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The Blackview BL9000 Pro is a rugged smartphone with a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) camera, providing thermal imaging capabilities. Priced at $430, it offers 12GB RAM, 512GB storage, and a 6.78″ LCD display. It’s IP68 and IP69K certified, with a 8,800mAh battery and 120W fast charging.
Blackview, a Hong Kong-based company known for its rugged smartphones, has expanded its lineup with the Hero 10 flip foldable. We recently had the chance to try the Blackview BL9000 Pro, a more traditional rugged smartphone that stands out for its FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) camera, providing thermal imaging capabilities.
The phone’s retail package includes the device, a 120W charger, and a USB-C cable. While the phone doesn’t need a protective case, it does come with a pre-applied screen protector, which is a bit flimsy and came off during unpacking.
The BL9000 Pro feels reasonably comfortable in hand, with rubberized sides and back for grip. It’s certified IP68 and IP69K for water and dust resistance, and it meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, making it resistant to extreme temperatures, vibrations, shocks, and altitudes up to 15,000 ft/4,500m.
The phone is powered by the Dimensity 8020 chipset, a 6nm midrange platform by Mediatek. It features a 6.78” LCD with Full HD+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The BL9000 Pro has a 50 MP main camera with PDAF, a 13 MP ultra-wide camera with AF, and a third camera that assists the FLIR sensor in mapping temperature readings. The infrared camera captures heat data and converts it into an electronic image, displaying surface temperatures through a range of colors, which can be adjusted in the MyFLIR app.
The phone uses the Lepton 3.5 module with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, suitable for close-up thermal imaging but 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).
Running on Android 14 with Doke-OS 4.0, the phone includes the MyFLIR app and several Blackview apps, like Child Mode and Notebook (with stylus support). The user interface closely resembles stock Android, which is a plus.
The device is powered by an 8,800 mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 5W reverse wired charging via USB-C. That means not only it will comfortably last for days, but it also recharges quite fast.
For its price, the Blackview BL9000 Pro is a bargain as long as you have some use for the FLIR camera and are aware of the limitations caused by its relatively low resolution. Even beyond that, it’s a decently performing mid-ranger with loads of storage, but the size alone probably makes it unsuitable for mainstream users. Those working in harsher environments would do well to keep it on their shortlist.
