Hey Freedom Gorillas, today we are going to deep dive into the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 Holographic Sights. In this review and overview we will tell you everything you need to know about the EOTech XPS2 and the XPS3 in order to decide if it’s something you would like to purchase or not.
We’ll cover things like the difference between the XPS2 and XPS3, the specs of each, the pricing, what comes in the box, and more. We’ve combined this review to cover both the EOTech XPS2 and the XPS3, because they are essentially the same optic, except the XPS3 has additional night vision brightness settings and a stronger waterproof rating. Aside from that internal difference, both optics are essentially the same.
To learn more, keep reading.
Key Takeaways
The EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are the most affordable CR123 battery Holographic Sight EOTech produces. They are extremely similar optics, however the main difference is the XPS2 has no nightvision brightness settings and the XPS3 does have additional nightvision brightness settings. The XPS2 also has a waterproof submersion depth of 10 ft while the XPS3 has a depth of 33 ft. The only other notable difference is that the XPS2 models come in more colors and reticle options than the XPS3.
Both the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 have buttons located on the rear of the optic, they take CR123 batteries which last an estimated 1,000 hours, they have a screw clamping mount that mounts to any picatinny rail, they weigh 9 oz, come in multiple housing colors, have green reticle versions, and multiple reticle options, are made in the USA, and have an absolute co-witness.
If you are looking for the most affordable EOTech that comes with a CR123 battery, and has the most color and reticle styles, then the XPS2 or XPS3 may be the optics for you to get.
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Quick Nav
- EOTech XPS2 vs XPS3 Specs & Differences
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Reticles
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Models & Pricing
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EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Battery Type, Buttons, Mount, & Co-Witness
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 In the Box
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Review & Highlights
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Downsides
- EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Warranty
- Conclusion
EOTech XPS2 vs XPS3 Specs & Differences
As mentioned above, both the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are almost identical, except the XPS3 has additional night vision brightness settings and a better waterproof rating. Aside from that both of these optics are exactly the same, that’s why we combined this review.
Here are the specs for both the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 Holographic sights:
- Button Location: Rear
- Mount Type: Non-QD clamp
- Co-Witness: Absolute
- LxWxH 3.8" x 2.1" x 2.5" (96.5 x 53.3 x 63.5 mm)
- Weight: 9 oz
- Waterproof: XPS2 10ft (3m) depth, XPS3 33ft (10m) depth
- Windage/Elevation: 0.5 MOA per click
- Brightness: XPS2/3 20 Daylight settings, XPS3 Only 10 Nightvision Settings
- CR123 Battery
- 1000 hrs battery life at setting 12 at room temp
- Operating temp: -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C)
- Made in USA
EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Reticles
The EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 Holographic Sights come with a bunch of different reticles. It's one of the things that sets them apart from other series.
They come with the standard circle + dot, but also have a 1 dot only, 2 dot, 300 blackout, and FN 303 reticle. Below you will find more info on each reticle type.
The XPS2 also comes in a green reticle version.
- Green reticles are less straining for the eye to see.
- Green reticles can help with astigmatism. If you have astigmatism you will see a blurry dot, we have been told by a few customers that Green dots help with their astigmatism, making the dot look more crisp than the red version.
- Green will not washout on backdrops like green grass, foliage, or green colors.
- In theory Green dots can have a longer battery life because Green is brighter, so for example a green dot on brightness setting 6 may be the same brightness as a red dot on setting 7 - which would save battery life.
If you want to learn more check out our full article about Red vs Green Dot Pros & Cons here.
Here is a table showing the reticles and a bit about each.
How to decide which reticle style is best for you
In this guide we covered a few different reticle options. If you need some help deciding which is best for you here are some of our thoughts on each.
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EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Models & Pricing
The EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are largest offering in EOTechs Holographic Sight Lineup. Meaning they have the most models to choose from.
In general, there are so many because you have the XPS2 and the XPS3, but then you have different combinations which have different housing colors, reticle colors, and reticle styles.
Below are all the current XPS2 and XPS3 models and a brief overview of each.
*Note: these prices are not intended to be exact, they are just rough estimates to give you an idea of what to expect.
XPS2 ($560+) - These models all take a CR123 battery, have buttons on the rear, absolute co-witness, and no night vision compatibility. Each model within this sub series is listed below with a brief description.
