DJI has officially taken the wraps off its next-gen action camera, the Osmo Action 6, marking a major global release only a week after its debut in China. But there’s a twist for US buyers: DJI says the Action 6 will not be sold through official US channels at launch, and there’s no estimated timeline for when that might change. That hasn’t stopped third-party resellers from scheduling their shipments, though!
For now, the closest officially available alternative in the States remains the Osmo Action 5 Pro, which continues to serve as DJI’s top-tier offering for US customers until the political dust settles.
If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. DJI’s recent products — from the Osmo Mobile 8 to the Mini 5 Pro — have been launching internationally while skipping, delaying, or detouring around the American market altogether. And it has little to do with production pipelines or global demand.
DJI, headquartered in Shenzhen, is operating under intense scrutiny from US lawmakers and regulators, a pressure cooker that has only amplified over the last year.
- The US Department of Defense has repeatedly raised national-security concerns over Chinese supply-chain links.
- US Customs and Border Protection has intermittently detained DJI imports under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, jamming up logistics.
- Pending legislation in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act could even restrict DJI’s access to FCC authorizations, which would effectively block future product sales in the US
Against that backdrop, DJI seems to be taking a “global first, America later” approach. And Action 6 is simply the latest example. Still, if history is any guide, US customers may not be completely shut out. Products like the Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Osmo 360, and OM 8 quietly slipped onto Amazon and other reseller listings despite no official DJI presence. So don’t be surprised if early Action 6 units eventually surface from third-party sellers.
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What’s new in the DJI Osmo Action 6?
Where the politics are complicated, the tech is straightforward: the Osmo Action 6 is a major leap in action-cam capability. DJI is pushing several “industry firsts” with this device, starting with its headline feature: DJI’s first-ever variable aperture in an action camera.
Most action cameras lock you into a fixed aperture. Osmo Action 6 breaks that norm with a variable aperture ranging from f/2.0 to f/4.0, giving creators more flexibility across bright outdoor scenes, indoor shooting, and low-light environments.
In Auto mode, the camera intelligently adjusts aperture based on the environment — from city lights at night to sunlit mountain trails. There’s even a Starburst mode that turns bright points of light into dramatic star patterns, perfect for skyline shooters and night vloggers. Pair the camera with DJI’s add-ons, and things get even more creative:
- Macro Lens (optional): shifts the minimum focus distance from 35 cm to 11 cm — great for food close-ups, pets, or handheld vlogging.
- FOV Boost Lens (optional): pushes the field of view from 155° to an ultra-immersive 182°, ideal for POV biking, skiing, or surfing.
And that’s not all. The Action 6 packs a 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensor, one of the largest sensors ever in an action camera. Combined with DJI’s 2.4 μm fused pixels, the camera promises:
- Up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range
- Clean low-light footage
- 4K/120fps in a 4:3 format
- A new SuperNight mode that captures 4K/60fps in extremely dark scenes
Creators who color grade their footage will appreciate 10-bit D-Log M support and an on-screen preview for real-time monitoring.
DJI’s square sensor unlocks another clever feature: 4K Custom mode, which lets you film first and frame later. Want a vertical clip for Reels and a horizontal version for YouTube? You no longer need to rotate the camera or re-shoot; simply crop in post.
Taking slow motion even further, the Action 6 can generate up to 32× super slow-mo at 1080p, equivalent to footage interpreted at 960fps. Stabilization includes RockSteady 3.0 / 3.0+, HorizonBalancing, and HorizonSteady (full 360° roll correction). So even if you flip a mountain bike or tumble down a slope (hopefully not), the horizon stays perfectly level.
The Osmo Action 6 is every bit the rugged adventure cam: IP68 rated, waterproof to 20 m without housing, 60 m with housing, rated down to -20°C for skiing and cold-weather shooting, 4-hour battery life, with fast-charging to 80% in 22 minutes, and 50GB internal storage, a lifesaver for moments you forget your SD cards.
Gesture controls, intelligent tracking, portrait mode, built-in film tones, and natural wide FOV round out the feature set.
One sleeper addition: the Action 6 can directly pair with two DJI microphone transmitters at once — including Mic 2, Mic 3, and Mic Mini — without needing a receiver. Perfect for interview-style vlogging, two-person travel content, or recording ambient sound and voice-over simultaneously.
All in all, the Osmo Action 6 marks one of DJI’s most sophisticated action-camera upgrades ever. Unfortunately, geopolitical headwinds mean American creators won’t see it on official shelves anytime soon. But whether units eventually slip in through resellers, as they often do, remains to be seen. For now, US buyers can keep making the most of the Osmo Action 5 Pro.
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