The best electronic paintball gun is one that shoots smoothly with flawless accuracy, and that fires with incredible speed. That should be air and battery efficient as well.
Compared to mechanical markers, the electronic markers have soft triggers, don’t need cocking before firing, quieter, don’t kick much, and are used in tournaments.
To be very honest, picking the best electronic paintball gun over a mechanical is a no-brainer for seasoned players. I have all sorts of markers, including pumps, but I always opt for electronic versions for more serious tournaments because those are more accurate, speedy, and reliable.
Being an expert, I tried my level best to list only those models that are highly reliable for entry – pro-level players. Without waiting,
let’s dive in.
How To Choose The Best Electronic Paintball Gun
The best electronic paintball gun is one that shoots accurately, air efficient, battery efficient, soft on paint, doesn’t chop, easy to clean and maintain, and most importantly, within budget.
Unlike my other blogs on this website, I didn’t have any trouble finalizing the list of top electronic markers because I have been playing with these models for years. I know which should marker you purchase and which not.
Consider the following things before making a purchasing decision:
- Accuracy
- Overall ergonomics
- Maintenance and cleaning
- Air and battery efficiency
- Budget
Accuracy:
Most electric paintball guns are electronic because they are programmed to shoot straight, but a long stock barrel with sufficient porting at the end of the barrel, better bolt/bolt, cost, and overall internal mechanism significantly improves the accuracy of the shot.
Dye m3+, and other markers on our list super accurate. Dye M3+ is a very expensive marker so it is understandable, but I have carefully chosen units with more than 90% shooting accuracy.
Make sure to check the barrel. 14 inches long is standard, but to understand the relationship between barrels and accuracy, refer to our following blog post.
Overall Ergonomics:
The overall feeling of holding, carrying, and shooting is extremely important because you will be carrying the marker for the entire day.
The marker should be spacious to hold both grips firmly, it should be lightweight, and you should feel alive during shooting. The whole point of the paintball game is fun.
Markers like DYE CZR, ETHA 2, DYE M3+, and GTEK 170r are known for their improved ergonomics compared to their previous versions. I highly recommend the above-mentioned marker as far as ergonomics is concerned.
Maintenance And Cleaning:
Maintaining and cleaning an electronic paintball gun can be tricky. It difficult sometimes to access eye covers and internal parts. That is why I have only covered those markers which very easy to clean and maintain in case of a malfunction.
Even beginners and service and access internal parts of markers on my list. I would suggest reading each review carefully to better understand how to clean and maintain.
Most beginners tend to destroy their guns during maintenance, so be extra sure before cleaning on your own. MINI GS, GTEK 170R, and DYE M3+ are easier to maintain and clean compared to other markers.
Air And Battery Efficiency:
Battery and air, two most important things for the best electronic gun It has to be efficient in these departments. Fortunately, I have listed those paintball gun which is highly air-efficient, and battery efficient.
Dye m3+, Gtek 170r, and CZR had some leakage issues in the past, but newer models are clean. I would suggest you check the battery and air efficiency before making a purchase decision. You don’t want to be charging or changing batteries again and again to play a couple of games.
Budget:
You don’t have to pay more than $1000 to get the best paintball gun. I can understand most high-end markers like DYE M3+ and CS2 pro are super expensive, but most electronic markers are not that expensive. Some of super-efficient despite being budget-friendly.
Except for DYE M3+, all the markers on our list are budget-friendly. You don’t need to struggle through the market to find one. We got you covered.
Let’s Check Out Our top Picks;
★★★★★
Dye M3+ Paintball Marker
- Soft Shooting
- Crazy Accuracy.
- Elite in every department.
★★★★★
Empire Paintball Mini GS
- For beginners and mid-level.
- Air and battery efficient
- Accurate shooting
List Of Top 4 Best Electronic Paintball Gun of 2023
| PRODUCT NAME | RATINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| Empire Mini GS Paintball Gun | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
| Planet Eclipse GTEK 170r Paintball Gun | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
| Dye M3+ Paintball Marker Review | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
| Dye Rize CZR Electronic Paintball Marker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
| Empire SYX 1.5 Paintball Marker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
1. Empire Mini GS Paintball Gun Review
- For beginner to intermediate level player
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Anti-slip rubber grips
- Ant-chop eyes.
- 15 – 20+ Balls per second
- Shockwave mainboard
- Clamping feed neck
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Newer version
- Threaded auto-cocker
- 12-inch stock barrel made from aluminum
- Fully automatic.
- Lightweight
- Venting ON/OFF ASA
- Multiple firing modes
- 250 – 330 firing speed
- Poppet engine
The newer version of the Empire Mini GS paintball marker has been modified to a whole new level. It could easily be the best electronic paintball gun in terms of budget and compactness.
