Last updated on March 25, 2021

ATN THOR 4 640 Thermal Rifle Scope

Just when you thought the ThOR HD range from ATN was the best range of thermal scopes, a new series emerges. The ATN ThOR 4 series is the latest upgrade from the HD range and offers even more advanced features.

The ThOR 4 (introduced in 2018) from ATN takes all the features that the ThOR HD series had and improved on them as well as adding some new ones. A couple of the biggest ones are dual streaming video through WiFi, social media sharing, 16+ hours of battery life and up to 64gb of storage with an microSD card. This is in addition to all of the features they have become known for with their HD line including:

  • Ballistic Calculator
  • Recoil Activated Video (RAV)
  • One Shot Zero
  • Profile Manager
  • Smart Range Finder
  • Dual Core Processor
  • Smooth Zoom

ATN which was started in 1995 is one of the most prominent companies in the thermal imaging and night vision space catering to hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, law enforcement and many others. They offer a variety of thermal and night vision scopes, monoculars, binoculars, and clip-on scopes. They also offer a range of thermal imaging resolutions in their thermal scopes and monoculars from 160x120 to 640x480 which means you can find what you need no matter your budget.

Just like the ThOR HD the ThOR 4 line has several optics options to choose from as well as thermal resolutions which means you can find the perfect model for your needs and budget. We were able to test and review two of the ThOR 4 scopes, the 640x480 1.5-15x (this review) and 384x288 2-8x which you can find here.

Key Features of the ATN ThOR 640

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 whats included

Thermal Resolution

The ThOR 4 640 thermal riflescope is equipped with an ultra-sensitive Gen 4 sensor. Simply put; you can expect the unit to capture clear and crisp images because of the high 640 x 480 thermal resolution.  This coupled with the 1280x720 HD display is one of the best on the market currently.

Thanks to the superior sensor, the quality of images aren’t compromised even if you’re viewing from afar or zooming in. Images are also clear whether you’re using it in no or low-light situations which is what you want from your thermal scope.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 resolution

Wi-Fi Streaming & Video Recording

We mentioned that you can stream footage onto your device. For your convenience, you can use this thermal scope to stream on both iOS and Android devices, making it versatile and relevant to almost all mobile users. ATN's Obsidian App is extremely easy to setup and use and you can adust all the scopes setting directly from the app which is a great feature.

With the click of a button you can easily capture images or video with no need to go into the systems menu to change to the camera or video recording mode.

Refresh Rate

The ThOR 4's 60Hz refresh rate (and recording rate) makes tracking moving targets, even fast ones very easy with no motion blur. For many hunters 30Hz is enough but you can truly see the different with a 60Hz refresh rate.

Digital Zoom

The ThOR 4 we tested had a 6x digital zoom which was very easy to use thanks the zoom wheel on the left side of the scope, which we talk  more about below. The digital zoom allows you to get an even better shot after spotting your target if its further away.

One-Shot Zero

By picking this mode, you eliminate the hassle involved with sighting in your scope; a problem often associated with other brands. Thanks to the One-Shot Zero feature, you simply take a shot, adjust the reticle to where the bullet hit the target and save the settings. This greatly reduces the amount of time you need to spend sighting in your scope.

Easy to Use Navigation/Menu System

Novice hunters will particularly be impressed by how user-friendly this device is. Navigating through the different functions of the system menu will be pretty straight forward thanks to the intuitive menu layout and minimal button inputs needed to toggle features on or off. You can also use ATN's Obsidian app to navigate and change settings directly from your phone or tablet.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 controls

Recoil Activated Video

Again, if you’re new to hunting, this scope is designed to make life easier for you. Most hunters want to catch their shots on video for review later but don't want to have to scan through hours of captured footage to find the few seconds where their shot took place.  This is thanks to the Obsidian core and recoil activated video the ThOR 4 will take care of that for you. All you need to do is aim and take your shot.

The scope starts recording when you take your shot and continues recording for a few seconds after so that you can replay all of your shots at the end of the day without having to leave the unit recording the entire time.

Different Lens Options

This unit has varying lens options, namely:

  • 1-10x
  • 1.5-15x (Our review)
  • 2.5-25x
  • 4-40x

The lens you pick will affect the viewing range and field of view. With the ride range optics options you can find the perfect one for the distances you will typically be shooting from.

Ranges on the 1.5-15x

This ATN ThOR 4 640 1.5-15x is the unit we reviewed and very popular with hog hunters. You can use it for both short and medium rage-range viewing. However depending on the distances you shoot you may want to chose a different optics option. We outline our experience with the 1.5-15x below.

- Detection Range 

You can detect targets (depending on their size) from as far as 1050 yards, which is pretty impressive compared to other models.

- Recognition Range

Bear in mind that even though you can detect images or targets from afar, you need to be within 530 yards to recognize the human-sized object.

- Identification Range

To eliminate any guesswork, regarding the exact nature of the target, you need to be within 330 yards when using this model.

Warranty

As you’re probably aware, the product’s warranty period is a direct reflection of the manufacturer’s confidence in its quality. If manufacturers are skeptical regarding the performance or durability of the products, they usually cover the product with a very low warranty period—or none at all.

