ThermalMaster P2 camera review – Use it to find ghosts or hot spots, you decide

REVIEW – I recently got my hands on the ThermalMaster P2, touted as the world’s second smallest thermal camera. With a temperature range of -4°F to 1022°F, this tiny powerhouse promises to bring professional-grade thermal imaging to your fingertips. Let’s see if it’s as hot as they claim it is.

What is it?

The ThermalMaster P2 is a tiny thermal camera that works with Android smartphones and tablets. Yeah, sorry iPhone and iPad users.

What’s included?

• ThermalMaster P2
• Storage case
• Carabiner
• USB-C extension cable
• Quick start guide

Tech specs

Design and features

Am I the only one who can appreciate a nice storage case? The one included with the ThermalMaster P2 is really nice. It’s plastic and has a metal loop that you can use with the included carabiner to attach it to something. 

And here’s the P2 itself. It is indeed tiny. If it’s the 2nd smallest thermal camera, I’d like to know which camera is even smaller. The camera is very well made with a metal housing.

The ThermalMaster P2 has a USB-C connector and does not require charging as it draws power directly from the device you plug it into. For most people, this will be a smartphone or tablet. If using the camera while plugged directly into your phone’s charging port is too awkward, you can use the included USB-C female-to-male extension cable.

I was bummed that this camera does not work with iPhones or iPads and is currently only compatible with Android devices. Luckily, I have several Android phones with which to test the P2. I did all my testing with the OnePlus 12.

ThermalMaster app

You’ll need to install the ThermalMaster app on your Android device and then plug the camera into the device’s USB-C port. There’s no pairing needed, as soon as the camera is plugged in, the app will detect it and you’re ready to get started.

The app is easy to understand and navigate with a variety of settings and color modes that you can choose from.

The app will also let you add live temperature points in the camera’s live view. I compared the temperatures captured with the ThermalMaster P2 to a RadioShack IR thermometer I’ve had for years. There was a difference, but it’s hard to say which one is correct. Check out some of the images below that I captured wit the P2.

Jeanne’s glasses are cool – literally.

You can see some of the palette choices above.

Here’s a picture of my deck on an 86F day.

Here’s what the P2 detected. I’m not sure why there’s a hotter section in the middle.

I used my RadioShack thermometer to test the temp of a recently boiled pot of water.

Here’s the same view using the temperature feature with the P2. There’s about an 10 degree difference but that difference could be due to point I picked.

Spoon temp right out of the drawer.

P2’s temp for the same spoon. Again, about 10 degree difference.

Let’s try a comparison again, this time with a cup of tea. The P2 says it’s 175.8F.

While my RadioShack thermometer says it’s 166.5F. 

Let’s look at a few more visuals.

What’s for supper?

How about some yogurt?

How hot is Ozzy today?

Looks like his ears and nose are the hotest.

Look at that, his feet left prints as they were warmer than the temp of the floor.

Let’s try that outside on a hot day. Here’s the railing on my deck.

Pretty hot.

Here’s my hand. Yes, my fingers were cold.

And the left prints behind. Cool! Literally 😉

What can you use the ThermalMaster P2 thermal camera for besides fun?

While it’s fun to see how warm is your nose is compared to the rest of your face, the P2 can be used for more than just fun. You can use it for the detection of heat leaks, overheating components, electrical failures, and more.

What I like about the ThermalMaster P2 thermal camera

• Doesn’t require charging
• Easy to use
• Fun and useful for a variety of applications

What needs to be improved?

• Add iPhone/iPad compatibility

Final thoughts

I’ve had a lot of fun testing the ThermalMaster P2 thermal camera. While I’ve not had the opportunity or need to test it for a serious application, I now know that I have this tool available when I need it. If you’ve ever thought about buying a thermal camera, I don’t think you can go wrong with one as long as you have an Android device to use with it.

Price: $199.00
Where to buy: ThermalMaster
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ThermalMaster. ThermalMaster did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.