- XPS2-0TAN - Circle Dot with Tan Housing
- XPS2-2TAN - Circle + 2 Dots with Tan Housing
- XPS2-0 - Circle Dot with Black Housing
- XPS2-0ODGRN - Circle Dot with OD Green Housing
- XPS2-0GREY - Circle Dot with Grey Housing
- XPS2-0GRN - Circle Dot, Green Reticle, Black Housing
- XPS2-1 - 1 MOA Dot Only (No Outer Ring), Black Housing
- XPS2-2 - Circle + 2 Dots with Black Housing
- XPS2-300 - 300 Blackout Specific Reticle, Black Housing
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XPS2-FN - FN303 Specific Reticle, Black Housing
XPS3 ($680+) - These models are the same as the XPS2 except they have nightvision compatibility and better waterproof ratings. Each model within this sub series is listed below with a brief description.
EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Battery Type, Buttons, Mount, & Co-Witness
The EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 models all use CR123 batteries. These are nice because you only need one and they make the XPS Series more compact.
Both the XPS2 and XPS3 have the buttons located on the rear of the optic. Something to note is that by having buttons located on the rear, if you plan on using a magnifier, the magnifier may obstruct the buttons. This often isn't a major issue, and is only when the magnifier is engaged, but it is something worth noting.
The mount for the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 is a screw clamping mount that will mount to any picatinny rail.
The co-witness for both the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 is an absolute co-witness. This means the dot will be directly in line with your iron sights.
Here is an example showing the difference between absolute and 1/3 co-witness.
EOTech XPS2/XPS3 In the Box
When you get your EOTech XPS2 or XPS3 and open the box you will receive the optic, a quick start guide, a warranty card, and a CR123 Batteries.
EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Review & Highlights
So what's great about the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3? Well to us, the biggest advantages to this series of Holographic Sights is the price point, the variety of models to choose from, the size, and the weight.
When you are looking to save rail space, you need to get a CR123 battery EOTech over the AA battery versions. The XPS2 and XPS3 are the most affordable CR123 battery EOTech Holographic Sights.
The shorter length of the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 vs the AA battery versions is very nice. Having a shorter optic always makes things a little bit easier. In addition to using a CR123 battery, the XPS2 and XPS3 are the lightest EOTech Holographic Sights, weighing in at 9 oz.
The other nice thing about the XPS2 and XPS3, is the ability to get different colors and reticle styles. So for example if you wanted a reticle specifically designed for a 300 blackout cartridge, you would find it in the EOTech XPS2. If you wanted a green reticle, there is an XPS2 Model for that too. And lets say you wanted an FDE or Tan housing optic, or an OD Green, or Grey, there is an XPS model for that too.
So what really makes the XPS series shine is it's variety of models it offers.
Aside from that the XPS2 and XPS3 are built exactly the same as any other EOTech Holographic Sight. Durable, tough, battle proven, and made in the USA.
EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Downsides
The EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are some of the most modern EOTech Holographic Sights on the market due to their use of the CR123 batteries and the different reticles and housing color options.
The only real downsides of the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are the button placement and battery life.
Compared to a AA version EOTech, the XPS2 and XPS3 get 1,000 hours of battery life instead of 2,200-2,500 hours. But the trade off is lighter weight and a shorter package.
As for the buttons, they are mounted on the rear of the XPS2 and XPS3. This isn't a huge issue, but there may be situation when having rear buttons becomes a bit inconvenient. Mainly if you are using a magnifier.
If your magnifier is directly behind the EOTech XPS2 or XPS3 it may slightly obstruct the buttons. Usually this isn't a big deal, in many cases when you "disengage" the magnifier the buttons are accessible, and it can be remedied by perhaps mounting the magnifier back an extra picatinny slot. It is just something to be aware of.
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EOTech XPS2/XPS3 Warranty
EOTech stands behind their products but they don’t offer a lifetime warranty. Here is a summary of how their warranty works
The optic is covered for 10 years from the date or purchase or the manufacturers date, whichever is later. During the first 5 years of ownership if there is an issue, EOTech will repair or replace the optic free of charge if defects in materials or workmanship are found.
For years 6-10 EOTech will evaluate and repair any defects for a nominal fee upon the customers request.
The warranty is transferable between buyers and it doesn’t cover things like theft, loss, neglect, abuse, misuse, improper installation, cosmetic damage not affecting performance, or damage from unauthorized repairs or modifications.
Conclusion
We hope you found our review and overview of the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 helpful. We know going into it, it can be hard to understand the difference, but now after reading we hope the difference is clear, and that you have a better understanding of which models are best for you.
To summarize, the EOTech XPS2 and XPS3 are the most affordable CR123 battery EOTech Holographic Sights. They really shine if you are looking for a variety of options like housing color, reticle color, and reticle style.
We thing that whichever model you choose you will be happy with. These battle proven, American Made optics have been around for decades for a reason!
If you still need help deciding or have any questions please reach out to us. Also check out our EOTech Holographic Sight Cheat Sheet here to learn more about all the EOTech Holographic Sights.
Have a great day and thanks for reading!
