As technology keeps improving and smartphones have become more popular, especially as their specs and camera features have become more powerful, we are also getting the rise in smartphone microscopes. These smartphone microscopes come in different forms and shapes, varying in levels of accuracy and intricacy. In this article, we will review the top 8 best smartphone microscopes with a buying guide details to help you choose the right one for your needs.
Buying Guide
Choosing the best portable microscope for your smartphone is not always easy, especially with the variety of options available today. We want to make sure you have all the necessary information before the purchase. So, before we get to the reviews of our selected top 8 products, let’s take a look at some of the most important features you will need to consider when choosing the best smartphone microscope.
Magnification Range: The range commonly varies from 20x to 1000x. The higher the magnification range, the clearer the images. So, depending on your purpose, the required range also varies accordingly. If you used it mainly for general hobbies, an ideal magnification range would be between 20x – 400x. Anything above that would be for a more professional and detailed application, such as viewing microorganisms.
Connection: How the microscope connects to your smartphone is also important. Generally, WiFi and USB models have a higher magnification range but are mostly less portable than manual ones. Moreover, some USB models do not support all smartphone operating systems. Meanwhile, the manual ones have a clip-on adapter that allows you to attach it directly to your phone’s camera. Although they have a lower magnification range, they are pretty much straightforward to use with less complication.
Portability: An ideal smartphone microscope should be lightweight and easy to carry around. It should also be compact enough to fit into a small carrying bag or your pocket. If you prefer a very lightweight and compact mobile microscope and don’t need that high magnification range, getting the manual clip-on one is the best choice. However, if you need a higher magnification range while you don’t really mind having to carry the extra weight, then the WiFi or USB units are much more ideal.
8. Carson MicroMini LED Lighted Smartphone Microscope
Clip-on smartphone microscope like this one from Carson is convenient to use as it comes with an adapter clip that’s compatible with almost all smartphones allowing you to shoot up-close pictures and videos. Carson micromini has a magnification of 20x, providing a clear and sharp image. It also has a built-in LED and a stand-alone UV flashlight to brighten the subject matter. The compact design is convenient for portability as it fits in the pocket and lightweight. It’s great for educational hobbies for both adults and children. The MicroMini is powered by 3 LR44 batteries, which are included in the package.
7. Jiusion 40 to 1000x Smartphone Magnification
Jiuson magnification endoscope is portable and useful for students and individuals who are interested in exploring the micro-objects. This endoscope has 8 built-in LED lights with the adjusting knob to change the brightness and focus on the subject. It has a magnification ratio of 40x – 1000x with a 1mm – 90mm focus range. As for the connecting compatibility, this endoscope uses a USB2.0 and works with Android mobiles and PC (Windows and Mac). However, it’s not compatible with iPhone or iPad. The package includes a microscope, a type C adapter, a metal tripod, a CD driver, a ruler, and an instruction.
6. Cainda USB Smartphone Microscope Camera 40X to 1000X
By connecting this USB microscope to the compatible PC or phone via the USB connector, it allows you to see micro-object images through the screen and screenshots or screen record the video. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux devices and Android smartphones with the OTG function. It is, however, not compatible with iPhone or iPad. Additionally, this microscope also features 8 built-in LEDs with adjustable brightness. It also comes with a stable alloy stand, an OTG adapter, a ruler, a driver, and a carrying bag. This microscope’s design is user-friendly, portable, and lightweight, easy to carry around with you anywhere.
5. Carson MicroFlip 100x-250x LED
Carson’s pocket-size microscope has a powerful magnification range of 100x to 250x. The built-in LED and UV flashlight function to provide enough lighting allows you to see every detail clearly. The microscope has an adapter clip that can be attached to your smartphone, allowing you to capture videos or pictures of your micro-objects as well as sharing them as you need. The microscope also has a flip-down base that can be easily converted to be used on a flat surface. The shape of the microscope is designed in an ergonomic and comfortable shape with a wrist strap. It’s also lightweight and easily fits into your pocket or small carrying bag too. Moreover, it’s powered by only one AA battery that can be easily installed or replaced.
4. VXTRRI Wireless Digital Microscope
Another form of a smartphone microscope is the wireless digital type. This one from the VXTRRI has a magnification range of 50x up to 1000x. The digital microscope is compatible with Android and iOS mobile devices, allowing you to easily study your micro-objects wirelessly, streaming the footage on your smartphones via the included software application. The microscope also features built-in 8 adjustable LED lights with a knob for changing the brightness and focus. This device is great for children, students, or people who love to explore and magnify the micro-objects. It is functional and easily operated, which is suitable for kids to use as well.
3. KINGMAS 60X Clip-On Microscope
KINGMAS offers a clip-on type of microscope magnifier, ideal for industrial use, education, home & office work, and other micro-object discoveries. It has a magnifying range of 60x zoom. The microscope is easy and quick to attach to your smartphone with the clip-on adapter, which is compatible with all smartphones. It also features a built-in LED light to illuminate the objects with enough light so you can see clearly at any time. Moreover, the light is dimmable to your needs. The microscope is designed in a pocket-size, which is lightweight and convenient to carry around in a carrying bag. Additionally, this microscope is powered by 3 cell batteries, which are also included in the package. It also comes with a handy carrying pouch for easy portable as well.
2. STPCTOU Wireless Digital Microscope
STPCTOU wireless microscope has a magnification zoom range of 50x to 1000x, providing you with a sharp detail of the objects. This user-friendly device is easy to operate with its ‘Max-See’ application, which you can download from the Google Store or App Store and connect the microscope to your phone via WiFi. It also supports Windows or Mac OS by the USB connection as well. You can also take videos or pictures, save them, and share them as well. Additionally, it features 8 adjustable built-in LED lights with the CMOS sensor that provides high-quality images and videos with 1920p x 1080p resolution. It’s a great educational tool for children, students, and those who are curious to learn about the micro-objects. Unlike most smartphone microscopes that are powered by cell batteries, this digital microscope is rechargeable.
1. TINYSCOPE 20x to 400x Magnification
For a pocket-size and portable smartphone microscope, the TINYSCOPE offers quite a range of magnification zoom, which is from 20x o 400x. It’s super lightweight and compact enough to fit into your small carrying bag. You can bring it with you and use it any time and anywhere you need to. Moreover, the TINYSCOPE microscope has a wide application as it doesn’t require any battery or USB connection to work. Clip the microscope onto your mobile camera and view the image or video right from your phone screen. That way, taking pictures or videos is also convenient, and you can share them online easily too.
Conclusion
All in all, the types of smartphone microscope we’ve mentioned above are the clip-on microscope, wireless digital microscope, and the USB microscope. They also offer different magnification ranges as well. So, it depends on your preference and purpose to choose which one suits your needs the best. We hope that you find our list of the selected top 8 products and the reviews helpful.