Flir One - Thermal Imaging Camera for Android Smartphones (USB-C), 240x180 Super Resolution (80x60 Native IR)

I got this used. Looked like it was never taken out of the packaging. The image quality is spectacular with the enhancement (outlines of edges and such), really helps identify hotspots easily. Came with a nice hard case and USB-A to USB-C Cable. The image is neat with the little cross hairs reticle and temp reading, allowing pinpoint temp identification. I trust this unit more than I do a cheap infrared thermometer. Automatically calibrates, and color changes as hotter items get introduced to view. I do not regret buying this thing. The worst I see with it is it doesn't reach through my other box cover. The rubber is just too thick. So I ordered an 80 gbps male to female USB-C data cable and will use it unattached from phone. I keep hitting the power button due to it being centered on the unit, and me holding it on phone tightly. Image clarity is spectacular. And allows you to see at night. It isn't hard to use, easy to deploy. I don't have a full hour into its use. Definitely gonna be handy for hotspots on engines! Picture shows an LED 100 watt equivalent. It's neat to look at what has heat and what don't. If you are considering getting one, it is worth $200.

Just wanted to take the time to review this, honestly and without leaving anything out. This device is very useful for checking for hot/cold differences (like if your gaming laptop is overheating or air conditioner isn't cooling enough). The FLIR ONE app is easy to use, but the guides on how to find home heating issues (air leak, insulation issues, or moisture detection) require a yearly subscription (in USD, $29.99). The actual imagery is really good (for now, at least). Like others have said, there's two cameras: one visible spectrum, the other infrared-sensitive. One reviewer wrote that there's no option to adjust the superimposition of the visible-spectrum image; i can tell you right now this is dead false. On the bottom left of the screen is an icon of two offset squares; this is the alignment adjustment. No taping over the visible-spectrum camera is needed. I do want to mention that this device seems to be better suited to close-up examinations (like up to 5-10 feet) and objects get less recognizable the farther you go. Remember, this is just like any other lensed product: it has a focal distance and range in which it works best. CONS: battery life is about 1 hr. Not great, but come on, a device this small, what did you expect? Then again, maybe FLIR could have engineered it to work off the phone's battery, but it would still drain battery; at least it only takes 40 minutes to charge, which should be enough during a drive between job sites if you're a HVAC contractor. Another CON: it takes about 20 secs to power up and connect; the manual and the app do mention this downtime, so anyone complains about the load time from this point on is just being ignorant. Again, all devices have some bootup time, even your smartphone or TV. Oh, and before I forget, yes, you CAN flip it around and take selfies with it! (See attached selfie)

First off, the device works perfectly and does everything it promises. They were thoughtful and made the USB-C connector adjustable so it can fit even with a hard phone case, very smart. The resolution is good and it does show temperature differences, so it'll be great to use for identifying problematic circuits, air leaks or other issues as it's designed for. The reason I deducted half a star is that I kind of wish I had bought a standalone unit instead. This thing is well built so when it's hanging off the end of my Galaxy S23 I am worried the weight is straining my phone's USB C port. You have to be a little careful not to whip it around too much or inadvertently put any pressure on it. I'm thinking having a dedicated unit while more expensive would just be a little better than using your phone for yet another feat of magic, especially if you're in an attic or outdoors where the environment isn't the best for a phone. I can't really ding the product too much for this as it's clearly sold as a phone add on and it does do what it promises, but for me I wish I had bought the dedicated unit. One other minor issue is that in my hot climate, I am not sure this will really tell me if my outlets and fixtures are leaking hot air unless I have a significant vacuum in the house (either with a blower or because of a leaking duct pushing air into the attic which creates a draw inside. This isn't so much a shortcoming of the product, but it is how science works so it means this won't automatically tell you everything without some additional tools or work. My power company did an energy audit and hooked a blower up to the front door to pressurize the house and then used an incense stick to see if the smoke rushed into wall outlets, plumbing fixtures, etc. (it did!). For this to work the best, I think you'd need to run the blower backwards to create suction so this will see hot air rushing into the house. I need to figure that one out. Perhaps a portable AC unit with a single exhaust hose will fit the bill as those actually suck air out of the house which then causes hot outside air to be sucked into the house, which is one reason they are less efficient than window units. The dryer may help with that as well, although I don't know if either of these will move enough air to draw in from the whole house. Looks like an interesting project to try! If you can swing getting a standalone FLIR then go for it. If you need something portable and less expensive for occasional use, this one absolutely works if you use it correctly, just be careful not to break your phone connector. It's not that likely, but it is a risk.

I've had one of these before, but when I updated my phone I never bothered to get the newer version. But thanks to the holiday season I went ahead and got the newest model compatible to my phone and right out of the gate discovered with it that the plumbing in my new location is flush against a freezing exterior wall. I put insulation on various parts and checked again after a good 30 minutes confirmed everything is going to be OK. If I had not utilized this, these pipes would have surely froze overnight and the cost to repair that would be unpleasant. The installation is simple. The functionality is accurate and easy to use. The only thing I recommend is make sure you check the settings so it's based on the temperature system you prefer (like Fahrenheit versus Celsius). You do not need to buy anything from the app for this to provide you the basic information you need to know if you have a water leakage, if you have drafts in your insulation, if you're electrical wiring is running too hot, or if your pipes are below 40°. If you can afford it, get it.

