ChoiceQuill is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission. You pay the same price either way.
As the flagship of Xtra’s range, the Muse is a pocket gimbal camera with a 1-inch sensor. It sells for $419, which is a drop from its $699 list price.
It is also the most talked-about camera the brand makes. People bring it up for its specs, and for the hardware it seems to have in common with a DJI model.
To see whether the Muse stands on its own, we went through the 15 reviews on Xtra’s site. We also read a long independent review from a photography site that bought a unit with its own money, plus the FCC filings cited by outside reporters.
Spec Sheet Highlights
For the price, the specs are genuinely strong:
- Color in 10-bit X-Log
- Up to 120fps at 4K
- A 1-inch CMOS sensor
- A mechanical 3-axis gimbal run from a 2-inch touchscreen
Master Follow tracking keeps a subject framed on its own.
A native vertical shooting mode is built into the software. That means you do not have to rotate the gimbal head by hand for TikTok or Reels framing.
What Comes in the Box
The box holds a carrying bag, a wrist strap, a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging and the camera itself. A handle with a 1/4-inch thread, made for tripods, is included too.
There is also a webcam mode over USB. One independent reviewer singled it out as a surprise standout for people working from home.
What the Independent Reviewer Liked
That review came from a photography-focused site with no tie to Xtra. It judged the camera very solid, even for someone who is not a dedicated vlogger.
The reported strengths include:
- Battery life of roughly 2 hours, plus a 35-minute recharge
- A hot-dog-sized body that weighs about 180 grams
- Startup in 5 seconds
- Sharp, colorful footage when the light is good
Where It Falls Short
The same reviewer flagged real weaknesses as well. The built-in microphone is underwhelming, and close-up macro shots are a struggle.
Fine adjustments feel cramped on the touchscreen, though the phone companion app eases that. The app itself has menus left untranslated and now and then throws up a surprise pop-up.
The camera has no built-in storage, so plan on buying a microSD card on its own.
The DJI Question
PetaPixel and The Verge are among several outlets that have reported on the Muse hardware. Even the circuit boards seen in FCC filings are said to be a close match for those in the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
A security researcher who looked through the companion app reportedly came across thousands of references to DJI’s software left behind in it.
Whatever the true relationship between the two companies, the practical result for buyers is a Pocket 3-class camera for $70 to $280 less than DJI charges. The Muse has a native vertical mode that DJI’s own camera lacks. It does not work with DJI’s Bluetooth microphones.
Is It Worth Buying?
Anyone after gimbal footage from a 1-inch sensor, without DJI’s price tag, will find the Muse a strong value. It ranks among the better bargains in its category at the moment.
That holds as long as the unresolved question of who actually makes it does not bother you.
Vloggers and casual creators will get the most from it. Skip it if your work depends on pin-sharp macro shots or a polished companion app.