Blackview, the Hong Kong-based company known for its rugged smartphones, recently expanded its lineup with the foldable Hero 10 Flip. Now we’ve been given a taste of the Blackview BL9000 Pro, a more traditional rugged smartphone for the company that boasts a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera for thermal imaging capabilities.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
What’s impressive, especially considering the prices of FLIR cameras, is that this phone costs just $430 for the version with a lot of RAM – 12 GB – and 512 GB of storage.
The retail box includes the 412-gram phone, a 120W charger, and a USB-C cable. While the phone doesn’t need a protective case, it does come with a factory-applied screen protector, which is a bit flimsy and fell off while I was unboxing it.
The BL9000 Pro feels pretty comfortable in your hand for a rugged phone. It has rubberized sides and back for a better grip, although it lacks a lanyard hole, so be careful – not enough to drop it and damage it, but more so because dropping it on your foot can hurt!
The phone is IP68 and IP69K certified for water and dust resistance, and also meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, meaning it can withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and altitudes of up to 15,000 feet/4,500 m.
Blackview BL9000 Pro FLIR on and off
The BL9000 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8020 chipset, a 6nm mid-range platform from Mediatek. It features a 6.78-inch Full HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner built into the power button is easy to set up, and the multi-function button on the left can trigger up to three different actions. The phone also boasts dual stereo speakers developed in partnership with Harman Kardon, although it lacks a 3.5mm audio jack.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
On the back, there’s a 50MP main camera with PDAF, a 13MP ultra-wide-angle camera with AF, and a third camera that helps the FLIR sensor map temperature readings. The infrared camera captures thermal data and converts it into an electronic image, displaying surface temperatures using a range of colors that can be customized in the MyFLIR app.
MyFLIR Screenshots
The BL9000 Pro uses a Lepton 3.5 module with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, which is suitable for close-up thermal imaging but is less effective at long distances.
It can measure temperatures from -10 to +400 degrees Celsius and offers both Full Infrared Mode and Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX). VividIR, another feature, highlights fine surface details, although this is more aesthetic than functional.
Running on Android 14 with Doke-OS 4.0, the phone includes the MyFLIR app and a few Blackview apps, such as Child Mode and Notebook (with stylus support). The user interface is very similar to stock Android, which is a plus.
The device is powered by an 8,800mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 5W wired reverse charging via USB-C. This means that not only will it comfortably last for a few days, but it will also charge up pretty quickly.
Considering the price, the Blackview BL9000 Pro is a real bargain, provided you use the FLIR camera for something and are aware of the limitations of its relatively low resolution.
Even beyond that, it’s a decent-performing mid-range computer with plenty of storage, but its sheer size probably makes it unsuitable for average users. Those who work in more demanding environments would do well to keep it on their shortlist.
