Products
Published on 8 Jan 2025
Jamie Collier
DJI Matrice 4 Series vs Mavic 3 Enterprise Series
heliguy™ compares surveying capabilities, flight features, visible and thermal cameras, and available accessories.
DJI has introduced the Matrice 4 Series, delivering advanced capabilities for enterprise operations;
This blog compares the Matrice 4 Series and the Mavic 3 Enterprise Series, focusing on key features, applications, and purchase options;
Explore differences in surveying capabilities, flight features, visible and thermal cameras, and available accessories;
Discover how these compact drones meet the demands of surveying, mapping, and inspection tasks.
The DJI Matrice 4 Series, featuring the Matrice 4 Enterprise (M4E) and Matrice 4 Thermal (M4T), sets a new standard for compact enterprise drones. Designed for surveying, mapping, and inspections, it introduces advanced features like intelligent operations, precision mapping, and robust safety systems.
The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (M3E) and DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (M3T) are older drones but remain popular for their portability and efficiency. However, the Matrice 4 Series represents a significant upgrade in capability.
This blog compares the key features, applications, and purchase options of the Matrice 4 Series and Mavic 3 Enterprise to help you decide which is the better choice for your needs.
Key specifications at a glance
The table below highlights the key specifications of these two compact enterprise drones, providing a quick comparison of their features and capabilities.
General capabilities
Feature | M4T | M4E | M3E | M3T | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Size (L x W x H) (Excluding propellers) | Folded: 260.6×113.7×138.4 mm Unfolded: 307.0×387.5×149.5 mm | Folded: 260.6×113.7×138.4 mm Unfolded: 307.0×387.5×149.5 mm | Folded: 221×96.3×90.3 mm Unfolded: 347.5×283×107.7 mm | Folded: 221×96.3×90.3 mm Unfolded: 347.5×283×107.7 mm | |
Weight | 1219 g | 1219 g | 915 g | 920 g | |
Camera Types | Wide, Tele, Medium Tele, and Thermal. | Wide, Tele, and Medium Tele. | Wide and Tele. | Wide, Tele and Thermal. | |
Flight Time | 42 mins | 42 mins | 45 mins | 45 mins | |
Max Horizontal Speed (N mode) | 21 m/s | 21 m/s | 15 m/s | 15 m/s | |
Max Ascend Speed (N mode) | 10 m/s | 10 m/s | 6 m/s | 6 m/s | |
Max Descent Speed (N mode) | 8 m/s | 8 m/s | 6 m/s | 6 m/s | |
Low-light Positioning & Obstacle Avoidance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
GNSS anti-jamming | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | |
RTK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | M4E/T: RTK module integrated. M3E/T: Sold and installed separately. |
Vision Assist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Downward Vision Assist added for M4E/T. |
Visible light camera
Feature | M4T | M4E | M3T | M3E | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1× Wide Camera | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | M4E/T: New 1/1.3 CMOS with f/1.7 aperture brings 2.7× more light than M3T, enhancing low-light imaging capability |
3× Medium Tele Camera | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | M4E: Same wide-angle mapping camera as M4E, factory-calibrated, higher accuracy |
7× Tele Camera | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | M4E/T: 1/1.3 CMOS, 48 MP Effective Pixels, f/2.8, Format Equivalent: 70 mm |
1×, 3×, 7×, 14×, 28×, 56×, 128× Zoom Control | ✓ | ✓ | x | x |
Night scene
Feature | M4T | M4E | M3T | M3E | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise Reduction Level: High (5 fps) / Medium (15 fps) | ✓ | x | x | x | |
Black and white night vision (IR filter OFF) | ✓ | x | x | x | Only supports 7× tele camera on M4T |
NIR light | ✓ | x | x | x | Only supports 7× tele camera on M4T |
Camera modes
Feature | M4T | M4E | M3T | M3E | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smart Photo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
High-res Grid Photo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Video Pre-recording | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | |
Photo in Video | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
AI Capability
The Matrice 4 Series features an AI model which can identify vehicles, vessels, and people. It has recognition and open model definition functions—such as counting vehicles in an image—making it ideal for emergency services, animal protection, park patrols, and facility inspections.
A standout feature of the Matrice 4 Series is its integrated laser range finder, delivering precise real-time measurements for tasks such as point marking, line drawing, and area calculations. This rare capability in a compact drone offers enterprise-level advantages without the bulky size, making it highly effective for taking on the go and granting operators more regulatory permissions.
Flight modes like FlyTo, POI (Point of Interest), Smart Track, and Cruise simplify and streamline workflows, allowing you to survey a site more accurately and efficiently.
The Mavic 3 Enterprise Series lacks a laser range finder and AI identification but is slightly more compact and lightweight than the Matrice 4 Series. It shares some flight modes, including POI flights, and enables more streamlined operations.
