AGM PVS-14E Night Vision Monocular

The AGM PVS-14E is an enhanced version of the most widely used night vision monocular format in the world. It keeps everything that made the PVS-14 the standard — handheld, head-mounted, helmet-mounted, or weapon-mounted versatility in one compact unit — and updates it with a more flexible battery system and a lighter, more compact lens and eyepiece. The result is a 10.2 oz monocular that runs on a single AA or CR123 battery, installs in any orientation, and is built to military environmental standards.

This page covers the full PVS-14E line. The monocular hardware is identical across every version offered here. What changes from one build to the next is the image intensifier tube inside it — and on a night vision device, the tube is the product. Below we explain exactly how the seven tube grades differ so you can choose the right one with confidence.

How to read the PVS-14E model codes

Each PVS-14E build is identified by a short tube code — NL1, NW1, AP, APW, 3AL1, 3AW1, 3APW. Those codes are not random. Once you know how to read them, the whole lineup makes sense:

• The leading character is the tube class. "N" and "A" builds use Gen 2+ tubes. "3A" builds use Gen 3 auto-gated tubes.
• "L" means a green phosphor screen. "W" means a white phosphor screen. (See "Green vs. white phosphor" below — this is a preference, not a quality ranking.)
• The PVS-14E line spans two intensifier generations and a range of tube grades, so price tracks the tube, not the housing.

Night vision generations, in plain terms

Image intensifier tubes are grouped by generation, which describes the underlying tube technology:

• Gen 2+ tubes deliver strong low-light performance and are a proven, widely fielded choice. Within the PVS-14E line, the Gen 2+ builds are the most accessible way into a genuine, full-capability PVS-14E.
• Gen 3 tubes use a gallium-arsenide photocathode and generally offer greater sensitivity and longer effective range in very low light. Every Gen 3 build in this lineup is auto-gated.

Auto-gating is a tube feature that rapidly cycles the tube's power to manage sudden changes in light — for example, moving between shadow and a lit area, or scanning past a light source. It helps the tube hold a usable image in dynamic lighting rather than blooming out.

Green vs. white phosphor

The phosphor screen is what converts the intensified image into something your eye sees. Two options appear across this lineup:

• Green phosphor (P43) produces the classic green night vision image. The human eye distinguishes many shades of green, and green phosphor has a long, proven track record.
• White phosphor (P45) produces a black-and-white image that many users find easier on the eye over long sessions and more natural for picking out shape and contrast.

Neither is "better." It is a genuine preference. Shooters who have used green for years often stay with it; users coming to night vision more recently often prefer white. Both are offered here so you can choose.

FOM and resolution — what the numbers mean

Two tube figures appear in the variant details below where they apply:

• FOM (Figure of Merit) is an industry tube-quality index that combines signal-to-noise ratio and resolution into a single number. Higher is generally better. A higher FOM tube produces a cleaner, sharper image, particularly in very low light.
• Resolution, measured in line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm), describes how fine a detail the tube can resolve. A higher lp/mm figure means a crisper image.

Not every build carries every figure. Where a figure isn't listed for a variant below, it isn't a specified rating for that particular tube build. If you need a full tube data sheet for a specific build, contact us and we'll help.

The seven PVS-14E builds

The variants below are listed from most accessible to most capable. Choose the variant that matches the tube you want; the monocular itself is the same across all seven.

NL1 — Gen 2+ "Level 1" tube, P43 green phosphor. The entry point into the PVS-14E line. A full-capability PVS-14E with a proven Gen 2+ green-phosphor tube. The right choice for a buyer who wants a genuine PVS-14E platform at the most accessible price.

NW1 — Gen 2+ "Level 1" tube, P45 white phosphor. The same Gen 2+ "Level 1" build as the NL1, with a white phosphor screen instead of green. Choose this over the NL1 if you prefer the black-and-white image.

AP — Gen 2+ tube, FOM 1600+, resolution 64-72 lp/mm. A higher-specified Gen 2+ build with a published FOM of 1600+ and a resolution figure in the 64-72 lp/mm range. A step up in tube specification from the NL1/NW1 builds.

3AL1 — Gen 3 auto-gated "Level 1" tube, P43 green phosphor, resolution 64-72 lp/mm. Made in the USA. The most accessible way into a Gen 3 auto-gated PVS-14E. Gen 3 sensitivity and auto-gating with the classic green-phosphor image.

APW — Photonis ECHO auto-gated tube, FOM 1600+, P45 white phosphor, resolution 64-72 lp/mm. This build uses a Photonis ECHO auto-gated tube — a European-made intensifier — with a published FOM of 1600+ and a white phosphor screen. A distinct option for a buyer who specifically wants a Photonis tube.

