9 Best Airsoft AEGs for 2024 (Ranked and Reviewed)

Having a great AEG is crucial for any airsoft player. However, choosing the best AEG from the thousands of options available can be quite difficult. To help you make that choice, we ranked and reviewed 9 of the best airsoft AEGs out there.

If you’re in a hurry:

AEGs are without a doubt the most popular airsoft gun. They’re cost-effective, meaning that since the battery is rechargeable you won’t need to spend a lot once you buy the gun. Also, they’re powerful, accurate, durable, easy to maintain, consistent, have a fast trigger response, and offer a wide variety of choices to modify them.

Even if you’re just starting into airsoft, an AEG is very likely the best option for your first airsoft gun. This is in part due to their ease of use.

The choice of AEGs on the market is huge, with thousands of options available. On one hand, the large number of AEGs is a good thing, since it gives you a lot of options to choose from. But, it also makes it difficult to choose the best one. And to make matters worse, a lot of the AEGs on the market are low-quality and should be avoided. That’s why having a reliable guide in choosing an AEG is crucial.

And if you want to read more about AEGs, as well as anything else you might wanna know before buying an airsoft gun, you can check out our buyer’s guide on airsoft guns.

There are many factors to consider when choosing an AEG. Some of the more important ones that we took into account when we made this list are shooting performance (FPS), accuracy, reliability, build quality (both internal and external), value for money (we made sure to only include airsoft rifles on the list if they’re definitely worth their respective price), the presence of an adjustable hop up, the reputation of the manufacturer, as well as others.

And now, here are the best AEGs on the market in 2024.

Best Airsoft AEGs for 2024

Best Airsoft AEG Overall

1. Umarex Licensed H&K 416 A5 AEG w/ Avalon Gearbox by VFC

FPS	370-390
Length	720mm-800mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	300mm
Battery	11.1v Small Buffer Tube LiPo recommended
Magazine	320rd Hi-Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Umarex (Licensed by Heckler & Koch, OEM by VFC)

Among the many great AEGs, we chose the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG as the best one out there. It features a full metal body, with official H&K trademarks that increase its realism. It’s definitely among the AEGs with the highest quality external build.

The Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG is already great right out of the box. In addition, it allows for a lot of upgrading and customization, given its rail space and flip up sights.

This AEG is very powerful, with an FPS of around 370-390. It’s also very accurate, and has a great rate of fire of around 25 rounds per second. The Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG has a magazine with a high capacity of 320 rounds and comes with an adjustable hop up.

One of its most impressive features is the highly efficient VFC Avalon gearbox. This gearbox comes with improved bearings and a quick change spring system. It also features a built in MOSFET, which enables the battery to get the most rounds per second.

The Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG is a durable, sturdy, and reliable replica that feels great in your hands. It’s on the heavier side, which further adds to its realism. The manufacturer of this AEG is Umarex, which is one of the more reliable airsoft manufacturers out there.

The only real disadvantage of this airsoft gun is its price tag, which is not low. You can definitely find solid AEGs for a lower price. Still, the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG lives up to its price, so if money is not an issue, you can hardly find an airsoft gun as good as this one.

If you prefer HK416s in general, check out our definitive guide to the best airsoft HK416 guns.

Best Airsoft AEG under $500

2. Elite Force/VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4 AEG Rifle

FPS	370-380
Length	800mm-890mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	~363mm
Battery	9.6v Small Butterfly Type recommended
Magazine	120rd Mid-Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Elite Force / VFC

Another awesome airsoft replica is the VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4. This full metal (aluminum) AEG is a cheaper option than the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG, while still being great. In fact, it’s very likely the best M4 replica on the market.

The VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 is another powerful AEG, with an FPS of around 370-380. It comes with a mid-capacity magazine of 120 rounds, which is significantly lower than the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG. Still, it features an adjustable stock, a quick spring change system, an ambidextrous selector switch, and a dual MOSFET.

This airsoft rifle is one of the most accurate and snappy replicas on the market. It’s a lightweight AEG that has a great rate of fire. Both its externals and internals are of the highest quality. And it comes awesome right out of the box, without the need to customize. All in all, it’s difficult to find a flaw in the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4.

