Well, That New-Year Impulse Buy Arrived a Little Sooner Than Expected!

It’s a big day for digital geeks — CES 2018 (the International Consumer Electronics Show) is here. What makes it especially gratifying is that today’s headliner comes from China: DJI, the global leader in consumer drones.

DJI brought the Osmo Mobile 2 smartphone gimbal. Compared to the first generation, battery life has more than tripled, a zoom slider has been added, the structure is now foldable, it supports both landscape and portrait shooting, and it even introduces a motion time-lapse mode.

But the real headline is the price: ¥899. Keep in mind, the first-generation Osmo Mobile cost ¥1,999. I can only imagine how those who rushed to buy the original during the Double 12 shopping festival are feeling right now.

Here’s a closer look:

Battery Life

The Osmo Mobile 2’s handle panel is noticeably cleaner. The new mode button doesn’t just switch between gimbal modes — it’s also the power button. Battery life clocks in at a solid 15 hours.

Zoom

The W-T zoom rocker is a staple on every consumer camcorder, and this kind of smooth, electronically controlled zoom should have been on a smartphone gimbal ages ago. The Osmo Mobile 2 places the zoom slider on the left side of the handle, right where your index finger can reach.

Portrait Mode

Gone are the days of everything being 16:9 or 21:9. A growing number of content teams are experimenting with vertical video, and supporting both orientations means broader compatibility — not to mention better support for the diversity of live-streaming apps.

It may seem like a minor feature, but selfies are clearly better suited to vertical framing. Compared to a perfect head-to-chest composition, no gorgeous live-streamer wants random clutter creeping in from the sides.

Storage and Portability

Anyone who’s used various stabilization rigs knows the struggle — irregular shapes are a nightmare to carry around, and they’re pure torture for anyone with OCD. When folded, the Osmo Mobile 2’s three axes sit flat on a single plane, and the whole thing weighs just 485 grams. Thumbs up.

Power

The idea of charging a camera directly from a power bank is nothing new — mini USB has long been standard (minus a few stubborn manufacturers). But reverse charging? That’s rare. And the Osmo Mobile 2 pulls it off. When your phone runs out of juice, the gimbal can sacrifice its own battery to act as a power bank.

(It’s hard not to think back to when Smartisan launched the Nut Pro, and Luo Yonghao announced the Android phone could charge an iPhone — the crowd erupted in laughter.)

My Take

When you really think about it, the Osmo Mobile 2’s pricing makes perfect sense. The first-gen Osmo Mobile was an impressively polished product, but the market was still in its infancy back then. Factor in production costs, and that nearly ¥2,000 price tag wasn’t just about separating themselves from knock-off brands — it was about establishing brand equity. After all, it was their debut product; DJI must have put in 100% to make sure every user who picked one up said, “Yeah, this is worth it.”

Things are different now. Live streaming has become the norm. Trade-show coverage, outdoor adventures, even ride-hailing drivers can all turn into live-stream content. And the two biggest pain points for outdoor live streaming are battery life and portability. Going from 4.5 hours to 15 hours, from an irregular shape to a foldable design — DJI’s upgrade is genuinely thoughtful.

With this little gadget, you can slap on your phone and a power bank, zoom smoothly, shoot travel time-lapses, and freely switch between landscape and portrait — a real win for selfie-loving streamers. Unlike the shoddily built mechanical stabilizers floating around on Taobao, the Osmo Mobile 2 offers genuinely intuitive control.

DJI has been pushing hard into the entry-level market lately, including pint-sized drones like the SPARK. These little gadgets are priced to be accessible, but every one of them delivers real, tangible utility. You won’t feel like you just bought a toy. You won’t get bored after two days and toss it in a drawer to collect dust.

A more diverse product lineup gives users more options — and gives tech enthusiasts a clearly visible upgrade path to pursue. When your market share is big enough, then you segment your users. DJI’s CES debut? No complaints here.