Works great but if you have a protective case it doesn’t always plug in well and can come unplugged easily

UPDATE December 2024. As with all my reviews, I write about products I buy for myself and when I can, share my use experiences so that others have more to go on than some paid for review where someone gets something for free and then talks about it. I bought his over a year ago, it's been a real challenge to get any reliable use out of it because the software isn't done well and therefore the hardware is a work when it wants to affair. I've tried plenty of devices (phones and tablets) from Android Version 8 to 14. WIth Android 14 (yes there is now 15) it doesn't work. The company drops versions like a hot potato and while end of life app timelines do have their place, when an app doesn't really work the answer isn't to deprecate it and move on, the answer is to make it work, reliably. Hardware without software support is not a good value. The hardware in this case is the Flir One Pro. One would think "PRO" means professional or at least tier one function and quality. It is not. While the camera itself has in the past worked...sometimes and then on just one device semi-consistently, now it works on nothing because the software app (which is part and parcel to the camera because without the app the camera is useless) isn't well supported and becomes obsolete on even Android 9 devices. Lets be open about this, many people do not trade up hardware all the time meaning they might hold onto a phone and especially tablets. The buy a Flir One Pro and then find they can't use a device that used to work with it and the reason is what used to work (app and tablet) no longer work. The company makes an APK install file available which also doesn't work. Then, the Play Store makes the newer version of the app unavailable to you and the company doesn't offer the APK file so you can see if it will work on your older device. Remember, it used to work until an update and then stopped working. This isn't some cheap thermal camera attachment, its rather expensive in that for about 1/3 the price more you can buy a phone with a built-in thermal camera easily as good as this one and you'll have everything you need built-in. FLIR is a well known company and they sell really high end equipment but this is just one one of them. Read the volume of comments available on the Internet, lots of people have lots of problems with the APP, support and the hardware too. I regret this purchase and can't recommend you buy this unless you are willing to accept what works today might not tomorrow and you won't find it works in the future either. Execution doesn't match the idea. This is not some cheap thermal camera attachment, it's pricey and for that you should expect more than a few minutes of use before the battery drains. The connectivity is also problematic and the app you need to use which comes from the same company is sort of they had to make one so they pushed it out half baked. The quality of the actual camera is pretty good but past that is where things fail. Fully charged the connection to the phone is a hit or miss with the misses exceeding the good connections. By the time that is sorted there are perhaps a few minutes of actual battery life remaining. As he battery discharges the camera often disconnects from the phone and you are back to charging the camera. While the charging doesn't take long, probably because it's so small, the process is repeated over and over until I finally just put it back into it's nicely padded case and use something else. For the money, adding just some can get you a smartphone with a thermal camera and also true IR night vision built-in. While thermal cameras need quite a bit of power to function and IR even more, at least with a phone that has the features built-in there is more than a few minutes of actual use. I like the extendable USB connector but in execution that too has its problems. The connector if fully retracted becomes very difficult to extend and when extended it doesn't fit well into the case. Once connected to the phone or tablet (I tried both) the camera just hands there with no stability and one accidental brush up against anything and that connector will get damaged on either the camera or the phone or both. What is needed is a sleeve that slides up on the back and front to insure that the camera is somewhat protected from being bent in those directions. The entire setup as with many USB dongle type accessories is fragile so that isn't unique to this camera but the manufacturer could include some protection given the price you pay. The quality of the image is ok, midrange I'd say and the pictures are of the same quality. Once again however, the app has a lot of lag time when selcting features and the controls are clumisly arranged. The apps seems to be updated but some problems like lag time which have been reported for quite some time go unaddressed. The potential in this camera is good but until the manufacturer spends more time making it better and less time telling everyone how good it is, I can't recommend it. I had high hopes and good use cases for buying it but the price for what it does has me using alternatives that do far more with better results.

Very compact, suitable for basic home inspections and recording. I work in property development and construction, and it can be hard to identify potential air leaks and electrical faults without thermal cameras. Previous ones have been exorbitantly expensive and difficult to use, since I often have to take pictures of problematic areas and quickly communicate to the subs. This product is relatively inexpensive, but the startup time and auto shutoff function can be quite annoying. Takes 20 seconds to "warm/boot up", and switching out the app midway (a random text msg or call) shuts it off! Super annoying to start up again EVERYTIME you switch back to the app. This needs to be fixed as a software update. Image quality is good. The software seems to auto-draw some mechanical lines (the white markers) which make interpretation easier. Saves pics and videos, but for some reason you cannot include the temperature scale (on the right) with recorded images. You can save up to 3 pin-pointed temperature spots. That difference makes no sense at all. This is NOT for heavy duty use since it's a weak phone attachment held in place by the USB-C connection. Battery life is also weak. Barely 30 mins. Which means a field inspector can at best check 2-3 properties before running out, which also means they need to constantly charge it in their vehicle or something. There's a weird rotating/extendable USB-C connector, which I assume is there to make it more compatible with different Android phones. But that same function also makes the connection point weak and wiggly, even when the camera sits flush with your device. I'm terrified of dropping the phone accidentally at job sites and breaking it. Maybe take a cue from other phone attachment manufacturers (lens filters, video rigs, etc) and include a simple cradle that provides more secure attachment?

