Although our iPhone cameras are at the cutting edge of clarity and quality, they can only capture light from the visible range of the spectrum. InfiRay attempts to unlock more from your iPhone with the compact P2 Pro thermal camera, allowing you to peer into the infrared range.
InfiRay P2 Pro kit with magnetic macro lens.
The InfiRay P2 Pro is a Lightning-supported infrared sensor for your iPhone with plug-and-play capabilities. It may be tiny, but it packs quite the punch, showing us a world we never imagined existed at a resolution unmatched by similar devices.
Our eyes and iPhone cameras can only see a fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. And there's an entire world hidden from our view at a frequency just below the red color of visible light, known as infrared.
Looking at the world in infrared.
The P2 Pro is more of a sensor than a camera, collecting light at the infrared part of the spectrum and adjusting those waves for our human eyes through visible colors. Where the average human eye can detect light from 380 to 700 nanometers, the P2 Pro can collect light between 8 and 14 nanometers.
The ability to see objects in the infrared part of the spectrum gives us the power to "see" temperature. More accurately, we can see the differences in temperatures of various objects, and then a system, like the P2 Pro, resolves those variations into an image.
Having a way to see the temperature differences allows users to check for heat leaks, verify engine temperatures, look for wildlife, and inspect homes.
Upon testing the P2 Pro for the first time, the expectation was that we would see blobs of color indicating there was a temperature difference. However, what we saw was more impressive.
We saw our world but with bright lights emanating from hot objects. Our workstation, coffee, and even our desk chair, where we sat, glowed in various colors depending on the palette we selected.
The P2 Pro can display infrared light in up to 11 various color schemes, called palettes, to help you get the best grasp on what you are seeing. For example, users can use the medical palette to display striking blues, yellows, reds, and greens.
Or select the dim light palette to cast objects in a green hue with distinct white heat spots, best for observing wildlife. These various color schemes give the InfiRay P2 Pro a wide range of uses, making it an invaluable tool for many users.
The P2 Pro has a pixel resolution of 256x192, which doesn't sound like much but is in the infrared spectrum. That means the P2 Pro can produce realistic images familiar to us based on temperature differences alone.
InfiRay P2 Pro review -- ultra-compact and lightweight
InfiRay markets the P2 Pro as the world's smallest thermal camera, competing with other smartphone-based infrared cameras and even hand-held models used by professionals. And indeed, this thing is tiny.
The P2 Pro is compact and plugs into the Lightning port.
The P2 Pro plugs into your iPhone's Lightning port, or you can use an optional cable attachment to use the P2 Pro like a hand-held thermal camera. It's barely thicker than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and comes in at just over an inch wide and about .75-inches tall.
Additionally, the P2 Pro is ultra-lightweight, weighing a mere 9 grams. Altogether, the compact design makes it a perfect companion for those working in tight spaces or who need a thermal camera that won't take up too much room.
InfiRay P2 Pro review -- capabilities
The InfiRay P2 Pro has many use cases, like home inspection, HVAC, plumbing, automotive, hunting, animal watching, and ghost hunting. You can pair the P2 Pro with the macro lens to take thermal images of small electronic components and computer chips.
Our workstation lit up with temperature differences.
While the macro lens comes from the same material as the main P2 unit, the magnetic attachment between the two feels relatively weak. As we used the P2 Pro with the magnetic macro lens, we noticed that there were magnets only on one side of the attachment.
Having magnets on only one side may prevent any interference between the magnets and the infrared sensor; we feel a clip or snap attachment would be better, especially if we were to use it hand-held.
Additionally, using the P2 Pro for the first time was somewhat challenging. The instructions say to download the app, but an initial search didn't yield the correct results. Instead, we plugged the sensor into our iPhone, and it automatically prompted us to download the right app.
Once we had the proper application, using the P2 Pro was straightforward. After we plugged the P2 Pro into the Lightning port, the app took a few seconds to generate the image; then, we had access to all the controls.
These controls include changing the palette, taking a snapshot or video, and setting lines or points. Plus, the app also provides a picture-in-picture feature, image settings with measurement mode, and variable correction settings.
The sensor and app combination provides a powerful interface for viewing the infrared spectrum. Specifically, the P2 Pro has a temperature range of -20 - 550 Celsius or -4 - 1,022 Fahrenheit.
The app will display temperature in Celsius only, which is fine for most of the world. However, U.S. users may find it frustrating to continuously calculate or estimate the conversion, as there is no way to swap between Celsius and Fahrenheit in-app.
InfiRay P2 Pro review -- saving images and video
The P2 Pro doesn't just let us peer briefly into the infrared spectrum; it allows users to take images and video clips to share with others. For example, if you are diagnosing a thermal leak, having a video clip of escaping gasses can tell you where the issue is.
Viewing the different temperatures of objects around the house.
Using a 25hz refresh rate, you can capture videos of hot or cold gasses escaping closed systems, like in our testing with a BBQ grill. We were pretty impressed at the resolution and the ability to save the video.
Likewise, imaging allows users to take snapshots of problem areas, hidden animals, and other heat differences. This feature is invaluable for home appraisers and insurance agents who need visual proof of concerns.
InfiRay P2 Pro review -- a compact thermal camera for every situation
The InfiRay P2 Pro is a powerful infrared sensor and thermal camera. It can peer into an unseen world and provide detailed images of the temperature differences around us.
A range of temperature differences on the roof.
The P2 Pro is compact and lightweight but doesn't hold back its capabilities. From a wide range of color palettes to the ability to distinguish more than 1,000 degrees of temperature difference, the P2 Pro is perfect for iPhone users who need a new look at the world.
Despite the excellent imaging performance, the macro lens adaptor could be more secure, the app lacks Fahrenheit conversions, and the instructions need a QR code to assist with first-time use.
Overall, the P2 Pro is an impressive infrared sensor, and we recommend it to anyone who needs a thermal imaging unit for their job or would like a compact, portable device for their hobbies.
InfiRay P2 Pro: Pros
- High-quality thermal imaging
- Lightweight design
- Capture videos and images in the infrared range
- Offers attachments
InfiRay P2 Pro: Cons
- Macro lens has loose fit
- No way to change to Farenheit
- Difficult to find the app for first-time use
- No wireless option
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Where to buy the InfiRay P2 Pro
Buyers interested in purchasing the P2 Pro can pick one up from Amazon, the InfiRay website, or AliExpress.