DrDrone's Verdict
The decision to choose one or the other mainly depends on a few key factors. If your operations mainly include public safety, law enforcement or inspections, the DJI Matrice 30T provides an incredible price to performance ratio. However, the absence of precision mapping and LiDAR capability take the DJI Matrice 30T out of contention if your operations involve precision survey work along side thermal imaging requirements. In that case, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK and its modular payload design, as well as the variety of payloads that are available, make it a true all-rounder for enterprise applications.
During our testing of the DJI M350 RTK with Zenmuse H30T and the Matrice 30T, we were impressed by the significant advancements in the H30T’s capabilities. The infrared spotlight performed remarkably well, especially when zoomed in, allowing us to clearly identify search and rescue victims hidden in the bushes. The resolution of the H30T’s infrared camera was noticeably sharper, making it easier for us to distinguish objects and people, unlike the older Matrice 30T, which struggled with clarity at max zoom levels. The enhanced color night vision capabilities of the H30T also added an invaluable dimension to our search efforts, confirming its position as a superior choice for public safety applications.
Both the DJI Matrice 30T and Matrice 350 RTK are top-tier drones, but they cater to different needs. The Matrice 30T excels in quick deployment, portability, and ease of use, making it perfect for public safety missions like firefighting, search and rescue, or law enforcement. With built-in sensors including a thermal camera, zoom, and laser rangefinder, it’s an all-in-one solution for professionals who need to act fast and travel light.
On the other hand, the Matrice 350 RTK offers unmatched versatility and performance for more complex, data-heavy missions. With its modular design and ability to carry multiple payloads, such as high-resolution cameras and LiDAR sensors, it’s the ideal choice for detailed inspections, mapping, and surveying. Its longer flight time and advanced obstacle avoidance make it perfect for precision tasks, but the bulkier size and longer setup time mean it’s better suited for projects where transport and quick redeployment aren’t critical concerns.
In short, if you need a drone for fast, efficient field operations, go with the Matrice 30T. But if your work demands high levels of accuracy, adaptability, and extended flight capabilities, the Matrice 350 RTK is the superior investment.
| DJI Matrice 30T | DJI Matrice 350 RTK | |
| | | |
| Price | CAD $11,809 / US $9,637.00 | DJI Matrice 350 RTK: CAD $13,429 / US $11,729 Zenmuse H30T: CAD $12,620 / US 9,460 |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 365×215×195 mm Folded 470×585×215 mm Unfolded | 430×420×430 mm Folded 810×670×430 mm Unfolded |
| Weight | 3.77 kg | 7.39 kg including Zenmuse H30T Payload |
| Ingress Protection (Aircraft) | IP 55 | IP 55 |
| Zoom Camera | 1/2" CMOS | 48MP |16x Optical Zoom | 200x Hybrid Zoom | 1/1.8-inch CMOS | 40 MP | 34x Optical Zoom | 400x Digital Zoom |
| Wide-Angle Camera | 1/2" CMOS, Effective pixels: 12M | 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 48 MP |
| Thermal Camera | Super-resolution Mode: 1280×1024 | 1280×1024 | 32x Digital Zoom |
| Vision System | Forward, Backward, Upward and Downward Vision Sensors | Forward, Backward, Upward and Downward Vision Sensors |
| Max Flight Speed | 82.8 km/h | 82.8 km/h |
| Max Flight Time | Up to 41 min | Up to 55 minutes |
| Max Wind Resistance | 43.2 km/h | 43.2 km/h |
| Operating Conditions | -20° to 50° C | -20° to 50° C |
| Swappable Payload | Non-removable camera gimbal unit | Modular, detachable payloads available for a variety of applications |
DJI has redefined the world of commercial drones time and time again with its versatile Matrice series. Two of the most powerful drones from this series are the Matrice 30T and the Matrice 350 RTK, both of which can offer high-quality visual and thermal footage from the sky. The combination of high-quality photos, thermal capabilities, and weatherproof design make both drones a great choice for professional applications like public safety, inspections, and mapping.
While the two drones have many similarities, there are a few distinct differences that make each one better suited to different applications. We’ll go over the various differences and similarities to help you decide which drone will give you the best value for your money.
The DJI M30T is an all-in-one drone that comes with almost every feature you could want from an enterprise drone: a thermal camera, wide-angle camera, zoom camera, and laser rangefinder. Because these features are all built-in, there’s no need to attach payloads, which makes it simpler to deploy. Even with all these features, it’s still pretty compact thanks to its foldable design. It weighs about 3.77 kg, making it portable enough to carry in a backpack when it’s folded. There’s also a lock function on the arm hinges that prevents the drone from taking off unless it’s safely and securely engaged.
