4 Best Gen 2 Night Vision Monocular 2025 in the United States

The ATN NVMPAN1430 NVM14-3 is a Gen 3 night vision monocular that stands out in the night vision category with its military-grade materials and robust construction. It offers a minimum magnification of 1x and a 25mm objective lens diameter, which are ideal for general hunting and tactical uses.

The monocular comes with a relatively lightweight design, weighing about 1 pound, making it easy to carry and handle. The field of view of 41 degrees is decent, allowing you to see a broad area in the dark. It is designed to be mounted on a handgun, adding versatility for tactical operations and hunting activities.

The product dimensions (3.4 inches long, 10.3 inches wide, and 10.3 inches high) make it compact enough for convenient transport and use in various situations. The limited lifetime warranty ensures some level of trust and reliability. The eye relief of 15mm provides a comfortable viewing experience without straining your eyes. It is well-built to withstand harsh environments, adding to its durability and weather resistance. One notable drawback is its package weight of 1.565 kilograms, which could be a bit heavier when considering portability over long periods. Additionally, with a best sellers rank of #1,303,647 in Sports & Outdoors, it may not be the most popular option in the market, possibly due to its age or the specificity of its use.

The ESSLNB Night Vision Monocular offers a good balance of features for casual night observation, such as wildlife watching or outdoor adventures. It provides 3x optical magnification with an additional 4x digital zoom, which helps you see details clearly up to about 656 feet away in total darkness thanks to its 3W infrared LED with adjustable brightness. The 1.5-inch LCD screen and high-resolution 1280x960 CMOS sensor allow you to capture photos and videos, and playback is easy right on the device. It includes a 32GB memory card, enabling long recording times without needing extra storage. The monocular’s fully multi-coated lens improves image clarity and brightness, which is important when viewing in low light.

It runs on 3 AA batteries, which are easy to replace but may require carrying spares for longer use. Weighing just 1.12 pounds and having a compact design, it’s convenient to carry or mount on a tripod for stable observation. The device’s sealed, nitrogen-filled housing protects against dust and moisture, making it durable enough for tough outdoor conditions. Since it uses digital night vision technology rather than an image intensifier tube typical of gen-2 devices, it may not perform as well in extremely low light environments or provide the same depth of detail as higher-end models. Also, the 3x optical zoom is modest compared to some other night vision monoculars.

This model is suited for users looking for affordable, versatile night vision with photo and video functions, especially for casual or semi-serious outdoor use, but might be less ideal for professional or very demanding night vision needs.

The ACPOTEL NV30 Night Vision Monocular offers a 5x magnification with a fairly narrow 2-degree field of view, which means it zooms in well but you see less around the edges. It is lightweight at about 1.26 pounds, making it reasonably easy to carry during outdoor activities like hunting or surveillance. Its lens is fully coated and paired with a 52mm eyepiece, which should help deliver clearer images. The device uses a rechargeable battery, which is convenient. It has manual focus, so you’ll need to adjust it yourself to get a sharp image.

While it includes a reflex finderscope for easier aiming, the claimed capability to see in full color in total darkness is quite ambitious, as most night vision devices typically show green or grayscale images. The monocular is compact but the objective lens size (around 40mm) is somewhat small, which might limit its brightness and range compared to larger models.

With decent customer ratings, this device can be a good budget option for those seeking a lightweight and rechargeable night vision monocular for casual use. However, users looking for professional-grade gen-2 clarity and range might find it less suitable.