The Autel EVO Max 4T XE is Autel's folding enterprise thermal drone: a 640×512 thermal camera, a 48MP zoom with 10x optical, a 48MP wide camera and a 1,200 m laser rangefinder in one gimbal, on an airframe with hot-swappable batteries and radar obstacle avoidance.
It is the drone most buyers compare with the DJI Matrice 4T. This guide covers the verified specs, what each one does better, the kits buyers actually put together, and who should pick something else.
Quick Answer
- Buy the EVO Max 4T XE ($8,999) for thermal plus zoom on a platform with hot-swap batteries, 60 GHz radar obstacle avoidance and A-Mesh drone-to-drone networking.
- Buy the EVO Max 4N ($12,599) if night work comes first. It adds a starlight night vision camera alongside its thermal.
- Buy the DJI Matrice 4T ($7,849) if you want the lighter aircraft, 49-minute flights and a 1,800 m rangefinder.
- Add an EVO Nest ($20,362) to run the EVO Max from a dock.
Autel EVO Max 4T XE Specs
| Specification | Autel EVO Max 4T XE |
|---|---|
| Price | $8,999 |
| Weight | 1,635 g with battery, gimbal and propellers; max takeoff 1,999 g |
| Max flight time | 42 min (38 min hover) |
| Max speed | 23 m/s |
| Wind resistance | 12 m/s in cruise; 10.7 m/s for takeoff and landing |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to 50°C (-20°C to 40°C at full load) |
| Weather protection | IP43, offered by Autel as a custom service |
| Zoom camera | 48MP 1/2" CMOS, 64-234 mm equivalent, 10x optical, 20x hybrid, 160x max digital |
| Wide camera | 48MP 1/2" CMOS, 24 mm equivalent |
| Thermal camera | 640×512 VOx, 9.1 mm f/1.0, -20°C to 150°C and 0°C to 550°C, ±2°C or ±2% |
| Laser rangefinder | 5 to 1,200 m |
| Obstacle sensing | 60 GHz mmWave radar forward, backward, up and down, plus omnidirectional vision |
| Transmission | SkyLink 3.0, 15 km (FCC), AES-256, 900 MHz / 2.4 / 5.2 / 5.8 GHz |
| Batteries | Hot-swappable ABX40, 120 Wh, self-heating below 5°C |
| Controller | Autel Smart Controller V3, 7.9 in, 2,000 nits, IP43 |
Source: Autel Robotics EVO Max series specifications.
EVO Max 4T XE vs DJI Matrice 4T vs EVO Max 4N
| EVO Max 4T XE | DJI Matrice 4T | EVO Max 4N | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $8,999 | $7,849 (kit) | $12,599 |
| Weight | 1,635 g | 1,219 g | 1,665 g |
| Flight time | 42 min | 49 min | 42 min |
| Thermal | 640×512 | 640×512 (1280×1024 high-res) | 640×512 |
| Day camera | 48MP zoom, 10x optical | 48MP 70 mm and 168 mm teles | 50MP wide plus starlight night camera |
| Rangefinder | 1,200 m | 1,800 m | 1,200 m |
| Batteries | Hot-swappable | Single battery | Hot-swappable |
| Obstacle sensing | mmWave radar + vision | Omnidirectional vision | mmWave radar + vision |
| Weather | IP43 (custom service) | None published | IP43 (custom service) |
| Transmission (FCC) | 15 km | 25 km | 15 km |
The Matrice 4T is lighter, flies longer and ranges farther. The 4T XE answers with radar that sees wires and glass in the dark, hot-swap batteries that keep the aircraft powered between flights, and drone-to-drone A-Mesh relay. If you are deciding between the two, our Matrice 4E vs 4T guide covers the DJI side in depth.
Four Questions That Decide It
Do you fly back-to-back missions?
Hot-swap batteries keep the 4T XE powered on while you change packs, so there is no reboot between flights.
Do you fly near power lines at night?
Autel rates the 60 GHz radar for all-weather avoidance of wires, glass and water in four directions, independent of light.
How far do you need to measure and fly?
If you mark targets past 1,200 m or need 25 km transmission, the Matrice 4T reaches farther.
Will you run two aircraft together?
A-Mesh lets one EVO Max relay for another and coordinate dual-drone missions.
Autel EVO Max 4T XE
$8,999
- 640×512 thermal, 48MP 10x zoom, 48MP wide and 1,200 m rangefinder
- 42-minute flight on hot-swappable ABX40 batteries
- Free US shipping
Autel EVO Max 4N
$12,599
- Starlight night vision camera rated to ISO 440,000
- 640×512 thermal and a 50MP wide camera
- Same airframe, batteries and accessories as the 4T XE
Compare both in our EVO Max 4T XE vs 4N guide.
Thermal, Zoom and Rangefinder
The Fusion 4T XE gimbal pairs a 640×512 radiometric thermal sensor with a 48MP zoom camera that reaches 10x optical and up to 160x digital. Thermal finds the heat source; the zoom confirms what it is from a safe standoff; the laser rangefinder returns distance and position out to 1,200 m. Thermal measurement runs from -20°C to 150°C in high gain and up to 550°C in low gain, with Autel quoting ±2°C or ±2% accuracy.
Images: Autel Robotics.
Radar Obstacle Avoidance
Most compact drones avoid obstacles with cameras, which struggle with thin wires and darkness. The EVO Max adds 60 GHz millimeter-wave radar sensing forward, backward, up and down, which Autel rates for all-weather avoidance of glass, water, wires, buildings and trees. Radar range reaches 50 m forward and backward and 80 m downward, layered over binocular vision sensing in every direction.
