The best thermal cameras, compared.
Top pick: AMPBANK M192 Best value: GOYOJO GW192A – About £129 and 4.2 from 778 ratings for a phone module, with the native sensor at 96×96 rather than 192×192. Updated October 2026.
In the UK that usually means a heating-season look at a cold wall, a warm pipe, or a hot electrical or mechanical part. It does not prove damp, give a, or make a live electrical inspection safe. Judge a listing by the native detector, not the enhanced figure in the title, and by whether the camera has its own screen or needs a compatible phone. The [thermal camera buying guide](/hub/measuring-equipment/thermal-camera/sub/thermal-camera-buying-guide) covers native resolution, form and range without this ranking. A thermal camera here is an infrared imager that shows surface-temperature patterns.
In the UK that usually means a heating-season look at a cold wall, a warm pipe, or a hot electrical or mechanical part. It does not prove damp, give a, or make a live electrical inspection safe.
22 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will you use it?
The AMPBANK M192 is a USB-C phone module at £101.15 with 4.8 from 12 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the listing holds 11 review texts, of which only two are from the UK. The listing states a native 192×192 sensor, TISR up to 384×384, 25 Hz, and −20 °C to 450 °C at ±2 °C/±2%, which is a seller claim rather than a calibration checked here. It has no battery of its own, draws power from the host, and the box lists a USB-C extension, a cloth and a carrying bag. The listing names USB-C iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series, Android, USB-C iPads and Windows, and it says the camera is not compatible with Mac. Reviewers describe plug-and-play use on cold spots, breakers, a mini-split and an exhaust manifold, and one buyer had to select a higher camera profile before the app would start. Distant surfaces are called a weak point in one review. The 4.8 is the highest star line in this set, and twelve ratings are too few for that line to carry the top-pick badge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A USB-C phone or Windows PC check when you want 192×192 native near £101 and Mac does not matter
Less suitable: A Mac, a professional electrical survey, or a buyer who needs a long UK review file
Specifications
Common questions
Will it work with an iPhone and a Mac?
The listing says USB-C iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series, plus Android, USB-C iPads and Windows PCs. It says it is not compatible with Mac computers.
Does the camera have its own battery?
No. Batteries are marked not included and not required. It draws power from the host USB-C port.
What accuracy does the listing claim?
The bullets say ±2 °C/±2% from −20 °C to 450 °C. The technical table also prints ±2%. Emissivity is adjustable.
The Thermal Master Thor 002 is a handheld at £359.00 with 4.4 from 279 amazon.co.uk ratings, and it is the top pick in this set because that review line sits on the only listing that states a 256×192 detector, NETD under 40 mK, a 2 megapixel visual camera and IP54. The bullet says X³ raises the picture to 512×384, and that enhanced figure is not the sensor size. Range is −20 °C to 550 °C with ±2 °C claimed, a 5000 mAh battery is included with up to 10.5 hours stated, and the screen is a 3.5 inch IPS at 640×480. UK reviewers use it on house heat loss, a wall leak, brickwork and electronics, and they praise the screen, the battery and a case that is not on the components line. Several reviewers doubt the absolute temperature, one UK review puts boot time at about 60 seconds, and the body is listed at 1.42 kg. More than one review says the camera stopped working after about three months and that support was hard to reach. The AMPBANK’s 4.8 comes from 12 ratings, which is why that higher score does not take this badge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A handheld walk-round when NETD, a visual camera and IP54 are why you would pay £359
Less suitable: A pocket check, or a buyer who needs a light camera and a components list that matches every extra reviewers mention
Specifications
Common questions
What is the sensor size, as distinct from 512×384?
The bullet says X³ doubles the IR resolution from 256×192 to 512×384. NETD is stated as under 40 mK. A refresh rate is not printed.
Is a carry case in the components list?
No. The included-components line lists the camera, a USB cable and a manual. UK reviews describe a case that was supplied.
What battery life does the listing claim?
A 5000 mAh lithium-ion battery is included. The bullet says up to 10.5 hours and 18 W charging. The technical battery-life line says 10 hours.
The GOYOJO GW192A is a USB-C phone module at £129.00 with 4.2 from 778 amazon.co.uk ratings, the longest review line in this set, which is why it is the best value here. The bullet says a 96×96 sensor enhanced to 192×192 Super Resolution, a 50°×50° view, and −20 °C to 400 °C at ±2 °C or ±2%. It draws 0.31 W from the phone, weighs 13.6 g, and the box is the body plus an aluminium box. Reviewers use it on insulation, windows, pipes, electronics and house viewings when the handset accepts it, and they like not charging a second battery. The USB-C plug is a repeated complaint: loose, or reliable in only one orientation, including on an iPhone 16, and one review says an iPhone 17 refused it on power draw. Named phones that failed include a Pixel 9 Pro, a OnePlus 7 and a Samsung S25, while other handsets worked, and one UK review reported Windows Defender flagging the connection to a PC. Skip it if your phone is unlisted or you need the detector itself to be 192×192.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A pocket check on a USB-C phone you have already confirmed, when you want the long review file at £129
Less suitable: A cased phone, a Mac or Chromebook, or a job that needs a native detector above 96×96
Specifications
Common questions
Is the sensor 192×192?
