DJI Dock 4 vs DJI Dock 3: Is It Time To Upgrade Your Drone In A Box?

Already running a DJI Dock 3, or planning your first automated drone site? This side-by-side look at the DJI Dock 4 vs Dock 3 shows what has actually changed, and which teams will feel the difference.

Battery swapping changes the maths, not the charge time

Both docks take 27 minutes to charge a battery from 15% to 95% at 25°C. The difference is whether your drone has to wait for that.

The Dock 3 charges the aircraft wirelessly after it lands, so the next flight starts once the battery is ready. The Dock 4 keeps wireless charging but adds battery swapping. It holds up to three spare batteries, swaps one in under 25 seconds and gets the drone back out in under 45 seconds. Charging happens in the background while the drone is already flying.

That extra capability needs more power. The Dock 4 draws up to 2,000 W against the Dock 3’s 800 W, so check your site’s supply early.

A narrower but taller, heavier unit

With the cover closed, the Dock 4 is around 10 cm narrower than the Dock 3 but around 7 cm taller. It is also heavier, at 66 kg before batteries go into its compartment, compared with 55 kg for the Dock 3. If you’re planning a rooftop, mast or vehicle installation, those numbers affect mounting and load checks.

Built for harsher conditions

Both docks are rated IP56 (strong protection against dust and water jets) and can land the drone in winds of up to 12 m/s. The Dock 4 extends the cold limit from -30°C to -40°C and raises the maximum operating altitude from 4,500 m to 5,000 m. For UK teams, the cold-weather headroom is the more useful gain, especially on exposed upland and coastal sites.

What has moved behind the scenes

• RTK (real-time kinematic positioning, for centimetre-level accuracy) is built into the Dock 3. On the Dock 4 it is supported through the DJI O4 Ground Station.
• Video transmission moves from O4+ Enterprise to O4 Enterprise Enhanced, via the same Ground Station.
• The Dock 4 adds two 4G antennas for extra connectivity.
• Backup power on the Dock 3 comes from a built-in battery. The Dock 4 uses an aircraft battery from its compartment instead.

DJI Dock 4 vs Dock 3: which suits your operation?

The Dock 3 with the Matrice 4D series remains a strong fit for scheduled inspections, surveys and site monitoring, where a short wait between flights is fine. The Dock 4 with the Matrice 5TD is built for high-tempo work such as security patrols and emergency response, where every minute on the ground counts.

If you’re unsure which suits your site, Coptrz can help you assess power, mounting and mission plans before you commit to either DJI Dock.

FAQs

What is the main difference between the DJI Dock 4 and Dock 3?

The Dock 4 adds battery swapping, so the drone can relaunch in under 45 seconds instead of waiting to recharge.

Does the DJI Dock 4 charge batteries faster than the Dock 3?

No. Both take 27 minutes to charge from 15% to 95%, but the Dock 4 charges spares while the drone flies.

Which drones work with the DJI Dock 4 and Dock 3?

The Dock 4 pairs with the Matrice 5TD, and the Dock 3 pairs with the Matrice 4D and 4TD.

Final thoughts

Ready to automate your site? Discover the DJI Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD at Coptrz.