5 Best Holographic Sights [2026]

Want to know if a holographic sight is right for you?

The best holographic sights are expensive, and there's a lot of bad information out there (magnifiers magnify any reticle, friends).

We bought the most popular holographic sights, plus one underdog contender, and logged 5,000+ rounds across these sights under hot and cold conditions with impact testing — including with night vision.

So let's dive in!

Holographic Sight Comparison Chart

How We Tested the Best Holographic Sights

We've used these sights for years, with some numbering into the 5,000+ round count. They've been with us through rifle testing, classes, competition, and even under night vision goggles.

This experience gave us great insight into the usability and reliability of the units.

We have put our favorite EOTech model under hot, cold, and impact testing to make sure that it would survive almost any scenario.

Several testers have mild astigmatism and can attest to the difference shooting with holographic sights can make compared to regular red dots.

Best Holographic Sights

1. EOTech EXPS2 - Best Overall

Best Overall

EOTECH EXPS2 HWS

$599

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$599 at Primary Arms

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Amazon (see price)

Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore (see price)

Show all prices

Stats

• Reticle: EOTECH One Dot, EOTECH Two Dot
• Weight: 11 oz
• Waterproof Rating: 10 ft
• Battery: CR123A
• Battery Run Time: 1,000 hrs
• Night Vision-Compatible: No

EOTech is the giant in the holographic sight game and is fielded by lots of U.S. special operations units. We pay homage with our MK18 builds with the EOTech EXPS2.

It has a big rectangular window that is very clear. 

The EXPS2-0 features the famous EOTech One Dot reticle. It has a 68-MOA circle with a 1-MOA dot in the center. At 100 yards, the big circle will cover roughly 68 inches while the center dot will cover a hair over one inch.

You can also get this optic with the EOTech Two Dot reticle, which adds a second 1-MOA hold for 500-yard shots. This one is the EXPS2-2.

EOTech's reticles strike a perfect blend of quick acquisition and fine-tuned accuracy. Plus, you can add a flip-up 3x magnifier to extend your shooting range -- see more in our guide to the Best 3x Magnifiers!

All holographic sights will look a little fuzzy; that's perfectly normal. When you have both your eyes open and are shooting at targets, it doesn't affect anything.

Vortex VMX-3T

$159

at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$159 at OpticsPlanet

Amazon (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Here it is at the range. I had trouble getting clear shots of the reticle, but it works great even on the sunniest of days in the desert.

Here's a better image of it inside.

The shorter EOTechs have a couple of variants...But I like the EXPS2 compared to the regular XPS line since it is 1/3 co-witness. That means it doesn't get in the way as much if you run backup iron sights.

It also has a robust quick-detach (QD) rail system and buttons on the side (this placement is essential if you're going to run a magnifier directly behind the optic).

EOTech lists the EXPS2 as not night vision-compatible, but I've run the EXPS2-0 on its lowest setting with my night vision goggles, and they have worked fine.

Here's a video of it in action with a little simulated head movement to show how it's devoid of almost all parallax (moving your head will keep the reticle in the same location).

The reticle makes it super easy for close-up shots when I use the optic for pistol caliber carbine (PCC) competitions. While the 1 MOA dot was useful for farther plate racks.

I even took it on and off a couple of times while testing, and it always held zero.

And how about some extreme abuse? We submerged it in water, cycled it through extreme hot and cold temperatures, dropped it, and then shot it with different loads.

It demonstrated incredible survival skills in our High End Optics Torture Test and earned a place on my dedicated night vision AR-15.

And if you want a cool FDE color, there's an OPMOD edition that also comes with a matching EOTech magnifier.

What do you think of the EOTech EXPS2-0?

2. Vortex AMG UH-1 - Best Value

Best Value

Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen II

$546

at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$546 at OpticsPlanet

Amazon (see price)

AR15 Discounts (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Stats

• Reticle: EBR-CQB
• Weight: 12 oz
• Waterproof Rating: 10 ft
• Battery: CR123A
• Battery Run Time: 1,000 hrs
• Night Vision-Compatible: Yes

The Vortex AMG UH-1 is the only real holographic contender to EOTech. It's affectionately known as the "Huey" because of the UH-1 designation *Fortunate Son begins playing in the distance*.

The second-generation AMG UH-1 Gen II is built like a tank. It looks much bigger than the EOTech EXPS2, but it's about the same length. The extra hood that protects everything just makes it seem larger.

The Huey has established a solid track record since it was released. Plus, it's a Vortex, so it has a lifetime transferable warranty.

This reticle is my favorite out of the bunch. It has a 1-MOA center dot, a 65-MOA broken circle for close-quarters shooting, and a triangle chevron at the bottom for extremely close engagements when you need to use manual offset aiming.

I set my zero at 25 yards for PCC competitions, but if you zero at the standard 100 yards, the triangle will really help when you're up close and personal. It also has a great QD mount that maintained zero during testing.

One thing I gotta knock it down for is the green tint. It's a lot more apparent than the EOTech, which is nearly imperceptible if it has tint at all.

It didn't matter too much during actual shooting, but looking at it by itself it bugs me a little.

Another downside is that the buttons are on the back so it might also interfere with magnifiers.

When all is said and done, this is my recommendation if you want to get into the holographic sight game at a slightly lower entry fee.