The bullet says a 96×96 infrared sensor enhanced to 192×192 Super Resolution. Reviews also flag that split.
Which phones does the listing name?
Type-C iPhone and Android phones that support OTG, using the THG Start app. Reviews report a loose plug on an iPhone 16 and some handsets that are not recognised.
Does it have a battery?
No. It is powered by the phone and the bullet states a 0.31 W draw. Batteries are marked not required.
The BSIDE HX1 is a red handheld at £139.99 with 3.9 from 9 amazon.co.uk ratings, and five review texts were on the listing. The listing states 240×240 at 25 Hz, a 50° field of view, a laser pointer, −20 °C to 550 °C within ±2%, and a 2500 mAh battery with 8 hours claimed. The box is the imager, a charging cable and a case, and a 1.5 m drop is claimed, at a stated weight of 155 g. Reviewers mention leaky windows, heating pipes in floors and walls, binding brakes and a cooling system, and one calls the built-in storage acceptable for the price. The same short file says the indicated temperature was out by a few degrees, the screen glares, and one buyer could not put the images into a report. Emissivity adjustment is not stated. Nine ratings are a thin sample, so the 3.9 is a hint rather than a settled view. Choose it when you want a laser and a stated 50° view on your own screen, and skip it if those images need to go into a client report.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A handheld walk-round where a laser and a 50° view matter more than a long review file
Less suitable: A client report, or anyone who needs adjustable emissivity printed on the listing
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include a case?
Yes. The included components are the thermal imager, a charging cable and a case.
Is there a laser pointer?
Yes. The bullet says a built-in laser pointer helps locate the target. A laser class is not stated.
What do the UK reviews say about the temperature?
One review says the indicated temperature was out by a few degrees but close enough for that buyer. Another says the images could not be used in a report. The listing claim is ±2%.
The BSIDE HX3 is a black handheld at £139.99 with 3.8 from 10 amazon.co.uk ratings, and one review text is on the listing. That review calls it easy to use and notes the rechargeable battery, so you do not buy spare cells. The listing states 240×240 at 25 Hz, −20 °C to 550 °C, ±2 °C or ±2%, and emissivity and distance that you can adjust, with presets named for ceramic, concrete, rubber, skin, water and cotton. A 2500 mAh battery is included, with 7 hours claimed, and the box is the imager, a USB cable and a case, at a stated 264 g. Field of view, NETD and a laser are not stated. There is no repeated complaint to quote, because that single review does not criticise the camera. Ten ratings and one text are not a consensus. It is the handheld in this set when the printed emissivity control is the reason to pay £139.99, and you should skip it if you need a laser or a review file that shows faults.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A handheld at £139.99 when you want emissivity presets and can accept a thin review file
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a laser, a stated field of view, or more than one written review
Specifications
Common questions
Can emissivity be changed?
Yes. The bullet says emissivity and distance can be adjusted, and it names material presets including concrete, rubber and water.
Is the battery rechargeable?
Yes. A 2500 mAh lithium-ion battery is included, with 7 hours of use claimed. The only review on the listing mentions that you do not need spare cells.
Does it come with a case?
Yes. Included components are the thermal imager, a USB cable and a case.
The Minhe is a 2.4 inch handheld at £58.18 whose listing states a 24×32 sensor and a range from −40 °C to 300 °C, for close checks on PCBs, switches and appliances. The amazon.co.uk listing has no Customer Reviews line and no review texts, so there is no star rating to weigh. Adjustable emissivity and USB transfer to a computer are named, while refresh rate, NETD, accuracy, battery and the contents of the box are not. A case is asked about on the listing and is not in the bullets. At 24×32 the frame can show a hot component under the lens, and it will not separate a bay or a loft hatch across a room. The listing dates from 30 April 2026. Skip it for a house walk, and treat the missing review line as the reason not to call the reading proven.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A close look at a PCB, a switch or an appliance, if you accept a coarse grid and no review evidence
Less suitable: A house heat-loss walk, a report, or anyone who wants a star line before they buy
Specifications
Common questions
What resolution does the listing state?
The bullet says a 24×32 sensor. There is no enhanced-resolution figure and no refresh rate.
Can it read below freezing?
The stated range starts at −40 °C and runs to 300 °C. An accuracy figure is not given.
Does the box include a case?
The listing questions ask about a case. The bullets do not list one, so the included items stay unknown.
