Dock 3 and the Matrice 4TD are still on sale alongside the new Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD. If you're choosing between them, or thinking about moving an existing Dock 3 site across, this is what's changed.
The big change is battery swapping. Dock 3 recharges the battery inside the aircraft, so there's a wait of around 27 minutes before it can fly again. Dock 4 swaps in a charged battery in under 25 seconds, and the aircraft can take off again less than 45 seconds after landing. For sites that need flight after flight, such as security patrols or first response, that's the main reason to choose Dock 4.
Can I put a Matrice 4TD in Dock 4?
No. Dock 4 only works with the Matrice 5TD, and the Matrice 5TD is designed for Dock 4. Moving to the new system means changing both the dock and the aircraft.
Some of your site can carry over. Dock 4 uses the same 400 mm × 400 mm mounting hole pattern as Dock 3. Dock 3's power cables won't fit Dock 4, though, and you'll need a spot for the separate O4 Ground Station. Plan a site review rather than assuming it's a straight swap.
The docks compared
Dock 4 | Dock 3 | |
Aircraft | Matrice 5TD | Matrice 4D, Matrice 4TD |
Battery handling | Automatic swap in under 25 seconds | Charges the battery in the aircraft |
Time between flights | Under 45 seconds | About 27 minutes |
Weight | 66 kg (without batteries or aircraft) | 55 kg (without aircraft) |
Size, lid closed | 639 × 640 × 836 mm | 640 × 745 × 770 mm |
IP rating | IP56 | IP56 |
Operating temperature | -40°C to 50°C | -30°C to 50°C |
Max installation altitude | 5,000 m | 4,500 m |
Video link and RTK | Separate O4 Ground Station (required) | Built into the dock |
Backup power | Runs from the aircraft batteries stored in the dock | Built-in backup battery |
Vehicle mounting | On DJI's roadmap, not available yet | Supported |
The aircraft compared
Matrice 5TD | Matrice 4TD | |
Thermal camera | 1280 × 1024 native, 2560 × 2048 in UHR mode | 640 × 512 native, 1280 × 1024 with super resolution |
Visible cameras | Three 50 MP cameras | Three 48 MP cameras |
Telephoto | 252 mm equivalent, up to 176× hybrid zoom | 168 mm equivalent, up to 112× hybrid zoom |
Laser rangefinder | 3,000 m | 1,800 m |
Max flight time (DJI lab figure) | 59 minutes | 54 minutes |
Battery | 260 Wh | 149.9 Wh |
Weight | 2,600 g | 1,850 g |
Accessory weight limit | 450 g | 240 g |
Operating temperature | -40°C to 50°C | -20°C to 50°C |
LiDAR and mmWave radar | Built in | Optional add-on module |
Transmission range in the UK (CE) | Up to 12 km | Up to 12 km |
Onboard AI detection | 17 object types | People, vehicles and vessels |
4G | Two built-in 4G modules | Needs a DJI Cellular Dongle 2 |
Flying with a controller | Emergency mode only | Yes, with the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise |
Both aircraft are rated IP55 and both are managed through DJI FlightHub 2.
Which one should I choose?
Dock 3 with the Matrice 4TD still makes sense when flights are planned with time between them, when you want the option of flying the aircraft by hand, or when you need a vehicle-mounted dock now. If mapping is the main job, bear in mind that the Matrice 4D, with its mechanical shutter camera, is a Dock 3 aircraft.
Dock 4 is the one to pick when the aircraft has to be ready again within a minute, or when you need more thermal detail and reach. Going from 640 × 512 to 1280 × 1024 thermal, and from 1,800 m to 3,000 m of laser range, matters most on large sites and long perimeters.
We've covered both in more depth on our blog in DJI Dock 4 vs DJI Dock 3 and DJI Matrice 5TD vs DJI Matrice 4TD. Or call us on 0330 111 7177 and we'll talk it through for your site.