DJI Osmo Action 6

The Osmo Action 6 feels like DJI pushing its action camera towards being a small but serious creative tool rather than just a rugged clip-on recorder. The headline changes stand out. A square image sensor lets you decide between landscape and portrait framing after you've shot. A variable aperture is something action cameras rarely offer. Optional lenses, including a macro attachment, suggest DJI wants it used well beyond helmet and handlebar footage.

That makes it a strong fit for creators who post to both horizontal and vertical platforms. It also suits vloggers who rely on the front touchscreen to frame themselves, and anyone who regularly shoots at dusk or indoors, where reviewers say its low-light performance still leads the field. Motorcyclists, cyclists and water-sports users get the usual tough, waterproof build. They'll mostly benefit from the reframing flexibility and the reported good thermal behaviour.

Going by the verified claims, this is a refinement with genuinely useful new ideas rather than a spec-sheet bump. The ability to reframe after the fact is the feature we'd value most day to day. It removes the need to choose orientation in the moment, or to shoot twice. The adjustable aperture and macro lens option add creative range that rivals in this class don't typically match. Reviewer consensus on low-light image quality reinforces DJI's reputation in that area.

Practical reports are encouraging too. Digital Camera World couldn't make it overheat and found battery life good. The dual-microphone support was singled out as handy for interviews, though only one source reported this.

It isn't flawless. Bennetts BikeSocial observed lens flare in some conditions. It also found that the “lossless” zoom doesn't fully live up to its name, so don't treat digital zoom as a free lunch. The body has grown very slightly over its predecessor. That's unlikely to matter to most, but it's worth noting for anyone with existing mounts or tight setups.

Several of the more practical observations, such as audio, flare, overheating and battery, come from single reviews. Our confidence in those specifics is therefore moderate rather than absolute. On balance, at £329 it looks like a compelling, versatile action camera. It earns a high score, held back slightly by the optical quirks.