Best New Thermal Scopes of 2026 for Hogs & Coyotes
Looking for the new thermal scopes 2026? Here is every one we track with price, specs links and release date. American shooters have more choice than ever, and 2026 proves it. We track 10 thermal scopes from 5 brands, from the day they were announced to the day they actually ship. 10 are shipping now.
Every product below links to its source and shows its current status and manufacturer MSRP. Status checks are dated on each product page, so you know how fresh the info is before you head to the counter.
TICO 6 640
Trail 3 LRF XQ50
Trail 3 LRF XR50
Thermion 2 LRF XL60
Telos LRF XL50
Adder V2 LRF 60-1280
Rattler V3 LRF 50-640
ACE S60R
Shade Thermal Riflescope
BinoX 6 Dual 640
The 2026 thermal landscape
Thermal kept getting sharper and more capable in 2026, and built-in laser rangefinders became the norm on new scopes. Pulsar launched the Trail 3 LRF series and the Thermion 2 LRF XL60, AGM brought 1280x1024 resolution to the AdderV2 LRF, Nocpix announced the ACE S60R, ATN released the TICO 6 clip-on, and Sightmark's Shade made thermal more affordable.
Picks by use case
Picks are based on maker specs, MSRP and verified status. We haven't field-tested these units.
Best budget thermal scope: Sightmark Shade
From $799.97 at the maker and shipping. An entry point for hog and coyote hunters.
Best mid-range thermal with a rangefinder: Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50
A 384x288 sensor rated under 15 mK NETD with a 1,200 m rangefinder and quick-change battery, per Pulsar, at $3,199.97 and shipping.
Best 640 thermal scope: Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50 or AGM Rattler V3 LRF 50-640
The XR50 pairs a 640x480 sensor with a 1,200 m rangefinder ($4,499.97). The Rattler V3 LRF adds a ballistic calculator and a 1,000 m in-lens rangefinder ($4,394.50). Both are shipping.
Best high-resolution scope: AGM AdderV2 LRF 60-1280 or Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60
The AdderV2 brings 1280x1024 resolution ($6,594.50). The Thermion 2 LRF XL60 offers 1024x768 in a 30mm-tube scope body ($4,999.97). The Nocpix ACE S60R is a 1280-class option with a built-in rangefinder ($6,599 regular price at Nocpix USA), now shipping.
Best clip-on: ATN TICO 6 640
Keep your zeroed day scope and add a 640x512 thermal in front, at $2,995 per ATN and shipping.
Best for scanning: Pulsar Telos LRF XL50 or ATN BinoX 6 Dual 640
The Telos is a 1024x768 monocular with factory upgrades ($4,699.97). The BinoX 6 Dual combines thermal, day and night viewing in a binocular ($2,895). Both are shipping.
Thermal terms that matter
Resolution: the sensors here range from 384x288 (Trail 3 LRF XQ50) to 1280x1024 (AdderV2 LRF 60-1280 and Nocpix ACE S60R). More pixels means more detail at distance and better target identification.
NETD: sensitivity, in millikelvin. Pulsar rates the Trail 3 LRF XQ50 under 15 mK, and AGM rates the Rattler V3 LRF under 15 mK. Lower numbers show finer temperature differences in fog, rain and humidity. Compare within a brand, because test methods differ.
Rangefinder: most 2026 scopes we track have one built in. Pulsar lists 1,200 m on the Trail 3 LRF models, and AGM lists 1,000 m in-lens on the Rattler V3 and AdderV2. A rangefinder paired with a ballistic calculator, as on the Rattler V3 LRF, gives you a corrected aim point at night.
Lens and magnification: a 50mm or 60mm F1.0 lens gathers more heat signature and allows higher base magnification. Higher magnification narrows the field of view, so scanning is easier with a wide-view monocular.
Scope, clip-on or scanner?
If you hunt hogs and coyotes from a stand with one rifle, a dedicated thermal riflescope is simplest. If you want one rifle for day and night, a clip-on like the TICO 6 640 keeps your day scope zeroed. Every serious night hunter benefits from a scanner, such as the Telos monocular or the BinoX 6 Dual, because scanning a field through a riflescope means pointing your rifle at everything you look at.
Buying tips
Buy a scanner before you buy a second scope, so you're not scanning with your rifle. Pick resolution for your typical range, and favor a built-in rangefinder for ethical shots at night. Check recoil ratings for magnum rifles. Know your state's night hunting rules, and remember that many thermal devices are export-controlled. See our thermal hub for legal notes.
What to watch next
Every thermal unit we track for 2026 is now shipping, per our latest checks. Thermal prices have been falling as sensors improve, so it's worth checking street prices against MSRP before you buy. We'll keep tracking new launches and moving products to Shipping as we confirm stock. For dual-tube and housing options after dark, see our night vision hub.
