Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
SIONYX Aurora PRO vs Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Night Vision Monoculars: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Aurora PRO is the digital unit that solves the thing people actually dislike about night vision, the monochrome image, and it records and streams what it sees. The Equinox X650 does the core job for a fraction of the price with a real published range and magnification.
SIONYX Aurora PRO
Buy itDigital night vision that produces a colour image, and records and streams it.
- Full-colour night vision rather than the green or grey image every other technology here produces, which makes identifying what you are looking at far easier.
- Built-in video recording and streaming, so what you see can be saved or sent rather than just watched.
- IP67 water and dust resistance, with 1x to 3x digital magnification and a published 150 m range for a man-sized target at quarter moon.
- SIONYX rates battery life at about 2 hours per battery, so the two included batteries matter on a long night.
- Magnification is digital only, 1x to 3x.
- It is a digital device with a screen, and the product page does not mention head or helmet mounting.
Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision
Buy itThe sensible first night vision device, with a real published range and a memory card slot.
- Bushnell publishes the specification properly: 5x magnification, 32mm objective, 650 foot range, 13.8 ounces.
- Records video to a micro SD card, so a night's watching can be reviewed in daylight.
- Runs on three AA batteries, included, which means no proprietary pack to charge or replace.
- The spec table states no 1080p, no Wi-Fi and no app, so it is a viewer and recorder rather than a connected device.
- Bushnell's own marketing copy on this product page describes the Equinox Z2 with Wi-Fi and app streaming, which the spec table on the same page contradicts.
- 650 feet is a modest range next to what the analog units here can resolve.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| SIONYX Aurora PRO Our pick | Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who needs to identify what they are seeing after dark and wants a recording of it. | A first night vision purchase for wildlife watching, property checks or working out what the dog is barking at. |
| Price tier | $$$$ · flagship | $$ · mid-range |
| Technology | Digital, colour sensor | Digital sensor and screen |
| Image colour | Full colour | Monochrome |
| Magnification | 1x to 3x digital | 5x |
| Stated range | 150 m, man-sized target at quarter moon | 650 ft |
| Records video | Yes, plus streaming | Yes, to micro SD |
| Published weight | 274 g | 13.8 oz |
| Power | About 2 hrs per battery, two included | 3 x AA, included |
| Head or helmet mounting | Not published | Not published |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the SIONYX Aurora PRO if
anyone who needs to identify what they are seeing after dark and wants a recording of it.
Know before buying: sIONYX rates battery life at about 2 hours per battery, so the two included batteries matter on a long night.
Pick the Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision if
a first night vision purchase for wildlife watching, property checks or working out what the dog is barking at.
Know before buying: the spec table states no 1080p, no Wi-Fi and no app, so it is a viewer and recorder rather than a connected device.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the SIONYX Aurora PRO - Digital night vision that produces a colour image, and records and streams it. Choose the Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision instead if a first night vision purchase for wildlife watching, property checks or working out what the dog is barking at.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Night Vision Monoculars: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).