DJI Osmo Action 4 vs Insta360 Go 3S

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Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 4

DJI Osmo Action 4☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 4
DJI's 2023 premium action camera: 4K120fps video
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is DJI's 2023 premium action camera and features 4K120fps video, over 3 hours of run time at full HD in a very rugged package. It has since been replaced by the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.
  • Pros
  • 59ft / 18m waterproof without case
  • Freeze-proof
  • Excellent image stabilization
  • Cons
  • Only 4K video

Overview of the Insta360 Go 3S

Insta360 Go 3S☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 Go 3S
Insta360's latest wearable camera: 4K video in a tiny package
The Go 3S is an amazing pocket action camera offering of 4K video in a very small package. With the ActionPod pairing, it becomes a more traditional action camera with extended battery life and a flip screen.
  • Pros
  • Tiny footprint
  • 4K video
  • Modular design with ActionPod
  • Cons
  • Not waterproof with ActionPod
  • Storage not extendable with SD cards

Comparison of the Action 4 vs the Go 3S

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Video performance

Only the Action 4 offers HDR video. Both cameras feature slomo video. The two cameras have image stabilization.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
4K video at 120fps
Max resolution
4K video at 30fps
4K
HDR video
HDR video unsupported
8x at 1080p
Maximum slow motion
6x at 1080p
RockSteady 3.0+
Stabilization
Flowstate
Why it matters: A high resolution will give you crisp footage but also allow you to reframe your video without losing too much quality. A higher framerate (fps) will result in smoother video and is important when filming action scenes or fast moving subjects. Image stabilization is a crucial feature for an action camera, as it removes camera shake, vibrations, rotation and other movements that deteriorate your final footage.

Battery life

The Action 4 offers a much larger battery capacity. The Action 4 has a removable battery whereas the Go 3S's battery is not removable
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
1770mAh
Battery capacity
310mAh
Removable
Removable battery
Removable
160min at 1080p
Battery life
38min at 1080p
Feature missing
Battery extension capacity
1270mAh
Feature missing
Battery extension run time
140min at 1080p
Why battery life matters: Nothing worse than running out of battery just before capturing the best footage of the day! A long battery life is reassuring and convenient when shooting footage outdoors where options to charge are limited. Even the use of a power bank can be tedious or simply impossible like when filming watersports. Having removable batteries allows battery swapping on the go which further extends your runtime.

Storage

Only the Go 3S features built-in storage. Only the Action 4 supports SD cards, the Go 3S is therefore limited to it's built-in storage. The Action 4 supports a lot more storage than the Go 3S.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
No built-in storage
Built-in storage
64GB or 128GB
microSD
Storage format
Storage not extendable
512GB
Maximun storage supported
128GB
Why storage matters: High quality footage can quickly take up lots of space and insufficient storage can soon be frustrating. Having a large amount of storage and the possiblity to extend it or swap SD cards while on a outing will ensure you will always be able to capture the footage you want. However, smaller, wearable action cameras often rely on built-in storage because of their small size.

Weight and size

The Go 3S is a lot more compact than the Action 4. The Go 3S is a lot lighter than the Action 4.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in / 70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm
Dimensions
1.01in x 2.14in x 0.98in / 25.6mm x 54.4mm x 24.8mm
5.11oz / 145g
Weight
1.38oz / 39.1g
Why size and weight matter: Weight is important for action cameras because we often mount them on helmets, or hold them at the end of a selfie stick while moving. Therefore a heavier camera can be difficult or uncomfortable to film with. Weight is even more crucial for certain sports like road cycling or running.

