DJI has released the Osmo Pocket 4, a new pocket-sized stabilized camera, but anyone living in the United States will have a hard time getting their hands on one. The company launched the device internationally without a US release, according to a report from The Verge, leaving American creators to either import the camera or wait—and possibly wait indefinitely.

Dominic Preston of The Verge got his hands on a unit and published a review that compares the Pocket 4 directly to the popular Pocket 3. The review is available in full at TheVerge.com. Beyond that, few concrete details about the camera’s specs, pricing, or availability have been confirmed in the source material.

What the limited source information makes clear is that DJI continues to face headwinds in the American market. The company has been on the US Commerce Department’s entity list since 2020 over national security concerns related to its drone products. While the Osmo series of cameras is not explicitly drone-related, the broader regulatory climate has made it difficult for DJI to bring new consumer devices to American store shelves. The Pocket 4’s absence from the US is the latest example of that chill.

For anyone familiar with the Osmo Pocket line, the Pocket 3 was a standout piece of gear when it launched in late 2023. It packed a 1-inch sensor, a gimbal-stabilized camera, and a swiveling touchscreen into a body small enough to slide into a jacket pocket. Video creators loved it for vlogging, travel filming, and run-and-gun work where a full gimbal setup would be overkill. The Pocket 4 is presumably an evolution of that formula, but without a US launch or detailed specs, we’re left working from Preston’s impressions alone.

Preston’s review reportedly focuses on what has improved since the Pocket 3. That suggests DJI didn’t just refresh the design with a new coat of paint—the company made real upgrades. But because the source material does not include a breakdown of those improvements, this article will not speculate on what they might be. Readers interested in the specifics should head to The Verge for the full review.

The timing of the launch is also worth noting. DJI has not made a formal announcement about US availability, and it is possible the company sees the American market as increasingly hostile for new product introductions. The US government has restricted the use of DJI drones in federal agencies and proposed legislation that would further limit the company’s footprint. Consumer cameras like the Osmo Pocket series may not be directly targeted by those rules, but the atmosphere has made retailers cautious about stocking DJI products. Best Buy, for example, stopped selling DJI drones in 2023 after pressure from lawmakers. A similar dynamic could be at play with the Pocket 4.

For US-based creators who have been waiting for the Pocket 4, the options are limited. Importing from a country where the camera is available might work, but that carries risks: no warranty support, potential customs issues, and uncertainty about compatibility with the DJI Mimo app if regional restrictions apply. Some may decide to hold onto their Pocket 3 or look at alternatives like the Insta360 GO 3S or a traditional gimbal-plus-smartphone setup. Others might simply wait to see if DJI eventually ships the Pocket 4 to US stores after the regulatory dust settles.

It is rare for a major consumer electronics product to launch everywhere except the United States. Apple, Samsung, and Sony generally make sure their new devices hit the US first or at least alongside other major markets. DJI’s decision to skip the US with the Pocket 4 is a signal of how strained the company’s relationship with the American market has become. It may also be a calculated move: rather than fight through legal and logistical barriers, DJI is focusing on regions where it can sell freely.

None of this, of course, tells us whether the Pocket 4 is actually a worthy upgrade. We know it exists, we know Dominic Preston has tested it, and we know it is not coming to the US—at least not yet. Those are the facts. Everything else is reading the tea leaves.

SysCall News will follow up with a deeper analysis of the Pocket 4’s specs and performance once more details become available. For now, if you are outside the US and looking for a compact stabilized camera, the Pocket 4 might be worth tracking down. If you are inside the US, you might want to bookmark that Verge review and start saving up for a flight abroad.