PROS: 3.5″ touchscreen, High thermal resolution, 25Hz refresh rate, low thermal sensitivity, IP54 waterproof.
CONS: Nothing notable.
| Product | Type | Resolution | Battery capacity | Waterproof | LCD screen | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hikmicro Pocket2 | Handheld | 256 x 192 | 4 Hours (Rechargeable li-ion battery) | Yes | 3.5″ (640 x 480 pixels) | Click for more info |
Flir C3-X  | Handheld | 128 x 96 | 4 hours | Yes | 3.5″ | Click for more info |
Seek Thermal Revealpro  | Handheld | 320 x 240 | 4 hours | No | 2.4″ | Click for more info |
Hikmicro Pocket2 Specifications
| Type | Handheld |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 256 x 192 |
| Pixels | 49,152 pixels |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-fi (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Temperature range | -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C) |
| Accuracy | +/- 2% / 2 C |
| Thermal sensitivity | 0.04 C (<40 mk NETD) |
| Distance | |
| Storage Type | 16GB eMMC internal memory |
| Battery capacity | 4 Hours (Rechargeable li-ion battery) |
| Dimensions | |
| LCD screen | 3.5″ (640 x 480 pixels) |
| Refresh rate | 25 Hz |
| Applications | Home, Cars Inspections, Electrical Panels Check, HVAC Problems, Water Damage |
| View Angle | 50 x 37.2 |
Hikmicro Pocket2 – Specs & Review
The Hikmicro Pocket2 is basically Hikmicro’s version of the Flir C3-X or Flir C5. It is a thermal camera that basically looks like a point-and-shoot digital camera. On the front of the device, there’s a 3.5″ touchscreen which allows you to easily operate the camera’s menu and functions. The LCD touch screen has a 640 x 480 pixel resolution. It is basically the same panel that’s used in the Hikmicro M10. Because the purpose was to make the design minimalistic, there are no buttons on the back of the camera.
On the back, you will find a high-resolution thermal sensor, an 8 megapixel visual camera and an LED flashlight. There’s also 2 connectivity options, a USB-C port to download your images and Wi-fi to connect your smartphone to it.
Hikmicro Pocket2 – Thermal imaging quality
So let’s look at the image quality of the device which represents the top of the line of the Hikmicro pocket series. First of all, there is the 256 x 192 thermal resolution which amounts to 49,152 pixels. Now this kind of resolution is what you’d expect from other thermal cameras in this price range. But the visual camera is really a marvel to behold because it has a resolution of up to 3264 x 2448 accounting for 8 megapixels. You’ll be hard pressed to find a thermal camera with an 8mp visual camera.
But the real advantage against the Flir cameras is the 25 Hz refresh rate. Because Hikmicro’s HQ is not in the US, they’re not subject to export regulations which specify that consumer thermal cameras cannot exceed a 9 Hz framerate. The 25 Hz really gives it the upper edge in comparison to its Flir counterparts.
Of course, there’s no manual focus knob and you shouldn’t expect to find any camera with this kind of feature in this price range.
If you happen to find yourself scrolling through the menu options, you’ll find the 7 color palettes that are present on all Hikmicro infrared cameras : White Hot, Black Hot, Rainbow, Ironbow, Red Hot, Fusion and Rain.
You also get the 4 image modes: Thermal (Just the data that’s coming from the thermal sensor), Optical (The image from the 8 megapixel visual camera), Fusion (An image enhancement algorithm that blends the two images together and the mode which you’ll find yourself using most of the time) and PIP (Picture-In-Picture).
There’s also the 1-Tap Level & Span feature that we are used to seeing on Flir cameras. This function basically adjusts the image based on the point where you tap in the image to better highlight what’s going on there.
Hikmicro Pocket2 – Temperature Range, Accuracy
Now let’s look at how well it can measure temperature. We start by looking at the temperature range which spans from -4 to 752°F (-20 to 400°C). That’s a decently wide temperature range given that most of the handheld thermal imaging cameras that cost about the same offer a range that is 25% narrower.
Then there is the issue of thermal sensitivity and things look very good here on paper because it has a sensor with a 40 mK NETD thermal sensitivity. This means it can perceive very small differences in temperature. Now for people who are not familiar with thermal cameras, this is often overlooked but it’s actually the key detail in the whole operation. Cameras with a lower thermal sensitivity will offer the most detailed images. It also measures temperatures more accurately than you’d expect with a +/- 2% / 2 C error.
The viewing angle at 50 x 37 degrees is slightly narrower on the horizontal scale than you would expect but still wide enough for general use.
Hikmicro Pocket2 – Battery life & Memory
For storage, it uses a 16GB eMMC internal memory and in this case the Hikmicro gets plenty of extra points since Flir thermal image cameras are always very limited in terms of storage space. This is 2022 and 16GB should be the norm.
The battery life can be described as not great, not terrible. It uses a rechargeable li-ion battery that can last for 4 hours and can charge up to 90% in just 1.5 hours. The camera’s housing has an IP54 rating so you can be sure it will be waterproof to the extent that it can rain on it or if you accidentally splash it with water.
In terms of warranty, you get 3 years for the entire device, 2 years for the battery and 10 years for the thermal sensor. Now Hikmicro in the last few years has been growing their portfolio of infrared thermal imaging cameras at a very fast pace. Their newer models include: The Hikmicro B10, Hikmicro B20, the Hikmicro M30 and the G40. They are poised to become one of the most important players in this industry if they keep on delivering at this pace.
