Top 10 Best Thermal Cameras
for December 2023

The FLIR ONE Pro is one of the most versatile infrared cameras we've ever tested. It's perfect for homeowners, electricians, HVAC installers, and anyone else whose line of work requires them to look for heat or energy loss. It offers a clear view of a room's temperature and moisture levels, and it allows you to measure temperature differences with a much finer resolution than your smartphone's built-in camera. We particularly liked how bright the image is, and how crisp and detailed the images are. The ONE Pro's also snap photos with a resolution of 19,200 pixels, which is 4X greater than the FLIR ONE Pro LT's resolution, and 4X better than standard smartphone cameras. The FLIR ONE Pro has three main modes: thermal image mode, measurement mode, and camera mode. In thermal image mode, the camera allows you to measure temperature differences within an area. Measured temperatures range from -40 to 400 degrees Celsius, and the camera allows you to view a difference of up to 50 degrees Celsius, which is not as good as FLIR's higher-end thermal cameras, but it's more than good enough for most applications. In measurement mode, the ONE Pro records a measurement history, and it allows you to view the temperature difference, and the change in the measurements over time. In camera mode, you can take high-resolution thermal images, and you can also view the location, distance, and size of the camera's detected object. The ONE Pro has a 400 lux rating, which is very good, but not as good as FLIR's higher-end thermal cameras.

The FLIR ONE Gen 3 is the best thermal camera for Android phones that we tested. It offers the best combination of resolution, image quality, and versatility. The FLIR ONE excels at capturing fine details, and we found that it consistently captured sharper images than our other top pick, the BYTON Visor. The FLIR ONE is also more versatile than either the Visor or the eMagin ONE, with a wider range of temperature thresholds (from -200°C to 1100°C), more background suppression options, and a wider range of magnification levels. The FLIR ONE is also the most versatile device we tested, because it allows you to capture both thermal and visible light images. This feature isn't as useful as the BYTON Visor's dual lens, but it's great for capturing images of objects that aren't directly in the field of view. The FLIR ONE's image quality isn't as good in low light as it is in daylight, and images tend to look grainy and noisy in low light. The FLIR ONE doesn't capture video, but it's fine for still images. The FLIR ONE is also the only device we tested that uses a USB-C port for charging.

The HIKMICRO B20 thermal imaging camera offers great value, especially given its robust feature set and low price. It offers both thermal imaging and visible light images, and it features multiple color palettes, making it easy to analyze heat patterns or light sources. The B20 is also remarkably versatile, with an IP54 rating, a touchscreen display, and a field of view of 160°. It can connect to mobile devices via Wi-Fi and the HIKMICRO Viewer App to live stream your devices to at most 3 tablets or phones, better analyze the temperature anomalies on bigger screens, share the images at real-time. The mobile app is intuitive, and the images are sharp and clear. The B20 also has quite a long battery life (up to 7 hours), and it comes with extras like a battery pack, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi transmitter, and tripod stand.

The Uni-T UTi120Mobile Thermal Camera is a capable thermal imaging camera that's easy to use, and it's surprisingly affordable. It's much larger than other thermal cameras, but it's built for durability and comes with a 2-meter drop resistance. Its image quality isn't quite as crisp or as detailed as some other cameras, but its resolution is more than adequate for basic use, and it captures thermal images in both visible and infrared wavelengths. When paired with a phone or tablet, the camera is compatible with the Uni-T App for thermal imaging. The Uni-T App makes it easy to capture, save, and share thermal images with your phone, and you can quickly share images with other devices using Bluetooth. Its emissivity can be adjusted from 0.1 to 0.99, and the camera's resolution ranges from 120x90 to 640x480, depending on the setting. It's more expensive than some thermal cameras, but its exceptional value makes it a top pick.

The NOYAFA Industrial Thermal Imaging Device is overkill for most indoor applications, but for outdoor use, especially at night, it's perfect. It's small enough to fit in a pocket, easy to use, and can deliver accurate temperature readings for outdoor use. It works well in both infrared and visible light modes, though it has some trouble distinguishing a bright white against a bright white in infrared mode. It also struggles to distinguish between dark and light colors in infrared mode, so if you're looking for an infrared camera that can distinguish between dark and light objects, this won't be your best choice. However, for outdoor use, it's perfect for keeping track of the temperature of your outdoor equipment, whether that's your ATV, RV, boat, or barbecue. And since it records temperatures in degrees Celsius, it also works for measuring the temperature of hot objects, such as boiling water or a fire.