The M30T is built tough, with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance that will withstand most weather conditions. It can handle extreme temperatures as well, with an operating temperature range that runs from -20° C to 50° C and a maximum service ceiling of 7000 meters above sea level. All these design elements work together to form a drone that’s quick to set up, deploy, and pack for multiple deployments in quick succession.
The DJI M350 RTK has a similar design to the M30T in a lot of ways, with an identical Ingress Protection of IP55 and an operating temperature range of -20° C to 50° C. Also like the Matrice 30T, the M350 RTK has an arm lock function that prevents it from being improperly launched. However, the drone is larger in size and has a modular design that allows you to swap out different payloads depending on your mission. This makes the drone more versatile than the M30T, but also heavier and slower to deploy.
Both the M30T and the M350 RTK come with the DJI RC Plus, a rugged and long-lasting remote controller that takes full advantage of the drones’ capabilities. The RC Plus displays a live feed on a high-brightness 7-inch screen, offering uninterrupted visuals for up to six hours of battery life. It also supports Dual Operator mode, allowing one person to fly the drone while the other controls the camera. The DJI RC Plus has an IP54 rating that makes it dustproof and waterproof, and its operating temperature is identical to that of both the M30T and the M350 RTK.
The Matrice 30T has a maximum flight time of 41 minutes and a top speed of 23 m/s, which means you can quickly cover a decent amount of ground in one flight. It relies on OcuSync 3.0, giving you 1080p video transmission over a distance of up to 3 km with strong interference and up to 15 km with no interference. The M30T can also withstand wind speeds of up to 12 m/s, keeping the drone stable and flying smoothly even when the conditions start to get rough.
As for safety in mid-flight, the Matrice 30T boasts 360-degree obstacle avoidance that keeps the drone safe throughout the flight. Through the use of dual-vision and ToF sensors on each side of the drone, the M30T can detect obstacles up to 38 meters away and maintain incredible positioning accuracy. Additionally, the drone relies on a health management system to monitor the drone’s status at all times and initiate an emergency landing when necessary.
The Matrice 350 RTK goes a bit beyond the M30T, giving you a max flight time of 55 minutes when used with the TB65 batteries (although this does decrease to about 45 minutes depending on the payload). This makes the M350 RTK much better suited for longer and more complex missions where time is of the essence. The drone is equally fast with a top speed of 23 m/s and it has an identical wind resistance of up to 12 m/s. However, its range extends even further than that of the M30T, offering up to 20 km of transmission distance when flying without interference.
The DJI M350 RTK is similarly good at obstacle avoidance thanks to a six-directional binocular vision system and infrared sensing system. It can even be equipped with a CSM Radar that allows it to detect and avoid obstacles up to 30 meters away. The advanced RTK positioning system provides centimeter-level accuracy, making it ideal for jobs that require the utmost precision.
The DJI M30T doesn’t allow for swapping out payloads, but it is equipped with an integrated camera gimbal unit that combines four different sensors including a wide-angle camera, zoom camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder. The wide-angle camera uses a 1/2" CMOS sensor that takes 12 MP stills with an 84° FOV, while the zoom camera takes 48 MP stills and is capable of 16x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. Both of these cameras can shoot 4K video at 30 fps. The laser rangefinder is quite useful for measuring distances of up to 1.2 km away, making it well-suited for inspections and other public service applications.
The DJI M30T doesn’t allow for swapping out payloads, but it is equipped with an integrated camera gimbal unit that combines four different sensors including a wide-angle camera, zoom camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder. The wide-angle camera uses a 1/2" CMOS sensor that takes 12 MP stills with an 84° FOV, while the zoom camera takes 48 MP stills and is capable of 16x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. Both of these cameras can shoot 4K video at 30 fps. The laser rangefinder is quite useful for measuring distances of up to 1.2 km away, making it well-suited for inspections and other public service applications.
The Matrice 350 RTK allows for multiple payloads, which expands its capabilities beyond that of the M30T. The Zenmuse H30T is the most comparable payload to the M30T, giving you the same four sensors albeit with much greater accuracy. The wide-angle camera uses a 1/1.3” CMOS sensor that takes 48 MP photos with an 82.1° FOV. The zoom camera uses a 1/1.8” CMOS sensor to take 40 MP stills and is capable of up to 34x optical zoom and 400x digital zoom. Both cameras have a max visual video resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30 fps.
As for the laser rangefinder, the Zenmuse H30T payload can measure distances up to 3 km away, vastly outperforming the M30T. The infrared thermal camera is also incredibly accurate, with a video resolution of 1280x1024 px and a much higher temperature measurement range of -20° to 1600° C. Unlike the M30T, the Zenmuse H30T payload does have night vision capabilities in both black & white and color. This makes the M350 RTK equipped with the Zenmuse H30T a much better option for nighttime inspections and thermal readings of temperatures above 500°.
