If you’re looking at upgrading your drone fleet for surveying, mapping, or inspection workflows, there’s a good chance the new DJI Matrice 400 RTK has caught your eye. And if you’re already running a DJI Matrice 350 RTK, you might be wondering what’s the difference.
We’ve gathered some details into both platforms to help surveyors and geospatial professionals understand what’s changed, what’s improved, and what it means for your work in the field. This guide breaks down the major differences that matter on real jobsites.
Flight Time & Performance
Payload Capacity & Workflow Flexibility
RTK Accuracy & Workflow Enhancements
Battery System
Remote Controller
Mapping & Survey Workflows
Which One Should You Choose?
Final Thoughts
Frequently Asked Questions
The most obvious and immediate difference is the flight time. The DJI Matrice 400 RTK boasts a max time of 59 minutes (with payload), compared to the 44 minutes of the Matrice 350 RTK. It’s just 15 extra minutes, but per flight it adds up fast. Especially for corridor mapping, LiDAR passes, or orthophoto capture over large areas.
| Spec | DJI Matrice 350 RTK | DJI Matrice 400 RTK |
| Max Flight Time | 44 min (w/payload) | 59 min (w/payload) |
| Max Speed | 15.6 m/s | 25 m/s |
| Max Transmission | 20 km | 40 km |
The speed and range boosts make the Matrice 400 RTK more suitable for high-efficiency topographic mapping, especially when you need to cover large areas and there’s not much time left.
The Matrice 350 RTK supports 1 payload up to 2.7 kg, which works well for standard camera or LiDAR setups. The DJI Matrice 400 RTK steps it up with support for up to 7 payloads and 6 kg total capacity. It also introduces 4x E-Port V2 interfaces. It makes run LiDAR + RGB + thermal simultaneously possible. Here are the new opportunities:
Both platforms support RTK positioning, but the Matrice 400 RTK outstands owing to the better real-time terrain following and multi-point route planning. It’s particularly valuable for topographic and corridor mapping and when working near slopes, rivers, or complex terrain. Here is what 400 possesses and 350 lacks in this aspect:
These features allow you to automate more of the flight, reduce pilot workload, and increase consistency between flights. Let’s say, if you are flying a linear corridor for utility or pipeline inspection, Power Line Follow + RTK + Terrain Follow can reduce rework and simplify post-processing in tools like DJI Terra or FieldGenius.
Battery management is one of the most painful parts of drone operations. DJI took a huge step forward with the M400’s TB100 batteries. Let’s look closer at the spcs in the table.
| Spec | Matrice 350 RTK | Matrice 400 RTK |
| Battery Capacity | 5,880 mAh | 20,254 mAh |
| Energy | 263.2 Wh | 977 Wh |
| Tethered Power | No | Yes |
| Charging Time (220V) | 60 min | 45 min |
| Smart Battery Station | No | Yes |
In practice, it means that with fewer battery swaps and charging you get longer uninterrupted missions and shorter turnaround time. Tethered support provides you continuous power for stationery ops like monitoring, scanning, or overwatch.
Both drones use a smart controller with a 7.02” screen, but the M400’s 1400-nit brightness performs particularly well on sunny job sites. Backlit keys help when you’re flying in low light or early morning/late evening.
The controller also supports a sub-2G antenna extension. This enhances live feed quality in low signal environments, which is ideal for mountainous, forested, or urban survey areas.
The DJI Matrice 400 RTK is made for mapping missions if you pair it with the right payloads:
Add in DJI Terra and DJI Modify for back-office processing, and you have a full-stack mapping solution.
Where the Matrice 350 RTK still shines:
Bench-Mark considers all the requirements, so we are ready to give expert advice on multiple options. If you’re a budget-conscious team just getting started with aerial mapping or inspections, the DJI Matrice 350 RTK still would be a worthwhile options. It’s well-suited for shorter missions, standard RGB or thermal data collection, and simpler workflows where automation and extended payload capacity aren’t essential.
When you are working on corridor mapping, large-scale topographic surveys, or multi-payload missions (such as LiDAR plus RGB capture in a single flight), the DJI Matrice 400 RTK is the clear choice.
Same thing for professionals who need to combine mapping and inspection tasks into a single deployment or operate in challenging environments where tethered power or long-range communications are critical. The Matrice 400 RTK provides capabilities the 350 simply can’t match.
Our opinion at Bench-Mark is that the DJI Matrice 350 RTK is still a fine choice for standard mapping and inspection work. But the Matrice 400 RTK gets you clear advantages for professionals who need longer flights, greater payload flexibility, and advanced automation.
Yes, if your workflow includes larger areas, dual payloads, or complex mapping automation. The improvements in battery life, payload capacity, and terrain-following make a real difference.
Most Zenmuse payloads are compatible, but the M400 supports more simultaneous payloads and better integration for LiDAR + RGB workflows.
Yes. It supports more advanced terrain tracking, RTK initialization, and automation for repeatable accuracy over large sites.
Surveying, civil engineering, power line inspection, public safety, and any workflow needing great mapping or 3D deliverables.
Yes. At Bench-Mark, we provide full system integration, training, and ongoing support.
