Comparison Summary
- Spot Thermal Camera - non-radiometric
- Thermal Resolution: 80x60
- Thermal Sensitivity: 150mK
- Max Temperature: 716 F
- Thermal Accuracy: ±1.5°C or 1.5%
- Field of View: 50° x 38.6°
- Frame Rate: 9Hz
- Screen Size: 2-inch
- MSX Technology: No
- Smartphone IR Camera Attachment - radiometric
- Thermal Resolution: 160x120
- Thermal Sensitivity: 70mK
- Max Temperature: 752 F
- Thermal Accuracy: ±3°C or 5%
- Field of View: 55° x 43°
- Frame Rate: 8.7Hz
- Screen Size: Depends on phone
- MSX Technology: Yes
The FLIR TG165 and FLIR ONE Pro are affordable and compact alternatives to FLIR’s larger, fully-featured industrial thermal cameras like the Ex and Exx Series. These alternative cameras still provide powerful FLIR thermal imaging technology and unique FLIR features at a fraction of the cost of higher-end cameras. Depending on your application, the TG165 or FLIR ONE Pro might be just enough for what you need.
At under $400, both of these infrared cameras are affordable compared to FLIR’s higher-end options. The main difference between the two lies in the form factor and functionality of these cameras. The FLIR ONE Pro is a smartphone accessory which requires a smartphone to function. Android and iOS (Apple) versions are available to fit virtually any device. With FLIR ONE Pro, you simply attach the camera to the smartphone you are already carrying – what you get is a powerful, portable FLIR thermal imager.
The FLIR TG165 on the other hand, is a small “gun” style spot thermal imager. This standalone device has a built-in 2-inch LCD screen and 4 simple buttons to navigate its menus. With the TG165, simply turn it on, point and shoot.
As for thermal imaging specifications, there are also some notable differences. The FLIR ONE Pro actually has better infrared resolution at 160 x 120 pixels, compared to 80 x 60 pixels on the TG165. FLIR ONE Pro wins again on temperature range, covering -4°F to 752°F while the TG165 is only slightly lower at –13 to 716°F. The TG165 does gain ground back when comparing accuracy – it is good to ±1.5% or 1.5°C while the FLIR ONE Pro is slightly less accurate at ±3°C or ±5%. The ONE Pro is more sensitive to temperature variations with 70mK thermal sensitivity, compared to 150mK on the TG165. Each camera also features emissivity adjustment.
Another crucial difference between the TG165 and FLIR ONE Pro is MSX Technology – the TG165 does not include this powerful image enhancement technology while FLIR ONE Pro does. MSX is FLIR’s image blending technology which embosses visible edges from the ONE Pro’s 1440 x 1080 HD camera onto thermal imagery to create a sharper, easier to understand picture. It really does make a big difference – before MSX, you needed visible light reference images to compare side by side with your infrared images in order to make out any details of the scene.
While both cameras give you the ability to save images and transfer to a computer, FLIR ONE Pro gives you much more flexibility in terms of image sharing. That’s because FLIR ONE Pro works with the FLIR ONE App. The FLIR ONE App gives you access to all the latest updates from FLIR and allows you to share your images how you please. You can then use the FLIR Tools software or mobile app to analyze your images in-depth and create professional reports.
Want to know more? Check out the tables below or give us a call at 877-571-7901. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.