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Cell phone microscopes are the ideal optical gadgets for microphotography enthusiasts who value high portability. They allow real-time imaging and video recording of the microscopic world uploaded directly to your smartphone for great convenience. The ideal cell phone microscope should be very portable, compatible with different mobile devices, and should produce high-quality images.
Best Cell Phone Microscope
Cell phone microscopes are relatively new technology, so finding the right accessory can be challenging with the limited choices available. We save you the effort as we take a look at our top five cell phone microscopes on the market to help you make an informed choice quickly.
1. Skybasic Wireless Digital Microscope
This compact digital microscope from Skybasic comes with an impressive 50x to 1000x magnification range and a built-in WiFi that connects to Android and iOS devices. It comes with a 2 MP camera backed with LED illumination, and a USB port for charging and PC connection. It is very lightweight and comes with a stand for stationary viewing.
- High magnification and 2 MP camera.
- WiFi-enabled; compatible with Android and iOS.
- LED illumination and extra stand.
2. Beileshi 60x Zoom Microscope Magnifier
This mini-microscope from Beleshi boasts of great reviews and comes with a clip that attaches mechanically to your smartphone camera. It boasts of 60x magnification, LED illumination, and is very compact and lightweight. It is a great buy for Android and iOS phones and tablets.
- Impressive magnification and image quality.
- Superb compatibility with Android and iOS devices.
- Very portable and easy to use.
3. Jiusion WiFi USB Digital Handheld Microscope
This Juision handheld microscope is very compact and lightweight and features both a USB and WiFi connection to different devices. It comes with a powerful 40x to 1000x magnification, LED illumination, and a stationary viewing stand. It allows quick image and video capture and comes with a bunch of extra accessories.
- Compact and lightweight, handheld operation.
- USB and WiFi connection and LED illumination.
- Comes with extra accessories.
4. Nurugo Micro 400X Smartphone Microscope
This highly portable smartphone microscope from Nurugo sports a sleek design and mechanically clips on to your smartphone to enable you to capture HD images and videos. It comes with an impressive 400x magnification, is compatible with just about any smartphone, and is small enough to fit into your pocket. It is very easy to use and portable.
- Very portable and easy to use.
- High magnification and compatibility.
- Sleek design and superb image quality.
5. TINYSCOPE Mobile Microscope
The TINYSCOPE Mobile Microscope is one of the most compact on the market and boasts of an impressive 400x power. It utilizes your phone’s camera and a flashlight for great image quality and is highly adaptable to different purposes. It fits mechanically unto your phone and is very easy to use.
- Very compact and lightweight, easy operation.
- Impressive power with smartphone adaptability.
- Portable and sleek design.
Cell Phone Microscope Buying Guide
Cell phone microscopes are great gadgets to have as a microphotography enthusiast. With them, capturing images and recording videos of the microscopic world is as convenient as it gets. When scouting for a mini microscope for your cell phone, there are some factors you have to consider to ensure you make the right choice.
Our buying guide reviews the best cell phone microscopes on the market to give you a basis to compare them and takes a step further to outline the qualities you should look out for before making a purchase.
Magnification
The main function of every microscope big or small is to magnify a specimen. When choosing a microscope for your smartphone, you want to go for one with magnification as high as possible. The higher the magnification, the more detailed the images are to you. Microscopes come in a very wide range of magnifications from as low as 20x to as high as 1000x in some models. For general hobby use, jeweling, art, etc., magnifications anywhere between 20x to 400x are ideal. Anything above 400x is used for more detailed applications like viewing microorganisms.
Manual vs. Electronic Connection
The integration medium of the smartphone microscope will determine the product you go for. Smartphone microscopes connect either electronically via a USB or WiFi or manually using a clip or suction mechanism.
USB and WiFi models have the advantage of much higher magnifications but are less portable than manual models. Also, not all USB models support both Android and iOS. They are also limited in range and the built-in cameras may not be powerful enough to suit your needs.
Manual, models on the hand, attach directly to your smartphone’s camera and while they have less magnification ranges, they are extremely portable and easy to use. Modern smartphones have exceptional cameras and the manual models utilize this with your phone’s flashlight for illumination and allow you to capture images and record directly to your device.
Portability
Any smartphone microscope you get must be very portable. It should be light enough to carry around conveniently. It should also be small enough to fit into a backpack. If you are keen on a lightweight, compact unit, then the manually attached unit is the preferred choice. They are usually just a few grams in weight and are small enough to fit into a pocket. If you, however, want higher magnification and are willing to carry a little extra weight, then electronically connected models are ideal.