Six amazon.co.uk listings were read on 16 October 2026. The number on each card is the star rating times 20, and a missing line scores 0, so the Minhe scores 0. The weights below are the checks used to award the two badges: the star line, whether enough ratings sit behind it, and the stated native detector. Price is not one of those weights. It names the best value only. A loose plug, a doubted temperature and a failure after about three months stay in the assessment and are not subtracted. There was no laboratory test and no UKAS calibration.
Amazon star line
70%The card score is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. 4.8 becomes 96, 4.4 becomes 88, 4.2 becomes 84, 3.9 becomes 78 and 3.8 becomes 76. A missing star line scores 0.
Review-line length
15%Not subtracted from the card score. The top pick needs a review line long enough to read, which is why 4.8 from 12 ratings does not outrank 4.4 from 279.
Stated native detector
15%Native resolution, and NETD where the listing prints it. Enhanced pixels, including Super Resolution, TISR and X³, are not the detector. This check names the top pick. It is not a laboratory mark.
Start with the detector, then the form. The native pixel count is the sensor. Super Resolution, TISR and X³ are processed pictures, and they are not a larger detector. A phone module has no battery of its own. A handheld has a screen and a cell you charge. The stated temperature range is a specification. It is not a UKAS calibration, and it is not a promise on bare metal, glass or a small part across a room. Six amazon.co.uk listings were read on 16 October 2026, from £58.18 to £359.
A thermal camera here is an infrared imager that shows surface-temperature patterns. UK buyers use one for heat loss, cold bridges, warm pipes, and hot electrical or mechanical parts, mostly in the heating season. A colour picture locates an anomaly. It does not prove damp, give a U-value, or make a live electrical inspection safe. The six amazon.co.uk listings on this page run from a 24×32 handheld at about £58.18 to a 256×192 handheld at about £359.
TISR, Super Resolution and X³ are processed pictures. On the GW192A, 192×192 is the enhanced figure and 96×96 is the sensor. On the Thor 002, 512×384 is X³ and 256×192 is the sensor. Buy the detector.
A cold surface can be damp, missing insulation, a thermal bridge or air leakage. RICS says suspected damp should also be checked with a moisture meter. The camera does not give a U-value, and a sunlit outside wall is a poor scan.
A coarse grid can show a hot component under the lens. It will not separate a bay or a loft hatch across a room. The Minhe states 24×32 and has no star line. Skip it for a house walk.
Native infrared resolution is the detector size, and it is the first check because the enhanced figure in a title is a processed picture. On these listings the GOYOJO GW192A states 96×96 enhanced to 192×192 Super Resolution. The AMPBANK M192 states 192×192, with TISR to 240×240 or 384×384. The BSIDE HX1 and HX3 state 240×240, with no enhanced figure. The Thermal Master Thor 002 states 256×192, and the bullet says X³ raises the picture to 512×384. The Minhe states 24×32, with no enhanced figure.
Form decides whether you carry a second battery and a screen, or a phone you have already checked. The AMPBANK M192 and the GOYOJO GW192A are USB-C modules with no camera battery. They draw power from the host. The M192 listing names USB-C iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series, Android, USB-C iPads and Windows, and it says the camera is not compatible with Mac. The GW192A names Type-C iPhone and Android phones that support OTG.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want to see which wall, hatch or window is colder. The Thermal Master Thor 002 is the handheld in this set that states 256×192, NETD under 40 mK and a visual camera, at about £359, with 4.4 from 279 ratings. UK reviews use it on house heat loss. A cold patch is still not a damp diagnosis.
You want your own screen for a first look at pipes, brakes, HVAC or a warm fitting, without paying £359. The BSIDE HX1 states 240×240 at 25 Hz, a laser and a 50° view, at about £139.99. The review file is nine ratings. Images from it are a private aid, not a client report.
You want a pocket module and the longest review file in this set. The GOYOJO GW192A is about £129, with 4.2 from 778 ratings, and it draws power from the phone. The detector is 96×96. Confirm the handset first: reviews include a loose USB-C plug and phones that are not recognised.
The top pick in this set is the Thermal Master Thor 002 at about £359. It is the listing that pairs 4.4 from 279 ratings with a stated 256×192 detector, NETD under 40 mK, a visual camera and IP54. The limit is the price, the 1.42 kg listing weight, and reviews that report a failure after about three months. The best value is the GOYOJO GW192A at about £129, with 4.2 from 778 ratings, on a 96×96 sensor that the bullet enhances to 192×192. The cheaper Minhe does not take that place: it has no star line and a 24×32 sensor.
GOYOJO GW192A
About £129 and 4.2 from 778 ratings for a phone module, with the native sensor at 96×96 rather than 192×192.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
NBS, BSI, NHBC, RICS, the UK Thermography Association, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and Cambridge Carbon Footprint loan-scheme training, plus the amazon.co.uk listings read on 16 October 2026. Prices move. Nothing was calibrated in a lab.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores follow the amazon.co.uk star line. They are not a laboratory test.
