Autel EVO Max 4T, 4T XE and 4N: How They Differ and Which Version to Choose

Autel Robotics is represented in the Astreia catalogue by a single series, the EVO Max, in three versions: 4T, 4T XE and 4N. Prices range from 160,000 to 220,000 UAH, the same segment as the DJI Matrice 4T. All three versions share the same airframe and differ only in the camera assembly, so choosing between them comes down to one question: what exactly the operator needs to see, and under what conditions. Below we look at what the EVO Max platform itself offers, how the gimbal payloads differ, and where Autel wins or loses against DJI.

One airframe, three camera assemblies

The EVO Max series was launched as a compact professional platform built on a modular principle: a folding quadcopter weighing about 1.6 kg with battery and gimbal, fitted with one of several integrated camera assemblies. The number 4 in the name is the number of sensors in the gimbal, and the letter indicates the specialisation. T (Thermal) marks the version with a thermal camera and optical zoom. N (Night) marks the night version, where the zoom camera is replaced with an ultra-sensitive "starlight" camera. XE is a later modification of the 4T with a different set of daylight cameras and a lower price.

In 2025 Autel also released an updated EVO Max V2 series. The items in the catalogue belong to the first series, and all specifications below refer to it.

What all EVO Max versions share

The platform is identical for the 4T, 4T XE and 4N, so its parameters only need to be covered once.

Flight time is up to 42 minutes and hover time up to 38 minutes (both in windless conditions). The 120 Wh battery is hot-swappable, meaning it can be replaced without powering down: the aircraft does not reboot, and relaunching takes a few minutes. The EVO Max is ready to take off 15 seconds after power-on. The body is rated IP43. The first digit means protection against solid particles of 1 mm and larger; the second means resistance to water spray at up to 60° from vertical, i.e. light rain. The operating temperature range is −20 to +50 °C, and wind resistance during takeoff and landing is up to 12 m/s.

The SkyLink 3.0 transmission system reaches up to 20 km without interference, has six antennas and uses the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands, plus 5.2 GHz and 900 MHz depending on the regional standard. The link is encrypted with AES-256. A-Mesh technology lets several nearby EVO Max drones connect into a mesh network: each aircraft can relay for another, and if one drops out, the rest rebuild the link on their own. This extends operations beyond line of sight when terrain or buildings stand between the operator and the drone.

Autel calls its obstacle avoidance system 720-degree. It combines binocular fisheye cameras with millimetre-wave radar. The radar detects obstacles in fog and darkness where optical sensors are blind and, according to the manufacturer, picks up objects as thin as 1.3 cm, which includes power line wires. The same system handles navigation without GNSS: the drone builds a 3D model of its surroundings, plans routes through forests, under bridges or inside structures, and returns home when the satellite signal is weak or absent.

Autel claims interference resistance and stable flight under strong interference for the EVO Max. In practice this means visual navigation keeps the drone airborne when GPS is lost, and the transmission switches between several frequency bands. This is civilian-grade protection designed for urban radio noise and industrial sites. Under military electronic warfare, results depend on the power and frequency bands of the jamming, and no production commercial drone guarantees operation in such conditions.

EVO Max 4T: zoom and thermal in one gimbal

The 4T gimbal combines four sensors. The wide-angle camera has 50 MP on a 1/1.28" sensor. That is a large sensor for a compact drone, so the wide image remains usable at dusk, and the Moonlight 2.0 algorithm further reduces noise in night shots. The 48 MP zoom camera on a 1/2" sensor provides 10× optical and up to 160× hybrid zoom and records 8K video. As a reminder, hybrid zoom combines optics with digital cropping: beyond 10×, detail increases through processing rather than the lens. The thermal camera has 640×512 resolution and 16× digital zoom. The laser rangefinder measures distances from 5 to 1,200 m: the operator taps a target on screen and the system returns its distance and coordinates.

Built-in AI recognition automatically detects and tracks heat sources, people and vehicles. For observation this means the operator does not have to hold the target manually: the drone keeps it in frame while the operator analyses the image.

The 4T is the all-round version of the series. It suits cases where long-range optics are needed during the day to identify details, and a thermal camera at night for detection.

In the catalogue the EVO Max 4T costs 185,000 UAH new, 175,000 UAH as Open Box, and 170,000 UAH marked "activated".

EVO Max 4T XE: the same sensor set for less

The XE was released in September 2024 as a more affordable modification of the 4T. The gimbal composition is the same (wide-angle camera, zoom, thermal, rangefinder), but the daylight cameras differ, and the difference is worth knowing before buying.

The XE's wide-angle camera has 48 MP on a 1/2" sensor with an f/2.8 aperture and an 83.4° field of view. Autel describes it as ultra-sensitive, but physically the sensor is smaller than the 4T's 1/1.28". The zoom camera keeps 48 MP, 10× optical and 160× hybrid zoom, but records video in 4K instead of 8K. For real-time observation the difference between 8K and 4K recording is barely noticeable, because the operator sees a 1080p live feed. It matters when frames are later extracted from the video for analysis.