Apart from a carbine version with an inner barrel of 363mm, you can also find an Avalon Saber CQB version. This one comes with a shorter inner barrel length of 250mm and is a great choice if you want a more compact gun.

Just as with the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG, the only real con to the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 is its relatively higher price. While it’s cheaper than the H&K, there are some solid AEGs that are cheaper than both. However, if you don’t mind paying a little bit more, these two options are probably the best you can get.

Best Airsoft AEG under $400

3. Krytac Full Metal Trident MKII CRB Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	380-400
Length	675mm – 787mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	280mm
Battery	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type
Magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac

We already mentioned that the biggest disadvantage of both the Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG and the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 is their relatively higher price. Now we’ll look at the Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG. This is another awesome AEG, which comes at a significantly smaller price compared to the other two.

The Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG also comes great straight out of the box, without needing upgrades. Along with the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4, it’s one of the best M4s on the market, and in fact one of the best airsoft rifles overall.

The FPS of this AEG is comparable to the best ones out there, at around 380-400. It’s on the shorter side, which makes it more comfortable and maneuverable. The Krytac features a high-capacity magazine of 300 rounds, an adjustable rotary hop up, and an ambidextrous selector switch and fire selector.

It’s manufactured by Krytac, which is owned by the KRISS ARMS group. This manufacturer is one of the most reliable ones when it comes to airsoft rifles, and the Trident MKII CRB AEG is a proof of this.

In a nutshell, the Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG is hands down one of the best AEGs out there. Although it might be a little bit below some of the more expensive options, you really can’t go wrong with it.

If you’re interested to learn more about this gun, check our in-depth Krytac Trident MKII CRB review.

Another great pick under $400

4. Krytac Full Metal Trident MKII SPR Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	400
Length	840mm – 920mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	416mm
Battery	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type
Magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac

Another very similar option to the Krytac CRB is the Krytac Trident MKII SPR AEG. Just like the CRB, this one is also great right out of the box, and features a high-capacity magazine of 300 rounds, an adjustable rotary hop up, and an ambidextrous fire selector.

The only differences between the Krytac Trident MKII CRB and the Krytac Trident MKII SPR are in the FPS and the rifle length. The SPR will generally shoot with a slightly higher FPS of 400 and above. On the other hand, the CRB is shorter, and is therefore more maneuverable. We ranked it above the SPR only because we value the compactness of the CRB more than the small increase in FPS.

Both the Krytac CRB and the Krytac SPR are some of the best options on the market, and you can’t really go wrong with any of those. Which one you choose will completely depend on whether you value the SPR’s slight improvement in FPS more than the compactness of the CRB.

Best Airsoft AEG under $300

5. KWA Full Metal VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	390-440
Length	825.5mm – 908.1mm
Inner Barrel	396.9mm
Battery	7.4v Small Type LiPo recommended
Magazine	30/120rd Mid Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2.5 Full Metal
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	KWA

If you’re a beginner, and consider the Krytacs too expensive, there’s an even cheaper solid option. It’s the VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG manufactured by another highly reliable airsoft manufacturer, the Taiwanese KWA.

One of the newest models on the list, it has already proven itself as probably the best AEG in its price bracket. It features the brand-new Variable Performance System by KWA, as well as other relatively newer features.

The KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG is a full metal rifle that comes with a reinforced metal gearbox, matched heavy duty springs and high-torque motors, rotary style hop up, and a PTS Enhance Polymer Grip which provides more comfort.

It’s one of the more powerful AEGs on the list, with a high FPS of around 390-440. It’s also accurate and highly dependable. On the other hand, it features a relatively lower (compared to some of the others rifles on the list) mid-capacity magazine with 30/120 rounds.

The KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG may not be as excellent as the abovementioned airsoft rifles. However, if you’re looking for a good AEG for a price of around $300, there is probably no better choice.

Best Airsoft AEG under $200

6. G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	370-400
Length	785 / 885mm
Inner Barrel	363mm
Battery	Butterfly Type
Magazine	450 rounds G&G Hi-cap magazine
Gearbox	Version 2
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	G&G

Moving on to the next bracket of AEGs priced at under $200. Probably the best one in this category is the G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider AEG. A solid, affordable rifle that’s more than worth its price tag.