Overall, when it comes to precision surveying, the Matrice 4 Series offers greater accuracy, while the Mavic 3 Enterprise stands out for its superior portability.
Visible camera
The Matrice 4 Series introduces significant camera upgrades over the Mavic 3 Enterprise Series. Its 3x optical telephoto lens identifies screws and cracks at 10 metres, while the 7x telephoto camera captures details like license plates from 250 metres.
Additionally, the one-tap dehazing feature makes the Matrice 4 Series ideal for complex inspections in challenging weather conditions. It improves visibility in foggy environments by removing fog from images and video, while intelligent processing maintains the same level of detail as if the fog were absent.
In contrast, the Mavic 3 Enterprise features a dual-camera system without dehazing capabilities. Its 20MP wide camera includes a mechanical shutter to prevent motion blur, and its 12MP tele camera offers 56x hybrid zoom for detailed inspections.
However, the Matrice 4 Series surpasses this with up to 128× zoom control, doubling the zoom capabilities while preserving image quality, even at maximum zoom.
Camera Feature | M4E | M3E |
|---|---|---|
Wide Camera: Video Resolution | 4K: 3840 × 2160@30fps FHD: 1920 × 1080@30fps | 4K: 3840×2160@30fps FHD: 1920×1080@30fps |
Zoom Control | 16x (112x hybrid zoom) | 8x (56x hybrid zoom) |
ISO Range | Meidum Tele Camera: ISO 100 to ISO 409600 Tele Camera: ISO 100 to ISO 409600 | Tele Camera: 100-6400 |
Precision surveying
The Matrice 4E and the Mavic 3 Enterprise are both engineered for precision surveying - thanks to a 20MP 4/3 CMOS wide-angle camera with mechanical shutter.
The Mavic 3 Enterprise Series is no slouch when it comes to GIS applications, but the Matrice 4E takes things further to improve survey efficiency and ease of data collection.
Firstly, the M4E's wide-angle camera has a 0.5s shooting interval, compared to the Mavic 3 Enterprise's 0.7s, while its faster flight speed - 21m/s vs 15m/s - further improves mapping efficiency.
On top of this, the Matrice 4 Enterprise is capable of 5-directional oblique capture, compared to the Mavic 3 Enterprise's three-directional smart oblique capture - helping to improve efficiency by 40%.
The Matrice 4 Enterprise also introduces Smart 3D Capture - which is designed to streamline the creation of 3D models. It is a great feature, and you can learn more about it here.
Another bonus is that the Matrice 4 Enterprise comes with the RTK module installed, whereas it needs to be purchased separately with the Mavic 3 Enterprise.
Wide Camera Feature | M4E | M3E |
|---|---|---|
Image Sensor | 4/3-inch CMOS, Effective Pixels: 20 MP | 4/3 CMOS, Effective pixels: 20 MP |
Lens | FOV: 84° Equivalent Focal Length: 24 mm Aperture: f/2.8-f/11 Focus: 1 m to ∞ | FOV: 84° Format Equivalent: 24 mm Aperture: f/2.8-f/11 Focus: 1 m to ∞ |
ISO Range | 100 to 204800 | 100-6400 |
Shutter Speed | Electronic Shutter: 2-1/8000 s Mechanical Shutter: 2-1/2000 | Electronic Shutter: 8-1/8000 s Mechanical Shutter: 8-1/2000 s |
Max Image Size | 8064 × 6048 | 5280×3956 |
Thermal camera
Both thermal drones integrate seamlessly with the DJI Thermal Analysis Tool and support side-by-side split-screen zoom for real-time RGB and thermal comparisons, making them versatile for thermal inspections.
The M3T features a reliable 640 × 512 resolution sensor at 30Hz, ideal for standard thermal inspection tasks. In comparison, the M4T offers enhanced capabilities, including a deeper focal length and NIR illumination hardware, enabling lighting distances up to 100 metres.
Additionally, M4T supports an infrared super-resolution with up to 1280 × 1024 image resolution and offers temperature measurement in specific modes. Its 1/1.3 CMOS sensor with an f/1.7 aperture captures 2.7× more light than the M3T, enhancing low-light performance and making it ideal for complex and demanding operations.
