Thermal Master NV300 MAX: One minute review

The Thermal Master NV300 Max is one of a new generation of advanced road detection systems that utilises infrared thermal technology and AI to highlight dangers and obstacles on the road, even in the dark and when weather conditions make it otherwise hard to see.

The system is made up of three separate parts; the camera, which sits on the exterior of the vehicle, the screen, which is linked to the camera by a cable and sits on your dash and the OBD II dongle that plugs into your car's OBD II port. This port is often hidden away under the dash and once plugged in wirelessly links with the rest of the system.

The main unit, which sits on the exterior of the vehicle, features two cameras, one standard and the other IR, and this attaches via a large magnet onto the roof of your car. This unit is relatively large, and there's no way that you can miss it once it's attached; on some vans, such as the Ford Transit Custom, with the unit on the roof it's over 2m in height which could be an issue, especially for height restricted barriers. However, with the magnet attachment system it is quick and easy to remove, as long as you remember.

The other two parts are the OBD II plug, that simply plugs directly into the car, and the screen that magnetically attaches to a fold-up stand, which is stuck permanently with a sticky pad to your dash. 

The overall fitting process takes some DIY skill, and how you do it really depends on where your skill level is and your car; essentially, once the camera is in place, the cable can then be fed around the Window Screen and secured. Then, the cable is routed through the engine bay to the interior of the car and into the LCD screen, which is then plugged into the 12V socket for power. The OBD II is then plugged in, and the App downloaded to your phone - that setup process involves a few adjustments to your phone name, which is a bit off, but once done, everything can be switched on and you're ready to go. 

In use, the system works well with the dual camera design, giving you a clear view of the road using the standard camera in the day and the IR as soon as dusk falls. On the screen, boxes highlight in red, amber and green the level of the threats, and audio alerts accompany these. All settings and options are controlled through the connected App with a cut down settings menu that can be accessed through the screen. 

As an alert system the Thermal Master NV300 Max works incredibly well - it's easy enough to fit although that additional bulk might be an issue for some. Once it is up and running, it is incredibly fast at spotting potential dangers, and the audio alert "hazard" is superb. As a passenger checking out, the screen as it highlights objects and dangers in thermal mode the vivid colours are impressive alongside those audio alerts. If you want the support of a night vision and alert system, then the NV300 Max is a great choice.

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Price and availability

The Thermal Master NV300 MAX is available for $650 directly from the Thermal Master Website by clicking here.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Specs

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Design

This night vision system has been designed to attach to the exterior of your vehicle quickly, and while the camera section and the screen are connected by a cable, they can both be disconnected quickly. The connecting cable is essentially fed through the engine bay to the vehicle's inner cabin during the initial setup, but after that, it can be left in place. When it comes to the installation, set aside at least an hour, after which the link cable can be left in place while the camera can be quickly removed. 

The overall quality of each part is solid, with both the camera unit and screen being made from metal and having a high-quality feel. The main camera unit that attaches to the vehicles roof measures approximately 153 x 148 x 63mm weighs 630g, and is weatherproofed. This unit has two forms of attachment, either the large magnet that is built in or the large sticky pad, one obviously being more permanent than the other. 

The screen is relatively large as well at 167 x 80 x 10mm with a weight of 180g and a resolution of 512×384. This is worth noting as the screen fits to a magnetic stand which can be stuck to your dash, then rather than leaving it in place when you leave the car, it can be quickly removed so it doesn't attract unwanted attention. Its connection to the rest of the system is via a standard USB cable so it is nice and easy.

The last hardware part of the system is the OBD II dongle, which plugs directly into the vehicle - if you are unfamiliar with car maintenance, refer to your car's manual, and its position will be highlighted there.

Other than the hardware, you also have the iOS or Android App, which can be quickly downloaded and installed. This is used for the setup but can also used to monitor the feed from the cameras.

• Design: 4 / 5

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Features

As an AI-driven automotive camera, the Thermal Master NV300 Max has quite a list of features that stretch well beyond just being a standard night vision system. 

