Uni-T UTi690A (120x90 new entry/budget) (UTi690A, UTi120S, UTi712S)

[Paw85]

Was a long time since last posting here (hacked e30bx user) but figured I would share a find of what seems like a good budget thermal imager, with higher resolution than I have found in this price-range before.
Price is currently ~USD 175-190 which for 120x90 resolution is seem quite low, lower than some 80x60 models out there.

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DKvygTWWDM

The Uni-T UTi690A is not currently listed on Uni-T's website, however one can find an imager named UTi120S with what seem to be identical specification and apperance:
https://www.uni-trend.com/meters/html/product/Environmental/Thermal_Imager/Echo%20Series/UTi120S.html

The store does have a datasheet/manual of it that seem to be from Uni-T, even if not possible to find it at Uni-T's website, at least not yet:
http://myosuploads3.banggood.com/products/20211013/20211013011951UTI690A1.pdf

Uni-T also sell what seem to be a "portable" version called UTi120P with what seem to be the same specifications but just another shape of the device, and those units currently sell for $400 on Uni-T's own aliexpress site.

The UTi690 does not have a regular camera at the front which I suspect is one way they have reduced the cost.
There is however a laser to show where you're aiming it if uncertain, and a led-light if working in poor light conditions.
The unit also have fewer buttons than most Uni-T imagers so adjusting settings I suspect is a bit more time consuming.

Due to the price/performance ratio and looking to be far less fragile than the e30bx I currently own, somewhat waterproof and drop resistant if if to believe the datasheet, I could not resist to pre-ordered one to keep around garage/3Dprinter and as a backup to my other imager.
Will report back with findings when I receive the unit, if it will work well as an entry level or budget thermal imager.

If having any questions regarding the unit just drop a post and I will reply once the unit has been delivered.

Sometimes things are not as good as they seem and there are quite a lot of questionmarks regarding this product:
Why is it named UTi690A when there is what seem to be an identical version named UTi120S?
Why is the unit not posted on Uni-T's website?
How can it cost half of the "portable/flat" version when having identical specifications and even exceeding some like bigger battery and a laser pointer?

Update 2021-11-12: Banggood have now added two videos to the product page, showing another Uni-T camera that is different from the rendered one on the product page... mystery contiues...
Also text added to the product page "The most worth buying thermal imager is comming!!! Original UNI-T Newest thermal imager in 2021 !!! With 25Hz frame rate, 120*90 IR sensor resolution(Image resolution up to 320*240 ) smooth and clear visual performance which is the most cost-effect 25Hz frame rate thermal imager you can find ! Support Chinese and English switching."

[Fraser]

The attached datasheet may be of interest 

https://www.guideir.com/product/detail/id/69.html

[Paw85]

Great to see you're still here and active Fraiser! And thank you for posting the datasheet!
If I find that I can open the imager without risking to damage the IP protection I will give it a try and see if it uses that 120x90 sensor, if they are I wonder how it can be at this price, much cheaper than I have seen on other models that uses it.

[mrisco]

I also order this device a month ago, it has not been not shipped yet.

[Paw85]

I also order this device a month ago, it has not been not shipped yet.

My order was reported to have been shipped yesterday. Did you by any chance also order from Banggood a month ago?
(BG is known to sometimes falsely report shipped items, only to a few weeks later report that it has been shipped once again for real that time, so not sure it can be trusted that it has indeed been shipped.)

[mrisco]

I also got the email to report that it was shipped. Yes, it is from Banggood too.

[Paw85]

Lets hope it's really true that they have been shipped then!

Found another strange thing, on the product page on the store, they have added two videos to the product page today, but not of the correct thermal imager, probably a UTi260B.... the mystery continues...

[Chalcogenide]

I also pulled the trigger and bought one at 169.99$ shipped (found a coupon online). Will report on when it ships.