Hot-Swap Batteries and Endurance
The EVO Max flies up to 42 minutes on a 120 Wh ABX40 battery, and its batteries are hot-swappable, so a crew can change packs without powering the aircraft down. The batteries self-heat when charged below 5°C. Spare EVO Max batteries are $319, and the Colorado Drone Chargers EVO Max PRCS ($1,345) charges in the field.
A-Mesh Networking
Images: Autel Robotics.
A-Mesh lets EVO Max aircraft talk to each other directly. One aircraft can act as a relay for another flying beyond terrain or buildings, and two aircraft can run coordinated zonal missions. For search teams covering a large area, that is a second set of eyes without a second link to babysit.
Autel Robotics' A-Mesh setup tutorial for the EVO Max series.
Spec an EVO Max 4T XE Program
Tell us the mission, how many aircraft and whether you need a dock or tether. We quote the full kit.
Public Safety and Inspection
Manufacturer footage: Autel Robotics.
Police, fire and search teams buy the 4T XE for the same reason they buy any thermal drone: finding people and hot spots fast, at night and through smoke. The hot-swap batteries keep the aircraft on station through long incidents, and the radar helps when a search takes the aircraft into tree lines and wires after dark. Utilities use the same gimbal for insulator and hot-spot inspection on transmission lines.
Autel Robotics' EVO Max 4T walkthrough.
Docked With the EVO Nest
The Autel EVO Nest ($20,362) is Autel's drone-in-a-box for the EVO Max series. Autel rates it IP55 from -30°C to 55°C, charges the aircraft from 10% to 90% in about 25 minutes, and lists 1.2 kW max power on 110 V or 220 V AC. It issues missions over wired, 4G or 5G networks. See our DJI Dock 3 vs EVO Nest comparison.
EVO Max 4T XE Kits and Budgets
Patrol kit: $10,616
EVO Max 4T XE $8,999, two spare batteries $638 and the speaker and spotlight $979.
Endurance kit: $11,620
EVO Max 4T XE, four spare batteries $1,276 and the Colorado Drone Chargers PRCS $1,345.
Tethered kit: on quote
EVO Max 4T XE and the Volarious V-Line Pro tether for continuous powered flight.
List prices with free US shipping, before any applicable sales tax. Exact bundle contents are confirmed on every quote.
Where the EVO Max 4T XE Falls Short
Shorter link and rangefinder
15 km FCC transmission and a 1,200 m rangefinder, against 25 km and 1,800 m on the Matrice 4T.
Light weather protection
IP43 is offered as a custom service. For regular rain flying, the IP55 Matrice 30T is sealed tighter.
Heavier than the Matrice 4T
At 1,635 g it is about 400 g heavier, which matters for pilots who hike to launch points.
Not NDAA compliant
Autel is on the FCC Covered List and is not Blue UAS listed.
FCC and NDAA status. Autel Robotics is a Chinese manufacturer. Like DJI, it was added to the FCC Covered List in December 2025, which blocks new equipment authorizations but does not revoke ones already granted, so Autel models authorized before then remain legal to buy and fly in the US. Autel aircraft are not NDAA compliant and are not on the Blue UAS list, which rules them out for many federally funded programs. See our NDAA-compliant drones guide if that applies to you.
How to Buy
- Order online from the product page, or request a quote for multi-unit, docked or tethered EVO Max programs.
- Pay by ACH, wire or card. Tax-exempt agencies purchase tax-free with a valid exemption certificate on file.
- We ship free within the US.
- Add coverage with one of our protection plans (batteries and propellers are excluded).
Get an EVO Max 4T XE Quote
Tell us your organization, the mission and how many aircraft you need. You will hear back within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Autel EVO Max 4T XE cost?
$8,999 in the US, with free shipping. The EVO Max 4N is $12,599.
What is the EVO Max 4T XE flight time?
Up to 42 minutes of flight and 38 minutes of hover, per Autel.
Does the EVO Max 4T XE have a laser rangefinder?
Yes. It measures from 5 to 1,200 m.
Does the EVO Max 4T XE use LiDAR for obstacle avoidance?
No. It uses 60 GHz millimeter-wave radar forward, backward, up and down, plus binocular vision sensing in every direction.
Is the EVO Max 4T XE waterproof?
Autel lists an IP43 rating as a custom service option. It is not sealed to the IP55 level of the DJI Matrice 30T.
EVO Max 4T XE or DJI Matrice 4T?
Choose the 4T XE for hot-swap batteries, radar obstacle avoidance and A-Mesh networking. Choose the Matrice 4T for lower weight, 49-minute flights, a 1,800 m rangefinder and 25 km transmission.
Does the EVO Max 4N have thermal?
Yes. The 4N carries a 640×512 thermal camera alongside its starlight night vision camera.
How do I pay, and do you ship free?
We accept ACH, wire transfer and credit card, and we ship free within the US.
Is Autel NDAA compliant?
No. Autel aircraft are not NDAA compliant and are not on the Blue UAS list. Autel is on the FCC Covered List, but models authorized before December 2025 remain legal to sell and fly.
Keep Exploring
Prices last verified October 2026 against Global Drone HQ listings and subject to change. Specifications per Autel Robotics' published specifications. Video footage, images and YouTube videos by Autel Robotics unless noted.
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