Smartphone Thermal Camera Comparison Guide

Comparison Summary

The FLIR ONE Pro and Seek Thermal Compact Pro are both extremely compact thermal imaging cameras specifically designed for smartphones. Each is a smartphone attachment that will transform your phone into a powerful infrared camera and provide high-resolution thermal pictures at a very affordable cost. That said, there are some important differences between the two that might influence your buying decision.

For the purpose of this comparison, we are linking to the iOS versions of these devices, compatible with all current iPhones. Each also has Android versions available which you can find on each product page under “Compare Products in this Series” or simply use these links to view your specific version: ONE Pro Android USB-C /// ONE Pro Android Micro-USB /// Compact Pro Android Micro-USB (USB-C adapters are available for the Compact Pro)

Comparison

One of the primary differences between these cameras is the use of an internal battery. The FLIR ONE Pro includes a built-in battery which must be charged separately from your smartphone – this could be good and bad depending on your application. Since the FLIR ONE Pro battery only lasts about 1 hour, it could be a limiting factor. However, this means the ONE Pro won’t cause excessive drain to your phone’s battery. The Seek Compact Pro does not include an internal battery – this device uses power from your smartphone’s battery. This is one of the primary reasons why the Compact Pro is so much smaller than the ONE Pro, however it could cause excessive drain to your phone’s battery.

Another big difference is the inclusion of image blending or overlay technology. The FLIR ONE Pro includes FLIR’s patented MSX technology which overlays visual details on your thermal images. This gives you unmatched clarity because you can actually see fine details like labels, wires, switches, and more in your scene. While the ONE Pro can still take pure thermal pictures, the difference between this and MSX is night and day. The Seek Compact Pro does not include any image blending or overlay technology.

The FLIR ONE Pro also has the edge over the Seek Compact Pro thanks to FLIR’s free FLIR Tools reporting software. Using this software, you can import radiometric IR images, make adjustments, and create and send professional reports right from within the program. If you need reporting, this might be a better option for you. Seek does not have a proprietary reporting software available for its cameras.

That said, the Seek Compact Pro does have the edge over the FLIR ONE Pro in a few key specifications, the primary one being IR resolution. The Compact Pro has a 320 x 240 pixel IR sensor while the ONE Pro has a 160 x 120 pixel IR sensor – this gives the Compact Pro four times the pixels on target and results in higher quality thermal images. However, FLIR MSX makes up a big part of this difference by adding incredible clarity to IR images on the ONE Pro. Both cameras have the same thermal sensitivity rating of 70mK (0.07C).

Want to know more? Check out the table below or give us a call at 877-571-7901. We have certified thermographers on-staff ready to answer any questions you have about these cameras and their applications.