The FLIR ONE is an extremely popular plug-and-play thermal camera attachment that can be used with both Android and iOS phones and tablets.
If you’re someone who is just getting into thermal imaging, or just need a simple thermal camera with a touchscreen interface for an affordable price, the FLIR ONE is a great option.
BUYING TIP: Also take a look at the Seek Compact and Seek Extended Range Compact XR thermal camera attachments. These are very similar in price, but offer more features.
Noteworthy Features
The FLIR ONE has plenty of convenient features and extras to go along with satisfactory image quality for a thermal camera of its size.
Simple Interface
If you’re comfortable using a smartphone, you’ll be comfortable using the FLIR ONE. To use it, simply plug it into the charging port, open the app, and you’re all set. The menu is pretty self-explanatory, and should only take your around 10 minutes to master.
Size
With the FLIR ONE, you get a thermal imager that you can easily bring with you on the go. Nothing against some of the bigger thermal cameras out there, you just can’t carry them around with you or pack them away as easy as you can with the FLIR ONE.
MSX Imaging
Many of FLIR’s higher-end thermal cameras make use of what is known as MSX, which is essentially the blending of a digital camera light image with an infrared one. The result is a thermal image with just enough physical characteristics overlaid from the light image to give better context and detail.
FLIR managed to fit in MSX technology into the ONE, giving it a crisp and clear image that you won’t find with some thermal imagers in a higher price range. For a smartphone imager, this is very impressive.
Additional Features and Convenience
The FLIR ONE has several other bonus features that add to its versatility, such as video, time-lapse, and panorama. Sharing images to all the different social media platforms is easy as well. Multiple color palette options give you greater flexibility when trying to better analyze certain images.
Limitations
The FLIR ONE, impressive as it is for its size, does suffer from a few minor drawbacks.
Separate Battery
A smartphone thermal imager with its own battery may seem like a great thing, but it really just means that you have one more thing to recharge. The FLIR ONE has its own power supply, meaning that you’ll have to charge it separately from the phone.
Low Resolution
With a resolution of 80 x 60, the FLIR ONE doesn’t measure up with it’s bigger, bulkier cousins. This isn’t to say that it has poor image quality, it’s just not what you’d find with a larger and more conventional thermal camera. The images are still largely sufficient, however, and the MSX certainly helps things.
- Resolution: 80 x 60
- Temperature Range: -4°F to 248°F
- Weight: 2.75 ounces
- Sensitivity: 0.18°F
The FLIR ONE is not some novelty gadget for your phone. It is a fully functional thermal imager that provides surprisingly good images that you can use for a variety of applications inside, outside, and away from your home. It’s easy to use, durable, and an excellent gateway into the world of thermal imaging.
Buy this if you want an inexpensive way to turn your smartphone or tablet into a versatile, capable thermal camera.
