Vivo has confirmed plans to develop a vlog camera targeting DJI's Pocket series, marking a strategic push by smartphone manufacturers into the handheld gimbal camera segment. The device is expected to launch in 2026, according to a report by Jiemian News.

The move comes as DJI prepares to release new Pocket series models in the first quarter of 2026. DJI's Osmo Pocket 3, launched in 2023, has demonstrated the market's substantial potential, selling over 10 million units through September 2025 despite persistent supply shortages. The device's 1-inch sensor and compact form factor have made it a category-defining product.

Multiple sources indicate that several smartphone manufacturers are evaluating similar vlog camera product lines. The strategic rationale centers on three key factors that align with existing capabilities and market conditions.

Smartphone makers hold inherent advantages in research and development, as vlog cameras share significant supply chain overlap with mobile devices. Companies can leverage existing imaging algorithms, supplier relationships, and engineering teams, reducing both technical barriers and development costs.

The product category also offers insulation from certain cost pressures affecting the broader consumer electronics sector. While rising memory chip prices strain smartphone margins, vlog cameras primarily rely on external storage cards, minimizing exposure to volatile onboard memory costs.

The smartphone industry's sustained competition in mobile imaging has cultivated both a technical foundation and user base primed for content creation. Years of camera feature development have established imaging expertise among manufacturers and created consumer awareness around video production capabilities. This coincides with growing demand for personal content creation across internet platforms.

The tablet market's trajectory provides additional context for the shift. After surging during the 2020 work-from-home period, tablet sales have declined, prompting manufacturers to identify new growth avenues. Vlog cameras represent a logical extension of existing competencies into an adjacent market with validated demand.