Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
Thermal cameras can be a lot of fun to play with, but for some of us, they’re valuable pieces of diagnostic equipment that make our jobs easier. We got our hands on the AGM Glory G1S Thermal Camera Smartphone to see what kind of potential it has for professional contractors and tradesmen.
AGM starts with a Snapdragon 480 processor that boasts 5G 8nm Octa-core 2.0 GHz performance (whew, that’s a mouthful!). Backing that up is 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of onboard storage. You can extend the storage with a micro SD card up to 512 GB. It’s also sporting a Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU to boost the graphics performance.
As far as cards go, you can choose between using two nano SIM cards or one nano SIM and a micro SD card. If you’re going to expand the storage (which we highly recommend), you only have one SIM card slot available, but that’s not a big deal for most people.
The phone comes pre-loaded with Android 11, so that’s a little behind considering Android 12 launched in October of 2021.
Keeping you in the game is a 5500 mAh battery.
All of that matches up solidly with mid-range phones. Of course, in 2022, mid-range is still so much further ahead than the mid-range phones of just a few years ago that it feels like the term undersells its capabilities.
Like other jobsite-ready smartphones, the G1S is a beefy phone and weighs 11.2 ounces. It boasts IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H ratings. It doesn’t need a separate case and it comes with a pre-installed screen cover.
By the time it’s all said and done, it’s drop-tested to 1.5 meters and can survive 1.5 meters underwater for up to 30 minutes. So yeah, feel free to shoot some underwater photo/video on your next vacation.
The screen is 6.53 inches diagonal and with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, there are enough pixels to see some very fine details. The color accuracy is excellent as well, making this a very pleasant phone to catch the latest Pro Tool Reviews videos on YouTube.
Unsurprisingly, the speakers have plenty of room for improvement. Especially at the highest volumes, it’s pretty muddy. That’s not unusual for a phone, particularly a rugged smartphone. A good set of headphones or earbuds is a must to get the audio quality that better matches the video playback.
Without a doubt, the camera array is the main selling point of the AGM Glory G1S Thermal Camera Smartphone. There are a total of FIVE cameras onboard.
It starts with the main camera—an impressive 48 MP auto-focusing Sony AMX582 with a top f-stop of f/1.79. It’s capable of taking some impressive photos, but its color temperature isn’t always accurate. Fortunately, onboard photo editing can make the adjustment very easily.
Then there’s the selfie camera. Leaving behind the days of 2 MP and 5 MP front-facing cameras, this one is 16 MP and presents a nice, clean image.
There’s also a macro camera. While this one is only 2 MP, you can get incredibly close to your subject and an optimal range of just 3 cm.
AGM’s thermal camera has some excellent features to help you capture photos and videos. First of all, it has a 256 x 192 resolution that’s tough to beat with other smartphones and add-on accessories. There are a lot of options that could become an entire standalone review on its own. From color palettes to different modes and parameters, it has more versatility than we expect from a smartphone thermal camera.
Several things stand out, though. We love the measurement overlay. It marks the centers of the image and automatically tracks the highest and lowest temps on the screen. For MRO and diagnostic purposes, it makes the job that much easier.
The fusion mode is interesting. It takes the visual image and overlays it with the thermal image. It’s not as effective as FLIR’s MSX technology because it doesn’t highlight object edges, but it can still be helpful when you need to see more object detail.
We also like that you have two temperature ranges to offer better temperature accuracy. By default, it’s set to -4° to 302° F and there’s also a range of 212° – 1022° F for higher temperature ranges.
Finally, there’s a 20 MP Sony IMX 350 infrared camera, allowing you to take true night images and see what’s there when there isn’t enough light for a standard camera. It shows up like a black and white image, but it doesn’t need any ambient light. It uses an infrared LED on the phone to give the sensor what it needs. That limits its effective range compared to a night-visions system that costs thousands of dollars, but it’s great for inspection in dark areas.
Does a phone really need a laser pointer? Probably not, and there are plenty of people who don’t need access to one. However, when you’re using the AGM Glory G1S Thermal Camera Smartphone in the trades, it’s helpful. You’re going to carry your phone anyway, so it eliminates having to carry a separate one or shop for other test and measurement devices that integrate one.
You can charge the AGM Glory G1S Thermal Camera Smartphone with a standard USB-C plug or you can get your hands on the charging dock. It’s as convenient as a wireless charging pad with the advantage that the phone stands up vertically so you can keep reading or watching easily.
Speaking of wireless charging, note the G1S is not compatible with wireless charging systems.
The charging rate on the dock is slower (10W compared to 18W plugged in). Even so, it’s incredibly convenient on your desk and for just $20 more, we recommend grabbing it.
Currently, the AGM Glory G1S Thermal Camera Smartphone is only available for T-Mobile.
Considering how much tech is built into this phone, its $699 price tag is pretty reasonable. If you want the docking station, the total is $719.
Not everyone needs thermal and infrared imaging, but they’re incredibly useful in a variety of trades and other jobs. What sets the AGM Glory G1S apart from other thermal imaging smartphones is its image quality. Its higher resolution and infrared camera to go along with a durable build make it a very compelling option.
Discover more smartphones and tech at AGM’s website!
On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools. Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike (he's an Ironman), or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.
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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros