Flir TG165 vs TG165-X vs TG167

Let’s have a look at each product in particular.

Flir TG165-X

The Flir TG165-X spot thermal imaging camera is the latest iteration of one of Flir’s best-selling handheld thermal imaging camera for years.

The camera comes with an infrared sensor that can output a thermal image with a 80 x 60 IR resolution, with a total of 4800 pixels. On the back of the camera there are 4 elements: The infrared sensor together with a visual camera for MSX image enhancement, an LED light and a laser pointer that show you exactly what you are measuring, something which most thermal cameras don’t have. MSX technology is extremely important at an 80 x 60 thermal resolution because the thermal sensor just can’t deliver enough detail in the images for you to distinguish the details of what you are measuring.

It is also a highly accurate thermal camera, with a +/-1.5°C temperature measurement accuracy. It can also measure a wide range of temperatures that spans between -13 ->716°F( -25 to 380 C) with a thermal sensitivity of 0.07° C.

Then there is the startup time, which only takes just a few seconds. Startup is usually a longer process on infrared cameras. This model is a radiometric one, so it stores the temperature data in the thermal images for each pixel, allowing you to change the color palette afterwards and also the scale in the Flir Tools desktop app. It is also useful if you are in a hurry at an inspection, you can just capture the images and then measure different points when you have the time. This is something you didn’t get on the older model.

This thermal imager has a 4GB internal memory which should be enough even for professionals who have to to daily inspections. You can check and remove the pictures on the device’s large 2.4″ color screen and download them via the new USB-C port. One of the best things about this thermal imaging camera is that the battery lasts for up to 5 hours even with the lasers on. We found the TG165-X to be very easy to use, even if you have not read the user manual. The menu is intuitive and just a basic understanding of IR thermometers and infrared technology should be enough.

You can get it with a 2-10 warranty, 2 years for the camera and 10 for the infrared sensor, however you need to make sure you completed the product registration process within 60 days of purchase.

There is a Flir thermal camera with improved resolution that you can buy and that is the Flir TG267 which was built to be specifically used for building inspections and HVAC home inspections. The TG267 and Flir TG297 are very capable devices.

FLIR TG165

So what is different between the Flir TG165 vs Flir TG165-X?

Even though both cameras have the same infrared resolution, there are a few improvements. The biggest difference is the addition of the visual camera on the TG165-X that enables MSX image enhancement. The USB port was upgraded to USB Type-C on the TG165-X compared to the micro USB port on the TG165, but the USB cable still remains the only way to connect both of these to your PC.

But it is also one of the few made by Flir Systems which has an SD Card slot, so that you can expand the memory as much as you want. In time, Flir has dropped the SD Card slot and switched it for an internal memory which sometimes is just too small, like the one that you get on the E5-XT, E6-XT and E8-XT which can only hold 500 images.

The newer Flir TG165-X also has a superior thermal sensitivity of 0.07° C compared to 0.15 on the old TG165. The thermal accuracy hasn’t changed, both thermal camera modules offer a +/- 1.5 Celsius error margin. A huge improvement is in the enclosure because the new TG165-X has an IP54 rating meaning it is waterproof and dustproof. The display was also improved, the newer model now has a 2.4″ LCD display as opposed to 2.0″ on the old one. The Flir TG165-X also has an improved design with a different button layout.

One thing which we liked about the original Flir TG165 spot thermal camera: Flir have chosen to remove the SD Card slot of the TG165 and just put in a 4GB internal memory on the TG165-X.

Flir TG167

So now that we know the differences between the TG165 and TG165-X, where does the TG167 come in the picture?

Let’s compare the differences between the Flir TG167 vs Flir TG165. These cameras are very similar and three things set them apart: The field of view, the TG165 has a 50° x 38.6° view angle while the TG167 has a narrower 25° x 19.6° view angle which is more oriented towards measuring temperatures in small objects and in more detail.

The Flir TG167 is also more expensive and costs approximately 20$ more. In all other respects they are the same, they have a 80 x 60 sensor, no visual camera and both have an SD card slot instead of an internal memory.

Neither device has a visible light camera, so you don’t get the MSX experience.

Flir TG165-X vs Flir TG167

If we look at the Flir TG167 vs Flir TG165-X, we’ll notice that the main difference is in the TG165-X’s visual camera and MSX image enhancement technology. The TG167 doesn’t have that.

The TG165-X also has a superior thermal sensitivity of 0.07° C instead of the 0.15° C you get on the TG167. The temperature range is wider on the TG167 than it is on the TG165-X. If you’re new to thermal vision, the thermal sensitivity represents the minimum change in temperature needed for the camera to pick up on it.

Another strong point of the Flir TG165-X is that it is IP54-rated for being waterproof and dustproof while the TG167 isn’t.
But it does have an SD Card slot instead of the fixed internal memory on the newer TG165-X and expandable memory is always good to have.