Every digital night vision device gets a score from 0 to 100% built from eight factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Devices are grouped into monoculars and binoculars and goggles, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Image | sensor and screen resolution | 25% |
| Optics | the better of reach (optical magnification and objective) and field of view | 15% |
| Runtime | stated runtime at night | 15% |
| Value | current price | 15% |
| Waterproofing | IP water rating | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
| Recording | video recording resolution | 5% |
| Claimed range | maker's claimed viewing range in darkness, not verified | 5% |
Where the numbers come from
Sensor and screen resolution, magnification, lens size, field of view, IR wavelength, battery, runtime, recording, water rating and warranty come from the maker’s spec page, manual or spec sheet, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s own figures conflict, the product page notes both, and a figure is left out rather than guessed when there is no way to tell which is right. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Image is the average of the sensor and screen resolution, whichever are published, each on a log scale. A sensor with 480 lines scores zero and 1,520 lines full marks; a 320 x 240 screen scores zero and 1,280 x 720 full marks. Photo megapixels and recording resolution are not used here, since many listings quote them far above what the sensor delivers.
Optics is the better of two scores, reach and width, since a 1x head-mounted unit gives up magnification for a wide view by design. Reach averages optical magnification (1x scores zero, 6x full marks) and objective lens size (20 mm zero, 50 mm full marks). Width is the field of view: 10° scores zero and 60° full marks. Digital zoom is not counted.
Runtime is the maker’s stated runtime at night with the IR in use where it says so: 2 hours scores zero and 10 hours full marks. The figure is the maker’s own, so it counts a bundled second battery only where the maker includes it in its figure.
Value is the current price on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same: $600 scores zero and $60 full marks.
Waterproofing is the IP water rating: IPX4 scores 25%, IPX5 50%, IPX6 75%, and IPX7 or better full marks. A weather-resistance claim with no rating scores 15%, and a maker that says the device is not waterproof scores zero.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
Recording is the video recording resolution on a log scale: 360p scores zero and 4K full marks. A device that does not record scores zero.
Claimed range is the maker’s stated viewing range in darkness, on a log scale: 300 ft scores zero and 1,500 ft full marks. No maker defines this the same way and none of it is verified here, so it carries little weight.
What isn’t scored
Digital zoom, IR wavelength, weight, battery type and capacity, phone app support, head mount, photo resolution and release date are listed but not scored. A 940 nm illuminator is nearly invisible to people and animals but lights a shorter distance than 850 nm, so neither is better for everyone.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as a one-year warranty, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.