Consumer Electronics, Gadgets & Accessories

HIKMICRO Mini2 in test: Tiny smartphone thermal camera

A thermal imaging camera can be very practical. For example, to help with electronic tasks, to detect holes in pipes or heaters… or simply to see how hot the dog is at 35°C in the shade. The HIKMICRO Mini2 is just such a thermal imaging camera, which is simply connected to the USB-C port of the smartphone. We took a closer look at the gadget in our test.

Technical data

The product Mini2
Size 42 mm x 22.5 mm x 11.2 mm
Weight 20 grams
Resolution 256 x 192 pixels
Frame rate 25 Hz
Field of view 50° x 37,2°
Temperature range -20°C to 350°C
Accuracy +/- 2°C
Price € 199.00 *

HIKMICRO Mini2 test: Tiny and robust

The HIKMICRO Mini2 really lives up to its name, because it really is tiny. The silver case measures just 42 x 22.5 x 11.2 mm and is therefore significantly smaller than most smartphones. The weight of around 20 grams is also very pleasant.

Nevertheless, the build quality is absolutely impressive. The camera makes a robust and high-quality impression and should even be able to withstand drops from a height of one meter without any problems.

There is not much to discover in terms of design: You’ll find the camera on the front next to the manufacturer’s logo and the USB-C port on the top. There’s not really much more to discover.

HIKMICRO Mini2 in a practical test

The HIKMICRO Mini2 comes with a number of accessories. The camera itself comes in a robust hardcover carrying case – ideal for use on the move. The manufacturer also includes an extension cable so that the thermal imaging camera can also be used at some distance from the smartphone.

A suitable USB-C dongle is also included, as the camera cannot be used with outdoor smartphones without this adapter.

Once you have unpacked everything, you should first download the companion app, which is available to download for free on Android and iOS. Once this is installed, it immediately recognizes the connected camera and even starts automatically if desired when the Mini2 is connected.

The problem: Since the camera, without the extension cable, hangs upside down on the smartphone, the displayed image is mirrored vertically. So if you move the camera upwards, the image moves downwards and vice versa.

This apparently cannot be changed in the app either, which makes operation unnecessarily difficult. Fortunately, this is not the case with the extension cable.

HIKMICRO Mini2

The regular calibration also takes some getting used to: the camera recalibrates itself every 10 seconds in order to achieve the most accurate results possible. However, this can at least be deactivated in the app.

The camera covers a temperature range from -20°C to 350°C and, according to the manufacturer, delivers an accuracy of /-2°C. Various parameters can be set within the app. These include different color palettes that, for example, highlight hot spots better or display cold temperatures differently.

The measurement method can also be adjusted here to display the coldest point as well as the hottest point or to define a measurement point yourself using a touch gesture.

However, the app sometimes hangs so that settings are retained even though they have been changed or deactivated. Several times, several measuring points were displayed even though I had already switched them off. Only a reset to factory settings helped here. In general, the companion app has a few bugs to contend with.

Performance

Regardless of the problems and bugs, the HIKMICRO Mini2 delivers really good performance. It is quickly ready for use after connection and calibration is also completed in just a few seconds.

Despite a resolution of only 256 x 192 pixels, the camera delivers really good image quality over a field of view of 50° x 37.2°. The image is sufficiently sharp and detailed to clearly show the different temperatures.

HIKMICRO Mini2

The accuracy is, as far as I can tell, really convincing. Images and videos can be conveniently exported from the app, but unfortunately they are not saved in the Android gallery so that they can be automatically exported to Google Photos – this always has to be done manually. Videos can be a maximum of 2 minutes long. Reports can also be exported as PDFs, which provide additional information at a glance.

HIKMICRO Mini2 test: Conclusion

The HIKMICRO Mini2 is a practical and particularly compact gadget for hobby users in the Android segment and scores points with accurate measurements and a clear app. However, it lacks a macro lens, which is why a distance of at least 0.9 meters must be maintained – some competitors offer a lower close-up limit here.

What bothered me, however, was the app, which was extremely buggy in places, and the mirrored image, which is almost impossible to get right without the extension cable. The maximum temperature of 350°C is also rather limited, and here too some competitors offer more.

However, really good thermal imaging cameras cost considerably more money, so that despite the problems, the price-performance ratio is quite good. The device is certainly practical.

HIKMICRO Mini2 Test: Silver Award

HIKMICRO Mini2

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Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis

85/100

Handy and accurate thermal imaging camera for the smartphone that fulfills a practical purpose and works well. However, the buggy app and imprecise operation are annoying.

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