In the world of pistol dots, there are two distinct camps: open emitter and enclosed emitter red dots. For a long period of time, I was a straight hater on enclosed emitters. My first experiences were with lower quality ones (not a good start), they didn’t fasten securely to the handguns I tested, and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. Now, after several years, I have spoken with more shooters, law enforcement, and tested better quality enclosed emitters, which has me warming up to the idea of them. Steiner is a stalwart optics company known for their high quality, and they have announced their MPS (Micro Pistol Sight) 2.0 red dot today. Will newer equate to better in this enclosed emitter red dot? Let’s dive in and find out!Steiner @ TFB: Steiner Launches eDiscovery: Binoculars with Integrated 4K Cam Steiner Optics MPS Rotary Switch: A Rugged Red Dot for Shotguns Steiner Optics Unveils M10Xi 1-10x24 LPVO for Military and LE Use Steiner M830rc X LRF Gets A.T.A.K. Integration Specifications - Steiner MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol SightThe new Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight has an MSRP of $631.99 placing it in similar territory as the first edition. So, with a bevy of improvements yet remaining the same price, this 2.0 model should be quite the value in theory.Some of the hallmark traits are the enclosed emitter design, an ACRO mounting footprint, and a strong 90,000 hour battery life. The rest of the technical specs for the MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight can be read below as presented by Steiner:Technical SpecsTrue 1x magnification21mm x 16mm window3.3 MOA red dotReinforced enclosed-emitter designACRO mounting footprintWaterproof to 35 metersCR2032 batteryUp to 90,000-hour battery life at level 4 brightness Eight brightness settings (including two night vision modes)Operating temperature: -40°F to 140°FWindage/Elevation Click Value: 1 MOA per clickTotal Windage Range: 90 MOATotal Elevation Range: 90 MOAWeight: 2.32 OzUPC: 840229107391EAN: 4015649007392 Standout FeaturesFor some of the shooters in the reading audience who are even more skeptical than myself (about enclosed emitters, generally), there are some standout features that should pique your interest about the MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight.Battery Replacement - A new magnetic battery cover securely holds the battery during installation, making changes faster and easier whether at the bench or in the field.Button Lockout - For duty applications, a button lockout feature prevents accidental brightness adjustments by locking the controls with a simple five-second press of both buttons.Footprint - Built on the industry-standard ACRO footprint, the MPS 2.0 is compatible with today's most popular optics-ready pistols and mounting solutions.Different Platforms - Its rugged construction also makes it an excellent choice for defensive carbines, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns, giving users one optic capable of serving across multiple weapon platforms. Steiner Heritage Warranty - Steiner MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol SightIn the rare event that your red dot should ever require service, warranty, or replacement of any kind, Steiner has got you covered. The Steiner Heritage Warranty that covers all of their optics also covers your MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight. So, whether this red dot takes a tumble out of a gun case, or down the side of a mountain trail while hunting, you are still covered.“The Steiner Heritage™ Warranty means we stand behind our products. Over half a century of experience building rugged and reliable, mil-spec products and supplying them to armed forces all around the world allows us to have this kind of confidence. We at Steiner are totally committed to the very highest standards of quality, dependability, and most of all customer satisfaction. Our Heritage™ Warranty assures you of that commitment.” A Word from Steiner on their MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol Sight“Greeley, Colorado - Steiner, a global leader in premium optics trusted by military and law enforcement professionals around the world, proudly introduces the MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol Sight—the next generation of its enclosed emitter red dot engineered for duty, defense, and uncompromising reliability.Designed by Steiner Germany, the MPS 2.0 builds upon the proven performance of the original MPS while delivering meaningful improvements driven by real-world users. From enhanced durability and longer battery life to improved ergonomics and easier maintenance, every update was made with one goal in mind: ensuring the optic performs when failure isn't an option."The original MPS established itself as one of the toughest enclosed emitter pistol optics on the market," said Jordan Egli, Steiner USA Director of Marketing. "With the MPS 2.0, we've refined every aspect of the user experience while preserving the rugged reliability professionals expect from Steiner."’ What’s in the Box? Steiner MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol SightOne of the most common and recurring questions I receive reviewing firearms and their related products is, “what’s in the box?” Meaning, what do you all get with your purchase. This is important because what you do and do not get will dictate what type of accessories you need to additionally buy depending on what you want your end-product or hunting setup to look like. All this being said, this is everything that you will receive:Included in the Box:MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol SightCustom Adjustment ToolCR2032 BatteryRegistration CardOwner’s ManualLens Cleaning Cloth What’s the Upsell? What’s the 30-Second Elevator Pitch?So, what’s the upsell? What’s the metaphorical and literal 30-second elevator pitch? For the Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight, you’re looking at several prominent traits that might tip the scale in favor of Steiner as opposed to a competing manufacturer at a similar price-point.Durability - Reinforced all-metal housing with a deep-set viewing window protected by an integrated metal hood. Designed to withstand hard use in the harshest conditions, the optic is waterproof to 35 meters and operates in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 140°F.Sight Picture - Crisp, distortion-free image with true 1x magnification, allowing fast target acquisition while maintaining full situational awareness during both-eyes-open shooting.Faster Controls - Redesigned oversized brightness buttons for quick adjustments, even while wearing gloves. Eight brightness settings—including six daylight levels and two night vision-compatible settings—allow shooters to adapt instantly to changing light conditions.Longer Runtime - Powered by a CR2032 battery, the redesigned electronics deliver more than 90,000 hours of runtime at Level 4 brightness and over 27,000 hours at Level 5. A user-selectable 13-hour auto-off mode further extends battery life without sacrificing readiness. Field Use - Steiner MPS 2.0 Micro Pistol SightSo, how did the Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight perform out in the field, or on the gun range?... Before we could put this lil’ enclosed emitter dot through its paces, we first had to attach it to a pistol to begin the shenanigans. My pistol of choice was a 1911: 1911 Operator® AOS Handgun .45 ACP | BlackMountingWith an ACRO mounting plate plus the Steiner MPS 2.0, we were able to get this show on the road. I fully field-stripped my 1911 so I could more easily place a slide on a gun bench and work on mounting this enclosed emitter red dot. Steiner provides you with the necessary battery you need - a standard CR2032 - as well as a custom mounting tool that features a T10 Torx bit, a large flathead area to access the battery compartment, and a small flathead area for windage/elevation adjustment, too. The lid to the battery compartment is magnetic (pretty clever, I thought). So, when you install a battery, you are not fighting to ensure the battery is in correct alignment while tightening down the lid. Next, I simply attached my Springfield Armory AOS (Agency Optic System) mounting plate, which had pre-Loctited screws for the ACRO footprint that we needed. Then, came attaching the enclosed emitter red dot itself. Now, we were off and running. Test FiringWhen it came to test-firing, this thing ran like a champ. One of the hallmark traits of many enclosed emitters is their durability, which we will go more into detail later, but I noticed no issues while firing this on a 1911 in God’s cartridge: .45 ACP. Recoil was a non-issue, it maintained its zero once established, and worked wonderfully. AccuracyIn terms of accuracy, this dot is a 3.3 MOA size and I could achieve as tight of groups as any other 3 MOA or 2 MOA dot that I have ever tested. The “3.3 MOA” size of the Steiner MPS 2.0 I thought was peculiar when initially reading a spec sheet, but in practice, I could not notice any difference from the more rounded numbers of a 2 or 3 MOA dot.I could easily get half-dollar sized groups with consistency as long as the knuckle-dragger holding the gun did his job (or hadn’t ingested too much caffeine that day). Sight PictureMy apologies in advance, but it is really difficult to visually represent the enclosed emitter red dot’s sight picture because my camera couldn’t focus on the red dot through two panes of glass. Nevertheless, the red dot was crisp, it had a strong refresh rate (no funny flickering business), and it does co-witness with the taller iron sights on my Springfield Armory 1911 Operator. DurabilityIn terms of durability, most enclosed emitters are touted for being “bulletproof” and this one is no exception. Whether you want to rack your slide against a 2x4 or some other destructive YouTube antics, this thing is so thick, robust, and built like a tank, that you are golden. I would have zero concerns about actually destroying this dot. In fact, like Ron Burgundy, “I wouldn’t even be mad, I’d be impressed.” Final ThoughtsSo, what are my final thoughts on the Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight?... We have covered a lot of ground here today, but the moral of the story is Steiner set out to make the 2.0 better than its predecessor and they have accomplished that. Bigger buttons make it easier to cycle through your options. I wasn’t super familiar with the original sight, but this one seems indestructible. For me, my hatred for many enclosed emitters is that they do not confidently attach to ACRO plates (I’ve had other inferior manufacturers’ dots literally fly off a handgun during testing), and the MPS 2.0 was rock solid throughout all of my testing. Overall, the only complaint I can draw is that the ACRO footprint not everyone may have a plate for (I had to go out and buy one myself), and the price point of $600+ will be quite spendy for some. In terms of quality and performance though, it deserves a Gold Star. For anyone contemplating the MPS 2.0, you can buy with confidence.In closing, I want to say thank you to Steiner for allowing TheFirearmBlog and myself the opportunity to try out their Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Steiner MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you hunting? Shoot a league or competition? Put it on your everyday carry (EDC)? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Steiner and the MPS 2.0 micro pistol sight in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback and engagement.