The DJI Matrice 4T is a folding thermal drone for public safety, search and rescue, and inspection. It carries a 640 × 512 radiometric thermal camera (1280 × 1024 in Super Resolution mode), a 48 MP wide camera, 70 mm and 168 mm 48 MP telephotos, a laser rangefinder that reaches 1,800 m, and an NIR auxiliary light for night work. It weighs 1,219 g, flies up to 49 minutes and is sold by quote.
Quick facts
| Price | Quote |
| Takeoff weight | 1,219 g (1,229 g with low-noise props) |
| Wide camera | 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP, 24 mm, f/1.7 |
| Medium tele | 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP, 70 mm, f/2.8 |
| Tele | 1/1.5-inch, 48 MP, 168 mm, f/2.8, up to 112× hybrid zoom |
| Thermal | 640 × 512, 12 μm, 30 Hz, 53 mm equiv., f/1.0 |
| Temperature range | -4° to 302° F (high gain), 32° to 1,022° F (low gain) |
| Laser rangefinder | Up to 1,800 m |
| NIR auxiliary light | Yes |
| Max flight time | 49 min (42 min hover) |
| Max speed | 21 m/s |
| Wind resistance | 12 m/s (takeoff and landing) |
| Video link | O4 Enterprise, 25 km (FCC) |
| Obstacle sensing | Omnidirectional vision |
| Payload port | E-Port, up to 200 g |
| Controller | DJI RC Plus 2 |
Specs are DJI's published figures.
What it's built for
Find. The radiometric thermal camera spots people, animals, hot spots and failing components day or night. Spot and area measurement let you read temperatures from the image, and R-JPEG files keep the temperature data for reports.
Confirm. Switch to the 168 mm tele, with up to 112× hybrid zoom, to identify what the thermal camera found without flying closer. The 70 mm camera covers the middle ground.
Locate. The laser rangefinder measures distance to the target, so the drone can share a position with ground teams. DJI rates it to 1,800 m on a 20% reflective target.
Work at night. The NIR auxiliary light and the bright f/1.7 wide lens help the visible cameras in low light, and DJI lists high night-scene ISO settings for all three visible cameras.
Common uses
- Search and rescue, police and fire. See best drone for public safety.
- Roof, solar and electrical inspection. See best drone for roof inspections.
- Wildlife surveys and security patrols.
- Accident and scene documentation.
Flight time and range
DJI rates the Matrice 4T at 49 minutes of flight and 42 minutes of hover with standard propellers in calm conditions. Low-noise propellers trade a few minutes (46 and 39) for a quieter drone. Real missions run shorter because of wind, payload accessories and the reserve you land with.
The O4 Enterprise link is rated at 25 km (about 15.5 mi) under FCC rules. Part 107 still requires visual line of sight unless you have a waiver, so the strong link mainly means a steadier feed around buildings and terrain.
Do you need to register it?
Yes. At 1,219 g it's over 250 g, so register it with the FAA ($5, valid 3 years) and broadcast Remote ID. Commercial flights need a Part 107 certificate. Government agencies may fly under a public-aircraft Certificate of Waiver or Authorization instead.
Matrice 4T vs alternatives
| Matrice 4T | Matrice 30T | Mavic 3T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1,219 g | 3.77 kg | 920 g |
| Thermal | 640 × 512 | 640 × 512 | 640 × 512 |
| Teles | 70 and 168 mm | 113 to 405 mm zoom | 162 mm |
| Rangefinder | 1,800 m | 1,200 m | None |
| Weather rating | None | IP55 | None |
| Flight time | 49 min | 41 min | 45 min |
Pick the Matrice 30T if you must fly in rain. Pick the Mavic 3T for the lowest-cost thermal kit. For mapping, the Matrice 4E shares the 4T's airframe with a mechanical-shutter camera instead of thermal.
2026 buying notes
Already-authorized DJI models remain legal to buy and fly in the US. In July 2026 the FCC proposed restricting further import and sale of drone categories including thermal models; the proposal had not been adopted as of October 2026. Imported drones also carry a Section 232 tariff. See is DJI banned in the US.
Common mistakes
- Flying in rain. The Matrice 4 series has no IP rating.
- Expecting thermal to see through walls or glass. Thermal reads surface temperatures, and glass reflects heat.
- Skipping training. Practice reading thermal scenes and measuring before a real call.
Ready to equip your team? Request a quote or compare the Matrice 4T and Mavic 3 Enterprise.
Related guides
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