I have had a couple of illuminated Nikon scopes for some time now, can describe the system for you. Very simply this is the only illumination system that offers a choice of two colors, either red or green in various intensities ( I think). Simply crank a dial on top of the eyepiece, one way your get reds the other way you get greens. Have the new one with mildots, works bang-on at 12x. The newest ones also have an adjustable (focusing European-style) eyepiece plus paralax adj. on the objective. There are times when green shows up better than red and vice-versa.
The scope has 1/8 minute adjustments so it will poop out on you if you do not use sloped bases - other than that it is a beautiful scope, sharp and crisp, bright and good adjustment turrets. Batgtery fits inside the illumination dial.
Have not used the Leupold illuminated, perhaps someone else here has.
Good luck buying your new scope.
ian