A high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip, the tip comprising: a thermally and electrically conductive shell configured and arranged to conduct ablation therapy; a thermally-insulative tip insert (234, 801) having a distal face and positioned such that the conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the tip insert (234, 801); and a flexible electronic circuit (240, 940) extending around the tip insert (234, 801), and including a plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) placed in thermal communication with the conductive shell, wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) are distributed across at least one of a length and width of the flexible electronic circuit (240, 940), and a plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) electrically insulated from the conductive shell and configured to sense electrophysiology characteristics of contacted tissue, wherein the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) are coupled to a distal face of the tip insert (234, 801) and extend through the conductive shell, wherein the conductive shell further includes an inner surface (214, 892, 905), and wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) are in thermal communication with the inner surface (214, 892, 905) of the conductive shell, wherein an inner diameter of the conductive tip shell is less than an outer diameter associated with a circumferential placement of the plurality of electrodes on the distal face of the tip insert (234, 801), characterized in that the inner surface (214, 892, 905) of the conductive shell includes one or more longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3), the longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3) configured and arranged to facilitate assembly of the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) within the conductive shell. a thermally and electrically conductive shell configured and arranged to conduct ablation therapy; a thermally-insulative tip insert (234, 801) having a distal face and positioned such that the conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the tip insert (234, 801); and a flexible electronic circuit (240, 940) extending around the tip insert (234, 801), and including a plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) placed in thermal communication with the conductive shell, wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) are distributed across at least one of a length and width of the flexible electronic circuit (240, 940), and a plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) electrically insulated from the conductive shell and configured to sense electrophysiology characteristics of contacted tissue, wherein the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) are coupled to a distal face of the tip insert (234, 801) and extend through the conductive shell, wherein the conductive shell further includes an inner surface (214, 892, 905), and wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N, 244 1-N) are in thermal communication with the inner surface (214, 892, 905) of the conductive shell, wherein an inner diameter of the conductive tip shell is less than an outer diameter associated with a circumferential placement of the plurality of electrodes on the distal face of the tip insert (234, 801), characterized in that the inner surface (214, 892, 905) of the conductive shell includes one or more longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3), the longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3) configured and arranged to facilitate assembly of the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3, 207 1-3, 407 1-N, 507 1-N, 607 1-N, 707 1-N) within the conductive shell.