Because the ThOR 4 640 is covered by a three-year warranty period, it’s clearly a high-quality device. This warranty applies to the mechanisms of the product, provided that there is no excessive wear and tear due to misuse.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 packaging

What we Liked

ATN ThOR 4 640x480

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 1.5-15x

We were impressed with the general construction of this thermal scope. Though the unit features solid construction, it’s surprisingly lightweight and therefore mounting it onto your rifle will be a relatively simple process. While it is larger than a traditional scope that is to be expected with the thermal sensor and electronics.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 mounting rings

Included Scope Mounts

You’ll admit that the value of a thermal scope lies in the quality of images it produces. With that said, we’re impressed with the impeccable image quality of this unit thanks to the 640 x 480 thermal resolution.

Both your pictures and videos will be sharp, clear and vibrant. This is undoubtedly a notable upgrade from the previous models; the Thor LT and 384 to be specific. But of course, the trade-off for these impeccable images is a higher price. We have tested several scopes the image quality and details that can be seen are truly top notch.

ATN Thor 4 640 person
ATN thor 4 640x480 sample_01

Rabbit

ATN thor 4 640x480 sample_03
ATN thor 4 640x480 sample_04

Compared to other thermal scopes, we like that you have more options regarding which color palettes to pick. Not only are they large but there’s one for every environment. Regardless of where you’re using the scope, we’re certain you’ll find a color palette that works for those exact surroundings.

ThOR Green Hot
ThOR Iron Bow
ThOR Rainbow
ThOR Red Hot
ThOR White Hot

You always want a thermal scope that allows you to take a closer look at the target in question, especially if you’re viewing from afar. This model allows you to do just that—and effortlessly too. This is because you’ll find the zoom wheel on the left side of the thermal scope very smooth and simple to operate.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 control wheel

Smooth Zoom Wheel

Note that the front focus wheel is tight, but this isn’t entirely a deal-breaker. Simply make sure that you change the distance on your targets regularly. Besides, you’ll find that it’s better for this wheel to be a little tight than too loose as this could cause the focus wheel to move after taking your shot.

Which Thermal Scope Closely Competes with the Thor 640?

According to our research, the ATN Thor’s 640 thermal scope’s closest competition is the Pulsar Thermion XP-38.

This Pulsar Thermion XP38 is also relatively new on the market and has more or less the same features as found on the ATN Thor 4 640.

A few similar functions include the fact that it has many color palettes. And it’s ideally suited for long-range shooting (depending on the optics chosen) even though the detection range is slightly shorter compared to the Thor scope. 

Thermion XP38

Pulsar Thermion XP-38

However, the main difference between the two models is that the Thermion XP38 is higher priced than its Thor counterpart.

Even though it’s more expensive, you’ll be disappointed by the lower refresh rate (50Hz) when compared to the Thor 4 model's 60Hz. Also, the Pulsar thermal scope doesn’t have the dual streaming functionality.

It comes with 16GB internal memory storage which is smaller than the expandable 64GB storage capacity of the Thor unit.

ATN ThOR 4 640x480 ports

Charge Port and microSD Slot Thor 4

The Pulsar thermal scope won’t last as long in the field as the Thor model because it has a shorter battery life; with the Pulsar you can only enjoy five hours of operating time without an external battery pack or swapping the batteries. In addition, it doesn’t have an integrated range finder like the Thor model or Bluetooth functionality. 

What Customers are Saying About this Scope

So, is the Thor 4 640 a consumer favorite? 

The general consensus is this thermal scope is a high-quality product that has plenty of advanced features. Many are impressed by the thermal resolution of the unit citing that the 640x480 version is the scope to pick if you want the highest quality images.

A few have expressed concern regarding the learning curve of the product. Some feel the instructions aren’t clear enough to understand. And you’ll need time and patience before you can master how the unit works. This was not our experience though as we found the menu extremely easy to navigate, and were not confused by any of the setting options.

That being said there are multiple YouTube videos which go through each of the options in detail and spending 20-30 minutes reviewing these ensure you have no issues with the menu or options settings.

The majority have found the unit is very easy to mount, sight and use. Most have no regrets purchasing the Thor 4 640 thanks to its impressive specs and great performance.

Closing Thoughts and Suggestions

Overall, this Thor 4 640 thermal scope is a scope to consider for all hunting enthusiasts if your looking for the highest quality thermal images and all the latest features.

Granted, it’s not the cheapest model in the ThOR 4 line, but for the features, it comes with, it’s definitely worth considering if you want top-quality images and video. Both novice and professional hunters will find this unit easy to use.

If your still looking for good thermal images but want to spend a little less the ATN Thor 4 384x288 is a great choice, and for entry level buyers the ThOR LT can't be beat.

0/5 (0 Reviews)

About the author 

Randy Angwin

Randy Angwin is an avid outdoor enthusiast and has been with TICR since the beginning. He helps create new articles and reviews latest infrared and night vision devices for the site as well as staying on top of the latest trends in the thermal industry. When not working, Randy likes to hunt and spend time with his two German shepherds.

  • I’ve been trying to determine the zoom image quality of the ATN thermals. Are they all optical, or digital, or a combination? I’ve not seen an actual specification on that.

    • Hello Mark,

      It’s both. See description below:

      ZOOM — allows you to choose different types of zoom (Standard, Extended). Extended Zoom will give an electronic zoom of 10x your optical Zoom.
      Example: 3–14x in Extended mode becomes 3–30x. However, we would like to caution you that you will begin to see considerable pixelation at such a zoom.

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