On the front, the main focus of the product is obviously the cameras, both standard and thermal, which enable the unit to work in both day and night conditions. Both cameras also feature a recording function, so all visuals are stored on a MicroSD card that can be inserted into the screen. This means that before you even get started on the object detection, you essentially have a dashboard cam. 

The system consists of three parts: the camera, which mounts on the exterior of the vehicle; the screen, which sits on the dash and connects to the camera via a cable; and finally, the OBD dongle that plugs into a port in the car and connects wirelessly. In addition to the hardware, there's also the App that enables you to access and adjust settings, playback footage and receive a live feed from the camera. 

Thermal imaging and AI object detection are the main features of the unit, and all options and settings for these can be adjusted through the Thermal Master App, which is available for both Android and iOS mobile devices. Once everything is connected, you can then adjust the settings, including the AI detection distance and IR colour overlays and alerts.

The IR camera, when selected manually or using the systems auto mode will at night, during fog, smog or under the glare of bright headlight, will pick up what's ahead, so while it might be too dark to see using traditional methods, the specialist IR, camera will see all. As standard, the display for this is just black and white; however, with pseudo colours selectable, you can quickly change the display to something far more visually appealing. 

With the display set, the AI can then start to work, and any objects that could pose a potential threat are highlighted with a boundary box and highlighted in red, amber, and green, depending on their threat level; it's very clever. 

Alongside the visual alerts are audio alerts, which are again handy and, in fact, far more useful when driving than the visual as you can keep your eyes on the road. The AI camera will also alert you if you get too close to the vehicle in front, which is another nice safety feature. 

Alongside the safety features are a couple of nice additions, including voice control, which enables you to flick through the different displays, as well as a few other options by just using your voice. Then there's speed display that utilises accurate data from the OBD.

• Features: 5 / 5

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Performance

Before you get started with the Thermal Master NV300 Max, the system and all components need to be installed and fitted. The first step is to unscrew the protective camera cover and then plug in the first cable before screwing it back together; there are five screws in total, so nothing complex. Next on the base of the camera unit is a large magnet with a softer surface covering to protect the car; this holds firmly in position and, once in place, doesn't require any additional fixings. If you have a glass roof, then part of the base of the unit features a large 3M sticky pad, which will securely attach the unit, but using this does mean that it will be an almost permanent feature. 

After the cameras are positioned, the cable can be fed around the windscreen; there's usually a gap, and then hooked in under the bonnet and through the engine bay so that it can then be fed through to the interior cabin. With electric cars, this is a little more tricky, so it's best to refer to the car's manual to see if there is a way through. Once into the cabin, you can then link up the screen and plug in the 12V plug, tidy the cables, and you're essentially done with this part of the installation. 

Next, you plug in the ODB II reader, which is usually found under the dash and can often be covered; the good thing about the design of the dongle is that once it is in place, you can close the ODB II cover, and it's then hidden from site. These ports are essentially a direct data connection to the car's computer and are used by garages mainly for diagnosing faults, but you can also use this port for re-tuning or, in this case, getting a direct live feed of some of the car's statistics, such as speed, RPM and acceleration. 

The final step is to download the Thermal Master App. We did this on the iPhone 15 Pro. One quirk for the use of the App is that you need to change the name of the phone to "nv' in order to create a hotspot with the correct name and password, which is hard set in the Thermal Master NV300 MAX and at present can't be updated.

Once that's done, you can switch it on, and it's ready to go. Realistically, once the unit is setup, you only need the App to adjust settings, firmware updates, or view the footage you've captured, so you can change your phone name back to what it was before. If you do need to access settings for the system, then most can accessed by quickly by touching the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

One of the settings that you'll want to update from the outset is the "Infrared pseudo-color", and there's a good selection of colour options to choose from; as standard, the IR or Thermal display is obviously just in black and white. 

As you start to drive, the usefulness of the system quickly becomes apparent, with the small screen alerting you to the audio "Hazzard" every time it detects a car, van, person, or animal. On the screen, you can see the hot spots, and across the top, small icons pop up showing what type of object has been detected; it's all very quick and clever. Another feature of the detection system is that the objects are surrounded by a boundary box, with green showing that they're at a safe distance, amber showing they're getting closer and red being that they could be an imminent threat. The detection system works well, and while you can't really make the most of viewing the screen while driving, the audio alerts are really handy - the visuals, on the other hand, will keep your passenger entertained. 

