DJI has unveiled its latest smartphone stabilizer, the Osmo Mobile 8, but American consumers won’t be able to get their hands on it just yet. This new release follows a pattern for the company, which has launched three phone gimbal stabilizers in just seven months. While the Osmo Mobile 8 is available globally, the U.S. remains conspicuously absent from its launch list.
This news comes as no surprise given DJI’s ongoing struggles navigating the American market. Earlier this year, Mashable reported that DJI was facing significant roadblocks in conducting business within the U.S., primarily due to government-imposed challenges. In July, the company revealed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection had been detaining its popular drones on allegations of forced labor, a claim DJI vehemently denies. This hasn’t just impacted drone sales; various products on DJI’s website, including cameras and mobile accessories, have been marked as “out of stock” in the U.S. for months.
A Familiar Product with Notable Features
Interestingly, the Osmo Mobile 8 itself doesn’t represent a dramatic leap forward from its predecessors, the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P, which debuted in February. While not groundbreaking, the new model boasts some notable additions:
- 360-degree camera pans: This allows for wider, more dynamic shots.
- Pet tracking: Aimed at capturing those furry friends in motion with greater ease.
- Apple DockKit compatibility: Enables the Osmo Mobile 8 to leverage an iPhone’s camera capabilities for object tracking.
The Osmo Mobile 8 was initially released in China just two weeks ago, selling for roughly $126. While it’s not yet available in the U.S., the previous models, the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P, are still readily accessible in stores. The Osmo Mobile 7 is priced at $89, while the Osmo Mobile 7P, featuring an extension rod and a Multifunctional Module for enhanced tracking and third-party camera app integration, comes in at $129. Mashable’s tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, has praised the Osmo Mobile 7 as the best phone gimbal he’s used, and DJI assures buyers that it will remain available.
The situation with DJI raises questions about the future of its presence in the U.S. market. While American consumers can still purchase some of its products, the repeated delays and exclusions suggest ongoing friction between the company and American authorities.