The original version had many flaws in the design, shooting, and performance in general. It was not like that it was not a good marker, in fact, the original mini GS was one of the best electronic paintball guns on the market in those days.
But,
There was room for improvement to make it a legendary speedball or even scenario marker. Thanks to the Empire team, all those flaws are gone and we have got ourselves a gutsy mini GS that is elite in every department, and the good news is, it is budget-friendly.
The new empire Mini GS is a beast in every aspect. The latest shockwave mainboard, accurate shooting with multiple firing modes, each shot is super air-efficient, it doesn’t chop the balls, and it even shoots brittle paint.
Main features of Empire Mini GS Paintball Gun:
- If you are new to speedball and don’t know which marker to select for that, don’t look further. Mini GS is made for speedball.
- The tank can be removed easily with an ON/OFF relay.
- 15 – 20 balls per second are its average speed. I can go beyond by making little adjustments but I won’t recommend it.
- The clamping feed neck eliminated those threading and unthreading issues that were responsible for ruining/damaging the body.
- I have tested my Mini GS many times in muddy, damp, and sweaty conditions. My hands never slipped. Not even once.
- Previously, there were wires to hold and charge the battery. Ripping and smashing of wires were very common. Now, the newer Mini GS has tabs instead of wires. Tabs make it easy to change the battery amid battle.
- The new Mini GS is more efficient than the previous model.
- It comes with a new micro-switch trigger which is much more efficient.
Overall performance of the Empire Mini GS:
- The newer version has the same kind of grit and fun to shoot with improved ergonomics and better performance.
- It is a very reliable paintball gun. It won’t malfunction during a tournament.
- 285+ FPS is its average speed. It is silent during shooting, doesn’t kick back much. The speed can go higher but not recommended. People can get hurt.
- Velocity can be adjusted using allen wrenches.
- People usually complain about it being cramped and spacious enough for big hands. It is true but not everyone has monstrous hands so I don’t see any issue here. Maybe for the big hands.
- The 12-inch aluminum stock barrel is completely fine. It is a standard. It makes Mini GS accurate. The shooting is flawless. Although I use a 14-inch barrel because I am a pro, 12-inches is fine for newbies.
- The break-beam anti-chop eyes make sure the balls go smoothing down the barrel without being chopped. I have noticed that it can also shoot brittle paint.
Maintenance:
The only thing that is difficult to access and clean is those eye sensors. It is a pain in the ass to get to those eye sensors. Empire does provide full kit and tools to maintain and clean, but too much work. External parts are super easy to clean and disassemble.
- Shoots accurately
- Ergonomically improved
- Budget-friendly
- Super reliable
- Fully programmable
- Multiple firing modes
- Beginner to intermediate player level marker
- Highly air-efficient
- Excellent value for money
- Not good for large hands.
Difference between Empire Mini GS & Empire AXE 2.0
Both of the markers look the same, so what is the main difference between them?
| EMPRE AXE 2.0 | EMPIRE MINI GS |
| The big brother Empire Axe 2.0 has a two-piece 14-inch drive barrel with spiral porting which makes it super accurate and noiseless. | The little brother Mini GS is a 100% reliable marker, fully programmable, light, quick, it has a locking feed neck, and that pressure gauge is one of its main selling points. It comes with a 12-inch stock barrel. |
| Size is bigger than the Mini GS. The grip frame, and overall is bigger than Mini. | Mini GS is shorter than axe 2.0. It feels a bit cramped in large hands. |
| There is no pressure gauge in the Axe 2.0. | Pressure gauge at the bottom. A good feature for beginners. |
| You no longer need to unscrew to get the bolt out. Simply press a push button under the bolt, and slide the bolt out. | Need to take out a screw before getting the bolt out. |
| Direct access to external eye covers if you broke any paint on the inside of your gun. You can find good paint here. | If you broke paint in the breach of your gun, the whole frame has to come off to get to the eye sensors. Big pain in the ass. |
2. Planet Eclipse GTEK 170r Paintball Gun Review
- Low-pressure operation 135 PSI
- POP ASA
- Accurate and stable shooting
- Highly air efficient
- Locking clamping feed neck
- Spacious
- Smooth and comfortable anti-slip rubber grips
- Fully customizable
- Pal compatible
- No 80 pipes
- 14 inches 2 piece stock barrel
- Quick-release bolt
- Gamma core drivetrain
- Electronic version
Probably the best mid-range electronic paintball in the business today. GTEK 170r is an updated version of GTEK 160r with no 80 pipes and some significant changes in the design and overall performance.