Alongside the thermal imaging, the OBD II reader is also working to transmit Speed, RPM and acceleration information to the display. Essentially, this is much the same as your vehicle's speed dials, just a little more involved with plenty of additional data - at present, this data isn't recorded down, but if it is in future, then this could be handy alongside the dashboard cam footage if you are involved in a crash.

The other handy feature is voice control; this enables you to switch display types, but is most handy for increasing or decreasing the volume or brightness of the screen, with all commands activated with "Hey Max". 

Overall, the performance of the NV300 Max is exceptional, alerting you to potential hazards at night and when the conditions mean that visibility is poor. The audio alerts are key, and the visuals are handy. One of the early reservations about the system was the bulk of the unit on the exterior of the vehicle, but actually, as it's secured with the large magnet, removing and replacing the unit only takes a few moments, and the cables can be routed in and left in place, so its really not an issue. You can install it when you need it and remove it when you don't.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Thermal Master NV300 Max: Final verdict

As an automated night detection system, there's no doubt that the NV300 Max works exceptionally well. Early doubts about the size and bulk on the exterior of the vehicle were quickly dismissed, and even on the van where the height of the vehicle with the addition of the unit would be an issue for barriers, the unit was quick to remove so aside from some slight inconvenience this was a non issue. The only slight stumbling block for some people will be if they have glass or plastic roof sections where the unit would need to be stuck in place, at which point this becomes a more permanent fixture. The App connection to mobile is also a bit of an odd one, requiring you to change the name of the phone in order to make that connection; still, once done, you can always switch back, so again, it's just a small inconvenience rather than a huge issue. 

Otherwise, the NV300 Max is fast to fit and remove when needed and works flawlessly in daylight as well as at night and in adverse conditions, highlighting potential dangers. Then there are those additional features that really make this stand out - the fact that it can be used as a dash cam with a MicroSD recording the footage in case you need to review it. Then there's the OBD II data, which is really interesting and could be helpful if you do have a crash or even if you're caught speeding and want to check. 

All these features make it a comprehensive safety feature that you can add to your vehicle and is suitable for anyone who hates driving at night, fears hitting something that they cannot see and will be reassured by the presence of a reliable alert system.

Should I buy a Thermal Master NV300 Max?

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Hexgears Immersion A3: Two-minute review

The Hexgears Immersion A3 is a low-profile gaming keyboard with a few neat tricks up its sleeve. It will probably appeal to a fairly niche audience, but if you’re one of those people, it could be just what you’re looking for.

What do I mean by that? Well, this is a keyboard with hot-swappable switches, low-profile keycaps, and a dedicated mini display for changing the RGB backlighting. Those aren’t things everyone will care for, but they’re certainly nice to have if you’re a keyboard enthusiast. Its typing feel is comfortable and it’s solid when it comes to anti-ghosting and input lag, with no problematic keys or combinations that I could detect.

While those are all encouraging signs, the Hexgears Immersion A3 falls short in other areas. Its White Rain linear switches are an acquired taste – not as fast as standard linear switches, but not as comfortable for typing as their clickier siblings. They’re the sort of thing you really need to try to understand if you like them – and that’s not easy for everyone to do.

Still, the Immersion A3 is priced pretty fairly and is by no means a bad keyboard. It grew on me over my time using it, and you might find it’s got the right combination of features for your needs. But it lacks that certain must-have element that makes it a true necessity – there are no special features for gaming, for example – so it isn’t quite able to elevate itself into our picks for the best keyboard around.

Hexgears Immersion A3: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $129.99 / £99.99 (around AU$195)
• When is it available? Available now 
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Hexgears Immersion A3 costs $129.99 (about £100 or $195 AUD). That’s reasonable (but perhaps a smidge high) considering you get hot-swappable mechanical switches, a really solid build and a built-in mini display.

It can be bought from the Hexgears website and third-party retailers like Amazon.