The G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider is a full metal AEG that features an integrated rail system, a lightweight heavy duty polymer receiver, adjustable front and rear sights, and an adjustable hop up. In addition, it has one of the largest magazine capacities among the airsoft guns on this list, with a 450-round hi-cap magazine. The rifle shoots BBs at an FPS of 370-400.

Given its price tag, it has surprisingly solid accuracy, rate of fire, and range. The rifle is also highly durable and easily customizable. It’s manufactured by G&G, a Taiwanese airsoft manufacturer with a solid reputation when it comes to quality products.

All in all, the G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider AEG offers relatively high quality at a cheap price. If you’re a beginner looking to get into airsoft without spending much money, this one may be your best choice.

Best Airsoft AEG under $150

7. JG T3-K1 Full Size Lipo Ready Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	300-315
Length	1040mm
Inner Barrel	~509mm
Battery	9.6v Small Type / 7.4v LiPo Recommended
Magazine	500rd Hi-Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	JG

The cheapest AEG on this list is the JG T3-K1 Full Size Lipo Ready AEG. Although not up to par with the other AEGs on this list, the rifle is pretty solid for its price tag of a little above $150. It’s manufactured by JG Works, the largest airsoft manufacturer in China, known for its affordable replicas.

The JG T3-K1 Full Size Lipo Ready AEG shoots BBs at around 300-315 FPS. It’s one of the airsoft rifles with the highest magazine capacity on this list, with a hi-capacity magazine of 500 rounds. For its price, it’s pretty accurate, sturdy, and with a good rate of fire.

If you’re looking to get an AEG for around $150, the JG T3-K1 Full Size Lipo Ready AEG is probably your best choice.

Best Airsoft AEG SMG

8. Krytac KRISS Vector AEG SMG

FPS	375-395
Length	445mm / 665mm (Folded / Total)
Inner Barrel	155mm
Battery	11.1v 1400mAh or lower LiPo battery length cannot exceed 116mm.
Magazine	95 round VECTOR Mid-Cap
Gearbox	8mm VECTOR proprietary gearbox
Motor	Short Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Two-round burst/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac / Licensed by KRISS USA

If you’re looking for a shorter and more compact airsoft gun, you should consider a submachine gun (SMG). These are more maneuverable and portable than assault rifles, and are therefore better for close quarters scenarios. If you decide to go that way, there are some truly great airsoft SMGs on the market.

Among those, we chose the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG as the best one out there. It’s a sturdy and durable SMG, with great externals and an innovative internal design. And it looks awesome too, although that’s up to your taste.

The Krytac KRISS Vector SMG is accurate and powerful, shooting at an FPS of around 375-395. It features an 8mm VECTOR gearbox, an adjustable rotary hop up, a short type high torque motor, a quick change spring system, an ambidextrous fire selector, and a mid-cap magazine with a capacity of 95 rounds.

This SMG comes with picatinny rail systems both on the top and bottom, which are perfect for adding accessories. It also features an electronic trigger which enables a smooth trigger response. And unlike most of the airsoft guns on this list, which usually have semi and full auto firing modes, the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG also has a two-round burst firing mode.

The only disadvantage of the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG is its price, which is definitely on the higher end. Still, this airsoft gun justifies the price tag, and you will absolutely get what you pay for.

An airsoft SMG can be a great alternative to an assault rifle, especially for close quarter scenarios. Indeed, while most assault rifles will be at least 700-800mm long and with an inner barrel of over 300mm, the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG comes with an inner barrel that is 155mm long. If the price tag isn’t an issue, you can hardly find a better SMG on the market.

Best airsoft SMG for the price

9. G&G CM16 ARP9 CQB Carbine Airsoft AEG

FPS	330-350
Length	500mm – 590mm (adjustable)
Inner Barrel	~150mm
Battery	7.4V Small Butterfly Type recommended
Magazine	G&G 9mm style carbine magazine / 300 rounds
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	G&G

As mentioned already, the biggest disadvantage of the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG is its high price. The good thing is that there are very solid airsoft SMGs for a significantly lower price. Among those, we chose the G&G CM16 ARP9 CQB Carbine AEG as the best SMG for the price.

