Blackview, a Hong Kong-based company, is known for its rugged smartphones, but it also recently expanded its lineup with the Hero 10 Flip foldable. Now, we got the chance to try out its Blackview BL9000 Pro – a more traditional rugged smartphone from the company that’s known for its FLIR (forward-looking infrared) camera, which offers thermal imaging capabilities.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
What’s impressive, especially when you consider the cost of FLIR cameras, is that this phone costs just $430 for the very best variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
The retail package includes a 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 pre-applied screen protector, which is a bit flimsy and came off during unpacking.
For a rugged phone, the BL9000 Pro feels quite comfortable in the hand. It has rubberized sides and back for grip, although it lacks a lanyard slot, so be careful – not so much that you drop it and break it, but more so that you could drop it on your foot and hurt it!
The phone is certified IP68 and IP69K for water and dust resistance, and meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, making it resistant to extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and altitudes up to 15,000 feet/4,500 meters.
Blackview BL9000 Pro FLIR on and off
The BL9000 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8020 chipset, which is MediaTek’s 6nm midrange platform. It features a 6.78-inch LCD with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, which is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the power button is easy to set up, and a multipurpose button on the left can trigger three different actions. The phone also features dual stereo speakers developed in collaboration with Harman Kardon, though it lacks a 3.5mm audio jack.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
On the back is 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, which displays the surface temperature through multiple colors, which can be adjusted 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 thermal imaging up close, but less effective at longer ranges.
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, enhances small surface details, although it’s more for aesthetics than functionality.
Running on Android 14 with Doc-OS 4.0, this phone includes the MyFLIR app and several 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 packs a 8,800mAh battery that comes with 120W fast charging and 5W reverse wired charging via USB-C. This means that not only will it last for several days comfortably, but it also recharges pretty quickly.
For its price, the Blackview BL9000 Pro is actually a bargain, provided you find some use in the FLIR camera and are aware of the limitations caused by its relatively low resolution.
Other than that, it’s a good-performing mid-ranger with plenty of storage, but its size makes it unsuitable for mainstream users. Those who work in harsh environments would do well to keep this on their shortlist.
