| Sensor type | Microbolometer | Thermopile |
| Category | Passive (resistance) | Active (voltage generator) |
| Electrical sensitivity (V∙W−1) | 5 × 103 to 106 (after amplification) | 6 to 120 (before amplification) |
| Specific detectivity (W−1∙cm∙Hz1/2) | 108 to 109 | 106 to 108 |
| NETD (mK) | <<230 (after amplification) | <400 (after amplification) |
| Response time (ms) | 15 to 20 | 15 to 65 |
| Source of noise | 1/f and thermal | Thermal |
| Linear response | No | Yes |
| Need to input a bias circuit (before amplification) | Yes (Wheatstone bridge, current mirror, etc.) | No (Self generator) |
| Self-heating | Yes (bias current) | No |
| Need to regulate the focal plane starting from the Peltier module | Yes | No |
| Operation in a vacuum | Yes (duration not more than ten (10) years) | No |
| Imagery cost (k? | (5 to 20) | |