Guide TE210MS vs TE211M

The Guide TE210MS is the successor of the Guide TE211M, one of the most popular starter thermals for airsoft. It keeps the small 205 g body, the 1.43" AMOLED touchscreen and the 50 Hz refresh rate, and adds a sensor that is twice as sensitive (15 mK instead of 30 mK), ApexVision image processing, 64 GB of storage and a molle pouch. In this guide we compare the two, show the difference on video, explain how the crosshair works on our units, and answer the questions airsoft players ask most.

TE210MS vs TE211M at a glance

See the difference: the same scene through both

We filmed the same night scene through both monoculars. The TE210MS on the right shows a clearer outline of the player against the background, more detail in the clothes and the face, and less grain in the dark areas.

On the TE210MS product page you can switch between the two clips to compare them frame by frame.

A molle pouch in the box

The TE210MS comes with a magnetic molle pouch, which the TE211M never had. It mounts on the molle webbing of your plate carrier, chest rig or belt, so the thermal rides on your gear and is at hand when you need it. The magnetic lid keeps it closed and opens quickly, and the padded pouch protects the thermal when you crawl, kneel or run.

Crosshair and reticle: how our units are unlocked

Officially, Guide does not support a reticle on the TE211M and the TE210MS: the reticle settings are hidden on these devices. We found a way to unlock them, and every Guide thermal we sell ships with the reticle settings enabled:

• reticle style, colour and brightness
• several reticle presets
• reticle zeroing, with several zeroing presets

Why it arrives in Pure Mode. For shipping, we set the device to Pure Mode: a clean picture with no reticle, so the thermal travels as a plain observation monocular. When it arrives, follow the steps we send you to switch Pure Mode off, and the reticle settings are there.

Bought your Guide thermal somewhere else? Unlock the reticle yourself with our Guide Monocular Reticle Unlock Tool License. It is the same method we use on our own units. One license unlocks one device and is tied to its serial number; you can switch the reticle on and off on that device as often as you like. You need a Windows 10 (version 1803 or newer) or Windows 11 PC with Wi-Fi. Tested devices: Guide TE211M / TE211, TE210MS / TE210S, TE421, TE411, and OwlSet VEOT-MC06 / VEOT-MC08.

Know the risks before you unlock. They apply to every unlocked device, ours included:

• The modification is not approved by Guide.
• The warranty is likely void while the reticle is enabled.
• Firmware updates do not work while the reticle is enabled. Switch the reticle off to update.
• It is fully reversible: switch the reticle off and the device is back to stock. The Guide TargetIR app keeps working.

Why a thermal for airsoft?

A thermal shows heat, not light. Players stand out against a cooler background in total darkness and in camouflage, which makes a thermal the strongest tool for spotting players at night and in dense woods. Digital night vision shows a normal picture in low light: it is better for moving around and for identifying people, but players are much harder to spot.

A thermal cannot see through glass, so it does not work through a window or through the glass of a scope or red dot. Thick bushes also hide heat. Camouflage clothing and ghillie suits hide body heat much less than they hide you from the eye.

How far can the TE210MS see?

Guide rates the detection range at up to 500 m. The field of view is 13.1°: about 23 × 23 m at 100 m. Detection means you see a heat signature; to recognise who it is, you need a shorter distance. For airsoft distances this is plenty.

Are thermals allowed in airsoft?

It depends on the game. Some milsim events allow thermal devices, and many fields and games ban them. Always check the rules of the event before you bring a thermal.

Putting it on a replica: protector and mounts

The TE210MS ships without a mount, and its lens needs protection on a replica: a BB hit on the lens can damage it, and a glass cover is no option because a thermal cannot see through glass. We designed our own system for the TE210MS and the TE211M (same body, so the same parts fit both, and an upgrade keeps your mount).

• Titanium mesh protector: 1.1 mm thick titanium, 30 mm across. It takes multiple point-blank hits at 1.5 J without breaking, with very little loss of image sharpness.
• Mount: the protector's base has a T1 / T2 style mounting pattern, so it bolts onto any T1 / T2 style rail mount or riser (not included).
• Top mount rail: puts a red dot, optic or accessory on top of the thermal. It comes with a picatinny rail and uses the VAS mounting system from Vector Optics, with direct plates for small red dots. CNC machined from 6061 aluminium.
• Spare meshes: replacement 30 mm titanium meshes, two in a set, held by 4 × M2 countersunk screws.

Want the thermal and the protector in one go? Get the TE210MS + protector bundle.

How much does the mesh change the picture? Very little. The video shows the same scene with bare optics and with the protector. It was filmed on the older TE211M; the TE210MS has the same body and uses the same protector.

Battery, cold and recording

• Up to 6 hours of battery (manufacturer figure); 20 W quick charging over USB-C, and 10 minutes of charging gives about 1 hour of use.
• Rated for −20 °C to +50 °C and IP67 against water and dust.
• Records photos and video with sound to 64 GB; the Guide TargetIR app gives a live view on your phone over Wi-Fi.

Is the TE210MS the right thermal for you?

If you want a small, light thermal you can hold up to your eye with goggles on, carry on your gear, record your games with, and mount on a replica behind a protector, the TE210MS is the clear step up from the TE211M at the same size and weight. You get twice the sensor sensitivity, four times the storage, a molle pouch, and from us the reticle settings unlocked.

See the Guide TE210MS (Unlocked) · TE210MS + protector bundle · Protector and mount