Red dot sights are a firearms accessory, and this site does not carry affiliate links for firearms or firearm accessories — so this is an informational guide to how ADE Advanced Optics’ RD3 pistol red dot lineup differs, not a shopping list. ADE Advanced Optics is a real, budget-focused optics brand that makes several distinct RD3-series micro red dots, and the confusion buyers run into is picking the wrong model for their pistol’s mounting footprint, not the brand itself being unreliable.
How the RD3 lineup differs
- RD3-013 (Bertrillium) — ADE’s most widely reviewed micro reflex sight, built around a roughly 30,000-hour battery life and a 4 MOA dot. It ships with mounting plates for several common pistol footprints and is the model most often recommended as a first red dot.
- RD3-012 — A closely related micro reflex sight in the same size class as the RD3-013, sold with alternate mounting-plate kits for different pistol brands.
- RD3-006 and RD3-009 — Earlier models in the same product family, still sold and still supported with mounting plates for specific pistols (these show up bundled together in multi-plate kits alongside the newer 012/013).
- RD3-015 — Another variant in the current lineup, again differentiated mainly by mounting footprint and included plate kit rather than a fundamentally different optic.
What actually matters when choosing one
Because these are all micro reflex sights from the same manufacturer at a similar price point, the real decision isn’t which RD3 model is “best” in the abstract — it’s which one ships with (or has an available) mounting plate that matches your specific pistol’s optics-cut footprint (Glock MOS, Sig P320, Springfield XD/XDM/XDS, HK USP, and others each use different footprints). Buying the wrong plate kit is the single most common mistake, not a defect in the optic itself.
Fit, mounting, and legal notes
Always verify your pistol’s slide is cut for a red dot (or professionally milled) before buying any optic, confirm the specific mounting plate compatible with your slide’s footprint, and have the mount installed and zeroed by a qualified gunsmith if you’re not experienced doing it yourself. Laws on carrying or purchasing firearms accessories, including optics, vary by state and country — check your local regulations before buying or installing any pistol-mounted optic.