Nocpix ACE S60R Review – Top of the Line Thermal Performance

The Nocpix ACE S60R combines a 1280 thermal sensor, a massive 2560×2560 AMOLED display, and a fast F/1.0 60 mm objective into one of the most advanced civilian thermal riflescopes available today. I have owned and tested many thermals over the years, including some of the best 640, 1024, and 1280 units on the market, and this scope makes most of them feel dated. The ACE S60R delivers resolution, contrast, and field usability that put it in a different class, and it is unlikely to be outpaced any time soon.

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Kill Shot Video – WARNING: Graphic Content!

The 60 mm germainium objective gives the scope a serious footprint. It mounts in standard 30 mm rings but ships in a Nocpix one-piece mount. The mount is solid and fits as intended. I prefer my Bobro for repeatable return to zero, so I moved the ACE onto that mount. The Bobro barely clears the rail because of the big objective, but it does clear. It’s nice that the ACE comes with its own mount, and it’s ready to go out of the box.

The controls are intuitive. The power button is at the rear, along with the LRF and Video Record buttons. The top button and rotary wheel operate menus and double as the digital zoom. I really like the button layout on this scope. The USB-C port is hidden under a twist collar. No rubber covers to lose. Diopter adjustment and a quick focus ring make it simple to get a sharp picture in the field.

The ACE S60R uses a 1280 thermal sensor. Pair that sensor with a 60 mm F/1.0 objective and a ≤15 mK NETD, 12 micron pixel pitch, and you get an image that resolves an insane amount of detail. In the field that can make a big difference. I can read fur texture, see head angles, better identify species, and pick out facial detail on game at ranges where lesser units turn everything into blobs.

The display is a round AMOLED at 2560 x 2560 pixels. Shouldering the scope feels closer to a day scope experience than a periscope feed. That circular presentation places the reticle in a natural position when tracking moving targets.

I use black hot and white hot most of the time. Both are clean on this unit. The other palettes are functional. I rarely need them, but they can help in unusual backgrounds.

The ACE S60R has a native 2× optical base magnification and a digital zoom to 24×. Additionally, it has a 1-3 power optical eyepiece magnifier that zooms in on the display and not on the pixels. It’s pretty unique and you kind of have to see it to understand it, but it works. The downside is that you’re magnifying the display, and on the 3x, you lose the ability to see some of the icons and information that the screen holds. While the optical zoom feature is really cool, I’ve used it less than I thought I would. That’s in part because the digital zoom is incredible. The picture is surprisingly good and entirely usable, zoomed all the way to 24x. (Several of the kill shots in the second video are on 24x.)

The integrated 1300-yard LRF lives in a small window in the objective. Tap the button on top of the eyepiece for a single reading. Hold it down for a second or two for continuous scanning. The LRF reads reflective objects and terrain features cleanly inside the distances most people will actually shoot at night. You pair the scope with the app, load your ballistics, and sync the profile. Enter BC, velocity, twist rate, sight height, and environmental data. The scope then computes a hold for the ranged distance and displays a second aiming point in the reticle.

The ACE uses an internal rechargeable cell plus a hot-swappable 18650. You can run the scope off the internal cell while swapping the external 18650. Twist the collar to reveal the USB-C port and plug in a battery pack if you need extended uptime. That triad of internal battery, hot swappable 18650, and USB-C charging removes a lot of battery drama from long nights. Plus, 18650 batteries aren’t expensive and are readily available.

The ACE records video and picture stills internally and offers recoil-activated video recording. I leave the recoil recording setting on. If I remember, I push the record button before shooting, but I often get caught in the moment and forget. The recoil backup has provided video for me a few times when I’ve forgotten to record.

You can view files in the unit gallery or stream to the phone app. The microphone captures adequate ambient sound.

Pro tip I use in the field. Hold the rangefinder and record buttons together for about 11 to 12 seconds to turn the reticle off for a clear view without the reticle. Hold them again to restore the reticle.

Zeroing is straightforward. Fire a shot and observe where it landed on the target. Freeze the frame with the reticle on the center aiming point. Move the zeroing reticle to the hole and save.

The menu system is one button and a wheel. Short press for quick adjustments to palette, brightness, and sharpness. Long-press for reticles, zero, calibration, ballistic settings, Wi-Fi, and the gallery. The interface is fast to navigate with gloves. The turret acts as the digital zoom when not scrolling through menus.

The app is available for Android and iPhone. I’ve only used the Android version, but it works well and I’ve had no issues with it. I use it to input my ballistics.

Nocpix rates detection at 3,400 yards. Realistic detection and identification depend on target size and atmosphere, but my experience is that it delivers on the 3400 yards in an impressive fashion.

Because of the 2x base magnification, you get a huge field of view when scanning, calling predators, or shooting fast-moving hogs on the move. The digital zoom gives you an incredibly good picture up to 8 or 10x and a completely usable picture to 24x.

You can also use the picture-in-picture mode to keep the wide field of view but have a zoomed-in aiming point.

Thermals essentially create a picture by generating a heat map or by showing the temperature differences. Really good sensors can detect smaller differences in heat, providing more detailed information. The sensor’s ability to resolve small differences in heat is measured in millikelvin. Just a few years ago, top-of-the-line thermals were bragging about ≤40 mK NETD. The ACE S60R has ≤15 mK NETD, which is phenomenal and is part of the reason you get such excellent performance.

Also, the startup time from when you push the power button until you have a reticle is only 10 seconds. I leave it off and scan with a handheld most nights.

The rangefinder has worked well.

For long-range small target work and predators, I would like a native higher magnification of 3x. That would let you maintain native resolving power deeper into magnification before relying on digital zoom. I understand that this would likely require a huge 75mm objective. I don’t feel like the optical zoom is as helpful on the ACE S60R eyepiece as it is on the ACE 50R 640 version, and I’d prefer a more premium eyepiece, although there’s nothing wrong with this one. I’m just nitpicking because I really don’t have anything to complain about.

Nocpix supports the ACE line with a robust warranty and U.S. service channels. Nocpix covers the ACE S60R with its 5×5 Warranty. Every optic is protected for five years against defects from normal use. If service is ever required, Nocpix guarantees a turnaround of five business days or less. If the unit cannot be repaired within that time, it will be replaced with one in equal or better condition.

What sets the ACE S60R apart is how it actually looks and performs in the field. The 1280 sensor does not just add pixels on paper; it gives you fine details like hair, ear shape, and facial features that 640 scopes just can’t compete with. The 60 mm F/0.9 lens pulls in enough signal to make that resolution matter, and the round 2560×2560 AMOLED display shows it in a sight picture that feels like a true riflescope instead of a cropped video screen. When you add fast menus, recoil recording, and an integrated 1300-yard rangefinder that feeds a live ballistic hold into the reticle, you get a thermal that is not just top of the line in specs, but one that makes night shooting/hunting practical, precise, fun, and worth missing some sleep for.

• Sensor: Nocpix 1280 (1280 × 1024), 50 Hz
• Objective lens: 60 mm F/1.0
• NETD: ≤15 mK
• Magnification: Native/Optical 2× base, Digital 24×
• Pixel size: 12 μm
• Display resolution: AMOLED 2560 × 2560
• Detection range: 3,400 yards
• Color palettes: White Hot, Black Hot, Red Hot, Color, Violet, Crimson, Viridian
• Reticles: 8 (1 Dynamic, 6 Static, 1 DIY)
• Rangefinder: Integrated 1300 yd LRF

For more information, visit Nocpix.

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