Best Microscopes

Review & Comparison, Last Update April 25, 2024
If you'd like to perform some fun little experiments at home and spark an interest in hard sciences in your little one, these microscopes are exactly what you ought to look out for. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Magnification range
Lighting
Additional instruments
Power source
Warranty
 
PROS

The lighting system consists of a high-power LED with an adjustable level of brightness that allows the user to spot even the smallest details with the 40x and 200x magnifications.The compound microscope operates both on batteries and from a regular plug so you can use it comfortably both in a laboratory and in the field.

CONS

The model comes with only few accessories.

OUR VERDICT

The AmScope M150C-I will be an invaluable helper for students and those that simply love science and observation of nature. The 45 angle tilt and the ability to spin the ocular nozzle 360 degrees makes this model extra convenient. The precise ground glass lens will show a clear picture even with the highest zoom.

detailed parameters
Type

Compound

Magnification range

40x to 1000x

Lighting

Built-in LED illumination

Additional instruments

Dust cover, Clips (pair)

Power source

110V/60Hz (adapter included) or 3 AA batteries (not included)

Warranty

5 Year Factory Warranty

PROS

The USB microscope can be connected directly to your PC (compatible with Windows XP and all newer systems and Mac 10.6 or better), which can be vital when it comes to certain research. Moreover, you get free programs to browse and save data and track the results with your purchase.

CONS

You'll need some time to master the measurement functions.

OUR VERDICT

The Celestron 44308 is a compact and easy-to-use digital microscope with a handy adjustable tripod-stand. The device has a 5 MP matrix for higher image clarity. This scientific gadget can be used for studying, work, or individual and group research.

detailed parameters
Type

Compound Handheld

Magnification range

20x to 200x

Lighting

Adjustable 8 LED ring

Additional instruments

High-quality adjustable height stand, stand, software CD, cleaning cloth and calibration ruler

Power source

PC connection, Interface - 2.0 USB

Warranty

30 days

PROS

The National Geographic microscope has a wide range of samples that can be studied for hours. You can immerse yourself in the research of a whole microworld right away!

CONS

The plastic details might seem flimsy to some.

OUR VERDICT

The device from the reputable National Geographic is a great optical tool that can be used freely even by kids aged 8 or higher. And, thanks to the impressive magnification range and great lighting, it will be just as useful in a professional environment.

detailed parameters
Type

Biological

Magnification range

20x and 50x

Lighting

Illuminating slides from below or 3D objects from above

Additional instruments

10 prepared slides and a mini geode for examination, slide storage box, 10 blank slides, 10 slide covers, 10 slide labels, brine shrimp eggs, brine shrimp hatchery station, tweezers and eye dropper for slide prep, petri dish for plant labs, instructions, and learning guide

Power source

2 AA batteries

Warranty

2 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty

PROS

The wide magnification range will let you view various samples comfortably. You can use the AmScope microscope both in the daylight, thanks to the reflective mirror, and without it, because the LED lighting is strong enough to illuminate the work area.

CONS

The lens can wobble a bit during focus adjustment.

OUR VERDICT

A great microscope for young scientists, delivered in a hard ABS case along with a slew of accessories for dissecting, storing, and growing microorganisms like plankton in your home. The sturdy metal base makes this device very reliable and durable, it's sure to serve you well.

detailed parameters
Type

Biological

Magnification range

20x to 1200x

Lighting

Built-in LED light and reflecting mirror

Additional instruments

Shrimp hatchery, Brine shrimp eggs, Specimen slicer, Petri dish, Plastic tweezers, Plastic scalpel, Plastic spatula, Needle, Plastic stirring rod, Graduated cylinder, EosinGum media (bottle), Sea salt, (5) Prepared slides, (7) Blank slides, (7) Slide covers, (7) Statistical slide covers, (7) Slide labels, (2) Collecting vials

Power source

2 AA batteries

Warranty

30 days

PROS

Despite the compact, lightweight, and portable design, the model does not intend to trail behind in terms of performance, offering a magnification range of up to 120x that you can change with a slight twist of the knob on top of the microscope. Moreover, you will be able to use the focus adjustment wheels that wrap around the entire body and provide some extra control in the focus department.

CONS

The magnification is lacking compared to stationary microscopes.