Thermal Camera Feature | M4T | M3T |
|---|---|---|
Lens | DFOV: 45°±0.3° Equivalent focal length: 53 mm Aperture: f/1.0 Focus: 5 m to ∞ | DFOV: 61° Format Equivalent: 40 mm Aperture: f/1.0 Focus: 5 m to ∞ |
Temperature Measurement Range | High Gain Mode: -20℃ to 150℃ (-4°F to 302°F) () Low Gain Mode: 0℃ to 550℃ (32°F to 1022°F) | High Gain Mode: 20° to 150° C (-4° to 302° F) Low Gain Mode: 0° to 500° C (32° to 932° F) |
Still Photography Modes | Single: 1280 × 1024/640 × 512 Interval: 1280 × 1024/640 × 512 JPEG: 0.7/1/2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s | Single: 640×512 Timed: 640×512 JPEG: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s |
Digital Zoom | 28 x | 28 x |
Thermal Imager | uncooled vanadium oxide (VOx) | Uncooled VOx Microbolometer |
Flight features
The Matrice 4 Series and Mavic 3 Enterprise Series share advanced flight features, including max speeds in Normal mode, low-light positioning, and obstacle avoidance.
The Matrice 4 Series, however, is faster, reaching up to 21 m/s compared to the Mavic 3 Enterprise Series' 15 m/s.
The DJI Matrice 4 Series also has a longer flight time, achieving 49 minutes of airtime, compared to the Mavic 3 Enterprise Series' 45 minutes.
The Matrice 4 Series features omnidirectional low-light sensing with six fisheye lenses for enhanced positioning and obstacle detection. It supports versatile modes like Cruise, FlyTo, Smart Track, and POI, ensuring efficient operation. With integrated GNSS and vision positioning, a 12 km O4 video transmission, and optional 4G connectivity, it is designed for precise and stable navigation.
The Mavic 3 Enterprise Series offers a five-directional vision assist view and advanced Return to Home for efficient routing. Its flight modes include Normal for positioning, Sport for agility (without obstacle sensing), and Function mode for controlled or manual operation in GNSS-limited environments.
Flight Feature | M4E Series | M3E Series |
|---|---|---|
Max Payload | 200 g | / |
Max Ascent Speed | 10 m/s | 6 m/s |
Maximum Ascent Speed With Accessories | 6 m/s | 6 m/s |
Max Altitude | 6000 m | 6000 m |
Max Operating Altitude with Payload | 4000 m | / |
Max Wind Speed Resistance | 12 m/s | 12 m/s |
GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou + GLONASS | GPS+Galileo+BeiDou+GLONASS (GLONASS is supported only when the RTK module is enabled) |
RTK GNSS Accuracy | RTK Fix: 1 cm + 1 ppm (horizontal), 1.5 cm + 1 ppm (vertical) | / |
Accessories
Both aircraft feature comprehensive ecosystems to support a wide range of operational needs.
The Matrice 4 Series can be equipped with a gimbal-following spotlight offering 100m illumination, a real-time voice speaker with a 300m range, and the D-RTK 3 multifunctional station for centimetre-level positioning and extended transmission distances.
Additionally, the DJI RC Plus 2 Enterprise controller enhances usability with its high-brightness screen, IP54 weather resistance, and support for O4 Enterprise transmission.
The Mavic 3 Enterprise Series has similar accessories from older collections, delivering reliable results but lacking the sophistication of the Matrice 4 Series. It works with the DJI RC Pro Enterprise controller, featuring a 5.5-inch, 1,000-nit screen for clear visibility.
More accessories, such as the RTK Module, D-RTK 2 Mobile Station, and a loudspeaker with text-to-speech functionality, are available separately to enhance its capabilities.
Controller Feature | RC Plus 2 Enterprise | RC Pro Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
Video Transmission System | O4 Enterprise | O3+ |
Operating Frequency Range | 5.150-5.250 GHz; 5.725-5.850 GHz | 2.400-2.4835 GHz 5.725-5.850 GHz |
Transmitter Power (EIRP) | 2.4 GHz: <33 dBm (FCC), <20 dBm (CE/SRRC/MIC) 5.1 GHz: <23 dBm (FCC/CE) 5.8 GHz: <33 dBm (FCC), <14 dBm (CE), <30 dBm (SRRC) | 2.4 GHz: ≤33 dBm (FCC); ≤20 dBm (CE/SRRC/MIC) 5.8 GHz: ≤33 dBm (FCC); ≤14 dBm (CE); ≤23 dBm (SRRC) |
Bluetooth Transmitter Power (EIRP ) | <10 dBm | ≤8 dbm |
GNSS | GPS + Galileo + BeiDou | GPS + Galileo + GLONASS |
Operating Temperature | -20° to 50° C (-4° to 122° F) | -10° to 40°C (14° to 104° F) |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | 5.1 |
Summary
Ultimately, the Matrice 4 Series offers more advanced features, while the Mavic 3 Enterprise remains a reliable choice, with both providing enterprise-grade capabilities in a compact design.
For further details, contact our sales team to explore your options or consult our survey team for expert guidance on drone mapping and surveying applications.
