Pulsar Axion XM30 vs Pulsar Axion KEY XM30 thermal monoculars

Hello and welcome to another episode of Optics Trade Debates.  We continue with the debate about Pulsar Axion models, only that we focus on the differences between Pulsar Axion XM30 and Pulsar Axion Key XM30 this time.

The exterior of both Axion models is more or less the same, they have the same housing, lenses, sensor and more. The only difference is that Axion XM30 has the Power button in blue, whereas Key has it in black.

Otherwise, there are six main differences between these two models:

1. The basic optical magnification on Key is 2.5x and it has a 4x digital zoom (it can go from 2.5x to 10x), while the basic magnification of Axion XM30 is 4x and it goes all the way up to 16 (4x digital zoom).
2. Axion Key has a 960×720 LCOS display and the XM30 utilizes the AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 1024×768 pixels. The Amoled HD display gives you a better image and is designed to face freezing temperatures all the way up to -25° C, while LCOS can stand up to -10° C. The refresh rate is 50 Hz on both.
3. Axion XM30 features Wi-Fi capabilities, so you can connect your device with your smartphone or a tablet and use the Stream Vision
4. XM30 Key uses a chalcogenide objective lens, whereas XM30 is equipped with superior germanium
5. XM30 comes with a battery charger which is not included with the Key model – with the latter, charging is only possible via MicroUSB (you can purchase the charger extra).
6. The last difference is the price. Axion Key costs 1390 € and XM30 costs 1990 €. There is a 600 € gap between them, but you pay more for the XM30 because of the additional magnification, Wi-Fi capabilities and a different display.

There are two types of people who will buy one or another.

The Axion Key XM30 is designed for use as a classic monocular. If your sole purpose is to observe an object without a need of taking pictures or videos and you want the best for this money in the entry level of thermal optics, then Key XM30 is the one you are looking for.

If you wish to take photos, videos and you want to upload them on Youtube, then go for the Axion XM30 because it also gives you better optical performance and works at lower temperatures.

This is everything for today. Thank you for your attention. If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, feel free to send us an email or leave a comment in the section below. We love to help. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content. See you next time!

Products mentioned:

Pulsar Axion Thermal Imaging Monoculars: https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/manufacturer-pulsar/termo_monoculars_series-pulsar_axion.html