DJI’s New Dock Launches 14 October: Battery Swapping, Likely Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD
DJI Enterprise will launch a new drone dock and dock drone on 14 October 2026 at 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 GMT). A six-second teaser pinned to the DJI Enterprise account on X on 8 October shows the headline feature: the dock swaps the drone’s battery instead of charging it in place, which the current Dock 3 cannot do.
DJI has not named either product. Leaks point to a Dock 4 and the Matrice 5TD. Here is what the teaser shows, what the leaks add, and why US buyers are unlikely to get either.
Quick answer
| What we know | |
|---|---|
| Launch | 14 October 2026, 8:00 a.m. EDT / 12:00 GMT (DJI Enterprise) |
| Teaser | “Always There, Always Ready”, 6 seconds, posted 8 October |
| Key feature | Automatic battery swap: a carousel moves a fresh pack into the drone’s rear bay |
| Likely names (unconfirmed) | DJI Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD |
| Matrice 5TD (China registry) | 2.6 kg empty, 3.05 kg at takeoff, filed for power line inspection |
| US availability | Unlikely: new DJI hardware cannot currently get FCC authorization |
What the teaser shows
The clip is a render, not footage. A battery pack drops along guide rails into a rotating carousel with a central gear hub and at least five bays; the carousel turns a pack under the landed drone and lifts it into an empty bay at the back of the aircraft. DJI has not described the mechanism in words or published any specifications.
According to DroneXL’s reading of the clip, the aircraft has folding arms and a top-rear battery bay like the current Matrice 4D, which suggests a direct successor rather than a new airframe class.
Why battery swapping matters
Today’s DJI Dock 3 charges the battery while it is still inside the landed drone. DJI’s Dock 3 spec sheet gives 27 minutes to charge the aircraft from 15% to 95% at 25°C. A swapping dock removes that wait: the drone can go back up as soon as a charged pack is in, which matters most for drone-as-first-responder programs and continuous patrols where the drone must always be ready.
| DJI Dock 3 (current) | New dock (teased) | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | February 2025, with Matrice 4D and 4TD | 14 October 2026 |
| Battery | Charged inside the drone | Swapped from a carousel |
| Turnaround | 27 min to charge, 15% to 95% (25°C) | Not published |
| Drone flight time | Matrice 4TD: up to 54 min forward, 47 min hover | Not published |
| Aircraft battery | 149.9 Wh, rated for 400 cycles | Not published |
What the leaks say: Dock 4 and Matrice 5TD
On 21 September 2026, leaker Igor Bogdanov posted a Chinese drone registry entry for a Matrice 5TD: 2.6 kg empty and 3.05 kg at takeoff, filed for power line inspection, roughly 750 g heavier than the Matrice 4TD. On 25 September he wrote that a Dock 4 is coming, without giving a source. We covered the filing in Matrice 5TD: what the filing shows.
UK dealer Heliguy’s launch page says only that “a new DJI Enterprise product” launches on 14 October. Neither name is confirmed.
Can US buyers get it?
Not on current rules. The Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD received FCC authorizations before the FCC’s 22 December 2025 Covered List action, so they can still be sold. A new dock and a new aircraft would each need fresh FCC grants, which the agency is not issuing for DJI hardware. DJI has told the Ninth Circuit that the action blocks 25 planned 2026 launches. Our US drone ban checker tracks which DJI models are still authorized.
For US police and fire departments building dock programs, that leaves the existing Dock 3 or docks from non-Chinese makers. Skydio is one example; see our Skydio X10 vs DJI Matrice 4T comparison.
How DJI usually launches
DJI posted the Dock 3 teaser on 24 February 2025 and announced it three days later. The Dock 2 and Matrice 3D launched globally on 26 March 2024, about four months after their China release. A global announcement on 14 October is likely, with regional availability following.
Frequently asked questions
When is the DJI Dock 4 launch?
DJI Enterprise has scheduled a launch for 14 October 2026 at 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 GMT). DJI has not confirmed the Dock 4 name.
Does the new DJI dock swap batteries?
The teaser shows an automatic battery swap: a carousel moves a charged pack into the drone’s rear battery bay. The Dock 3 charges the battery inside the drone instead.
What drone will the new DJI dock use?
Leaks point to the Matrice 5TD, listed in China’s registry at 2.6 kg empty and 3.05 kg at takeoff. DJI has not confirmed it.
Will the DJI Dock 4 be sold in the US?
Unlikely. New DJI hardware cannot currently receive FCC authorization after the December 2025 Covered List action.
How long does the DJI Dock 3 take to charge a drone?
About 27 minutes to charge the aircraft from 15% to 95% at 25°C, according to DJI’s Dock 3 specifications.
Sources
Sources
Primary references used for factual claims in this article.
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