Blackview, a Hong Kong company known for its rugged smartphones, has recently expanded its range with the Hero 10 flip foldableNow we have to try it Black display BL9000 Pro – a more traditional rugged smartphone from the company that stands out for its FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) camera, which enables thermal imaging.
Black display BL9000 Pro
What’s impressive, especially considering the prices of FLIR cameras, is that this phone costs just $430. And that’s for a very generous version with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
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 during unboxing.
For a rugged phone, the BL9000 Pro feels reasonably comfortable in the hand. It has rubberised sides and back for grip, although there’s no lanyard slot so be careful – not so much that you’ll drop it and break it, but more so that it can hurt if you drop it on your foot!
The phone is IP68 and IP69K certified for water and dust resistance and meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, making it resistant to extreme temperatures, vibrations, shocks and altitudes up to 4,500 m/15,000 ft.
Blackview BL9000 Pro FLIR on and off
The BL9000 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8020 chipset, a 6nm midrange platform from Mediatek. It features a 6.78” LCD with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is integrated into the power button, is easy to set up, and a multifunction button on the left side can trigger up to three different actions. The phone also features dual stereo speakers developed in partnership with Harman Kardon, though there’s no 3.5mm audio jack.
Black display 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 thermal data and converts it into an electronic image, displaying surface temperatures in a range of colors that can be customized in the MyFLIR app.
MyFLIR Screenshots
The BL9000 Pro uses the Lepton 3.5 module with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels. This module is suitable for thermal imaging at close range, 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). VividIR, another feature, enhances fine surface details, but it is more for aesthetics than functionality.
The phone runs Android 14 with Doke OS 4.0 and 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.
Powering the device is an 8,800mAh battery with 120W fast charging and 5W reverse wired charging via USB-C. Not only does that mean it will comfortably last for days, but it also charges quite quickly.
For the price, the Blackview BL9000 Pro is certainly a bargain, as long as you use the FLIR camera and are aware of the limitations brought about by its relatively low resolution.
Even beyond that, it’s a decent performing mid-ranger with plenty of storage, but its size alone probably makes it unsuitable for mainstream users. Those working in more demanding environments will want to keep it on their shortlist.