X-Vision Flex 2 Thermal Reflex Sight Review [Hands-On]

Predator…The iconic Schwarzenegger movie starring a team of bulked-up heroes falling one by one to an advanced, alien enemy.

Every “gun guy” loves the hardware our human protagonists are packing, but it’s also impossible not to dig the Yautja’s multi-spectrum visor and plasma cannon. I can’t get my hands on an auto-targeting plasma cannon, but X-Vision’s Flex 2 thermal reflex sight might be the closest thing I’ll ever see to the Predator’s visor.

So, keep reading as we cover the specs, features, pros and cons of this optic and what it can do for you.

Specs & Features

Specs

• Thermal Sensor: 384×288
• Magnification: 1 to 4x
• Detection Range: 1,700 YD
• Display Resolution: 2.69″ 1024 x 768 OLED / 800 x 600 AMOLED
• Battery Life: 5 hours
• Photo & Video: Yes
• Frame Rate: 50Hz
• Field of View: 55ft @ 100 YD
• Recognition Range: 750 YD
• Pixel Size: 12μm
• Objective Lens: 25mm
• Laser: 650 nm
• Picture-In-Picture: Yes
• Internal Memory: 32 GB
• Reticle Pattern: 6
• IP Rating: IP67
• Weight: 1.05 lbs
• Made In: China

Features

• Rechargeable battery
• Five thermal color palettes
• Quick release Picatinny mount

Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical

Leading this review is Jens Hammer, freelance writer for Pew Pew Tactical. Jens served with the 2nd Bn 75th Ranger Regiment and is a five-deployment veteran of OEF and OIF. A helicopter pilot, SCUBA diver, commercial fisherman, and Hilux mechanic, Jens used his extensive knowledge and experience to test the X-Vision Flex 2 thermal reflex sight.

Additionally, Jens lives on a mountain homestead, enabling him to test the thermal optic with actual wildlife native to the area to ensure it stood up to the rigors of actual use.

All reviews are overseen by Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings, who sets the testing procedures and review standards for Pew Pew Tactical. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and has worked as a journalist and editor for almost 15 years, specializing in gun media for 10.

The Basics

Summing it up, the Flex 2 is a multipurpose thermal scope with a built-in stadiametric rangefinder and a red laser. Reflex sight is a little bit of a misnomer since the Flex 2 offers 1-4x magnification. It’s a rugged unit and packed with features.

While the Flex 2 has a ton of features, getting into the controls was pretty easy. There are two joysticks on the back of the unit, the stick on the right controlling power (standby/power off) and the other controlling the majority of options.

This left stick can be pressed in the four cardinal directions and can be operated with a short click or a long hold for various options.

Want to take a photo? Short click down. Video? Long hold down. Change view mode (white hot, black hot, etc)? Short click left. Show rangefinder? Long hold left.

Up is zoom magnification (short) or engage picture-in-picture (long). Right is screen brightness (short) and long hold to engage the ancillary rangefinder attachment (not included).

Sound easy enough so far?  There’s only one more input.

You can also click inwards on the left stick. Holding this opens up a settings menu that includes simple settings like calibration and units of measurement, as well as the section for zeroing your rifle.

This leads us to…

Mounting & Using the X-Vision Flex 2 Thermal Reflex Sight

Mounting the Flex 2 to a rifle is extremely easy with the built-in, quick-throw lever picatinny mount, which is adjustable for tension. It takes seconds to mount, no tools needed.

Zeroing your rifle means you’ll need a thermal target. Anything that holds heat for a couple of minutes will work. My suggestion is a disposable hand warmer.

Alternatively, if you want something a little more robust (and multi-use) a self-healing rubber target from Infinity Defense is really nice. The impact of your round imparts enough heat to the target to show up really well under thermal.

How sensitive is X-Vision’s Flex 2?

Well, it can detect individual honeybees from 25 yards out. I spotted a field mouse at 50 yards plain as day. I can tell which vehicle was driven last, hours after it’s been parked.

Sensitivity is not an issue here.

Hunting with the X-Vision Flex 2

While in the service, nearly every mission I ran overseas was done at night. Modern night vision is simply too big of an advantage over our enemies to ignore.

The crazy thing is, in many aspects, thermal optics are even more advantageous. Not without their own drawbacks, of course, but as one more tool in the toolbox, a thermal scope offers an unparalleled ability.

Traditional hunting with thermals is forbidden in many states due to the idea that all hunting must be “sporting” rather than for subsistence. The killing of predators and invasive or detrimental species such as feral hogs, however, is much more permissive. This is especially true when protecting any category of livestock, such as cows, goats, chickens, and even bees. As usual, check your own locale’s regulations before heading out.

It just so happens that we’re in a little bit of a coyote drought in my neighborhood. After the local pack went after my chickens and a neighbor’s dog, we escorted them out of the land of the living.

So, the most common nocturnal animal of interest in this area is off the menu. Luckily for this article (but not for me), a bundle of raccoons has moved into the area and started killing poultry and fowl, including a duck of mine.

I was in no mood to lose another, so the thermals came out. Just in time, too, within seconds of scanning the area, I spotted a raccoon working to break in through a far corner of the fence around the birds’ run. 110gr of Barnes’ finest T-TSX went flying, and my poultry/fowl lived another night.

I understand a thermal optic is a huge purchase and not really necessary just for chicken sentry duty. This is just one illustrative use.

Downsides to the X-Vision

Let’s talk about the drawbacks of thermal optics.

First, you can’t see through glass. A window will reflect thermal images like a heat mirror.

Second, thermals usually have a pretty narrow field of view. X-Vision’s Flex 2 has a FOV of about 55 feet at 100 yards – though the company does offer a wide-lens version of the Flex 1 thermal that is about three times wider, showing 175 feet at 100 yards.

The efficiency of a thermal optic is completely dependent on the intended target having a significantly different thermal profile than the surrounding area.

While testing the maximum detection range on a hot day, I was totally unable to differentiate one of my kids from the surrounding hillside, though admittedly, he’s a small dude and was 700 yards away. Nearly every surface around him was in the high 90s.

At night, however, mammals stick out much more.

Those are pretty general rules to apply to thermal optics. The Flex 2 in particular, gave me little trouble, save for taking photos.

Nearly every photo in this article is a little blurry or grainy. The blur is because of a slight lag when you click downwards on the thumbstick before the photo is done being taken. The grain is a result of low resolution, but that isn’t something you notice when you’re looking at the thermal live.

The battery life on the Flex 2 is underwhelming, but it is honestly advertised. Even with my sample unit being previously used by other reviewers, I still got the expected 5 hours or so of battery life.

This unit came with two rechargeable batteries and a charger, making battery life complaints pretty moot.

It’s worth noting that the Flex 2 comes in just under $3,500. If that is a little too high, the Flex 1 Wide is significantly cheaper at around $1,999.

Final Thoughts

The average gun owner isn’t likely to find himself or herself in need of thermal optics anytime soon, no matter how universally cool these are.

It’s a niche market, but if you do find yourself having a specific need to detect body heat on an optic that can be mounted on a rifle and survive the recoil, X-Vision has definitely designed a product worth your time to peruse.

What do you think of the X-Vision Flex 2 Thermal? Let us know in the comments below. For more information on thermals, check out our round-up of the best thermal scopes.