The best thermal cameras are often standalone devices or ones that are integrated into rugged phones designed for use in the field, but there’s been an increase of dedicated camera modules that can be used with any phone. FLIR has led this particular category for a while now, and InfiRay — a Chinese brand that’s making inroads in global markets — think it can do one better with the P2 Pro.
The P2 Pro has the distinction of being the world’s smallest thermal camera, and it is tiny. Coming in at 28 x 18mm and weighing just 9g, it is as small as a camera can get while still being usable. That said, the chassis is made out of metal, and the build quality is great — it took a few tumbles without any issues.
Given how small and easy to lose this thing is, you’d want to use the bundled carrying case to store the P2 Pro at all times. The package also includes a macro lens that attaches magnetically to the thermal camera, and a cover that goes over the macro lens. As the camera itself is small, I just left the macro lens on when storing the P2 Pro away.
Connecting the P2 Pro is about as straightforward as it gets — just plug it into your phone’s USB-C port. You can use the camera facing forward or back, and once you have the P2 Pro app installed, it automatically launches as soon as you connect the camera to your phone. The app works with devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and above, but the downside is that the Play Store listing is for P2 Pro and not InfiRay, so that can get a little confusing — this is the official link.
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The biggest problem with using the P2 Pro is that my hand usually came in the way when taking photos of objects, so it’s a good thing that InfiRay bundles a USB extension cable in the package. This cable makes all the difference when using the P2 Pro as you can easily maneuver the camera while leaving your phone on a table. That said, the range is limited, and while the camera was able to do a good job at nearby objects, it was unusable at a distance.
As for image quality, the P2 Pro uses InfiRay’s custom hardware that has a resolution of 256 x 192, and that’s decent enough for the intended use case. You’re not getting the best detail here, but in the two months I used the P2 Pro, it revealed heat zones on phones and notebooks accurately, and it showed the temperature in real-time. This made it particularly useful on devices like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which tends to get hot around the sides during heavy load.
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The P2 Pro has the ability to shoot video as well, and again, it does a good job identifying temperature changes over time. What I particularly like is the various color modes on offer — you can choose between 11 options, and they change the overlay quite significantly. The P2 Pro app has a good mix of features, but it isn’t anywhere as polished as the hardware, and it needs a little bit of tweaking. That said, it is easy to take and share photos and videos, and that’s what matters here.
Overall, the P2 Pro is a great choice if you want a thermal camera accessory that can be attached to any phone — I used it with my Pixel 7 Pro, and it was fabulous. While the overall resolution is quite limited, it does a good job in real-world use, and the biggest selling point of the camera is the tiny size and ease of use — you can get started with it just about anywhere. It is costly — retailing for $314 on Amazon — but it manages to undercut its immediate rivals like the FLIR One Pro, and that’s no small feat.
InfiRay Xinfrared P2 Pro Thermal Camera
The P2 Pro has a lot to offer if you’re interested in a thermal camera that can be used with your phone. The tiny size makes it easy to take anywhere, and you get decent photos and videos.