Last reviewed: July 2026 · MLC editorial team · UK trade workshop perspective
Photo by Dom J on Pexels
Thermal cameras crossed the useful-price threshold: genuine 256x192 sensors now cost what 80x60 toys did three years ago. For electricians tracing hot joints, plumbers finding pipe runs, and energy assessors hunting missing insulation, the split is phone-plug modules for occasional use versus standalone units for daily work.
How we picked these
- True sensor resolution (256x192 is the current value sweet spot - ignore 'display resolution')
- Thermal sensitivity (NETD) - under 50 mK reads faint insulation gaps
- Temperature range fitting the work: electrical wants 300C+, building survey does not
- Standalone for daily/dirty work; phone-plug for occasional diagnostics
Prices shown are typical street prices in £ at review time and move with promotions. Links are affiliate links - MLC earns a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, which funds the free reference charts on this site.
Reviewed picks
Hikmicro B20 (256x192)
The value standard-bearer: real 256x192 sensor, laser pointer, visual-blend mode. What most UK sparkies actually buy now.
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Typical price: £350-£450 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
FLIR TG165-X
FLIR's spot-camera crossover - point-and-read simplicity with an image behind the number. Rugged, simple, brand-backed calibration.
Typical price: £250-£330 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Topdon TC001 (USB-C phone module)
Turns an Android phone into a genuinely capable 256x192 imager. The occasional-use answer at the least money.
Typical price: £180-£250 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
FLIR One Pro (USB-C)
The phone module with FLIR's MSX edge-overlay, which makes images dramatically easier to interpret for clients.
Typical price: £300-£400 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Hikmicro Pocket2 (256x192)
Standalone with a proper touchscreen and 8MP visual camera for blended reports - the step up for survey work.
Typical price: £450-£550 · Check price on Amazon (ad)
Recommendations at a glance
| Pick | Typical price | Link |
|---|
| Hikmicro B20 (256x192) | £350-£450 | Amazon |
| FLIR TG165-X | £250-£330 | Amazon |
| Topdon TC001 (USB-C phone module) | £180-£250 | Amazon |
| FLIR One Pro (USB-C) | £300-£400 | Amazon |
| Hikmicro Pocket2 (256x192) | £450-£550 | Amazon |
Related reference on MLC
Frequently asked questions
What resolution do I actually need?
160x120 finds a hot breaker or a missing insulation batt; 256x192 is the current value sweet spot and reads smaller targets at distance; 320x240+ is professional survey territory. Beware listings quoting interpolated 'display' resolution - the sensor number is what you are buying.
Phone module or standalone camera?
Modules cost less and piggyback your phone's screen and storage - right for occasional diagnostic use. Standalone units survive site conditions, hold calibration, work in rain, and do not eat your phone battery mid-survey.
Can a thermal camera see inside walls?
No - it reads surface temperature only. It reveals what is behind a surface indirectly: pipe runs show as warm stripes, missing insulation as cold patches, damp as evaporative cooling. Interpretation is the skill.
What is NETD and does it matter?
Thermal sensitivity - the smallest temperature difference the sensor resolves, quoted in millikelvin. Under 50 mK produces crisp images of subtle building faults; 80-100 mK sensors need bigger temperature differences to show the same detail.