3AW1 — Gen 3 auto-gated "Level 1" tube, P45 white phosphor, resolution 64-72 lp/mm. Made in the USA. The white-phosphor counterpart to the 3AL1: Gen 3 sensitivity and auto-gating with the black-and-white image.

3APW — Gen 3 auto-gated tube, FOM 2200+, P45 white phosphor, resolution 64-72 lp/mm. Made in the USA. The top of the PVS-14E line. A Gen 3 auto-gated tube with a published FOM of 2200+ — the highest-specified build offered here — paired with a white phosphor screen.

Which PVS-14E is right for you

• Want a genuine PVS-14E at the most accessible price: NL1 (green) or NW1 (white).
• Want a higher-grade Gen 2+ tube with a published FOM: AP.
• Want a specifically Photonis (European) tube: APW.
• Want into Gen 3 auto-gated performance: 3AL1 (green) or 3AW1 (white).
• Want the highest-specified tube in the line: 3APW.

For green vs. white at any tier, see "Green vs. white phosphor" above — it comes down to your preference.

Device specifications (identical across all seven builds)

• Magnification: 1x (3x and 5x afocal magnifiers available separately)
• Lens system: 26 mm, F/1.2
• Field of view: 40 degrees
• Focus range: 0.25 m (9.8 in) to infinity
• Diopter adjustment: -6 to +2 diopters
• Manual gain control: yes (adjustable from approx. 25 to greater than 3,000)
• Built-in IR illuminator: yes (for close-range use, up to approx. 3 m)
• Bright light cut-off: yes
• Auto shut-off: powers down and back up automatically when the device is articulated out of and back into viewing position
• LED indicators in field of view: low battery, IR on, excessive light
• Battery: one AA alkaline, one AA lithium (L91), one CR123 lithium, or one AA/RCR123 rechargeable up to 3.7V; electronic polarity switching (battery installs in any orientation)
• Battery life: up to approximately 40 hours (alkaline, IR off, at room temperature); longer with lithium L91
• Operating temperature: -51 C to +49 C (-60 F to 120 F)
• Storage temperature: -51 C to +85 C (-60 F to 185 F)
• Submersible: 66 ft (20 m)
• Dimensions: 108 x 63 x 69 mm (4.25 x 2.5 x 2.7 in)
• Weight: 290 g (10.2 oz)
• Standards: MIL-STD-810G
• Warranty: 3-year manufacturer warranty (AGM Global Vision)

In the box

Night vision monocular, head mount assembly, lens cap/daylight filter, eye cup, helmet/head mount adapter, soft carrying case, neck cord, lens paper, sacrificial window, demist shield, manual, battery.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the seven PVS-14E versions?

The monocular hardware is identical on all seven. The difference is the image intensifier tube inside — its generation (Gen 2+ or Gen 3 auto-gated), its phosphor color (green or white), and its tube grade. The model code tells you which tube the build uses.

What does the "E" in PVS-14E mean?

It indicates the enhanced version of the PVS-14. Compared with a conventional PVS-14, the PVS-14E adds a flexible battery system (AA or CR123, installed in any orientation thanks to electronic polarity switching) and a more compact lens and eyepiece that bring the weight down to 10.2 oz.

Is green or white phosphor better?

Neither — it is a preference. Green phosphor gives the classic green night vision image with a long proven history. White phosphor gives a black-and-white image many users find easier on the eye and more natural for reading contrast. Choose the one you prefer; the underlying tube grade is what drives performance.

What is auto-gating?

Auto-gating rapidly cycles the tube's power to manage sudden changes in light, helping the tube hold a usable image when you move between dark and lit areas or scan past a light source. Every Gen 3 build in this lineup is auto-gated.

What is FOM?

Figure of Merit is an industry index of tube quality that combines signal-to-noise ratio and resolution into one number. Higher is generally better. Where a build has a specified FOM, it's listed in that variant's description above.

Can the PVS-14E be used on a rifle?

The PVS-14E is not a weapon sight, but it is designed to be weapon-mountable and can be used behind a collimated dot sight or with a laser aiming device. It also works handheld, on the included head mount, or on a ballistic helmet.

Is the PVS-14E waterproof?

Yes. It is submersible to 66 ft (20 m) and built to MIL-STD-810G environmental standards.

What battery does it use and how long does it last?

A single AA (alkaline or lithium L91) or CR123 lithium battery, or an AA/RCR123 rechargeable. Runtime is up to approximately 40 hours on alkaline with the IR off at room temperature, and longer on lithium L91.

Does it come with a warranty?

Yes — a 3-year manufacturer warranty through AGM Global Vision.