Waterproofing and usage conditions

The Action 4 is a lot more waterproof. Both the Action 4 and the Go 3S are waterproof to 197ft / 60m with a diving case. Both cameras have the same minimal usage temperature. The Action 4 beats the Go 3S in high heat conditions.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
59ft / 18m
Waterproof
33ft / 10m
197ft / 60m
Waterproof with diving case
197ft / 60m
-4°F / -20°C
Min operating temperature
-4°F / -20°C
113°F / 45°C
Max operating temperature
104°F / 40°C
Why it matters: Most action cameras are waterproof for accidental splashing or use above water, but if you plan on Snorkeling or Scuba Diving, we recommend choosing a camera which offers a diving case and always using it for underwater footage. If you plan on filming Snowboarding, Skiing or other wintersports in extremely cold conditions, you should pick a camera that is rated for those temperatures, most cameras are only rated down to 14°F / -10°C. Many action cameras are prone to overheating, even in ordinary conditions, so if you plan on filming in hot environments, you should choose a camera that can function at high temperatures.

Camera and sensor technology

The Action 4 and the Go 3S both feature a similar resolution. With 155°, the Action 4 features a much wider field of view than the Go 3S. The Action 4 has a slightly better video bit rate than the Go 3S.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
10MP
Pixels
12MP
155°
Field of view
134°
130Mbps
Video bite rate
120Mbps
Why it matters: A higher amount of pixels will offer better quality footage and higher resolution photos. A higher field of view means that the camera captures over a wider angle and therefore more action can be seen in the final footage. Some cameras require accessories to enable the maximum FOV. A higher bitrate at a similar resolution will offer higher quality video.

Camera settings

The Action 4's 100-12800 ISO range is far superior to Go 3S's. Both cameras have the same exposure compensation adjustments.
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 Go 3S
100-12800
ISO range
100-3200
+/-4
Exposure Compensation
+/-4
Why these settings matter: The ISO range and exposure compensation settings will mostly allow you to tweak your action camera for low light situations.

DJI Osmo Action 4 versus Insta360 Go 3S specifications

NameDJI Osmo Action 4Insta360 Go 3S
Year of release20232024
Width2.78in / 70.5mm1.01in / 25.6mm
Height1.74in / 44.2mm2.14in / 54.4mm
Depth1.29in / 32.8mm0.98in / 24.8mm
Weight5.11oz / 145g1.38oz / 39.1g
Waterproof59ft / 18m33ft / 10m
Waterproof with diving case197ft / 60m197ft / 60m
Min operating temperature-4°F / -20°C-4°F / -20°C
Max operating temperature113°F / 45°C104°F / 40°C
Battery capacity1770mAh310mAh
Removable batteryYesNo
Battery life160min at 1080p38min at 1080p
Charging time49min-
Battery extension capacity-1270mAh
Battery extension run time-140min at 1080p
Battery extension charging time-65min
Battery extension weight-3.4oz / 96.3g
Built-in storage-64GB
128GB
Storage formatmicroSD-
Storage rating requiredV30 or UHS-3-
Maximun storage supported512GB128GB
Rear screen size-With Action Pod
Front screen size-With Action Pod
Field of view155°134°
Sensor1/1.3"1/2.3"
Pixels10MP12MP
ApertureF2.8F2.8
Focal length-16mm
ISO range100-12800100-3200
Color Depth10bit8bit
Video bite rate130Mbps120Mbps
Exposure Compensation+/-4+/-4
360-degree videoNoNo
4K video120fps30fps
2.7K video120fps30fps
1440p video-50fps
1080p video240fps50fps
Slow motion at 4K4-
Maximum slow motion8x at 1080p6x at 1080p
HDR video4K-
StabilizationRockSteady 3.0+Flowstate
Video formatH.264 (MP4)H.264 (MP4)
Live streamingNoNo
Timelapse modeYesYes
Starlapse modeYesYes
Timeshift modeYesYes
Loop recording modeYesYes
Subject trackingNo-
Photo burst modeNoNo
RAW format supportedYesYes
Microphones32
Stereo audioYesYes
Noise reductionYesYes
Audio formataacaac
Wifi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11a/n/ac
BluetoothBLE 5.0BLE 5.0
USBType-C USBType-C USB2.0
GPS integratedNoNo
GPS pairingGPS remoteGarmin device
Apple Watch
Voice commandsYesYes
Gesture commands-Yes