[mrisco]

The buttons of the device showed in the video of the seller's page appear to be for the UTi120 or similar, or maybe the final device will have all of those buttons. I have the hope that the device can be "hackeable" to enable the real time monitoring using a PC. At the end, the best protection that we, the buyers, have is our union on this forum.

[mrisco]

For add more confusion, the store https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005003217291124.html is selling the UNI-T UTi120S which is very similar to the UTi690A, but at a lower price.

[snoop33]

Reckon this will be any good for close inspection smd pcb work? I can't find anything about minimum focus distance other than 50cm being optimal (way too much).

[Paw85]

Reckon this will be any good for close inspection smd pcb work? I can't find anything about minimum focus distance other than 50cm being optimal (way too much).

Will try to help answering that question once the thermal imager have been received. (Not used with working with a fixed focus imager, and not at SMD level)
As quite a lot of coworkers that do SMD PCB work were interested in the product, I will try to get their input on if it works well enough out of the box for that task or if it needs an additional lens to focus closer.

Are there anything in particular you'd want to know?

[Chalcogenide]

I am happy to report that my UTi690A just shipped.

[snoop33]

Thanks Paw85. I see it has a tripod screw so I'm hopefully it could be a cheap way to do it, even if it does need another lens. I'll await your feedback!

[connectTek]

I have had the Uti 690B for 2 weeks
It's great, does what I want, don't think you can get anything as good for the price.
BTW, it's 256 X 192 pixels.
https://banggood.app.link/HxDAVCxVjlb

[Paw85]

I have had the Uti 690B for 2 weeks...

There is already another thread discussing the Uti-690B that you can post to: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/uni-t-uni690b/
The Uti690B is not the same thermal imager as the Uti690A, it uses a different thermal sensor and an altogether different design/housing. It has more in common with the older uti-260B than the imager discussed in this thread, despite the similar name...

[snoop33]

There is a lens for the C200 InfiRay here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003494967045.html

And the actual lens is also available for $10 ish and the rest is an easy 3d print job. I'm thinking the tripod screw can be mounted onto an arm used for a reflow station hot air gun holder.

In my case I'm sure I'd only use it for SMD work but I don't want to use a phone based one as I know the Chinese will discontinue support for the App etc just as soon as they've released it. To avoid that I need something with a screen. I'm still thinking this way is the best value wise.

[Fraser]

Thingiverse have a lens holder design here.....

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4901923

[snoop33]

Now $136. At this price I've pulled the trigger and bought one.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003311073622.html?

[Paw85]

In my case I'm sure I'd only use it for SMD work but I don't want to use a phone based one as I know the Chinese will discontinue support for the App etc just as soon as they've released it. To avoid that I need something with a screen. I'm still thinking this way is the best value wise.

I had been looking for quite a while for other thermal imagers in this price range and only found another 120x90 but in usb-c format (the UTi120Mobile), but never purchased it due to having previous issues with a flir one gen2 as the app crashed randomly.
Then this thermal imager showed up at lower cost than the usb-c version, a fully standalone unit that hopefully wont have issues with software/hardware comparability and hopefully keep working for longer.
Lets hope it's a good choice we've made!

Now $136. At this price I've pulled the trigger and bought one.

That sound like a bargain, congratulations on the purchase! I'd probably skip waiting on my own and purchase one for the workplace if that deal still would have been available, unfortunately it seems to be back at ~$175.

[snoop33]

Still $136 for me, or $163 with 20% vat (no import charges).

[mrisco]

I am happy to report that my UTi690A just shipped.

We all are waiting for your review 

[Chalcogenide]

It's still in transit and it's unlikely to arrive in less than a week, given the speed of the Italian post system...

[Paw85]

I received my unit today and have tried my best in creating a review from my thoughts here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/uni-t-uti690a-review-(120x90)/

[mrisco]

I saw your review (it is excellent) and comparing against the video from this vendor: https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1005003352759582.html seems to be the same UTi120S device.