There is no denying that Hikmicro has produced some of the best digital hunting scopes in the world over the past few years. Their award-winning Alpex series of day and night scopes seems to be setting the pace for the global market and, with constant updates and new models, there is no sign of that progress slowing down.
So, when Hikmicro says it has made the brilliant Alpex even better, you have to sit up and listen. I was genuinely excited to hear about the new Alpex Pro and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it after it was unveiled at the British Shooting Show back in February. Having now used the A50PL model for a few weeks, I can confidently say it has far exceeded my expectations.
The Alpex Pro A50PL, which features an onboard laser rangefinder, currently retails for £849.99. That is a pretty substantial outlay but, when you compare it with what else is out there, and takes its pioneering features and performance into account, that price represents very good value for money.
This latest offering really has raised the bar, especially when it comes to image quality and full-colour viewing in daylight and twilight. It also incorporates new zoom and focusing controls to make it feel more like using a conventional scope. It also manages to put it into a smaller package than the previous Alpex 4K, although it is a little larger than the airgun-specific Alpex 4K Lite.
The development of the Alpex Pro is based on feedback from hunters all around the world – and you can tell that from how it looks to how it performs. The attention to detail is amazing and its technical performance delivers a host of genuine advantages in the field – it’s not just doing technology for technology’s sake. Best of all, it looks and handles very much like a traditional glass scope. It balances really well and feels familiar straightaway – you really do get the best of both worlds with this digital scope.
The Alpex Pro is smaller and lighter than the previous Alpex 4K model, though bigger than the airgun-specific Alpex 4K Lite. It is about 390mm long without the rubber eyecup and just over 440mm with it. Amazingly, it weighs under 900g with its removable battery fitted – which amounts a weight saving of around 27 percent on its predecessor. Thos proportions make for a good match with pretty much any rifle, and I’ve had a great time using it on my FX Impact M4 bullpup airgun.
Straight out of the box, you can see the Alpex Pro is a quality piece of kit. It is a beautifully designed and finished scope – right down to the metal lens cover. The chassis of the A50PL model also incorporates a laser rangefinder. That gives you precise ranging out to 1200m at the press of a button. Combined with its ballistic calculator, which is very easy to set up and incredibly accurate, it will give you a secondary aim point to keep your shots bang on target at any distance.
Below: Smaller and lighter than the previous 4K model, the Alpex Pro A50PL has a built-in laser rangefinder
The rangefinder is operated via the simple controls on top of the ocular bell. Those buttons also enable you to switch the Picture in Picture feature on and off and activate photo and video capture direct to a 64 gig onboard memory. The power button is the one up front and I have to say, these intuitive buttons make for very easy operation. I’ve been using it in the dark, while wearing gloves, and it’s been an absolute breeze.
The Alpex Pro has a 30mm tube for easy mounting. It boasts 4-24x magnification and the zoom is operated by a dial at the front of the ocular bell – much like on a traditional glass scope. It even incorporates a removable throw lever which makes for fast and smooth operation – again, even when wearing gloves.
Another feature of the Alpex Pro’s design that I really like is the side focus wheel – just where you would find the parallax wheel on a conventional scope. It means you don’t have to reach around to the front to focus on, which apart from being a nuisance can potentially obscure your IR torch when shooting at night. Most importantly, it makes for fast, familiar-feeling operation and enables you to quickly get the image pin-sharp.
Below: The Alpex Pro has new controls including rear zoom with throw lever and side focusing - just like on a conventional telescopic sight
The easy to navigate menu system controls loads of different features such as quick zeroing with a handy zero freeze feature. As you would expect, there is a choice of numerous different reticles and colours – also for your secondary aiming point – and you can save numerous different zero profiles. There are countless other features, including quick access photo and video libraries, pitch scale and connectivity to the Hikmicro Sight app. The operating menus are simple to navigate by turning the top turret then pressing the button on top to make your choices.
