This thermal camera is so sensitive it can see you breathe
This thermal camera is so sensitive it can see you breathe
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This thermal camera is so sensitive it can see you breathe
The Xinfrared T2S Plus thermal camera.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
I’ve covered quite a few thermal cameras over the years, some standalone units and others that are built into smartphones. For the average user, they offer a performance and sensitivity that’s more than adequate.
But sometimes you need something that goes beyond “more than adequate.”
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This is where the Xinfrared T2S Plus comes into play.
The T2S Plus I’m testing is for Android smartphones, but there’s a separate version for iPhone that features a Lightning connector.
ZDNET RECOMMENDS
Xinfrared T2S Plus
The T2S Plus thermography imager provides high-definition image with full-screen temperature measurement (Max, Min, Center spots), perfect for spotting electrical faults, mechanical breakdowns, water leaks, problems with insulation and HVAC, and much more.
Xinfrared T2S Plus tech specs
- Resolution: 256X192
- Pixel Pitch: 12μm
- Field of View (FOV): 44.9° x 33.4°
- Frame Rate: 25Hz
- Sensor: InfiRay industrial-grade high-performance sensor
- Focusing Mode: 8mm macro lens
- Temperature Measurement Range: -20°C ~ +450°C
- Measurement Accuracy: ±2°C or±2%
- Weight: <18g
- Size: 26 x 26 x 24.2mm
- Power Consumption: <350mW
The T2S Pro is tiny.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
A few things immediately stand out about the T2S Plus. It’s a far bit bigger than other standalone units I’ve used, but at under 18 grams and a cubic inch in size, it fits into a pocket with no problems.
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It also comes with a really nice carry case to protect the unit from drops, and this also holds the adapter cables.
The T2S Plus comes in a nice protective case.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
What’s the purpose of the adapter cables? Well, while the USB-C connector will fit a lot of Android smartphones, the ports on some smartphones – especially ruggedized smartphones, like the Blackview 8900 Pro (just ignore the fact that this smartphone already has a built-in thermal camera) – are too buried to accept the camera.
The T2S Plus wouldn’t fit the Blackview 8900 Pro (although that smartphone has a built-in thermal camera).
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This is not a problem with the T2S Plus. The cables not only offer an adapter for USB-C smartphones that have a buried connector but also for smartphones that use microUSB.
Adapter cables are handy for buried USB-C ports.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The Xtherm app (for Android and iOS) also has some nice features. I especially like the on-screen information and the ability to drop points to read the temperature, draw areas, and even a line.
Thermal view of my morning cup of coffee.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Then, in a fit of goofiness, I pointed it at my face and was shocked to discover that it could “see” me breathing.
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You can see my nostrils going dark as I breathe in the cool air, and turn white as I breathe out warm air.
Yes, the T2S Pro can see you breathe in and out.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This is super cool – I’ve tried this with other thermal cameras, and while they can “see” some change, the quality is nowhere near what the T2S Pro can deliver.
The speed of the image updating, along with the quality of the image are just amazing, and there’s rarely any lag in the display. It’s buttery smooth, making troubleshooting much quicker and easier.
And if you want to get close to things — really close — rotating the focus rig allows you to do just that. Here’s a super-close macro shot of the camera array on my iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Macro thermal image of the camera array on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
I like the Xinfrared T2S Pro a lot. It’s fast and accurate, the apps it connects to are well-made and have pro-grade features, and the refresh rate is one of the fastest I’ve seen on a thermal camera. You can get in really close to things with ease – something that makes diagnosing dead components a lot easier – and the quality of the output is excellent.
This does come at a price, and that’s a cool $339. It’s not expensive as decent thermal cameras go but definitely pushing it into the professional price category.
Also: Are smartphone thermal cameras sensitive enough to uncover PIN codes?
If you want something a little more affordable, then the P2 Pro is currently available for $249 (there’s a $50 click to save coupon on the Amazon listing), or you could buy a smartphone with a built-in thermal camera, such as the Ulefone Power Armor 19T.
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