A few months ago, DJI released the DJI M4T, a combination of the superior features of the DJI M30T and the compact size of the DJI Mavic 3, plus new features that aren’t in its predecessor. Having used both drones for a similar project, I put together this comparison. I discuss the new features introduced in the DJI M4T, the areas in which it excels and fails, how it compares to the M30T, and if it’s worth the purchase.
DJI M4T Overview
The DJI M4T, released in January 2025, is currently the latest enterprise drone. A similar but more rugged version, the Matrice 4D, was released alongside the DJI Dock 3. It’s compact and light and has a suite of features that make it applicable for various industries, from construction inspection and monitoring to wildlife monitoring and surveillance.
DJI M30T Overview
Released in 2022, the DJI M30T is a workhorse for surveillance, monitoring, inspection, mapping, and other industrial applications. Even with the release of the DJI M4T, the DJI M30T is not obsolete and still fits in most industries today.
DJI M4T vs. DJI M30T – The Comparison
Now, let’s examine all the features of the Matrice 4T drone and compare it to the M30T.
Range
One of the main improvements DJI made to the Matrice 4T is on range. The Matrice 30T came with the O3 Enterprise Transmission system, which was, and still is, quite powerful, but is still susceptible to interference.
The M4T comes with the upgraded O4 Enterprise System, which performs exceptionally well for long-range tasks based on the various times I have used it. Still, I wouldn’t say it is immune to interferences such as magnetic interference, but it does offer a more stable connection.
You also get options to extend the range through the RTK module or using a second drone as a relay, but I have not had the chance to test that yet.
Flight Time
Featuring two batteries, the M30T promises a flight time of up to 41 minutes. But that’s just the advertising value. In drone operations in Kenya, the M30T struggles to achieve 25 to 30 minutes of flight time.
This is still a decent flight time considering it’s heavier and bulkier. On the other hand, the M4T features one battery but offers a flight time of up to 35 minutes in actual tests, lasting longer than the M30T. Coupled with the longer range, you could fly further and cover more ground.
Imaging Capabilities
The DJI M4T outperforms the M30T in several imaging aspects, notably with its larger 1/1.3-inch 48MP wide camera sensor compared to the M30T’s 1/2-inch 12MP sensor, offering better low-light performance and sharper detail.
While both drones feature a 640×512 thermal sensor and similar wide cameras, the M30T edges ahead in zoom with up to 200× hybrid zoom versus the M4T’s 80×.
However, the M4T compensates with a more powerful 2,000 m laser rangefinder and enhanced night vision capabilities, making it better suited for detailed inspections and low-light operations.
Cruise Control
The M4T comes with some extra features that make it more efficient, one of which is Cruise Control. This feature allows you to set the drone to fly at a constant speed, and you don’t have to keep pitching forward. You can use this feature to fly at a slow, constant speed when searching for something or to get to a certain location while using the camera along the way.
Fly To
This is another version of automatic flight, where the drone will fly to a certain location automatically, which the M4T has and the M30T lacks. It’s more convenient than Waypoint route mapping since you only need to select one point on the map, and it will fly to that location. However, unlike Cruise Control, Fly-To doesn’t allow you to use the camera during the flight. You will have to wait for the drone to get to its destination. This could save battery power when you need to get to a certain location as fast as possible.
RTK Positioning
Both drones feature RTK positioning, but the DJI Matrice 4T features a more robust in-built RTK module. This module ensures more precise mapping, which would come in handy in areas that need high degrees of accuracy. The RTK module is built to work with DJI’s new D-RTK 3, an improved ground-based station for accurate mapping and extending the range of the DJI M4T.
Terrain Follow
Thanks to a recent update, the M4T now supports terrain following, allowing it to fly in mountainous areas more safely. When enabled, the Terrain-Follow is designed to adjust its altitude based on the changes in the altitude of the areas it’s flying in
More Flight Planning Options
Besides the basic 2D mapping, the M4T gives you more options to create 2D and 3D representations, inspect infrastructure, create custom flight plans for search and rescue (SAR Missions), and do much more.
Accessories
The DJI Matrice 4T is compatible with a wide range of accessories, such as speakers, spotlights, etc., that can enhance operations. DJI also sells these accessories to work with the M4T. While DJI did make the M30T compatible with such accessories, they don’t make accessories for it. You have to rely on aftermarket options.
Price and Portability
The M4T and its accessories are cheaper than the M30T, making them more accessible to people who might need such a drone. Considering all the additional features, the price point drives a hard bargain.
AI Detection
The DJI M4T comes with an AI detection feature that allows the drone to detect common objects like people, vehicles, or boats. While it’s often hit or miss in detecting these objects, where sometimes it detects trees as cars and cattle as people, DJI has given developers access to their backend, allowing them to customize what this AI module can detect, something they have not done with most of their previous drones. On the other hand, the M30T lacks the detection feature, but it can lock to a subject selected by the user and track it.
NIR Auxiliary Light
The M4T features an NIR auxiliary light that helps enhance night or low-light vision, a feature that the M30T lacks. This feature helps make objects clearer when it’s dark, allowing you to confirm what you are seeing before taking action. It also moves with the camera, allowing you to track the object if it’s moving.
Longer Laser Range Finder Range
The M4T laser range finder has a range of up to 2000 Meters, up to 50% longer than that of the M30T. This allows it to gauge the distance of objects much further away.
No Hot-Swapping Batteries
One feature we have come to get used to in Matrice drones is the ability to hot swap the batteries, where you can switch the batteries without switching the drone off. Since the Matrice 4T comes works with one battery at a time, hot-swapping is not possible. However, the M4T boots quite fast, so you don’t lose any time switching batteries, making it still suitable for high-pressure situations where you conduct several back-to-back flights. Besides, there are situations where users have damaged drones by delaying during hotswapping, causing the drone to shut down incorrectly, and damaging the drone. So the lack of a hot-swapping feature could be a safety feature for when you can’t manage how your drone is being handled.
No Panning Left and Right
It was quite disappointing to realise that the M4T’s gimbal can’t pan left and right, sometimes limiting the ground you can cover at a time. However, this isn’t entirely a deal breaker since you can always yaw to cover left and right, but having been used to the same feature on the M30T, it will need some getting used to.
No FPV Camera
The DJI MN30T has a very functional FPV camera that allows you to continuously see what the drone is seeing and gauge your position relative to the objects on the ground. The DJI M4T, on the other hand, has lower-quality binocular vision that isn’t as clear as the M30T’s camera.
No IP Rating
Unlike the DJI M30T, the M4T is not IP rated, so it will not withstand harsh conditions like precipitation or dust. This makes it unsuitable where you may need to fly in such situations. However, DJI released the M4TD alongside the DJI Dock 3. This version of M4 is waterproof and ideal for use in adverse weather.
Should You Get the DJI M4T?
The DJI M4T is a worthy contender when comparing the two, thanks to the longer flight time and more advanced mapping and detection features. However, the DJI M30T is not obsolete yet. It still works well for the same missions you would use the M4T for, and is designed to operate in harsh weather. But since the M30T may be discontinued soon, and you may not get its accessories or spare parts after that happens, it is advisable to go for the Matrice 4T and the M4TD if you want to operate in adverse weather.