Release dates and shipping status
Here is where every one of the 10 new thermal scopes stands as of our latest checks. Shipping now (10): ATN TICO 6 640 ($2,995), Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50 ($3,199.97), Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50 ($4,499.97), Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60 ($4,999.97), Pulsar Telos LRF XL50 ($4,699.97), AGM Global Vision Adder V2 LRF 60-1280 ($6,594.50), AGM Global Vision Rattler V3 LRF 50-640 ($4,394.50), Nocpix ACE S60R ($6,599), Sightmark Shade Thermal Riflescope ($799.97), ATN BinoX 6 Dual 640 ($2,895). The most recent announcement in this group is the ATN TICO 6 640 ($2,995), announced May 4, 2026. Each product page shows the exact date we last checked and the source behind its status, so you can judge freshness before you shop.
How we chose
Every product in this guide comes from our release database, which tracks new products from first announcement to shipping. To make the list, a product had to be announced for the 2026 model year (or announced in late 2025 for 2026 availability) and have a cited maker or trade-press source. We then grouped products by the job they're built for, using the maker's published specs, and weighed manufacturer MSRP and verified shipping status. If two products did the same job, we favored the one you can actually buy today.
We haven't range-tested these products, and we don't claim to have. Our picks are editorial judgments based on published data, and we say when something is only announced. Prices are manufacturer MSRPs from cited sources, and street prices are often lower once a product has been shipping for a while. Status comes from our latest dated check, shown on each product page. Read more about how we track releases and our editorial standards.
Spec comparison
Key specs as published by each maker (from our product detail data). A dash means the maker hasn't published that spec or we haven't recorded it yet.
| Product | MSRP | Sensor | NETD | LRF | Magnification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATN TICO 6 640 | $2,995 | 640x512, 12 µm | — | — | — |
| Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50 | $3,199.97 | 384x288, 17 µm | <15 mK | 1,200 m | 3.5-14x |
| Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50 | $4,499.97 | 640x480, 12 µm | <18 mK | 1,200 m | 3-24x |
| Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60 | $4,999.97 | 1024x768, 12 µm | <35 mK (sNETD <20) | — | 2.5-20x |
| Pulsar Telos LRF XL50 | $4,699.97 | 1024x768, 12 µm | <40 mK | — | 2.5-20x |
| AGM Global Vision Adder V2 LRF 60-1280 | $6,594.50 | 1280x1024 | — | 1,000 m (in-lens) | — |
| AGM Global Vision Rattler V3 LRF 50-640 | $4,394.50 | 640x512 | <15 mK | 1,000 m | — |
| Nocpix ACE S60R | $6,599 | 1280x1024 Gen-2 HD | ≤15 mK | integrated | — |
| Sightmark Shade Thermal Riflescope | $799.97 | — | — | — | — |
| ATN BinoX 6 Dual 640 | $2,895 | 640 thermal + 4K day CMOS | — | long-range | — |
New Thermal Scopes 2026 at a glance
| Product | Status | MSRP | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATN TICO 6 640 | Shipping | $2,995 | May 4, 2026 |
| Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50 | Shipping | $3,199.97 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50 | Shipping | $4,499.97 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60 | Shipping | $4,999.97 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Pulsar Telos LRF XL50 | Shipping | $4,699.97 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| AGM Global Vision Adder V2 LRF 60-1280 | Shipping | $6,594.50 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| AGM Global Vision Rattler V3 LRF 50-640 | Shipping | $4,394.50 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Nocpix ACE S60R | Shipping | $6,599 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Sightmark Shade Thermal Riflescope | Shipping | $799.97 | Jan 20, 2026 |
| ATN BinoX 6 Dual 640 | Shipping | $2,895 | Jan 12, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best cheap thermal scope of 2026?
- The Sightmark Shade at $799.97 (maker price) is the lowest-priced thermal riflescope we track, and it's shipping.
- How many thermal scopes released in 2026 does GunReleases track?
- We currently track 10 thermal scopes from 5 brands: AGM Global Vision, ATN, Nocpix, Pulsar, Sightmark.
- Which new thermal scopes are shipping now?
- ATN TICO 6 640, Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50, Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50, Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60, Pulsar Telos LRF XL50, AGM Global Vision Adder V2 LRF 60-1280, AGM Global Vision Rattler V3 LRF 50-640, Nocpix ACE S60R, Sightmark Shade Thermal Riflescope, ATN BinoX 6 Dual 640 Status is based on our last dated check on each product page.
- What is the lowest MSRP among new thermal scopes?
- Sightmark Shade Thermal Riflescope at $799.97 MSRP. The highest listed is Nocpix ACE S60R at $6,599. Street prices are often lower.
- What do Announced, Listed and Shipping mean?
- Announced means the maker has published it. Listed, no stock means a maker or retailer has a product page but no inventory. Shipping means units are confirmed available to buy.
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