OUR VERDICT

The Carson MicroBrite is a portable microscope that will satisfy adults just as well as it’ll spark the interest in science in children. The model is as compact as it gets and no assembly is required in order to operate it.

detailed parameters
Type

Portable

Magnification range

60x to 120x

Lighting

Built-in LED illumination

Additional instruments

N/A

Power source

1 AA battery

Warranty

Limited Lifetime Warranty

X

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AmScope M150C-I

Perfect for Students Thanks to Stellar Image Clarity and High Magnification

Does your teenage son or daughter need a device to do laboratory research in high school or university? Then you have found just the thing! The AmScope M150C-I is a student-oriented multifunctional microscope that offers the functionality and performance suitable both for adults interested in science and for teenagers doing some research or scientific work.

The AmScope M150C-I offers 40-1000x magnification range which is enough to observe the tiniest organisms and layers in samples. It uses the type of lens that lets the rays in at an angle so that they all converge at one point resulting in a clear image with no glares or blurs. And the high-power LED light with an adjustable level of brightness will let you enjoy the picture brightly, illuminating the working surface so that you can see everything clearly without squinting. The best thing about the lighting system is that it works not only on batteries, like many other microscopes that utilize LEDs do, but also from a socket, allowing you to keep the light on as long as you need. And this also means you can take it to use on the go which may come in handy when performing on-site research in the field, for example.

The AmScope M150C-I comes with a dust cover for protection of the device from intrusion of dirt and dust so you can keep it there when you don't need to use it. This will keep the optics of the microscope clean which is imperative when it comes to any serious research. 

To sum up, the AmScope M150C-I is a microscope that will help both teenagers and students to keep up in the world of science. Though it does not match the magnification power of equipment used in scientific facilities, the power it offers will be more than enough for most school and laboratory projects. 

Review of AmScope M150C-I All-Metal Optical Glass Lenses Cordless LED Student Biological Compound Microscope

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $84.98
Stock In stock
ASIN B00AM5XB5O

 

Celestron 44308

The Perfect Choice for Bright Minds

Want to do some research in a convenient way that doesn’t require you to do everything by hand? Take a look at the Celestron 44308, a USB-connected microscope that can be hooked up to a laptop or PC to speed up and simplify your experiments.

What sets this device apart from many other models is that it comes including a special software specifically designed for helping you in your studies. Compatible with all Windows OSes starting from XP as well as Mac 10.6 and higher, the Celestron Micro Capture PRO allows you to transfer recorded screenshots to your PC so you can save the results and inspect them more carefully on the big screen. This software offers many useful functions including automatic measurements and note-taking which you can use to outline peculiarities in the surveyed object. Furthermore, the software allows for creating time-lapse videos for observing the growth in living subjects or changes and decay in various samples.

Thanks to the 5 MP matrix installed, the Celestron 44308 produces a smooth and detailed picture of the micro world with all intricacies and no blurring. And the magnification range of 20-200x allows a thorough investigation of just about anything a school project may require. Another good thing about this microscope is that it is fitted with an 8-LED ring which is fixed on the height stand and can be set up at any angle convenient for you.

All in all, if you search for a microscope that would combine the latest advancements with some great functionality, the Celestron 44308 might be just the best option you can find out there. Suitable both for beginners and more experienced users, it will let you perform many fun experiments and keep them saved in the memory of your computer. Also, it'll be a great choice for those who need a portable microscope that can be taken along to work or used somewhere in the field.

Review of Celestron 44308 5 MP Handheld Digital Microscope Pro

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $129.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00CMJ1I08

 

National Geographic NGMICROSCOPE

Keep Your Child Interested

Looking for a way to spark the interest in science in your kids but have no idea where to start? The National Geographic NGMICROSCOPE has you covered with its variety of accessories that can turn any boring lesson into a fun science experiment for explorers of all ages.

One of the biggest selling points of this microscope is that it includes a whole bunch of accessories in the purchase - 10 slides and a mini geode for your first observations, a storage box with 10 blank slides and 10 slide covers and labels, in which you can then keep your own elements, brine shrimp eggs and hatchery for discovering the development of living organisms, as well as a petri dish, tweezers, and an eye dropper. So it contains all tools and instruments you may need for performing laboratory experiments. And if you've never observed the micro world before and aren't sure how to use a microscope properly, you'll be pleased to know that the NGMICROSCOPE comes with a manual.

Thanks to the built-in LED lights, you'll be able to observe even the tiniest elements without eye fatigue. The lights are adjustable and you can set them up so that you have enough light on your work area.

Considering the features and power of this microscope, we'd recommend this model for schoolchildren aged 8 and higher and for all those that want to be more knowledgeable about the world around them. With such a rich kit that it comes with, you can be certain that the National Geographic NGMICROSCOPE will keep your child's interest for many months or maybe even years.

