TOPDON TC001/TC002 thermal lens review

Thermal imaging has come a long way, and it’s more accessible than ever. You don’t need to dish out thousands of dollars on dedicated tools anymore, as has been proven by the TOPDON TC001/TC002 thermal camera lenses.

This device is so cool that you can plug it into your smartphone and voila, you’ve got a thermal camera at your disposal. The TC001 is capable of measuring temperature in the ranges of 4-302°F (-20-150°C) in normal mode, and 302-1022°F (150°C-550°C) in high mode, and readings are very accurate. This compact and highly portable device is aimed at home inspectors, electricians, and other professionals. And it costs just $299.

To find out if this is one of the best iPhone lenses, read my full TOPDON TC001/TC002 review.

TOPDON TC001/TC002 thermal lens review: Specs

TOPDON thermal lens review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A thermal imaging camera compatible with either USB-C Android devices or USB-C iOS devices
• Who is it for? For home inspectors, electricians, automotive technicians, and anyone who wants to take temperature readings
• How much does it cost? The TOPDON TC001 (Android) is available for $299 / £189 and TC002 (iOS) is available for $289 / £208
• What do we like? The ease of use, great build quality and design, wide temperature range, accurate readings, and intuitive app
• What don’t we like? It’s difficult to use with thick phone cases, and it’s prone to freezing

TOPDON thermal lens review: Price & availability

The TOPDON TC001 is available for $299 at Amazon U.S. / £259 at Amazon U.K., and it comes in either blue or gray. The TC001 finds itself competing against the likes of the FLIR ONE Gen 3 ($229 at Amazon U.S.), and it's much cheaper than the Seek Thermal CompactPRO ($499 at Amazon U.S.).

If you’re looking for a thermal camera compatible with iOS devices, you can get the TC002 instead ($289 at Amazon U.S.).

TOPDON thermal lens review: Design

The TOPDON TC001 is a compact little module, measuring just 2.8 x 1.65 x 0.55 inches. It comes with a carry case to safely store the unit and any cables. The TC001 is well-built, made entirely of aluminum with a matte finish. The gray model I tested looks and feels premium.

A USB-C connector on top of the module lets you plug it into compatible Android devices, so I used it with my Google Pixel 7 Pro, and you can use the TC002 with USB-C iOS devices, such as the iPhone 15 Pro. I had difficulty plugging the USB-C connector into my phone with the thick case on, so I recommend using it either with a thin case or without one at all. Weighing just 1.05oz, the TC001 doesn’t weigh your phone down either, and I found it extremely easy to carry around.

The camera sensor sits in the middle and is recessed deep, which means you don’t have to worry about scratching it if you place it facing down.

You get a tiny blue LED light on the side which indicates when the camera is in use. I love the simplicity of the TC001’s design. There’s nothing complicated about it.

TOPDON thermal lens review: Thermal imaging

To use the TOPDON TC001 for thermal imaging, you’ll need to install the dedicated app on your Android device or iOS device, and then plug the module into your phone. I’ll discuss the app in detail in the next section but for now, let’s focus on the TC001’s thermal performance.

The camera has a resolution of 256×192 pixels so the image will be grainy but that’s okay because this isn’t for regular photography. It has a wide temperature range for any and all situations and subjects: 4-302°F (-20-150°C) in normal mode, and 302-1022°F (150°C-550°C) in high mode. If you don’t want to bother with manually choosing a mode, there’s a handy auto mode too.

I tested the TC001 indoors and outdoors, and I’m happy to report that the results were fairly accurate, and easy to read too. The coldest corners in my apartment are, of course, the windows, so I pointed the camera at an open window and it picked up the temperature quickly. In the photo above, the outside temperature according to the Google weather app was 13°C, and the camera said it was 12.2°C. A slight discrepancy but very close.

Next, I tested out the ambient temperature of my apartment. My thermostat reported the apartment temperature to be 19.5°C, and the camera reported 19.4°C. Again, very accurate, as you can see in the image above.

Water’s boiling point is 100°C, so I boiled my kettle to put the TOPDON through its paces. The photo above shows that the camera picked up 100.5°C.

TOPDON TC001: Video performance - YouTube

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I also like that the camera quickly recognizes and shows the temperature rising and the heatmap changing in real time, as you can see in the video above. The water, at the bottom of the kettle, boiled and the color of the entire kettle changed. You can also see the TC001 picking up the steam’s reading as it exits the spout. And thanks to the 25Hz refresh rate, the video is smooth and doesn’t stutter.

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So how about cold temperatures? My fridge is set to 4°C while my freezer is set to -15°C. In the first photo above, the TC001 reported that the fridge was 5°C, and the lower portion was 1.4°C — colder because my freezer was open. Moving to the freezer, then, the camera reported a few different temperatures but they were all close to the -15°C mark, as can be seen in the second photo above.

It’s also important to note that when the camera is set to Auto Shutter, it freezes quite a lot — every 10 seconds or so. This is because the sensor automatically calibrates itself.

Given the TOPDON’s accuracy, this lens is great for anyone wanting to measure their devices and diagnose problems. As a tech journalist, I can use it to evaluate how hot a device is getting. You also get a 19.69-inch long cable for hard-to-reach places.

TOPDON thermal lens review: App

I found the dedicated TOPDON TC001 app very easy to use on my Google Pixel 7 Pro, and it gives you a lot of versatile options to measure the temperature. The screenshots above show the different measurement options. The dot option allows you to place up to three points, while the line option allows you to, well, draw a line and measure along it.

You also get an image-in-image option, called Dual Light. Toggle this and your phone’s camera will work at the same time as the TC001 to show you a heatmap and the actual image, as can be seen above. I’m glad this mode is there as the TC001 itself can’t take normal photos.

You can change the color palette too, as the app gives you access to nine different ones, three of which are shown in the screenshots above.

TOPDON thermal lens review: Verdict

There’s a lot to like about the TOPDON TC001. While it’s a very handy tool for electricians and home inspectors, thanks to its thermal imaging capabilities, it's also useful for the general consumer and tech journalists. It can measure temperatures ranging from 4-302°F (-20-150°C) and 302-1022°F (150°C-550°C), depending on the mode, and the readings are easy to read. The device is highly portable too, weighing just 1.05oz, and it’s smaller than the width of my Google Pixel 7 Pro. The iOS-compatible TC002 can be used with USB-C iPhones too. The dedicated app, which is very easy to use, unlocks the camera’s potential, allowing you to change color palettes, use different measurement tools, and more.

While the camera periodically freezes due to the sensor recalibrating, and human temperature readings aren’t very accurate, the TC001 is still a reliable, pocket-sized companion — it’s hot stuff.