Seek Thermal has introduced an updated version of its existing thermal camera for smartphones. The
Seek XR keeps the majority of the functions of the
original camera, launched last year, but has been given a new lens system that allows for the camera to see objects from twice as far away, as well as being able to focus on objects as close as 8 inches from the lens.
The Seek XR has the same 206x156-resolution sensor as its predecessor, with the resulting thermal image formed from over 32,000 thermal pixels and with a detection range between -40 Celsius and 330 Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit and 626 Fahrenheit). While it can be used in the same way as the original, such as for spotting animals or intruders at night or finding where heat loss is taking place in a home, the new chalcogenide lens and manual focus system allows for it to have a range of up to 2,000 feet, making it more useful for applications involving long distances such as hunting.
The unit itself is packed into a magnesium housing and weighs half an ounce, with two versions being offered for iOS and Android devices. Shipping this month, the Seek XR will cost $299.