DJI Matrice 5T vs Matrice 4T: which drone suits your operations?
5 November 2026 · Guide · Comparison
With the Matrice 5T, DJI today unveiled a new compact flagship. Many fire services, police forces and inspection teams in Switzerland already fly the Matrice 4T. What does the new model do better, when does the 4T remain the right choice – and is it worth switching? We have put DJI’s official data side by side and explain what it means in day-to-day operations.
Key points at a glance
- The Matrice 5T has significantly stronger sensors: a thermal camera with native 1K resolution, a larger wide-angle sensor, 176× hybrid zoom and LiDAR plus radar as standard.
- It is IP55-rated and flies from −20 to 50 °C – the Matrice 4T has no ingress protection rating and is designed for −10 to 40 °C.
- With up to 59 minutes, the 5T flies ten minutes longer and achieves 20 instead of 12 km transmission range under the CE standard.
- The Matrice 4T remains the lighter and more compact choice for missions that can be planned around good weather.
The data at a glance
| Feature | Matrice 4T | Matrice 5T |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1219 g | 2239 g |
| Remote controller | DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise | DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise |
| Ingress protection | none | IP55 |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 40 °C | −20 to 50 °C |
| Max. flight time | 49 min (46 min with low-noise propellers) | 59 min |
| Max. hover time | 42 min | 54 min |
| Max. speed | 21 m/s | 23 m/s |
| Native thermal | 640 × 512 | 1280 × 1024 |
| High-resolution thermal | 1280 × 1024 (UHR) | 2560 × 2048 (UHR) |
| Wide-angle camera | 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP | 1/0.98-inch, 50 MP |
| Hybrid zoom | 112× | 176× |
| Laser rangefinder | 1800 m | 3000 m |
| Obstacle sensing | omnidirectional vision, LiDAR and radar optional via module | LiDAR, radar and omnidirectional vision as standard |
| Transmission (CE) | O4 Enterprise, up to 12 km | O4 Enterprise, up to 20 km |
| Cellular | DJI Cellular Dongle 2 optional | 2 × DJI Cellular Dongle 2 built in |
Manufacturer data from DJI, measured under test conditions. Ranges under the CE standard, which applies in Switzerland.
Weather protection: the biggest everyday difference
The Matrice 4T has no ingress protection rating and is approved for −10 to 40 °C. For planned inspections or survey flights this is rarely a problem – you fly when the weather allows.
Emergency services cannot choose the weather. The Matrice 5T is IP55-rated against dust and water jets and operates from −20 to 50 °C. A fire in the rain, a missing-person search on a winter night in the Jura or a callout during a föhn storm in the Alps all become far more predictable.
Thermal imaging and cameras: more detail at a distance
The Matrice 5T’s thermal camera has a native resolution of 1280 × 1024 pixels – four times as many as the Matrice 4T’s 640 × 512. In UHR mode, the 5T even delivers 2560 × 2048 pixels. Searching for people in large forests or spotting hotspots on extensive solar roofs, you can fly higher and still see more.
The visible-light cameras improve too: the wide-angle sensor grows from 1/1.3 to 1/0.98 inch, hybrid zoom from 112× to 176×, and the laser rangefinder measures up to 3000 m instead of 1800 m. Both drones have an NIR auxiliary light for night operations.
Flight time, speed and range
With up to 59 minutes of flight time and 54 minutes of hover time, the Matrice 5T stays in the air around ten minutes longer than the Matrice 4T (49 and 42 minutes). For reconnaissance, that means fewer battery swaps and fewer interruptions to the live feed. At 23 m/s, it also reaches the scene slightly faster.
For transmission, the CE standard applies in Switzerland: the 5T reaches up to 20 km, the 4T up to 12 km. In visual line of sight operations, maximum distance matters less than link stability behind buildings, in valleys or in forests. For this, the 5T has two built-in cellular dongles and supports relay operation with a second Matrice 5T.
Obstacle sensing and airspace awareness
The Matrice 4T detects obstacles with an omnidirectional vision system. LiDAR and mmWave radar can be added with an optional obstacle sensing module.
On the Matrice 5T, both are built in: the rotating LiDAR detects power lines up to 32 m away, the radar keeps working in fog and rain, and the fisheye cameras maintain positioning down to 0.5 lux. All three E-Ports remain free for the spotlight, speaker and other accessories. Built-in ADS-B and Remote ID receivers also warn of other aircraft nearby.
AI and software
Both drones detect people, vehicles and vessels on board and work with DJI Pilot 2, DJI FlightHub 2 and DJI Terra. The Matrice 5T goes further: it recognises more than 20 target types including fires, runs custom AI models on its onboard computer, plans patrol routes automatically and adds new specialist functions – such as automated inspection along power lines and take-off from moving vessels.
Accessories: no mixing
Important for existing fleets: the Matrice 5T uses a new generation of accessories with the DJI RC Plus 3 Enterprise, AL2 SpotLight, AS2 Speaker and 515 W charging station. According to DJI, these accessories are not compatible with the Matrice 4 Series. Operating both models in parallel therefore requires separate sets of remote controllers, batteries and payloads.
Which drone for which mission?
Our assessment
If you are buying now and need to fly in rain, cold or at night, the Matrice 5T is clearly the better choice: weather protection, 1K thermal imaging and standard obstacle sensing make the difference exactly when it matters.
An existing Matrice 4T does not need replacing, though. For plannable missions in good weather, it remains a capable and lighter platform. A mixed fleet can make sense – the 5T for emergencies, the 4T for routine work. Bear the separate accessories in mind.
Frequently asked questions about the comparison
Is the Matrice 5T the successor to the Matrice 4T?
Can I use Matrice 4T batteries and accessories with the Matrice 5T?
Which drone is better for night operations?
Compare both drones live
The best way to decide is a direct comparison. We show you the Matrice 4T and Matrice 5T in a live demo or at our showroom in Port and prepare a quote for your operational profile.