### **FLIR ONE Gen 3 Review: Unlocking a Superpower for Your Smartphone** The FLIR ONE Gen 3 is more than just a gadget; it's a portal to an invisible world. It promises to transform your Android smartphone into a powerful thermal imaging camera, and after extensive use, I can confidently say it delivers on that promise in a way that is both accessible and profoundly impressive. This device bridges the gap between professional-grade thermal tools and consumer curiosity, resulting in a product that is as useful for a homeowner as it is for an engineer or outdoor enthusiast. **First Impressions and Design: Sleek and Integrated** Right out of the box, the FLIR ONE Gen 3 feels like a premium accessory. Its design is a significant leap forward from bulkier previous generations. It features a sleek, anodized aluminum body that feels robust yet lightweight. The clever, spring-loaded clip mechanism allows it to attach securely to a wide range of USB-C smartphones, even with a slim case on. This is a major convenience, eliminating the need to constantly remove your phone's case. The integrated battery is a game-changer; you charge the FLIR ONE itself via its own USB-C port, so it doesn't drain your phone's battery during use. This thoughtful design means you can use it for extended periods without anxiety. **Performance and Image Quality: Seeing the Unseen** The core experience is, of course, the thermal vision. The FLIR ONE Gen 3 features a 80 x 60 pixel Lepton thermal sensor. While that resolution may sound low on paper, FLIR's proprietary MSX® (Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging) technology is the magic that makes it work. MSX overlays key visual details from the built-in visible-light camera onto the thermal image in real-time. The result is not a blurry, abstract heat blob, but a sharp, recognizable image where you can clearly see edges, text, and outlines, all color-coded by temperature. The ability to instantly visualize heat gradients is staggering. You can: * **Precisely identify a cold draft** around a window or door frame, seeing its exact shape and intensity. * **Locate a hot spot** in an electrical panel or a circuit breaker that's under undue stress, often before it becomes a fire hazard. * **Find studs, pipes, and radiant heating coils** hidden behind drywall or under floors. * **Discover where insulation is missing or compromised** in your attic or walls. The companion FLIR ONE app is intuitive and powerful. You can easily switch between different color palettes (Iron, Rainbow, Arctic, etc.) to best highlight the thermal contrasts you're investigating. The ability to capture both thermal and visual images and videos, and then analyze them later, is invaluable. The spot meter gives you a precise temperature readout for any point you touch on the screen, while the area box shows you the min, max, and average temperatures within a defined zone. **Real-World Applications: From Practical to Profound** This is where the FLIR ONE transcends being a "cool toy" and becomes a genuinely useful tool. * **Home Inspection & Energy Auditing:** This is its killer app. I used it to perform a DIY energy audit of my home. I found several drafts I never knew existed, identified outlets that needed foam gaskets, and confirmed that my attic insulation was uneven. The cost savings from sealing these leaks will likely pay for the device itself over time. * **Automotive:** Diagnosing a failing wheel bearing is easy when one hub is significantly hotter than the others after a drive. You can also check radiator performance, HVAC system output, and exhaust manifold temperatures. * **Electrical Work:** For anyone doing electrical work, this is a safety essential. It instantly reveals overloaded circuits, loose connections, and failing components by their heat signature. * **Outdoor Adventures:** While hiking, I've used it to spot wildlife (warm-bodied animals stand out clearly against a cool background) and to find the warmest spots to camp. It's also fascinating for seeing the residual heat of a campfire long after the flames have died down. **Limitations and Considerations** It's important to have realistic expectations. This is not a $15,000 FLIR T-series camera. The resolution is sufficient for most consumer and prosumer tasks but won't reveal the tiny, intricate thermal details a professional building inspector or researcher might need. Reflective surfaces like glass and polished metal can give inaccurate readings, as they often show the reflection's temperature rather than the surface's own temperature. The most significant consideration is the requirement for a USB-C smartphone. While this review focuses on the Android version, its performance is dependent on your phone's processing power and screen quality. **Verdict: An Essential Tool for the Curious and Practical** The FLIR ONE Gen 3 is a triumph of consumer technology. It takes a powerful, previously unattainable sensing technology and makes it accessible, affordable, and incredibly easy to use. Its sleek, self-powered design, combined with the brilliant MSX image processing and a robust app, creates an experience that feels nothing short of futuristic. Whether you're a homeowner looking to save on energy bills, a DIY enthusiast tackling complex projects, a mechanic, or simply a curious mind eager to see the world in a new light, the FLIR ONE Gen 3 is an outstanding investment. It doesn't just add a feature to your phone; it grants you a genuine superpower—the ability to see heat. It is, without reservation, one of the most fascinating and practically useful tech accessories I have ever owned. Highly recommended.