Originally published by hunting expert Josh Winsett on Gunmade, this review shares his hands-on experience with the GOYOJO GRL335 thermal rifle scope. We’re pleased to bring his perspective to our readers.
Goyojo GRL335 Thermal Review: More Bang than Bucks!
The Goyojo GRL 335 is a budget-friendly thermal that offers a high-resolution sensor at a low price. The GRL series comes in two models: the GRL325 and the GRL335. In this article, we’ll be highlighting the GRL335.
The GRL335 features a 384×288 resolution with a 55Hz refresh rate. We took the unit out on multiple range trips to see how well it holds up in real-world use.
After utilizing the “1 Shot Zero” feature and confirming at distance, this thermal was ready for action. It maintained zero even after being tossed between range sessions and vehicles—a solid testimony to its durability. Of course, with a price point now under $1K, it’s bound to have some limitations. Degraded image quality at higher magnification and a clunky streaming app didn’t scare me away from this one, though.
The Goyojo GRL335 does a great job of offering a “get the job done” type of thermal without requiring you to raid your life savings, something we can all get behind.
GOYOJO sent Gun Made the GRL335 for review.
Goyojo GRL335 Overview
Goyojo Outdoors offers a wide variety of products, ranging from electric surfboards to night vision and thermal devices. Based out of Hong Kong, China, Goyojo ships worldwide and claims to have over 600,000 customers. The company is filling the gap for budget-friendly but quality thermals that help you not only see but also identify what’s lurking around.
The GRL335 features an enlarged ACOG-style shape. I was surprised by its compact size when I first opened the box. The quick-detach mount is a welcome addition, making mounting – and even adjusting on the fly – super easy.
The 384×288 resolution sensor with a 55Hz refresh rate allows for quick identification out in the field. Combine that with an 18650 rechargeable battery, and you’re looking at 6–8 hours of runtime.
From obvious homestead protection to the simplest lost pet search-and-rescue, thermals are a great everyday item to keep in your tool bag. You never know what might be creeping around with you, or when your number might be called to help locate someone or something that’s gone missing.
Caliber, distance, and budget are the three biggest factors I consider when choosing a thermal. For testing, we used a 14.5” 5.56 rifle with 55-grain FMJ ammo and reached out to targets beyond 250 yards.
What We Like About The GRL335
Goyojo Outdoors seems to be a fairly new company, at least in the thermal game. At first, the initial price offering felt a tad high, but with their new sale and nearly $450 off, it’s hard to argue against the bang-for-buck value now.
The GRL335 offers a sleek design, with a layout and functionality that are extremely simple and easy to understand. It measures about 7 inches long and 3 inches wide, weighs roughly 1.2 lbs, and fits perfectly on multiple Picatinny rails we tried it on. I currently have it mounted on a Tippmann Arms .22LR AR for my son, along with a 45-degree red dot up front.
All of it still fits on the upper receiver, not the handguard rail. I own several other thermals, and I can’t mount a red dot on the upper receiver because of how bulky their mounts are.
The “One Shot Zero” feature is going to save you a lot of money. I love shooting our Infinity Targets because the contrast between the bullet holes and the rubber targets makes for a clear thermal signature, perfect for confirming the One Shot Zero worked. To make this work properly, though, your rifle needs to be mounted securely in a tripod or on a bench rest.
For me, the compactness of this thermal was a major appeal. My Burris BTS V3 is basically a submarine, and the Thor 4 from ATN is just as bulky, measuring 13.5 inches long. When you add in the GRL335’s quick-detach mount and the ability to record, Goyojo has my full attention.
I want to know what’s lurking along the tree line, waiting for its opportunity to strike. More importantly, I don’t want to confuse a possible threat to the homestead with a neighbor’s loose dog.
We have the biggest responsibilities on our shoulders as gun owners, hunters, and protectors. So I need to know the tools I trust, what I put in my hands, won’t fail me.
The GRL335 can absolutely do the job. But the real question is: what is that job?
Flaws and Potential Dealbreakers
I was able to find some issues with the GRL335. Starting with the standard optical 4x zoom, this means that the closest an object could be without flooding your screen was about 15 to 20 yards. I noticed this right away when I tried to look at my family and pets just a few yards away.
Add in the 8x, 12x, and 16x digital zoom options, and the clear identification starts to dwindle. The pixelation increases with each step up.
Pixelation is a common feature in more budget-friendly thermals, but the zoom options on this model appear to be more geared toward long-range precision use. Goyojo claims the GRL335 can clearly identify targets out to 1,900+ yards. I have a very hard time believing that.
The only other issue came up when trying to edit the recorded media in a video editing program. Goyojo recommends using a scope-to-phone style mount for recording. However, this method does not provide the clear media quality one would want when trying to edit a professional video. After a few attempts at re-coding the media, we were able to get it to work.
The streaming app itself is also a little wonky. It was a bit touchy and took some effort to get synced and functioning properly.
In Goyojo’s defense, this is a sub-$1,000 thermal, and they are a foreign manufacturer. That said, Goyojo does an excellent job in the manual, providing clear instructions for connecting to their app.
I would also recommend screen recording from your device when taking videos to ensure the footage is saved properly. This is the simplest upload method with decent quality.
How We Tested The GRL335
The GRL335 went through four different range sessions prior to writing this article, with a total of about 500 rounds fired. We used Fiocchi 55-grain FMJ 5.56 ammo provided by Ammoman for the review. Shooting distances varied from 25 yards out to over 250 yards.
After a quick zero, the GRL335 maintained zero throughout all of our testing. The battery life held true to its advertised 6 to 8 hours of runtime. The ability to charge it from a power brick also allowed for an even longer time on the range.
After a few months and multiple range trips, the GRL335 is still going strong.
Specifications
| Model | GRL335 |
| Price | $849.00 |
| Resolution | 384*288 |
| Refresh Rate | 55Hz |
| Screen | 1024×768 OLED |
| Color Palettes | Red, White, Iron, Green, Fusion, Ice & Fire |
| Wifi | YES |
| Weight | 1.19 LBS |
| Magnification | 4x Optical / 8x, 12x, 16x Digital |
| Battery | 18650(6-8 Hour) |
Pros & Cons
- Quick Detach Picatinny Mount
- Common 18650 Battery
- Budget-friendly at less than $1000
- Compact Design of 7 Inches in length
- Multiple Color Palette Options.
- 4x Optical Zoom Standard
- Streaming & Uploading Difficulties
Features
One Shot Zero
The ability to adjust right before a hunt is clutch. Use a rubber infinity target to make your life even easier.
Solid Quick Detach Mount
You can swap the optic to something else in no time at all. Combined with one shot zero, you are not limited to just one setup with this.
Conclusion
Overall, the GRL335 has shown itself to be a solid budget-friendly thermal. It kept zero after multiple range trips, gave us clear identification out past 250 yards, and stayed compact enough to fit where other optics just can’t.
It’s not without flaws, the zoom gets pixelated at higher levels, the app can be clunky, and the 1,900-yard claim feels more like marketing than reality. But at under $1,000, those trade-offs are easy to overlook.
For anyone looking for a dependable “get the job done” thermal without spending a fortune, the GRL335 makes a strong case.