And now it's available in tan!

3. EOTech 512 - Best Battery Run Time

Best Battery Run Time

EOTech Model 512

$539

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$539 at Palmetto State Armory

Optics Planet (see price)

Brownells (see price)

Stats

• Reticle: EOTech One Dot
• Weight: 12 oz
• Waterproof Rating: 10 ft
• Battery: Two AA
• Battery Run Time: 2,500 hrs (lithium), 2,200 hrs (alkaline)
• Night Vision-Compatible: No

The EOTech 512 is the company's most popular and most affordable holographic sight.

It's very long because it uses AA batteries. The good news is that AA batteries are easier to find than CR123 batteries, and they last much longer.

You'll get up to 2,500 hours of battery life with lithium AA batteries and 2,200 hours with regular alkaline AA batteries.

It also uses a screw attachment instead of the quick-detach mounting system. That means it weighs less, costs less, and gives you absolute co-witness with iron sights.

It will provide you with the same great reticle and faster acquisition than a red dot, just like the more expensive EOTechs.

4. EOTech XPS2 - Most Compact

Most Compact

EOTech XPS2

$499

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$499 at Primary Arms

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Brownells (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Stats

• Reticle: EOTech One Dot, EOTech Two Dot
• Weight: 9 oz
• Waterproof Rating: 10 ft
• Battery: CR123
• Battery Run Time: 1,000 hrs
• Night Vision-Compatible: No

Want a more compact holographic sight that works well with backup iron sights? Check out the EOTech XPS2.

Like the 512, the XPS2 screws onto a Picatinny rail, so you save a couple bucks without a QD-mount. That also keeps it nice and low, so you'll have an easier time using backup irons.

Reticle options are the same as with the EXPS-2, as are the -0 and -2 designations.

The buttons are also moved to the front, which works better for unmagnified applications. If you plan on adding a magnifier, it's better to have the extra height and buttons to the side of the EXPS2.

This is my pick if you don't plan on moving your optic a lot, don't use a magnifier, and want to save a few bucks. If you catch the XPS2 on sale, it's as affordable as the 512.

5. Holosun 510C - Best Lookalike Red Dot

Best Lookalike Red Dot

Holosun HS510C

$309

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$309 at Amazon

Midway USA (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Stats

• Reticle: 2-MOA dot and 65-MOA ring
• Weight: 5 oz
• Waterproof Rating: IP67
• Battery: CR2032
• Battery Run Time: 50,000 hrs
• Night Vision-Compatible: Yes

Disclaimer: The Holosun 510C is not a holographic sight. It's a red dot that looks a lot like the iconic EOTechs.

But it's a great budget-friendly alternative!

Do you love the big ring with the little dot reticle? It's become almost synonymous with holographic sights, so we included one red dot with it.

This optic brings together the best of both worlds by using energy-saving LED technology and the more advanced reticle found in holographic sights, except it's noticeably more crisp.

The center is a 2-MOA while the outside ring is 65 MOA. You can also cycle between using the dot only, the ring only, or the combo.

Since this is a simpler system, a tiny CR2032 battery will run this reticle for 50,000 hours. On top of that, it has a solar panel that will bypass the battery and use the sun's energy to stretch it even further.

One downside of making the LED so efficient is a green hue. Again, it was hard to get good pictures at the range, and the tint isn't that big of a deal.

If you're solely looking for the ring and dot reticle, you can't go wrong with this affordable, durable optic.

Buttons are on the side for easy access, it has a QD attachment system that maintains zero, and it works with night vision.

This is my pick for the best worth-it "holographic-esque" sight that has the ring and dot reticle.

How to Choose the Best Holographic Sight

Deciding among these awesome optics can be tough, and it doesn't get much easier when you consider how many fantastic red dots you can buy for a fraction of the price. Here's what you need to know to make an informed decision.

Why would you even want a holographic sight instead of a red dot? We have a super in-depth article for that, but here are the basics.

Red dots (or reflex sights) have an LED that project a dot toward a lens, which is specially coated so that it bounces back toward your eye. It's super simple, which keeps prices down.

Holographic sights use a laser-transmitted hologram of a reticle through a series of lenses back to your eye.

It's way more complicated and costs a bunch of money to produce.

To put it simply, holographic sights make it easier to focus on the target, and the reticle works much better for people with astigmatism.

The tradeoff is a heavier optic that burns through batteries quicker than a simple red dot. You also tend to get a bigger view window with holographic sights.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for something more durable and sophisticated than a simple red dot, holographic sights are the way to go.

The big player (and my favorite model) is the EOTech EXPS2-0. It has the clearest glass, great button placement, and decent battery life.

Did we miss any holographic sights out there?  If you're set on EOTechs and want to see even more models, check out our guide to the Best EOTech Models!

Meet the Experts

This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical Founder and CEO Eric Hung himself!

Eric is an NRA-certified pistol instructor and a USPSA, 3-Gun, and NRL22 competitor. He has also researched and written more than 250 articles on firearms and gear. He brings this expertise to this article, offering his perspective on these holographic sights.

LATEST UPDATES

• May 2026: Added FAQs
• March 2025: Added comparative data
• April 2024: Added "How We Test" section and additional information for each choice.