The XE's thermal camera has 640×512 pixels, a 9.1 mm lens and 16× digital zoom. It is radiometric, measuring temperatures from −20 to +550 °C with an accuracy of ±2 °C or ±2% of the reading (whichever is greater). The rangefinder and the entire platform are the same as on the 4T.

For tasks where the thermal camera and zoom are the main tools and the wide-angle camera plays a supporting role, the XE offers practically the same capability for less money. In the catalogue the EVO Max 4T XE costs 175,000 UAH new and 160,000 UAH as Open Box. It is the most affordable EVO Max option in the range.

EVO Max 4N: a night camera instead of zoom

The 4N is designed for night work and differs the most. Its gimbal has no 48 MP zoom camera. In its place is a 2.3 MP starlight camera with a 41.4 mm equivalent focal length and up to 8× digital zoom. The remaining sensors are kept: a 50 MP 1/1.28" wide-angle camera, a 640×512 thermal camera with 16× digital zoom, and a rangefinder with the same range of up to 1,200 m.

A starlight camera works on a different principle from a thermal camera. A thermal camera registers the heat emitted by objects themselves and shows temperature differences. A starlight camera uses an ultra-sensitive sensor with large pixels that amplifies residual visible light from stars, the moon and urban sky glow. Its ISO range runs from 100 to 450,000, and its minimum illumination is 0.0001 lux, which corresponds to a moonless, overcast night. The operator gets a conventional, if grainy, image showing textures, outlines, markings and lettering that a thermal camera does not show.

The practical value of such a camera becomes clear at dawn and dusk. Twice a day the temperature of objects and their background equalises and the thermal camera loses contrast: a person against sun-warmed ground or a vehicle that has cooled down almost blends into the surroundings. The night camera does not depend on temperature. It also sees light sources (headlights, phone screens) and sees through glass, which is opaque to a thermal camera. On the 4N both channels work simultaneously and the operator switches between them depending on the situation.

The price of this capability is the lack of optical zoom. In daylight the 4N falls behind the 4T and XE in identifying small details at distance, because it has only a wide-angle camera with digital magnification. If the drone will work mostly at night, that is an acceptable trade-off. If it will work evenly around the clock, the 4T is more versatile.

In the catalogue the EVO Max 4N costs from 175,000 to 220,000 UAH depending on the item, or 180,000 UAH as Open Box.

Autel or DJI

The EVO Max's closest competitor in the Astreia range is the DJI Matrice 4T at 185,000–200,000 UAH. DJI is stronger in daylight cameras: three 48 MP cameras, the longest being 168 mm on a 1/1.5" sensor. The Matrice 4T's rangefinder reaches 1,800 m against Autel's 1,200 m, flight time is 49 minutes against 42, and NIR illumination lets the daylight camera see in the dark at up to 100 m.

The EVO Max wins on other parameters. Its batteries are hot-swappable, which the Matrice 4 lacks. Autel's operating temperature range is wider: down to −20 °C against −10 °C for the Matrice 4E. The millimetre-wave radar in the obstacle avoidance system works in fog and darkness, and the A-Mesh network provides relay between several drones without extra equipment. None of the DJI drones in the catalogue has a separate starlight camera like the 4N. Finally, the 4T XE at 160,000–175,000 UAH remains cheaper than the Matrice 4T with a comparable sensor set.

Compared with the DJI Matrice 30T, the latter has better body protection (IP55 against IP43), but weighs more than twice as much (3.77 kg) and costs 220,000 to 300,000 UAH.

Open Box, "activated" and how to read catalogue items

The Open Box label means the box has been opened and the drone may have flown. "Activated" means the aircraft has already been activated in the manufacturer's app, so it has at least been powered on. For a professional drone built for intensive use, neither state materially affects service life, while the saving over a new unit ranges from 10,000 to 40,000 UAH depending on the version.

Choosing a version

The EVO Max 4T XE suits most buyers who need a thermal drone with optical zoom and a rangefinder at the lowest price for this class. It differs from the 4T only in the smaller wide-angle sensor and 4K recording on the zoom camera.

The EVO Max 4T is worth choosing if wide-angle image quality at dusk matters, or if 8K recording from the zoom camera is needed for later frame-by-frame analysis. The premium over the XE is 10,000–15,000 UAH.

The EVO Max 4N is intended for those who work mostly at night and run into the limits of thermal imaging: during thermal crossover hours, when textures and light sources need to be seen, or when observing through glass. The trade-off is giving up optical zoom in daylight.

All three versions share the same platform with GPS-free navigation, hot-swappable batteries and the A-Mesh network, so the choice between them is determined solely by the tasks facing the camera.

Summary table

Transmission range is given for interference-free conditions. Prices are current at the time of publication; check the product page for final pricing and availability.