170r is a highly reliable, durable, accurate, lightweight, comfortable, and air-efficient, and stable paintball marker which is using the latest gamma core drivetrain for quiet and efficient shooting.
GTEK 160r has those 80 pipes which made the gun balanced. A lot of people including me relied on those pipes just for the sake of balance and stability. GTEK 170r has no 80 pipes so it raised some concerns with pros that whether this marker will be balanced and stable or not.
Fortunately,
The Planet Eclipse team thought that and they have engineered this unit to be extremely stable and well balanced while shooting in any firing mode. 170r is the best electronic paintball gun in terms of mid-range price in my opinion.
You can read in-depth review on GTEK 170R Full REVIEW page.
Why choose GTEK 170r Paintball marker
- GTEK 170r shoots accurately and efficiently under any weather condition.
- It is air efficient thanks to the gamma core drive train. Gamma core releases the perfect amount of air for each shot to save as much as possible.
- Thanks to the breach sensing technology, you will know to get as many shots as possible from the tank.
- 135 – 140 PSI is its maximum operating pressure. It is excellent for a budget marker.
- We have also noticed during our field test that GTEK 170r is silent at work. It doesn’t kick much as well. I used a suppressor with the stock barrel, and the gun turned into a perfect stealth paintball marker.
- GTEK 170r is using the latest POP ASA. Very easy to use and clean.
- Newer versions have blade triggers instead of S-shaped scythe triggers. I have used both of them. I like the blade trigger because it is snappier.
- You don’t need tools to access the eye covers. It is much easy and simple to access and clean them. Such a relief it is.
- It may seem simple but accessing eye covers after dismantling the entire marker was a pain in the ass. Thank you planet eclipse for making it easy in GTEK 170r.
- GTEK 170r has a low-rise feed neck which provides better sighting. Feed necks in both electronic and mechanical versions of GTEK are great. Much easier to lock the hopper
Performance during our field test:
I like it in an area where 41 degrees C normal temperature in summers. GTEK 170r gave me stable, accurate, and constant shots under that temperature. The temperature wasn’t affecting its performance.
I also noticed that the gun felt spacious in my hands and the ergonomics were really good. I carried it around for 30 40 minutes of play and it didn’t put any pressure on my shoulders or arms.
It might feel a bit cramped in very large hands, but none of my friends had those kinds of hands, so good overall.
It was operating between 135 – 143 PSI as advertised. The noise levels were really low.
Upgrades in the GTEK 170r compared to GTEK 160r:
The biggest upgrade is pipeless air transfer. There is 80 pipe to transfer the air in GTEK 170r.
The front grip of GTEK 170r is a bit shorter compared to 160r. I don’t know if it is a good thing. 160r had a larger front grip.
GTEK 170r comes with a blade trigger which in my opinion is snappier and fun to shoot with. Some of my friends disagreed. They thought the curved trigger 160r was more efficient.
Check out this forum post for reviews on gtek
- No 80 pipes
- Proven gamma core drive train
- Accurate and stable shots
- Air-efficient
- Improved ergonomics
- Comfortable to carry around
- Little recoil noticed
- Very easy to maintain and clean
- Durable and reliable
- Affordable
- For beginners and intermediate level players
- Might feel cramped in large hands.
3. Dye M3+ Paintball Marker Review- Best Electronic Paintball Gun
- BWing 21 Mag-reach trigger
- Latest MOS air operating system
- Multiple training and firing modes
- Available in beautiful colors
- Internal pressure monitoring system
- Comfortable rubber grips.
- Marker is spacious
- The Slap ASA. Slide lock airport
- Super quiet shots. A lot of ports at the barrel tip.
- USB type charger in case you don’t have a charging pad
- High-grade aluminum construction
- 4rth generation eye pipe
- Latest FL-21 bolt system
- All new UL-S two piece barrel
- Lightweight construction
- Operate between 115 – 120 PSI
- High-quality clamping locking feed neck
- Wireless charging pad.
There is an argument going around that Dye M3+ could be the best electronic paintball gun ever made today. It is not definitive, just an argument.
With the latest slap ASA, 4rth gen eye pipe, FL-21 bolt kit, MOS air, BWing21 solenoid housing, super air-efficiency, crazy shooting accuracy, and supreme ergonomics, Dye M3+ is an elite marker based on the legendary DM series.
Dye M2 looks a lot like Dye M3+ but it just a fancy DM15 marker. DY3 M3s look pretty much like M3+ with the overall design and ergonomics but, it doesn’t have the slap ASA, its bolt is different, solenoid manifold is different, and eye pipe is different.
