I Finally Found A Thermal Camera That Works On Iphone And Android

1 month ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Topdon TC992C Duo Thermal Camera is disposable now for $269 connected Amazon.
It's an meticulous and reliable thermal camera for iPhone, Android, and Windows.
It's a spot much costly than immoderate of nan different thermal imaging cameras.

I'm a large instrumentality of having a thermal camera (or two) arsenic portion of my repair kit. I usage them for each sorts of applications, from detecting faulty components connected circuit boards to figuring retired wherever that pesky draught is coming from successful winter. While they mightiness look for illustration a gimmick, they're an invaluable instrumentality to thief nan DIYer, mechanic, aliases technologist get worldly done.

So delicate it tin spot my breath!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Thermal cameras travel successful each sorts of shapes and sizes, from standalone units to ones built into smartphones. But my favourite are nan benignant you tin connect to a smartphone and power via an app. This intends I person nan convenience of having immoderate photos I return pinch nan thermal camera connected my telephone already (and not having to messiness astir pinch cables aliases microSD cards to transportation them), and I tin still usage my iPhone.

But nan problem truthful acold has been that location isn't a thermal camera that will activity connected some iPhone and Android. Since some now usage USB-C, this has been a constituent of annoyance since it forces nan user to instrumentality pinch 1 level aliases another.

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But not anymore! Now Topdon has travel retired pinch a thermal imager that useful pinch some iPhone and Android: nan TC002C Duo.

Is that CCTV camera powered? You stake it is!

If that sanction feels familiar, it's because Topdon already had a TC002C, which came successful 3 flavors: 1 for iOS Lightning, 1 iOS and iPadOS USB-C, and 1 for Android USB-C. I've ever liked Topdon hardware successful general, and I find its thermal imagers to beryllium peculiarly good. They're stable, accurate, update fast, and person a decent group of features without cluttering up nan interface aliases making it difficult to use.

The TC002C Duo is fundamentally these 3 devices mixed into one. The TC002C Duo features a USB-C larboard that's compatible pinch nan newer iPhones (15 and above) aliases Android, and there's a cablegram to connection iOS Lightning compatibility. And there's a transportation lawsuit to support everything safe.

The TC002C Duo comes pinch telephone nan cables you request and a transportation case.

The TC002C Duo besides supports Windows, truthful you tin hook it up to your laptop aliases tablet to do measurements.

The updated imager has nan aforesaid 256 x 192 solution and 25Hz refresh rate, and supports Thermal Image Super Resolution (TISR) that boosts this solution to 512 x 384 pixels, nan aforesaid accuracy astatine -4°F to 1,022°F (-20°C to 550°C), and nan aforesaid size and weight (2.8 x 1.7 x 0.55-inch and 1.1 oz).

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Essentially, it's nan aforesaid awesome camera, only pinch greater hardware compatibility.

The TC002C Duo tin observe nan flimsy somesthesia elevation that happens erstwhile bending a powerfulness cable.

Another characteristic I emotion is that successful bid to download nan app for nan thermal imager, Topdon person embedded an NFC tag into nan packaging, which is simply a batch much convenient than QR codes aliases having to type successful agelong links (or, nan point I really hate, a connection telling you to hunt nan applicable app store!).

ZDNET's buying advice

The Topdon TC002C Duo is simply a awesome update to Topdon's thermal imager lineup, making it simpler for consumers to take what they need, and taking distant nan request to take betwixt iPhone aliases Android. It's not inexpensive astatine $269, but it's a high-grade instrumentality that's cleanable for home and commercial use. This way, your thermal camera tin move connected moreover if you upgrade your phone.