Blackview, a Hong Kong-based company known for its rugged smartphones, recently expanded its lineup with the Hero 10 foldable smartphone. We've now gotten to try out its Blackview BL9000 Pro – a more traditional rugged smartphone for the company that stands out with its Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera, offering thermal imaging capabilities.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
What's impressive, especially considering the prices of FLIR cameras, is that this phone retails for just $430 and that's for a very generous 12GB RAM and 512GB storage version.
The retail package includes the 412-gram phone, a 120W charger, and a USB-C cable. While the phone doesn't require a protective case, it does come with a pre-applied screen protector, which is a bit flimsy and came off upon unboxing.
For a rugged phone, the BL9000 Pro is quite comfortable to hold. It has rubberized sides and back for better grip, although it doesn't have a wrist strap slot, so be careful – not to the point of dropping it and breaking it, but especially because dropping it on your foot could hurt!
The phone is IP68 and IP69K certified 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 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 LCD display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button is easy to set up, and a multifunction button on the left can trigger up to three different actions. The phone also has dual stereo speakers developed in collaboration with Harman Kardon, although it lacks a 3.5mm audio jack.
Blackview BL9000 Pro
The rear features a 50MP main camera with PDAF, a 13MP ultra-wide camera with AF, and a third camera that helps the FLIR sensor map temperature readings. The infrared camera captures heat data and converts it into an electronic image, displaying surface temperatures across a range of colors, which can be adjusted in the MyFLIR app.
MyFLIR Screenshots
The BL9000 Pro uses the Lepton 3.5 module with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, suitable for close-range thermal imaging but less effective at long range.
It can measure temperatures from -10 to +400 degrees Celsius and offers both Full Infrared mode and Multispectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX). Another feature is VividIR, which enhances fine surface details, although it is more focused on aesthetics than functionality.
Running 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 looks a lot like stock Android, which is a plus.
The device is powered by an 8,800mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 5W reverse wired charging via USB-C. This means that not only will it comfortably last for several days, but it also charges quite quickly.
For its price, the Blackview BL9000 Pro is a real bargain provided you have some use for the FLIR camera and are aware of the limitations caused by its relatively low resolution.
Beyond that, it's a decent-performing mid-range device with plenty of storage, but its size alone probably makes it unsuitable for mainstream users. Those working in harsher environments would do well to keep it on their wishlist.