Why choose Dye M3+ paintball marker
- Empire vanquishes offer the softest in paintball. There is no other way around it. I tested Dye M3+ for like 2 hours straight in my backyard, and it is up there with the Empire vanquishes in terms of soft shots. It was how soft the shots were. It was like this marker was talking to me.
- Comes with UL-S 2 piece 14 ported barrel. I can compare it with cs2’s barrel in terms of accuracy and smooth shooting. Dye M3+ was quitter when we tested and compared it with CS2.
- You don’t need replaceable batteries with this one. Just place it on the wireless charging pad. Photosynthesis baby. In case you run out of charging, it has a USB charging port. Your normal android charger would work just fine.
- The MOS air system is Dye’s one of biggest selling features. It offers a bunch of training modes. The OLED screen is beautiful and pretty larger as well.
- The locking clamping feed neck is low rise with a huge thumbwheel that is super easy to use. I love the feed neck. It’s worth every single penny.
Overall Performance of Dye M3+ Paintball Marker:
If you like a soft shot, and you don’t have one of these dye m3+ markers, then you are doing yourself a disservice. The shot feel is amazingly consistent and super shot.
Despite having many training modes, I haven’t used it all because I am a pro. Only pros would purchase such expensive marker so I don’t see any significant benefit of plenty of training modes and stuff.
The porting on the barrel does come into play. I tested my Dye m3+ and a couple of other markers in my collection like etha 2, cs2 pro, gtek m170r.
After shooting each marker, I noticed that markers with a ported barrel at the end were more accurate and silent. Dye m3+ particular was super silent and highly accurate. The reason being it’s a barrel with the perfect amount of holes to make the shots 99% accurate.
In my humble opinion, Dye m3+ is the best electronic paintball gun available currently for speedball and tournaments. The only marker that can compete with this beast is CS2 pro which is also an elite tournament paintball gun.
- Ported UL-S two-piece barrel for accurate and silent shooting
- Shoots like butter. Unbelievably soft shooting
- Superb ergonomics with a lot of space
- Durable and lightweight construction
- Huge OLED screen with multiple training modes available
- Loaded with modern features like MOS air
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain
- Assembly and disassembly is super easy
- Low rise locking clamping feed neck is one of the main selling points
- Very expensive.
- Not for beginners
4. Dye Rize CZR Paintball Marker Review
- 4rth generation eye pipe. Self-cleaning system
- Sticky comfortable rubber grips
- Multiple firing modes.
- Stable and accurate shots.
- Balanced handling due to 80 pipe
- Very low profile design
- Ramp solenoid. Redesigned
- New fuse bolt
- .68 caliber
- Anti-chop eyes.
- Macro line hose. Quick release mechanism
- 14” dye core barrel. 2 piece
- All new hyper 3 regulator
- Lever locking system
- Clamping feed neck. Adjustable
- 1-year warranty
Dye Rize CZR is all about more bang in fewer bucks. Although paintball marker with 80 pipes is depleting from the market day by day, hose 80 pipes provide stability and balance while handling and shooting.
Dye has kept that tradition going with their Rize CZR. Previously CZR has a threaded feed neck. Players tend to mess up the body or threads. The newer versions of Rize CZR come with a clamping feed neck which is much neater and easier to lock the loaders.
It is bulkier in shape, lightweight, stylish, accurate, and a durable paintball marker. I have used it a lot in speedball.
It is not like that I will use it in big tournaments, but for beginner to intermediate level players, this is a great option to improve shooting skills.
Why choose Dye Rize CZR paintball marker
- The clamping feed neck is made of high-grade composite material. I have dropped the marker a couple of times on the field on its head (feed neck). Luckily, there was no hopper attached the last time I dropped it, and there was no damage to the feed neck.
- The hyper 3 regulator allows high output pressure.
- Dye Rize CZR is spacious. There is a lot of space between both grips to work with. The grips are large enough to support large hands as well.
- The ergonomics are superb. The hose line makes any marker balanced and easier to shoot accurately. I don’t why but it is just the way it is.
- It operates between 135 – 140 PSI with the help of a fusion bolt. Not bad at all for a budget marker.
- It can even shoot little, or brittle paint. Provides consistent shots most of the time as I have noticed.
- Solenoid issues are common among old markers especially old dye markers are the worst. Dye Rize CZR is using a newly revised solenoid system that ensures maximum shots before a rebuild or replacement.
- Dye Rize CZR is fully programmable. It comes with multiple firing modes.
Dye Rize CZR is equipped with the latest 4rth generation eye pipe which sits down into the breach. It has a self-cleaning feature.
