Infrared Camera vs IR explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Infrared Camera
Transform your iPhone into a thermal imaging camera with real-time visual effects. Explore dark environments with enhanced low-light processing and choose from 34 unique thermal and vision filters. Capture photos and videos with simulated thermal effects.
- Real-time thermographic visual effects
- 34 thermal and vision filters
- Enhanced low-light processing
- AI object detection (Pro)
- Photo and video capture
- NightBoost night vision
- Apply filters to library photos
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Transform your iPhone into a thermal imaging camera. Infrared Camera applies real-time thermographic visual effects to your camera feed, letting you see the world in a whole new way. SEE IN THE DARK Enhanced image processing automatically brightens low-light scenes. Histogram equalization reveals details invisible to the naked eye, making this the perfect tool for exploring dark environments. 34 THERMAL & VISION FILTERS Choose from 34 stunning filters organized in three categories. Classic thermal palettes (Iron, Fire, Arctic, Viridis, Lava, Magma, Neon, and more), plus 11 Vision Modes — Predator, Starlight, Sonar, Thermal, Heatmap, Cyberpunk, and more. 4 free filters (Grayscale, Color, Hue, Starlight) let you get started right away. VISION MODES Experience entirely new ways to see. Predator-style heat vision, Starlight night amplification, Sonar depth view, Retro night vision, UV and X-ray simulation, and more. Each mode transforms your camera into a specialized viewing instrument. AI OBJECT DETECTION (Pro) Real-time person and animal detection powered by Apple Vision framework. Bounding boxes overlay on the camera feed so you can spot people and animals even through thermal filters. PHOTO & VIDEO CAPTURE - Take photos with any filter applied in real time - Record videos with thermal effects (Pro) - Timelapse recording with customizable interval and FPS (Pro) - Export in HEIF or JPEG with adjustable quality - Pinch-to-zoom with up to 10x digital zoom NIGHTBOOST NIGHT VISION Turn on NightBoost mode for dramatically clearer low-light footage using CLAHE (adaptive contrast enhancement) technology. Upgrade to NightBoost+ (Pro) for the highest quality night vision with advanced CLAHE and motion-aware noise reduction. Free users can preview NightBoost+ with a free trial. POWERFUL TOOLS - Before/After slider to compare original and filtered views - Brightness adjustment with 32-level gamma control - Noise reduction (temporal blending) for cleaner low-light images - Auto and manual focus control - Level guide for perfectly aligned shots - Real-time histogram (Pro) PHOTO LIBRARY FILTERS Apply thermal filters to photos from your library. Swipe through filters, adjust brightness, compare with the original, and save your favorite look. PRO FEATURES Upgrade to Pro to unlock 30 additional filters, Vision Modes, AI detection, NightBoost+, video recording, timelapse, and histogram display. Tap any locked feature to purchase directly. IMPORTANT NOTICE This app is not an infrared camera or temperature measurement device. It simulates thermographic visual effects using your device's standard camera. Do not use for medical, safety, or diagnostic purposes.
IR explorer
This app transforms your smartphone into an infrared camera, allowing you to see objects emitting heat in dark environments. It offers clear imaging, various filter effects, and real-time temperature detection for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals.
- Infrared camera functionality
- Clear night vision imaging
- Temperature detection
- Multiple filter effects
- Hot spot tracking
- Laser pointing function
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Why choose us? The infrared camera mainly realizes day and night conversion through infrared filters. We use advanced technology and materials to make excellent optical components. The algorithm of infiraySearch APP can clearly see objects with radiating infrared rays in a dark environment, and the picture quality is clear and sharp. , which can meet the needs of most outdoor enthusiasts. At the same time, we provide a variety of filter effects, the color effect of the picture is more abundant. Not only that, but also through the temperature detection function of the infiraySearch APP, the temperature changes of the surrounding environment can be captured in real time, which makes the Sky Eye T2-Search more playable. What are our advantages? 1. Plug and play, easy to use Tianyan T2-Search can be connected to a smartphone, weighs less than 20 grams, and is easy to carry and use. 2. Ultra-low power consumption Ultra-low power consumption, no battery design, long-term standby when used with smart phones. 3. High pixel, high frame rate, clear and smooth imaging Ultra-long detection range: using high-definition lens, human body can be recognized even at a distance of 150 meters; the frame rate is up to 25Hz, the image quality is smooth and will not freeze; multiple filters are provided Effect, red hair mode for quick target identification. 4. Professional patented algorithm Professional night vision image algorithm: high light heat source, easy to identify the target; hot spot tracking: using mesh, so that the target has nowhere to hide. 5. Laser Grip Smartphone with T2-Search and ergonomically designed grip with laser pointing function can quickly and accurately determine the target position.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: IR explorer at 3.1 against Infrared Camera's 1.0. IR explorer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (49 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Infrared Camera sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. IR explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.
IR explorer holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IR explorer has 49 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 28% of Infrared Camera's written reviews are positive against 27% of IR explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Infrared Camera ships an update weekly, IR explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Infrared Camera | IR explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 3.1 (49 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 28.5% of reviews — better | 27.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 49 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 75 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Masayuki Hisada | InfiRay Technologies Co.,Ltd. |
Customer experience
Infrared Camera
IR explorer
Bugs and requests
Infrared Camera
Reported bugs
7 issues- App crashes on launch
- Black screen on startup
- Ads are intrusive and unremovable
- Purchased features not loading
- App crashes after taking a photo
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- Incompatible with iPhone 6/6 Plus iOS 9
- App crashes immediately upon opening
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to save photos
- Dark mode for ads
- Update for newer iOS versions
- Live preview function
- Higher resolution output
IR explorer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Infrared Camera
- Remove Ad$0.99
- Color Filter$0.99
- Hue Filter$0.99
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- Pro Upgrade$2.99
IR explorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Infrared Camera free?
Is IR explorer free?
Which has better reviews, Infrared Camera or IR explorer?
Do Infrared Camera or IR explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Infrared Camera or IR explorer?
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