The 8 Best Smart Rifle Scopes
Updated by · How we research
Rangefinding, Bluetooth holdover, digital and thermal: 8 smart rifle scopes compared by range, weight and setup. The all-in-one Burris Eliminator 6 leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Many smart scopes can't range on their own: Sig's BDX models light the right holdover only after a separate BDX rangefinder sends the distance, which is easy to forget at checkout. Others build in a laser, a ballistic computer, or a camera and screen for night and thermal use. Hunters use them to get a firing solution faster.
Editor's Notes
October 17, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
Only one optical scope here, the Burris Eliminator 6, ranges and solves the shot without a second device, so it now leads. Most of the 2021 list had disappeared. The Swarovski dS, Revic PMR 428, Steiner M7Xi, ATN X-Sight Pro, Sig BDX combo kit and Burris Eliminator 4 are discontinued or no longer offered, so they're out. The SoloMark phone adapter went too, because clamping a phone to an eyepiece doesn't make a scope smart. Sig fills much of the list, and that's on purpose: the Sig Sauer Sierra6BDX 3-18x44, Sig Sauer Sierra3BDX and the rest each do a different job, but they all need a BDX rangefinder, which is easy to forget at checkout. The ATN Thor 4 384 stays as the thermal option. Revic and Swarovski still make superb smart scopes, so they moved to the special honors.
February 11, 2021:
True smart scopes feature some type of onboard computing system that takes some of the guesswork out of calculating the variables like elevation, distance, and other factors that mean the difference between hitting the target and missing it. In most cases, they also offer Bluetooth connectivity and associated apps where you can input various data that can also affect your shot, such as cartridge type. At this time, there are still only a few models that can truly be considered smart, though we expect that to change over time, and we have made sure to include all the high-quality and reliable options here. However, these are generally very expensive, so we have also included the SoloMark Smartphone Adapter for those who simply want the ability to record their shots through the view of their scope.
November 13, 2018:
The ATN models are head and shoulders above their competition, with the ThOR narrowly outpacing its counterpart despite its heftier price tag. The phone-mounting models were ranked by their durability, and how delicately they treated your device.
Special Honors
Revic Radikl Revic's Radikl scopes put a ballistic computer inside the scope and show the hold on a digital display. Revic offers three models, the smallest a 3.5-21x44, rates them IPX7, and runs them on a single CR2 battery. They weigh 37 to 42 ounces and cost several times as much as most picks here. Revic backs the optics for five years and the electronics for two. revicoptics.com
Swarovski Optik dS Gen II Swarovski's dS Gen II 5-25x52 builds a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer into Austrian glass, and shows the corrected aiming point on a display in the eyepiece. Swarovski rates the laser from 33 to 1,500 yards, and the scope weighs about 38.4 ounces. It costs more than any scope on the list. swarovskioptik.com
Four Kinds Of Smart Scope, And What Each Needs
Fire-control systems that track a target and pick the moment to shoot are a separate, rare and very costly product.
"Smart scope" covers four different tools. Holdover-dot scopes, such as Sig's BDX line, are ordinary glass scopes with an LED dot inside. A separate rangefinder measures the distance and sends it over Bluetooth, and the scope lights the hold for your load. Without that rangefinder, you type distances into a phone app, which is slow in the field. All-in-one scopes, such as the Burris Eliminator 6, the Revic Radikl and Swarovski's dS, build the laser and computer into the scope, so they weigh more and cost more but need nothing else.
Digital scopes, such as ATN's X-Sight, replace the glass with a camera and a screen. That makes night vision, video and on-screen ballistics possible, at the cost of battery life and some software risk. Thermal scopes, such as ATN's Thor, see heat instead of light. A phone adapter only holds a phone behind a normal scope for video. It adds no ballistics at all.
None of these aim or fire the rifle for you. Fire-control systems that track a target and pick the moment to shoot are a separate, rare and very costly product.