If some of the paint gets broken, instead of getting break-beam eye dirty, the plastic eye cover gets dirty which can easily be replaced.
Whenever you shoot the gun, the incoming bolt cleans the eye pipe covered in paint. This feature helps a lot in tournaments.
Overall performance:
I have used Dye Rize CZR many times over the years, and it is a decent marker in terms of shooting accuracy, stability, maintenance, and reliability.
I wouldn’t shoot with this marker if I got options like Mini GS or GTEK 170r because, in my opinion, both of these paintball markers offer much more accuracy and overall fun compared to Dye Rize CZR. But, for the budget, this marker is excellent for beginner to intermediate level players.
- Comfortable rubber grips.
- Marker is lightweight and durable
- Self-cleaning eye pipe saves a lot of time
- 15 – 20 BPS is the shooting speed
- Low-pressure operation.
- Excellent shooting accuracy
- Redesigned clamping locking feed neck
- Great value for money overall
- Some players complain about 80 pipes. No much popular nowadays.
All features from previous beginner-level dye markers are combined into Dye Rize CZR. Although the 80 pipe system is getting old day by day, nerds like me still use it. It provides extra stability and balances to the marker.
Fusion bolt mechanism and the self-cleaning eye are the main selling points of this marker. Such features are hard to find in a budget model. Overall, 8.5/10 from me.
5. Empire SYX 1.5 Paintball Marker
- Tool-less battery at the front of fore-grip
- 2 piece 14 inches micro-honed aluminum barrel
- SYX Barrel stock
- Standardized O-rings for easy maintenance
- Dual-density non-slip rubber grips
- Tool free bolt removal for easy maintenance
- Lever locking feed-neck for paintballs
- Dual-button navigation with multifunction redline OLED
- High shooting accuracy
- Minimal recoil
- Manufacturer: Empire
- Weight: 3.55 pounds
- 9 Volt battery included
- Updated engine for better performance
- Updated board with brighter display for sunny days
- Improved Tighter battery housing
- Improved bolt guide
- New ASA Lever, Pin and O-Rings
The latest and updated version of Empire is graceful, air efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain, and clean without any tool.
The new and clear design is very comfortable with rubber wrapping around both grips which provides a good hold on any paintball gun.
Upgraded engine and board also include more features like brightness mode for sunny days, foam inside the fore-grip for a better fit of battery in the fore-grip. It performs well at speedballs.
Why Choose The Upgraded Empire SYX 1.5 Paintball Gun
- It is super easy to access the battery without any tool just by a push button located in the front fore-grip that can open fore-grip at one push.
- Dual-Density rubber grips are used to prevent any slippage during the game.
- Overall feel and comfort of the gun are of the next level.
- Far better than its previous version because of its multiple upgrades including battery adjustment, engine upgrades, and board upgrades.
- Have a lot of space between both grips to hold the gun easily.
- Quick and tool-free bolt removal for easy maintenance and parts replacement.
- EVA Protective and functional Paintball Gun Case.
- Low-pressure operation is mostly preferred for brittle paints and low pressure also provides minimal recoil movement and a comfortable experience.
The engine and board are fully upgraded by seeing its laggings in its previous version. Empire has done many of the major changes like the new ASA Lever, Brightness mode for sunny areas, fully updated bolt guide, and much more.
It also has a feed-neck with lever adjustments that is super easy to fit any attachment into it and there is no need to shake the gun for paintballs to fall into the chamber because of its size.
- Easy to clean and maintain
- ASA Lever for pressure control
- Both grips are covered by fine quality rubber
- Parts are easily available
- Low-pressure operation system
- Far better than its previous version
- Multiple firing modes
- Also good with brittle paints
- Multiple colors available
- Not suitable for large-handed persons
If you are looking for the best paintball gun for speedball then Empire SYX 1.5 Paintball Gun is a very good option for you because of its countless features and reliability.
The overall look and feel of the gun are pretty impressive and in my opinion, it is the very best option for all paintballers ranging from beginner to expert.
I rate it 8.3/10 from me
Comparison Chart of Best Electronic Paintball Gun 2023
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|
BEST BUDGET
| Empire Mini GS Paintball Gun |
| Beginners to Mid-range |
BEST MID-RANGE
| Planet Eclipse GTEK 170r Paintball Gun |
| Beginners to Mid-range |
BEST ELECTRONIC
| Dye M3+ Paintball Marker |
| Beginners to Mid-range |
UPDATED
| Dye Rize CZR Electronic Paintball Marker |
| Beginners to Mid-range |
ACCURATE
| Empire SYX 1.5 Paintball Marker |
| Beginners to Mid-range |
