Core component

AR-15 Optics by Brand

Red dots, holographic sights, prisms and low-power variables. Pick a brand to compare magnification, reticle and power source.

7 brands, 33 models listed. Checked 2026-08-01

• Aimpoint

  premium

  The tube red dot that everything else is measured against. Battery life is counted in years of continuous use rather than hours.

  5 models · Malmo, Sweden

• Holosun

  budget to mid

  The price-to-performance pick. Solar backup and shake-awake are standard across most of the line, which is not true of anything else at this price.

  5 models · City of Industry, California

• Trijicon

  premium

  The ACOG needs no battery at all - tritium and fibre optic light the reticle. The MRO and RMR cover the red dot side.

  5 models · Wixom, Michigan

• Vortex Optics

  budget to premium

  Covers every price point with an unconditional lifetime warranty, which is a large part of why it sells. The Razor HD Gen III is the flagship LPVO.

  5 models · Barneveld, Wisconsin

• EOTech

  premium

  Holographic rather than reflex, which is why the reticle stays usable when the window is obstructed. The 68 MOA ring is the fastest close-range aiming reference in this table.

  5 models · Ann Arbor, Michigan

• Primary Arms

  budget to mid

  The ACSS reticle family puts ranging, wind holds and a moving-target lead into one reticle, and is the reason to buy these over a plain duplex at the same price.

  4 models · Houston, Texas

• Sig Sauer Electro-Optics

  budget to mid

  The Romeo5 is the standard cheap red dot recommendation, with shake-awake at a price nothing else matches.

  4 models · Newington, New Hampshire