Thermal Master T2 Max Thermal Imaging Monocular, Scope & Camera: Unboxing & First Impressions

From SHOT Show to My Hands

Earlier this year at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to meet with Deryck Jiang from Thermal Master, where he introduced me to their latest thermal imaging device, the T2 Max (see Introducing the Thermal Master T2 Max – 2025 SHOT Show).

Impressed by what I saw on the stand, its specifications, and the potential versatility of the thermal imager that can be used as a thermal camera, monocular, and scope, I arranged to have a sample sent to me for a full hands-on review.

Now that the package has arrived, I wanted to show you what you get in the box and share my first impressions of the T2 Max thermal imager, as well as the handle, and the Titan Screen:

Unboxing Experience

The Thermal Master T2 Max arrives in a sturdy, well-branded box designed to protect the device during transit. The outer packaging is minimal yet professional, featuring high-quality imagery and essential specifications printed on the exterior. The boxes are wrapped in thin, clear cellophane plastic wrapping, which protects the artwork on the boxes and, as always, feels great to remove.

Upon opening the main T2 Max box, you are presented with a very nice and premium-looking hard carry case:

The Titan Screen does not have its own case, but the quality and sturdiness of the box (which is similar to that which you get with most cell phones) should suffice. I immediately pressed the power switch, it took about 20 seconds to boot up and as you can see in the photo above, it then wanted me to connect it to the thermal imaging camera.

Unzipping and opening up the T2 Max carry case, you will notice the internal foam cutouts that keep everything securely in place and ensure that each component is well-protected.

Right away, I thought that the whole presentation gave off a premium feel, which is always a good sign when investing in optics and thermal imaging gear.

What’s Inside the T2 Max Box?

Inside, you’ll find:

• Thermal Master T2 Max Camera – The main thermal camera module, is extremely compact. However, with the T2 Max setup, it comes pre-installed into the included handle (I will go over later, how it can be removed and installed onto whatever you like).
• Ergonomic Handle – This add-on enhances usability and stability, providing a comfortable grip for prolonged use.
• Protective Carry Case – The premium-looking yet rigid case is of excellent quality and allows you to safely store and transport the thermal imager and its accessories.
• Charging Cable – USB-C charging and extension cable.
• 5000mAh Rechargable & Replaceable Battery
• Mounting Accessories – Various adapters and brackets for removing the camera from the grip and attaching it to things like tripods or firearm rails.
• User Manual & Quick Start Guide – Provides instructions on setup, operation, and maintenance.
• After Sales Service Card
• T2 Max Camera Case – Thermal Master has also decided to include a tiny case if you do decide to remove the camera from the handle – See images below:

First Time Setup

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy – The initial setup is very straightforward and truly is a plug-and-play device. Yes I know, it comes with a quick start guide, but for the first time, I just connected the Titan screen to the camera (which was already mounted in the handle), turned it on, and hey presto, it just worked (see image above).. and I had the thermal camera up and running in a couple of minutes!

The T2 Max thermal camera was pre-installed into the handle, and the Titan Screen simply connects to the USB-C cable fixed to the side of the handle – all extremely easy and intuitive.

Attaching the Titan Screen (or your phone) to the handle is just as easy and intuitive, you simply unscrew the clamp, slide the screen in, and then tighten it again until it is held securely in place. Note, instead of the Titan screen, you can of course also use the handle to hold your phone.

Charging

The 21700 5000mAh Lithium-Ion Battery is located in a compartment within the handle and is charged by simply connecting a USB-C cable to one of the two charging ports located on the side of the grip (near the top) and then to your power source.

Likewise, you charge the Titan screen as you would any normal phone, by connecting a USB-C cable into the port and then into your power source.

First Impressions

Build Quality & Design

Right out of the box, the rigid carry case impresses, both with its looks and build quality.

The T2 Max looks and feels solid and well-engineered. The handle is sturdy and comfortable to hold and the button layout appears intuitive.

As well as making the tiny thermal camera easier to hold and use, the pistol grip will also certainly provide protection to it and because there is no image stabilization on the camera itself, using it will undoubtedly make your handheld footage a little more stable.

I like the fact that the handle can be mounted to a tripod, however, an issue I found was the thumb screw that keeps the spring-loaded lid on the battery compartment closed sticks out below the tripod mounting thread, making it hard (and in some cases) impossible to attach the handle to your mounting plate or tripod (see image below). To get over this, I will be looking for a lower-profile screw to replace this with.

The Titan Screen is also a premium-level-looking device akin to the better cell phones out there. It has a tough-looking covering and my thoughts were that the display looked both crisp and bright when I first turned it on. You can of course use your phone instead, but I like the fact that whilst it runs on Android it is set up to run with other thermal cameras and so just works right out of the box without having to download or setup anything.

As with the rest of the T2 Max system, I found the menu on the software simple and intuitive to use. As you would expect there are a number of palettes to choose from, taking photos and videos is simple, there is a gallery and more. All of which I will go over in detail in the full review.

Conclusion

Overall, the unboxing experience of the Thermal Master T2 Max leaves a strong first impression. The device is well-packaged, includes a comprehensive set of accessories, and feels premium in hand. The inclusion of the handle and Titan Screen adds to its versatility, making it clear that Thermal Master has put serious thought into usability and convenience.

Setup is a complete breeze and I found the menu system for the software pretty self-explanatory.

My first impressions of using the thermal imaging camera in the office are also very positive:

Full In-Depth Hands-On Review

In the next post, I’ll be diving MUCH deeper into performance testing – examining the camera’s thermal sensitivity, image clarity, detection range, and the real-world usability of the camera, handle, and Titan Screen.

I will also include footage captured by the camera itself, so stay tuned for the full review – coming soon!