The Alpex Pro has a stated runtime of around seven hours. I have used it on several long sessions from day to night, and – by giving the power button a quick press to pop it into power saving mode – I have not come close to running it flat. It has a very clever dual power system incorporating an integral rechargeable battery and a supplied removable 18650 rechargeable battery which can be swapped out to keep you up and running on really long hunting trips. A charger is also supplied for the external battery and you charge the internal one by plugging in with the supplied USB lead.
Below: The dual power system incorporates an integral rechargeable battery plus a removable one that can be quickly swapped over
Despite being scaled down with a smaller front lens than the 4K to save weight and improve balance, the Hikmicro Alpex Pro actually boasts significantly improved performance. It has a 12MP sensor with around 45 percent more pixels, light-boosting F1.8 aperture and an upgraded 0.6in display. The result is that its full-colour daytime image quality really does rival that of a high-quality traditional glass scope. It is super-sharp and colours look incredibly natural.
Hikmicro’s Light Pro algorithm delivers intelligent exposure control for optimum image quality in changing light conditions. This pioneering technology results in sharper detail, lower noise and noticeably extended full-colour viewing in the fading light. In fact, the Alpex Pro far exceeds the twilight capability of a traditional glass scope and also outperformed a video camera which cost thousands of pounds when we were out filming the Airgun Extra YouTube review video with it. In real terms, it means you get more full-colour daylight hunting before you have to move over to night vision.
There are other amazing image-enhancing features at work inside the Alpex Pro, including Hikmicro’s Lossless Magnification, which prevents loss of image quality at higher zoom levels. Even at full 24x magnification, image quality remains comparatively sharp with far less pixelation than I have come to expect from other devices.
Below: Colour daytime viewing is remarkable - even at full 24x magnification in fading light
And the Hikmicro Alpex Pro is no slouch at night either. Let’s face it, the previous generation of the Alpex 4K family has already set a new standard for after-dark image quality. Amazingly, the Alpex Pro takes it even further. Performance is boosted by intelligent algorithms and that increased resolution. Combined with those improved zoom and focusing controls, it equates to a new much enhanced night vision shooting experience. At the time of writing, I haven’t had a chance to really push the ranges at night yet, but Airgun Extra's Rich Saunders has used it to observe (not shoot) rabbits at beyond 120m and reports exceptionally good image quality at that range when paired with a decent IR torch.
The Hikmicro Alpex Pro a truly awesome digital day and night scope that really does raise the bar to another level. It’s easy to assume that the laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator are only really for taking longer shots, but I’ve found them invaluable for ratting at closer ranges, when you need to apply a lot of holdover – particularly when using a bullpup airgun when the gap between the scope and the barrel can make a nightmare of estimating hold-over. The Alpex Pro ranges right down to just three metres, so you won’t be left guessing when faced with super-close rats.
Below: The Alpex Pro's night vision image quality is in a league of its own
All that performance is incorporated into a product which has been designed to deliver reliable service in the toughest of conditions. Hikmicro test their kit to the limits in the lab before handing them on to their global team of field testers to test in the harshest environments. The result is a dependable digital scope that won’t let you down. It is shockproof to withstand recoil and it’s waterproof too. The one featured here was subjected to a serious downpour on my first night out ratting with it and was absolutely fine after the soaking.
I have focused on using the Alpex Pro for airgun shooting in this review, because that’s the sort of shooting I do most. It has more than exceeded my expectations, and is capable of much more than airgun pest control. In my opinion, the Alpex 4K Lite remains the most appropriate choice for sub-12 airgun shooting. The Alpex Pro is for the shooter who wants it all and would be just as at home for long-range work with bullet firing rifles when targeting deer, boar or foxes. If you do any of those kinds of shooting, the ability to save multiple zero and ballistic calculator profiles means you could swap it between an airgun and rifles without too much fuss.
You can probably tell that the Alpex Pro has made quite an impression on me. Its optical performance is remarkable, handling and balance are amazing and it is very simple to use. On top of that, I really love the new zoom and focus controls. It might look and feel like a traditional telescopic sight, but it does so, so much more. As I always say though, don’t just take my word for it. Have a look through one for yourself and I’m sure you’ll see exactly why I’m so impressed with it.
Article first published 24/04/2026
