 18 minutes. Full charge in 32. That’s faster than I can pack my bag.
Magnetic fill light: It snaps onto the gimbal, draws power from the camera. Small output, but perfect for dim bars and campfire shots.

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🤖 One last irony

As I was reading PCMag’s coverage of the ban, I noticed they have an AI-powered shopping assistant named “Maggie” embedded in the article. It helps you find products.
Meanwhile, the US government is blocking a camera with genuinely useful AI tracking.
So we get AI for shopping… but not for filming. Cool.

📌 Read next: Our full DJI Osmo Pocket 3 long-term review | GoPro Mission 1 vs DJI comparison