Review of National Geographic NGMICROSCOPE Dual Microscope Science Lab

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $69.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01ICAU41E

 

AmScope M30-ABS-KT2-W

Science Can Be Cool

Trying to persuade your kid to study biology or chemistry but can't seem to find the approach? Perhaps, the best way to encourage them is to show them that science can be cool just like the hobby they love. For this exact purpose, you can purchase the AmScope M30-ABS-KT2-W - a battery-powered comparison microscope packed up with accessories and capable of sparking a long-interest in any child.

Before we delve into the multitude of nifty things you get with the purchase, let’s see what the microscope itself is capable of. First, it providing an impressive magnification range of 20x and 1200x which will allow your child to investigate the tiny elements of the micro world in detail. Second, just like a professional piece of equipment, it features a built-in LED lighting system with a reflecting mirror making it possible to adjust the intensity of the light for viewing some of the finer things. This also helps prevent sun rays from causing glares in the work area. All of these features are packed in a sturdy ABS case which keeps the optics protected from being scratched and broken. However, the benefits of this microscope do end here. By buying the AmScope M30-ABS-KT2-W you also get many fun accessories which will, without a doubt, come to liking to any child. No kid would resist the opportunity to create a new life himself and then, when the specimens are grown, observe their behavior and development, and the AmScope M30-ABS-KT2-W is a microscope that can offer all that, delving your child in the world of science with all of its wonders.

Review of AmScope M30-ABS-KT2-W Microscope Kit with Metal Arm and Base, 6 Magnifications from 20x to 1200x, Includes 52-Piece Accessory Set and Case

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $44.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00GGY85EC

 

Carson MM-300

A Portable Solution

The Carson MicroBrite is a bit different microscope compared to the other models on our list. Where all of the other models offer a solution for beginners, this is a portable microscope that could suit experienced adults just as well as youngsters that are just starting their journey in the world of science. Now, given that this is a portable apparatus, the item’s dimensions are the most logical place to get started. Though not the only area where this product shines, just about 5.6 x 3 x 9.4 centimetres of overall dimensions and a minuscule 13.6 grams of weight is a set of numbers that is nothing short of impressive. As you might imagine, even the smallest kid could simply drop this thing in his pocket and he wouldn’t even be able to tell that it’s there until he needs it.

Despite the compact, lightweight, and portable design, the Carson microscope does not intend to trail behind in terms of performance, offering a magnification range of up to 120x that you could change with a slight twist of the knob on top of the microscope. Below that, you will be able to find a focus adjustment wheels that wraps around the entire body and provides some extra control in the focus department. Another interesting thing about this pocket microscope is that it utilises an aspheric lens and that means that the light rays converge at a single focal point resulting in a more sharp, clear, and distortion-free image. And a bright and relatively powerful LED light will allow you to enjoy all of the intricacies of the aforementioned image. To sum it up, the Carson MicroBrite is a portable microscope that will be able to satisfy adults just as well as it’ll spark the interest in science in children. The model is as compact as it gets and no assembly is required in order to operate it.

Review of Carson MM-300 MicroBrite Plus 60x-120x Power LED Lighted Pocket Microscope

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $11.98
Stock In stock
ASIN B00LAX52IQ

 

Infographics

Comparison of Microscopes

What Is a Microscope?

Have you seen scientists on TV using a microscope in their research and wondered how such a small, almost pocket-sized, device can reveal details of tiny samples with such precision and accuracy? Well, even though a microscope is rather a simple tool overall, it is still one of the most important instruments used by scientists. There are many different types of microscopes out there, from a stereo microscope with an outstanding magnification range reaching x1500 to a portable comparison model that can be taken on the go and used in the field. Most models have similar features and functionality and differ only in the power of magnification they provide. And though the models in this review wouldn't be able to match the power of those devices that you'd be able to find in a science facility, what they offer is enough to perform some fun experiments at home and encourage your child to grow interested in science and possibly even to make a career in this field. 

If you’re set on peering deep, why not look up to study the space while you’re at it? Browse through our telescope reviews and choose one for yourself! And if you'd like to promote your child's development, one of these tablets for kids might become a good education tool helping him or her to grow smart.

Sources:

1. How to Use a Microscope, Learning Center - Home Science Tools.

2. Types of Microscopes, Miami University.

3. Microscope, Wikipedia.

4. How to Use a Microscope (with Pictures), wikiHow.

5. Types of Microscopes, Cliffs Notes.

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Publish Date: 2018-03-01 11:23:33