To some people, this comparison might seem daft. However, as someone who has owned and used both cameras since launch, as well as their predecessors, I can safely say that it’s a valid one.

Scope

I’m looking at these two devices from the perspective of someone who uses them to document travels and create vlogs. I’m not skydiving, deep-sea diving, or racing across dunes. I use these cameras as straightforward camcorders to document my life, a use case that I believe is shared by the majority of their owners. Finally, I’m not affiliated with DJI, and I paid for both cameras myself.

Camera Concepts

While both devices might appear to be small, pocketable cameras, they are fundamentally different. The Action 6 is a solid brick with no moving parts and a robust, fully waterproof body. The Pocket 4 uses a gimbal-mounted camera that offers superior image quality and stabilisation, but it’s also very delicate. One camera can be used without much thought, while the other requires constant care to avoid an expensive repair bill.

Use Cases

I’ve used both cameras extensively, and my use case for each is slightly different. For travel and everyday use, I feel the Action 6 is superior because it doesn’t add any mental clutter. You don’t need to worry about it breaking; you can throw it into your bag, put it in your pocket, or carry it almost anywhere.

When I’m travelling, I always have my main photography camera with me, which already requires some of my attention. If I also use the Pocket 4, I need to think about where to store it without damaging the gimbal. I need to consider whether there is any water or dirt nearby because the camera has no weather sealing. I also need to check which way the gimbal is pointing because it has a tendency to drift. Eventually, my attention begins to shift away from photography and being present, towards operating the Pocket 4.

The Action 6, on the other hand, requires almost no attention. The conditions don’t matter, and because there is no gimbal, I know exactly what the camera is recording: whatever it’s pointing at.

Features

These two cameras share many features, but depending on your needs, one might be more suitable than the other. If you want to place the camera on a stable surface and have it track you as you move around the scene, the Pocket 4 is the only option. If you want to mount your camera in tight or awkward places, the Action 6 is superior.

If you want to take your camera swimming, the Action 6 is the only option. If you’re happy to charge your camera throughout the day, the Pocket 4 is fine. If you don’t have time for that and need to swap batteries quickly, you’ll need the Action 6. As you can see, there are plenty of trade-offs. You just need to decide which ones matter most to you.

Gimbal vs Digital Stabilisation

The biggest difference is how the two cameras stabilise their footage. The Pocket 4 uses a physical gimbal, while the Action 6 uses a fixed sensor with excellent digital stabilisation. Both produce very smooth footage, but that’s where the similarities end. If you’re on a boat, in a car, on a plane or train, or in any other moving environment, the Pocket 4’s gimbal can drift. This makes maintaining a locked-off composition very difficult. If you’re walking around and want to whip the camera in another direction, the gimbal can’t react instantly. Equally, if you want to point it quickly towards the ground or sky, it takes a moment to catch up.

You don’t have any of these issues with the Action 6. You can mount it to a moving object knowing that the composition won’t change unexpectedly. Where the Action 6 falls short is that its digital stabilisation needs ample light to work at its best. Naturally, this means its stabilisation quality can deteriorate at night or in other low-light conditions. The Pocket 4 doesn’t suffer from this problem because its stabilisation is mechanical.

Image Quality

This is an easy win for the Pocket 4. It has a much larger sensor, and its footage doesn’t need to be digitally stabilised. You also get the full D-Log picture profile rather than the more limited D-Log M profile. The Pocket 4 produces a cleaner, more detailed image across a wider range of lighting conditions. Its combination of a larger sensor and faster lens also creates pleasing natural bokeh. Last but not least, the Pocket 4 has continuous autofocus, while the Action 6 uses fixed focus optimised for subjects farther from the camera. This means that close-up shots taken with the Action 6 may not be in focus.

Summary

These are two very different cameras designed for different use cases and audiences. The Action 6 is for almost everyone. You can use it to document your travels, film your family, hand it to your children, ski down a mountain, go snorkelling, or mount it to your motorbike. It’s hassle-free and requires virtually no attention after you press record.

The Pocket 4 is for people who want to take their filming skills to the next level and create more professional-looking footage. Its image quality is outstanding and, when graded well, can rival footage from much larger cameras. The downside is that you get a camera that demands more attention and is relatively fragile. I would only recommend the Pocket 4 to people who want to take video seriously.