The H30T also introduces enhanced infrared spotlight functionality with the NIR Auxiliary Light, particularly effective when zoomed in, and offers color night vision through its high ISO settings, which the 30T lacks. These advancements make the H30T more effective in low-light and challenging operational conditions.
Additional payloads for the DJI M350 RTK include the Zenmuse L2 and the Zenmuse P1. The L2 uses a Livox LiDAR module, a high-accuracy IMU, and a mapping camera to perform real-time 3D data capture. The P1 brings together a full-frame sensor with fixed-focus lenses that you can swap out at will, which makes it easier to take high-quality photos from the skies. Both payloads are well-suited for mapping and aerial surveying as they excel at data collection and producing incredibly accurate images.
The Matrice 350 RTK's compatibility with various payloads gives it an advantage over the Matrice 30T by allowing integration with more third-party devices and sensors. Through the DJI Payload SDK, users can add customized payloads such as loudspeakers, gas detectors, and multispectral sensors, significantly enhancing the drone’s functionality. While the Matrice 30 series also has a PSDK port, its capabilities are more limited, as it lacks a gimbal mount and only supports certain third-party accessories, like the CZI LP12 (a broadcasting speaker and spotlight) or the Sniffer 4D Mini (a gas detection payload).
By enabling the integration of a wider range of third-party payloads, the Matrice 350 RTK offers exceptional versatility across applications such as inspections, search and rescue missions, and forestry.
The Matrice 30T is handy in public safety missions like firefighting, law enforcement, and search and rescue. Its biggest asset is its capacity for rapid deployment, which can be necessary in certain life-or-death situations. Not only is it faster to set up and deploy, but it’s easier to transport to hard-to-reach locations, which can make a ton of difference when you’re working in remote areas. The zoom and thermal sensors both work well to deliver critical information when dealing with a fire, a missing person, or covert surveillance. It does do relatively well at inspections, mapping, and surveying, although the M350 RTK blows it out of the water with its support for multiple payloads.
The DJI M350 RTK can do a good job with public safety missions, although its longer deployment time may not make it as ideal as the M30T. It’s much bulkier, which can make it a hassle to transport if you’re hiking to some far-off place in the mountains. For inspections and mapping, however, the M350 RTK is the clear winner. It can support payloads like the L2 and P1 that incorporate LiDAR sensors and high-resolution cameras, both of which are incredible assets for inspection missions. It’s also well-suited for surveying and agricultural missions since it can carry payloads that collect accurate data and perform 3D mapping.
The Matrice 30T and the Matrice 350 RTK are similar enough that both drones could work for a number of applications. But if you’re looking for the right balance of value for money, then you’ll want to dive into the specifics to see which drone gives you exactly what you need. The DJI M30T is a bit more affordable than the M350 RTK, with the basic drone selling for $11,809 CAD / US $9,637 compared to the M350 RTK at $13,429 CAD / US $11,729, which does not include the cost of the payload required. In order to have thermal imaging capabilities with the M350 RTK, you need the Zenmuse H30T which costs an additional CAD $12,620 / US 9,460. If the M30T has everything you need and you’re looking to save money, then there’s very little benefit in overspending for features you won’t use.
The first and largest benefit of the M350 RTK is its ability to carry multiple payloads, which makes it much more versatile. A combination of the Zenmuse H30T and a loudspeaker, for example, could be a huge help in search and rescue efforts or natural disaster responses. The ability to incorporate payloads like the Zenmuse L2 or P1 can help you create 3D maps, collect agricultural data, or do any number of things that simply aren’t possible with the M30T.
It’s important to note that the extra payloads will make the M350 RTK heavier and harder to lug around, which can impact you if you’re trying to redeploy the drone at different sites one after the other. The M30T excels in being small and easy to deploy, making it better for straightforward missions. The longer flight time of the M350 RTK is appealing, although this is shortened somewhat when the drone is paired with the Zenmuse H30T payload. The thermal camera is also much more powerful than that of the M30T, giving you a wider temperature range and helpful night vision capabilities.
Ultimately, the biggest factor in which drone you choose will depend on what you’re using it for. The M350 RTK is the better choice for inspections, mapping, and surveying, while the M30T is just a touch more suited for firefighting and public safety missions. If you’re not concerned with the extra deployment time and the bulkier size and you’re willing to splurge just a bit more, chances are you won’t be disappointed with the M350 RTK.
Dr Drone
Author
DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.