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November 3, 2026 · Compare · Camera

Ricoh GR IV vs GR III: is the upgrade worth it?

Two pocketable APS-C compacts with a fixed 28mm-equivalent F2.8 lens. The GR IV brings a new 7-element lens design, 5-axis stabilization, faster autofocus, a bigger battery and 53GB of internal memory; the GR III shares the same idea and Full HD video.

Why it exists. This page is for a GR III owner or buyer deciding whether the GR IV's changes are worth it: faster AF, 5-axis instead of 3-axis stabilization, a bigger battery, and 53GB internal memory with a microSD slot in place of full-size SD.

A snow-covered cross-country ski area at Spitzingsee below wooded mountains
Ricoh GR IV25.74MP · 5-axis SR · about 250 shotsTaken with the Ricoh GR IV. Photo: Strubbl via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
The Águas Livres Aqueduct and Lisbon rooftops at sunrise
Ricoh GR III24.24MP · 3-axis SR · about 200 shotsTaken with the Ricoh GR III. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Side-by-side specs

Ricoh GR IVRicoh GR III
SensorAbout 25.74MP APS-CAbout 24.24MP APS-C
Lens18.3mm (28mm equiv.) F2.8, 7 elements in 5 groups18.3mm (28mm equiv.) F2.8, 6 elements in 4 groups
StabilizationSensor-shift SR, 5-axisSensor-shift SR, 3-axis
AutofocusHybrid AF, face/eye detection; Ricoh says AF speed is improvedHybrid AF, face/eye detection
Battery (CIPA)DB-120, about 250 shotsDB-110, about 200 shots
StorageAbout 53GB internal + microSD (UHS-I)About 2GB internal + full-size SD
VideoFull HD 1080 at 60p/30p/24p, up to 25 minFull HD 1080 at 60p/30p/24p, up to 25 min
User settingsU1/U2/U3 on the mode dial

Specs from Ricoh's GR IV specifications and features, and the GR III specifications. ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.

Sample photos

Five photos taken with the GR IV and five with the GR III, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses, including the two at the top.

The Seu Vella cathedral of Lleida on its hilltop under a deep blue sky
Taken with the Ricoh GR IV. Photo: IM027 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A green Shinkansen train beside a covered station platform near Hakodate
Taken with the Ricoh GR IV. Photo: Sergiy Galyonkin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A white wood anemone flower among blades of grass
Taken with the Ricoh GR IV. Photo: Stephan van Helden via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
The Perlach heating plant in Munich with construction cranes behind
Taken with the Ricoh GR IV. Photo: Strubbl via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A stone archway and old houses in Tolve, Italy
Taken with the Ricoh GR III. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
An abandoned house with blue-framed windows and doors on Graciosa Island
Taken with the Ricoh GR III. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
A lit window above an arch in a narrow lane at dusk in Castellana Grotte
Taken with the Ricoh GR III. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Bare trees and reeds beside a small lake near Horhausen
Taken with the Ricoh GR III. Photo: Stephan van Helden via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Who should buy which

Get the GR IV if

  • You want faster autofocus and 5-axis stabilization.
  • You want more shots per charge: about 250 vs 200.
  • You like shooting to 53GB of internal memory, with microSD as backup.

Get the GR III if

  • You already own one and mostly shoot in good light.
  • You prefer full-size SD cards over microSD.
  • Full HD video and 3-axis stabilization are enough for you.

See our full GR IV review, and the GR IV vs GR IIIx and GR IV vs X100VI comparisons.

Where to buy

Ricoh GR IV

GR IV · APS-C · fixed 28mm-equiv. F2.8 lens

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Read the full Ricoh GR IV review

Ricoh GR III

GR III · APS-C · fixed 28mm-equiv. F2.8 lens

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Further discussion