This is my new favorite thermal imaging camera for Android and iOS – and it’s not even close

I make no bones about being a huge fan of thermal cameras for smartphones. Initially, I dismissed them as a gimmick, but within minutes, I was sold on their practicality. I think they are a must-have for both engineers and home DIYers.

I’ve used mine for all sorts of applications, from finding out how much propane is in a tank (point the camera at the tank and you’ll see the level), discovering pipes and electrical cables in walls, spotting draughts around doors and windows, and identifying faulty components on circuit boards.

Also: I take this $30 pocket multitool everywhere, and keep finding new uses for it

They are practical beyond words, so I’m always excited to test a new camera, so when the new Thermal Master P3 landed on my desk, I couldn’t wait to try it out. 

The P3 is a USB-C camera that works with Android, iOS, and Windows, making it great for engineers who work with Windows-powered tablets and laptops. At only 59 x 27 x 17.2 mm/2.32 x 1.06 x 0.68 inches and weighing only 26.3g/0.93oz, it’s small enough to pop into a pocket or bag. It even comes with a carry case to prevent the unit from getting banged about in use and a 50 cm cable to allow for convenient positioning.

The camera has a thermal range of -20°C to 600°C/-4°F to 1,112°F, with an accuracy of ±2°C, and can detect temperature differences as small as 0.035°C. It has a resolution of 512 × 384 pixels and a 25Hz refresh rate, all of which are vital if you’re going to be looking for faulty components on tiny circuit boards.

Another feature that separates the P3 from many of the other thermal cameras for smartphones on the market is that this has a manual focus macro lens that allows you to get close to whatever you’re looking at. 

Also: I pack light, but this universal travel charger earned a place in my bag – here’s why

In fact, the lens can focus from 8 millimeters out to 80 meters. Manual focus is a double-edged feature — it’s handy because you can tell the camera what to focus on, but it can be a bit of a pain to have to rotate the lens to get it focused on something.

Swings and roundabouts.

Another nice touch is that the USB-C connector is long enough to be able to use the camera with smartphones in cases. 

Again, for precision work, this closeup is vital, as trying to pinpoint one tiny component in an ocean of other components on a circuit board can be near impossible otherwise (pro tip: if your thermal camera doesn’t have macro, I’ve found that using a wooden skewer to point at components on the board helps to identify them).

Some thermal cameras are total battery hogs, but not the P3. This camera draws a ridiculously low 0.32W of power, which means that it doesn’t pull on the host phone’s battery too much, allowing for many hours of use.

Also: I’ve tested hundreds of DIY gadgets. These are the 10 I recommend most

While I like smartphones with built-in thermal cameras, most of them are bulky, and I don’t really want to carry a second handset with me. I’d much rather have a small camera that I can attach to whatever device I happen to have (or someone else’s, since all they need to do is download the app).

ZDNET’s buying advice

Good thermal cameras aren’t cheap, but they are a lot cheaper than they used to be. Thermal Master has been pushing out a lot of good quality, well-priced hardware recently, and the P3 thermal camera is exactly that. For $299, you’re getting a professional-grade camera packed into a very convenient, portable form factor. 

Throw in the added convenience of this unit working with Android, iOS, and Windows, and you have a very versatile thermal imaging system.

And ZDNET readers can use the coupon code TMAMZPD5 to get an additional 5% off the price.