It can be difficult to narrow down your variety of options when it comes to purchasing a drone nowadays.
In particular, the DJI Matrice 300 RTK has come to be a popular addition in many professional workflows across a range of industries. But with the Matrice 30 now available, it’s difficult to know which one is right for you.
This guide will walk you through a comparison of the two drones to help you decide which one is best suited for your needs.
Flight Time:
With no payload, the M300 can fly for up to 55 minutes, while the M30 can only fly for up to 41 minutes.
However, when the M300 is equipped with a payload like the Zenmuse H20 series, the flight time drops to about 43 minutes, and 31 minutes at maximum payload capacity. Given that the M300 is designed to carry up to three payloads simultaneously, the difference in flight time is marginal between the two.
Size:
When folded, the M30 is around half the size of the M300, making it a more portable and lighter option. The M300 weighs a hefty 6.3kg and only fits into a larger case for transportation. Weighing only 3.7 kg, the M30 is more manageable to tote around in a backpack.
Deployment:
A major feature of the M30 is the speed in which it can be deployed. Its quick-lock arm design and the built-in landing gears enable it to launch in under a minute. For situations where every second matters, this feature is invaluable to public safety services like police and fire services.
Additionally, the M30 may be used with the DJI Dock, which is made to fully automate flights. It can work in any weather condition and is extremely dependable, operating day and night without fail. Each DJI Dock contains a Matrice 30 that can land, charge, take off, and complete missions planned in DJI FlightHub 2.
Though the M300 takes longer to assemble for take-off, you can still get it ready to fly in around two minutes. For the typical drone pilot, deployment time may not be a concern.
Durability:
The M300 has a rating of IP45 which protects it against solid objects greater than 1mm such as wires and nails. It is also protected against low pressure jets of water from any direction. The M30 has a higher rating of IP55, which is dust protected and stable against low pressure jets of water also.
Payload:
M300’s bigger size increases its maximum take-off weight. The M300 can carry a max payload capacity of 2.7kg vs the M30’s 0.3kg capacity.
The M30 series comes with two options, the M30 and M30 thermal which includes a thermal imaging camera. The M30 series has a fixed payload camera and gimbal, so you’d have to update your drone if you decided later that you wanted thermal imaging.
The M300 stands out with its exceptional three-payload capacity which makes it more adaptable and future-proof. With new releases of DJI’s Zenmuse cameras, upgrades don’t require a whole new drone. You can add LiDAR payloads and even third-party payloads, including Micasense, Hovermap, and Phase one. The customisation and data-gathering possibilities that the M300 offers are unparalleled.
Controller:
The M30’s IP54-rated RC plus controller has a longer battery life and a brighter screen than the M300’s Smart controller. The M300’s Smart controller isn’t waterproof, but DJI RC Pro Plus compatibility will likely happen early this year according to DJI.
Key Specs:
Hopefully this guide has helped you understand the difference between the M30 and M300 drones and which one is best tailored to your needs. If you would like more information, get in touch with us here. Our specialists can help you choose the right drone for your application and we can arrange demonstration flights to show the capabilities of each drone in our range.