Accuracy Depends On Your Inputs And On The Wind
A ballistic computer is only as good as the data you give it. Enter the real muzzle velocity from a chronograph, the bullet's ballistic coefficient and a confirmed zero, then check the holds on paper at real distances. In Outdoor Life's field test of five smart scopes, results hinged on those inputs, and shooters using plain scopes with dialed turrets generally shot as well or better. The magazine put the practical range of most systems around 800 yards, which suits hunting more than long-range matches.
Wind is still your job. Some scopes display a wind hold, but only for a wind speed you supply. Lasers have limits too: American Hunter got a 34-yard reading off a bush in front of a 600-yard target, so watch which object you range.
Batteries die, often in the cold. Carry spares, and learn your holds without electronics. American Hunter suggests a 200-yard zero, which keeps a typical deer cartridge on target out to about 300 yards with a plain crosshair. All4Shooters found a handheld rangefinder hard to hold steady at long range, which limits holdover-dot systems in practice.
Hunting Rules, Batteries And Export Limits
Owning a smart scope is legal across the US, and buying one doesn't need a background check. Hunting with one is another matter. Several western states restrict scopes that receive rangefinder data or calculate ballistics, and Oregon's limits are among the strictest, according to a Nevada Department of Wildlife summary of seven states' rules. Many states also bar thermal and digital night sights for game animals, while some allow them for predators or feral hogs. Rules change, so check your state wildlife agency's current regulations before the season.
ATN's digital and thermal scopes are covered by US export rules (ITAR), so they can't be taken or shipped abroad without a license. Several Sig scopes and the Burris remote run on CR2032 coin cells, which are dangerous if a child swallows one. Store spares out of reach. A search of CPSC recalls found no recall on any scope on this page. The one Sig Sauer recall it turned up covered a red-dot sight's battery compartment.
How we researched this
We compared 20 smart scopes and related products, read the maker and dealer spec sheets for the 8 finalists, and used independent field tests from Outdoor Life, American Hunter, All4Shooters and Outdoor Benchmark where they exist. We analyzed owner feedback and checked each brand against the CPSC recall database. State hunting rules come from wildlife-agency summaries, which can change.
Sources (9)
- American Hunter: Burris Eliminator 6 review
- Outdoor Life: Are smart scopes the hunting tool of the future?
- All4Shooters: Sierra3BDX and Kilo 1800 BDX hunting test
- Outdoor Benchmark: ATN Thor 4 review
- Sporting Shooter: Burris Eliminator 6 review
- Revic: Radikl smart scopes
- SSUSA: Swarovski dS Gen II
- Nevada Department of Wildlife: seven western states smart-scope rules
- CPSC: Recalls
Frequently asked questions
What is a smart rifle scope?
It's a rifle scope with electronics that help you place the shot. Depending on the model, that means a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer that shows the right hold, a Bluetooth link to a phone app, or a camera and screen for night or thermal viewing.
Does a smart scope aim or adjust itself?
Mostly no. Holdover-dot scopes light the right aiming point, and the Sig Sauer Bravo6T-BDX has a motor that can turn its elevation dial. You still hold the rifle, judge the wind and press the trigger.
Can a rifle scope connect to my phone?
Yes. Sig BDX, Burris and ATN scopes pair with free phone apps to load ballistic profiles, and ATN's digital scopes stream video over Wi-Fi. A plain phone adapter clamps a phone behind any scope for video, but it adds no ballistic help.
Are smart scopes legal for hunting?
Owning one is legal, but hunting rules vary by state. Several western states restrict scopes that take rangefinder data or compute ballistics, and many states bar thermal or night sights for game. Check your state wildlife agency before you hunt.
How far can a smart scope shoot?
The scope doesn't add range to the rifle. Outdoor Life judged most systems effective to about 800 yards. The Burris Eliminator 6 can range reflective targets past 2,000 yards, but hitting at that distance depends on the cartridge, the wind and the shooter.
What happens if the battery dies?
A glass smart scope still works as a normal scope with a plain crosshair, so learn your holds without the dot. A digital or thermal scope goes dark, so carry spare batteries or a charged power bank.
