With the right kind of thermal imaging camera, you can explore the world around you in a completely new way. The best part is that you don’t need to spend a fortune on professional equipment that scientists or the police use.
Instead, you can buy equipment that you can use with your Android phone.
But with so many different makes and models to select from, how do you choose the right one for your needs? In this article, we look at five of the best thermal cameras for Android, as well as offer advice on selecting the right one.
Keep in mind that choosing the right one for you will largely depend on what you intend to use such equipment for.
5 of the Best Thermal Cameras for Android
Here we take a look at what we feel are five of the best thermal cameras you can buy to use with any Android device.
1. FLIR ONE Gen 3
Once connected to your Android device, the FLIR ONE Gen 3 can take thermal images and videos for you. With the app that comes with this device, you have the opportunity to edit any pictures or videos yourself.
Product Details
This is a lightweight accessory that allows you to measure temperature variations.
It comes with MSX technology that combines thermal and visible spectrum, providing you with more enhanced and detailed images and resolutions.
The addition of the free mobile thermal camera app provides you with great tips and tricks. It also features multiple spot meters. Plus, the inclusion of automated reporting allows you to document all your findings easily.
Pros
- It is available at an affordable price
- It comes with effective thermal imaging capabilities
- It has multiple spot meters
- It has easy automated reporting so that you can document your findings
- It is lightweight, so it is easy to handle and carry
Cons
- You cannot switch between MSX, thermal, or visual views
- It has far fewer metering options unlike some other thermal cameras
- You may find it isn’t as accurate as some other models
2. Seek Thermal CW-AAA
It allows you to quickly transform your smartphone or tablet into a thermal imager camera for use around your home.
Product Details
The Seek Thermal CW-AAA model comes with a 206 x 156 thermal sensor.
Like other models, it can provide videos and images of the area you inspect and differentiate between high and low temperatures. You can see the differences in temperature as it comes with a choice of nine colors.
It can detect differences in temperature up to 1,000 feet. Unlike other models, this one doesn’t require recharging or replacing batteries as it runs off the lower power mode on your Android device.
This thermal imaging device also comes with a manual focus dial, so you can control how precise the visible images produced by this thermal camera are.
Pros
- It is relatively cheap to buy
- It is lightweight, versatile, and flexible
- It comes with a much higher-resolution thermal imager compared to some of its competitors
- It can detect variations in temperature around you quickly
Cons
- The images captured are just in raw thermal data, so the visual images don’t contain much detail
- You will need to purchase an adapter if you want to use it with LG Android devices
3. Hti-Xintai Thermal Imaging Camera
Product Details
The Hti-Xintai is small and lightweight. It measures just 1.9 x 1.4 x 1.1 inches and doesn’t include a battery as it uses the power from your device’s battery to provide it with energy.
It can identify variations in temperature from -4 to +752 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to +400 degrees Celsius).
Not only is this thermal camera from Hti-Xintai waterproof, but it is also dustproof. Plus, it comes with the ability to manually focus on a particular heat source.
It is easy to connect to your Android device as it comes with a USB-C to micro USB adaptor. Plus, unlike other makes and models of thermal imaging cameras, you will find the lens on this product is detachable.
Pros
- It has very high-resolution capabilities
- It comes with great temperature ranges
- It is very sensitive to detecting variations in temperatures
- You can manually focus on specific areas in a high-quality thermal image or video
- Not only does it take images it allows you to record video
- As you capture images, it will provide you with thermal data
Cons
- You may find that the app doesn’t work as well as it should. You may find it better to use a third-party app such as Thermviewer
- You may find that it loses focus often
- Getting a response from customer service can be difficult if something goes wrong
4. FLIR ONE Pro Thermal Imaging Camera
The FLIR ONE Pro is one of the most popular thermal imaging cameras you can get for use with Android devices and iOS ones.
There are three main reasons why this particular thermal camera is so popular – it comes with an excellent infrared sensor, a great camera, and a small battery that powers it.
Product Details
This device easily connects to Android or iOS devices using the USB-C, micro USB, or lighting connector.
As with other devices like this, the FLIR ONE Pro is fitted with an infrared sensor, but this one has a 160 x 120 resolution. As for the visual camera, this is a 1440 x 1080 and includes MSX image enhancement technology.
Unlike other models we’ve already reviewed, this one is powered by its own battery. It will provide you with between 45 and 60 minutes of operation before the rechargeable batteries need to be charged.
To use this thermal camera you will need to download the FLIR app to your device. It is available through the Google Play Store or the Apple app store.
Once installed on your device and connected the camera to it, you are ready to start using it to capture thermal images or video.
Pros
- The MSX feature will provide you with high-resolution images
- It has a very high thermal sensitivity
- It not only takes images but also allows you to record videos
- Any images you take will hold temperature scale data
- Allows for multi-spot measuring
- The thermal camera app included is straightforward and efficient to use
Cons
- The battery needs to be recharged after 45 to 60 minutes of use
- You cannot recharge the battery directly from your device
- You may find the high-temperature mode on this camera isn’t particularly useful
- This product is not waterproof or dustproof
5. PerfectPrime IR202 (IR)
It is an updated version of PerfectPrime’sIR0102 thermal camera, which is still available for about the same price and comes with some extra features.
Like other thermal cameras, you can easily connect it to any Android device. Once you’ve downloaded the app to your device, the camera is ready to use.
Product Details
For such a reasonably priced thermal imaging camera, you will find it not only allows you to take images and videos but also to review them.
Additionally, it lets you see low and high temperatures and where the center spot temperature is. Unlike other makes and models around the same price point, this one comes with a temperature alarm.
Also included with this model is a filter option so you can remove any unwanted noise from what you are looking at, as well as a function that allows you to easily switch from normal to thermal images.