The Seek Thermal Reveal Pro is the strongest thermal imaging camera we've ever tested. For people looking to go pro, this is a no-brainer. It's bigger and heavier than most of the other thermal cameras we tested, but it's also tougher and more accurate. The Seek is the only thermal camera we tested that can capture video, and it's one of the only thermal cameras that can capture emissivity data. (The other thermal cameras we tested either captured video, but lacked emissivity data, or didn't capture emissivity data at all.) The Reveal Pro is more accurate at capturing temperature data than any of the thermal cameras we tested. The thermal imagers (and especially the thermal cameras) we tested have about 1 to 2 degrees of accuracy, which can make identifying a problem very difficult. The Seek's accuracy is 5 to 6 degrees, which is perfect. The Seek has other perks, too. It's the only one we tested with dedicated buttons for capturing photos, video, and emissivity data, which make it a breeze to use. The night vision on the Reveal Pro is also better than the night vision on the others we tested. The thermal camera also draws less power, which means that batteries last longer. The battery life on the Reveal Pro is 6 hours, which is longer than any of the other thermal cameras we tested. The Seek Thermal Reveal Pro is also easy to use. It automatically shuts off after 2 minutes and reactivates when you turn the camera back on. It also has a 3-hour auto-off timer, which is perfect for people who work all day. The Reveal Pro is also the only thermal camera we tested that comes with a carrying case and stand, which makes it easy to transport. The Seek Thermal Reveal Pro is the best thermal imaging camera we've ever tested.

The FLIR TG165-X is a thermal imaging camera, so it's best suited for inspecting potential issues in your home or workplace. It's waterproof, so it can be used outside, and the rechargeable battery lasts about 2.5 hours. Unlike most thermal cameras, the TG165-X includes a bullseye laser pointer, which lets you quickly mark the target area. The TG165-X is simple to use, and the thermal images it captures are clear and easy to understand. The bullseye laser pointer makes it easy to find the hot spot you're looking for, and the built-in 6-megapixel camera captures thermal images as well as visual images. The TG165-X has a temperature range of -50C to 550C (-58F to 932F), and it comes with a one-year warranty.

The FLIR ONE Pro is a thermal camera that packs a lot of power in a small package. It shoots crisp 19,200-pixel 4-megapixel images, and can record video at 640 x 480 resolution, both at 30fps. The ONE Pro has a rotating lens that offers a wide 120-degree field of view, and the image processor, called VividIR, offers four image enhancement modes. The MSX image enhancement mode, which is only available on the ONE Pro, enhances thermal images with visual details, so you can see exactly where heat is coming from. It works best when paired with VividIR, and it's a great feature for electricians, plumbers, home inspectors, and anyone doing home renovations, where you need to carefully spot where heat is radiating from. The ONE Pro's image processor is a Xmega processor, so it's much faster than the one in the ONE Pro LT, and it offers four times as many megapixels. The ONE Pro shoots video at 30fps and can be saved in MPEG-4 format, and it also has image stabilizer, so your video is as smooth as can be. The ONE Pro is IP65 certified, so it can withstand water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. The ONE Pro has a one-fit connector, so it easily attaches to the protective case that comes with the ONE Pro. The ONE Pro also has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can use the FLIR ONE app to view and record video, and view infrared images. The FLIR ONE Pro is more expensive than the ONE Pro LT, but it offers a lot more features. The ONE Pro has a wider range of temperature measurement, and it offers MSX image enhancement. The ONE Pro also has image stabilizer, which the ONE Pro LT doesn't. The ONE Pro has great image quality, and the One Pro's VividIR image processor and MSX image enhancement mode make it the best mobile infrared camera we tested.

The FLIR ONE Pro LT is one of the most powerful infrared cameras we've tested, and it's our pick for a portable infrared camera for electricians and other pros thanks to its powerful thermal resolution, accurate measurements, and rugged design. The FLIR ONE Pro LT's powerful thermal resolution means it can detect small temperature differences across large distances. The One Pro LT's accurate measurements are consistent from image to image, so it's ideal for using in inspections. The FLIR ONE Pro LT produces clear, detailed thermal images, and detects temperature differences as small as 1%. The FLIR ONE Pro LT's temperature range is also impressive, spanning from -20C to 120C (-4F to 248F), and it features both Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. The FLIR ONE Pro LT's display is bright, and its display is easy to read in bright sunlight, thanks to its touchscreen. The One Pro LT's battery life is also impressive, lasting for up to 10 hours on a single charge. The FLIR ONE Pro LT's one fit connector is flexible, so you can easily secure it to your phone or tablet.

The Seek Thermal CW-AAA is a portable thermal imaging camera designed to help users identify problems or issues in homes, businesses, and buildings. The Seek Compact device features a 206 x 156 thermal Sensor, a 36 field of view, a 9 Hz frame rate, focusable lens, a -40F to 626F detection range, captures photos & videos, spot temperature, high-low temperature, threshold mode, 9 Color palettes, and 1,000 ft. detection distance. The Seek Compact is also waterproof, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Seek Compact is equipped with a USB-C port and is powered by your smartphone. The Seek Compact app is available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. For users who do not have a smartphone, the Seek Compact has a 2-year battery life and runs on 2 AA batteries. The Seek Compact is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry. The Seek Compact weighs only 1 pound, measures 3.8 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches, and has a 2-year battery life. The Seek Compact app is free to download. The Seek Compact is ideal for users who are looking for a portable thermal imaging camera. The Seek Compact is affordable, easy to use, and allows users to identify problems or issues with their homes, businesses, and buildings.