The G&G CM16 ARP9 CQB Carbine AEG is another good looking, compact, and lightweight airsoft gun. Its length is adjustable between 500 and 590mm, with an inner barrel around 150mm long. Its FPS is much lower than that of the Krytac KRISS Vector, but is still solid at around 330-350.

This SMG features a 300 round magazine, an adjustable hop up, an ergonomic motor grip, and an integrated MOSFET. It’s manufactured by the solid Taiwanese G&G. Another advantage is that it’s highly upgradeable and customizable.

In a nutshell, the G&G CM16 ARP9 CQB Carbine AEG is a great choice that you can’t go wrong with. In its price bracket, this is very likely the best SMG you can find.

Comparison Table of Best Airsoft AEGs

	Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG	VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4	Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG	Krytac Trident MKII SPR AEG	KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG	G&G Combat Machine 16 Raider	JG T3-K1 Full Size Lipo Ready AEG	Krytac KRISS Vector SMG	G&G CM16 ARP9 CQB Carbine
FPS	370-390	370-380	380-400	400	390-440	370-400	300-315	375-395	330-350
Length	720mm-800mm, Adjustable	800mm-890mm, Adjustable	675mm – 787mm, Adjustable	840mm – 920mm, Adjustable	825.5mm – 908.1mm	785 / 885mm	1040mm	445mm / 665mm (Folded / Total)	500mm – 590mm (adjustable)
Inner Barrel	300mm	~363mm	280mm	416mm	396.9mm	363mm	~509mm	155mm	~150mm
Battery	11.1v Small Buffer Tube LiPo recommended	9.6v Small Butterfly Type recommended	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type	7.4v Small Type LiPo recommended	Butterfly Type	9.6v Small Type / 7.4v LiPo recommended	11.1v 1400mAh or lower LiPo battery length cannot exceed 116mm.	7.4V Small Butterfly Type recommended
Magazine	320rd Hi-Capacity	120rd Mid-Capacity	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine	30/120rd Mid Capacity	450 rounds G&G Hi-cap magazine	500rd Hi-Capacity	95 round VECTOR Mid-Cap	G&G 9mm style carbine magazine / 300 rounds
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable	Ver 2.5 Full Metal	Version 2	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable	8mm VECTOR proprietary gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type	Long Type	Long Type	Long Type	Long Type	Long Type	Long Type	Short Type	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Two-round burst/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Umarex (Licensed by Heckler & Koch, OEM by VFC)	Elite Force / VFC	Krytac	Krytac	KWA	G&G	JG	Krytac / Licensed by KRISS USA	G&G

 

How We Made This List

In order to make the reviews as reliable as possible, I’m often testing the products we recommend.

Out of the 9 AEGs ranked on this list, I’ve personally tried and tested 8 of them. I’ve also consulted many other experienced airsofters. In addition, before publishing, 2 different experienced airsofters have looked at and approved the list. Lastly, I’ve looked at many other blogs and the AEGs they recommend, so that I don’t miss a good product.

All of this is done to give you the best possible recommendations for your next airsoft AEG.

Conclusion

With thousands of AEGs out there, it’s difficult to distinguish the quality from the junk. So, we took into account the shooting performance, accuracy, reliability, build quality, value for money, and the manufacturer of the numerous guns on the market to create a list of the best AEG airsoft guns for 2024.

In this article, we presented the 9 best airsoft AEGs currently on the market. Some of the best of the best are the:

• Umarex H&K 416 A5 AEG – best AEG airsoft gun overall
• VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4  – best AEG airsoft gun under $500
• Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG  – best AEG airsoft gun under $400
• KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG  – best AEG airsoft gun under $300
• Krytac KRISS Vector AEG SMG – best AEG SMG

Although there are many options on this list, you really can’t go wrong with any of these picks.

Affiliate disclaimer: Airsoft Freaks is reader supported. If you buy some of the products on this list through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.