Best night vision binoculars and goggles
Dual-tube binoculars and goggles ranked by tube generation and figure of merit, then field width and price.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 55 current models considered
How this list is ranked
- Tube generation: Gen 3, then Gen 2+, then Gen 2, then Gen 1, as the maker states it.
Tube generations
Labels like Gen 1, Gen 2+ and Gen 3 that group night vision tubes by design. They are a rough guide; the measured specs say more than the label.
- Then figure of merit: resolution times signal-to-noise, the single number for tube quality. Where the maker publishes none, the unit ranks below those that do within its generation.
Figure of merit (FOM)
A single number for night vision tube quality: resolution multiplied by signal-to-noise ratio. Higher is better, but check whether it is a guaranteed minimum.
- Then autogating, which protects the tube and the picture from sudden bright light.
- Then field width: how much ground the view covers at 100 yards.
Field width
How many feet of ground fill the screen at 100 yards. Wider makes scanning faster; narrower usually means more detail on the animal.
- Then price: on a further tie, the cheaper one.
One spot per product line: a model from the same line, or one with the same sensor and lens under a newer name, is listed under the best of them instead of taking a spot of its own. Only current models sold through US dealers with a published US price. Nobody paid for a spot, and affiliate links never change the order. Phosphor color (green or white) is a preference, not a grade, so it does not rank. How we measure.
Under $5,000
All 5 product lines in this range, from 11 current night vision binoculars.
1
2
AGM
PVS-7 3AL1
Gen 3 Auto-Gated Green Phosphor "Level 1" (3AL1) · $3,995
- Figure of merit
- Not published
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 218 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: PVS-7 NL1 ($3,195), PVS-7 NW1 ($3,195)
3
RIX Optics
RNV-31 Gen 2+ 1400-1600 FOM Green
Gen 2+ 1400-1600 FOM Green · green phosphor · MSRP $4,199
- Figure of merit
- 1400-1600
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 218 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: RNV-31 Gen 2+ 1400-1600 FOM White ($4,199)
4
RIX Optics
RNV-31S Gen 2+ 1400-1600 FOM White
Gen 2+ 1400-1600 FOM White · white phosphor · $4,699
- Figure of merit
- 1400-1600
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 218 ft
5
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the night vision binoculars page
$5,000 and up
Top 6 of 10 product lines in this range, from 44 current night vision binoculars.
1
Armasight
BNVD-51 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 2400+ White
Gen 3 thin-filmed · white phosphor · $8,999
- Figure of merit
- 2400
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 286 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: BNVD-40 Gen 3 Filmless 2400+ White ($7,999), BNVD-40 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 2400+ White ($8,999), BNVD-51 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 2200+ White ($8,399), BNVD-40 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 2200+ White ($8,399), BNVD-51 Gen 3 Filmless 1800+ White ($7,999), BNVD-51 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 1800+ White ($7,999), BNVD-40 Gen 3 Filmless 1800+ White ($7,999), BNVD-40 Gen 3 Thin-Filmed 1800+ White ($7,999)
2
ATN
PS31-3HFW White 51°
Super High-Performance, Gen 3, Auto-Gated · white phosphor · $12,995
- Figure of merit
- 2376
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 286 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: PS31-3HFW White 40° ($11,995), PS31-3HPW White 51° ($11,995), PS31-3HPW White 40° ($10,995), PS31-3W White 51° ($8,495), PS31-3 Green 51° ($9,195), PS31-3 Green 40° ($8,295), PS31-3W White 40° ($8,295), PS31-2 White 51° ($6,295), PS31-2 Green 51° ($6,695), PS31-HPT White 51° ($6,895), PS31-HPT Green 51° ($7,295), PS31-2 White 40° ($5,695), PS31-2 Green 40° ($5,895), PS31-HPT White 40° ($6,195), PS31-HPT Green 40° ($6,395)
3
EOTech
BinoNV-W-S
Elbit Systems, Gen III White Phosphor, 2376 minimum FOM, auto-gated · $14,999
- Figure of merit
- 2376
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 261 ft
4
AGM
NVG-50 3APW
Gen 3 Auto-Gated White Phosphor FOM 2000+ (3APW) · $8,995
- Figure of merit
- 2000
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 286 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: NVG-50 3AL1 ($8,495), NVG-50 3AW1 ($8,895), NVG-50 NL1 ($5,695), NVG-50 NW1 ($6,195)
5
AGM
NVG-40 3APW
Gen 3 Auto-Gated White Phosphor FOM 2000+ (3APW) · $8,595
- Figure of merit
- 2000
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 218 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: NVG-40 3AL1 ($7,295), NVG-40 3AW1 ($8,195), NVG-40 NL1 ($5,495), NVG-40 NW1 ($5,995)
6
AGM
UNVG-RPO 3AP
Gen 3 Auto-Gated Green Phosphor FOM 2000+ (3AP) · $9,995
- Figure of merit
- 2000
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 218 ft
Also in this range from the same line or with the same optics: UNVG-RPO 3APW ($10,495)
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the night vision binoculars page
What is left out
Discontinued models, which sell used on eBay; brands with no US dealer network; and units whose maker does not state the tube generation. All of them are on the night vision binoculars page.
Prices are the US price on file for each model, or the maker's list price where marked MSRP. Retailers change them often; the retailer's page is the current one.
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