Hexgears Immersion A3: Design

The most important thing when considering any keyboard is its typing feel, so we’ll start there. The unit I was sent to review came with a set of White Rain switches, which are silent linears made by Kailh. I’m not usually a fan of linears – being someone who writes all day, every day, I prefer clicky switches in my keyboards – and my first impression with the White Rain switches was not good at all. They felt heavy and spongey, much more so than regular linear switches, which means they lose a lot of the speed you expect from this type of switch. Compared to something like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro and its absolutely rapid linear switches, for example, the difference is night and day.

But the longer I used Hexgears’ White Rain switches, the more they grew on me. Sure, they still don’t compare to the comfort and accuracy of a good set of clicky switches. But they have a few things going for them that make them better for typing than a lot of linear alternatives.

For one thing, they are very quiet, which is ideal for use in the office. For another, their sponginess means they are very soft when pressed. I often find linear switches’ lack of tactility leaves me bottoming out the keys, leading to sore fingers after a few hours. That was never an issue with Hexgears’ Immersion A3.

As well as that, the keyboard’s switches are hot-swappable, so you can replace them if you don’t like them. The Kailh switches used by Hexgears come with two connection pins, so bear that in mind that if you want to change them.

Hexgears has opted for low-profile keycaps made of polycarbonate plastic. They attract smudges like there’s no tomorrow, but they feel smooth and comfortable in use. Unfortunately, the shine-through RGB backlighting is weak due to the lights’ north-facing arrangement, which makes them hard to see when you glance down at the keys.

I also found the low-profile keycaps to be less than ideal for gaming: in the heat of the moment, their smooth, compact design was harder to quickly operate by touch than chunkier traditional keycaps.

Visually, the Immersion A3 looks lovely. Its chassis comprises a brushed metal top plate and sturdy plastic undersides, giving the whole thing a rock-solid feel. On the back are some flip-out feet, but they definitely don’t tilt the keyboard as high as I’d like. Still, its tenkeyless layout is minimal without being overly sparse and comes with a few extra buttons at the top for Bluetooth connectivity and operating the mini display (more on that later). There aren’t any dedicated media buttons, but they’re instead integrated into the function row of keys.

The Immersion A3 comes with an interactive mini display in the top-right corner. This is used to adjust the lighting, show the time or even display an animated GIF, which you can load up using the HexDrive app. You control the display using a dimpled flipper and four buttons to the left of the screen. This is a bit of a sub-optimal arrangement – not only does this extra row of buttons make the keyboard noticeably taller, but a press on the flipper doesn’t actually register until the very bottom of its range of movement, so you sometimes find yourself pressing it without anything happening. It also feels like Hexgears could have perhaps incorporated the buttons into the display or the function row in a more space-saving way.

Hexgears Immersion A3: Performance

The Immersion A3’s typing feel is comfortable and it’s solid when it comes to anti-ghosting and input lag, with no problematic keys or combinations that I could detect. Switching between devices and connectivity methods is fast and responsive. Hexgears says you’ll get 50 hours of life out of its battery and I had no issues here either.

On the software side is the HexDrive app. This lets you create macros, adjust the RGB lighting, save profiles and more. It’s a pretty basic app and its design is very barebones, but it’s useable, if a little confusing at times. There’s no macOS version, though, so you’ll have to go without if you’re not of the Windows persuasion.

Speaking of macOS, the Immersion A3 works with Apple’s computers, and you can switch the layout from Windows to macOS by pressing and holding the Function and Tab keys together. That means you can ensure keys like Option and Command work as expected.

Other than Windows and macOS, the keyboard also works with iOS, iPadOS and Android over Bluetooth. You can connect to a computer using Bluetooth, the included 2.4GHz wireless receiver, or the USB-C to USB-A cable that’s included in the box. If you use Bluetooth, you can switch between three different connected devices, which is a nice touch.

Should you buy the Hexgears Immersion A3?

Buy the Hexgears Immersion A3 if…

Don’t buy it if…

Hexgears Immersion A3: Also consider

How we tested the Hexgears Immersion A3

I tested the Hexgears Immersion A3 by using it day-to-day to write articles, browse the web and play games. I connected it to a Windows PC and to a Mac and tried the features of its HexDrive companion app on Windows.

First reviewed October 2024