Best Handheld Telescope

Handheld telescopes, often known as monoculars, allow a permanently portable and unique viewing experience.

Often misconstrued as the classic pirate telescopes (unless you want one of those, we’re not here to judge), handheld telescopes are a great addition to any bag or pocket in any situation.

On a lovely walk and see a bird of prey in the distance? In the back row of a sports game or concert? Traveling with your family and see something intriguing in the distance?

The handheld telescope can be used literally anywhere. Gone are the days of squinting and straining your eyes, or having to carry large telescopes on hikes. 

These practical and portable telescopes offer a new visual experience, with all of the advantages of larger telescopes. We have found the 5 best handheld telescopes, along with a handy buyers’ guide and FAQ section to answer any questions.

Best Handheld Telescope Buying Guide

The Benefits of a Handheld Telescope 

Handheld telescopes are an ideal addition to any outdoors enthusiast, or to anyone who wants a better view of life without having to purchase a large telescope.

Handheld telescopes, otherwise called monoculars, are essentially half of a binocular with the predominant features of a normal telescope. Whilst they are less effective than normal telescopes from astronomy and night use, these convenient telescopes offer an enhanced view of our own planet.

They are designed to be lightweight for portability and practicality, which is suitable for pretty much every household. They can be used for hiking, climbing, and shooting - as well as less intense activities such as sightseeing or walking.

Handheld telescopes are also beneficial for sports games or concerts to help focus on individuals or key moments, enhancing the quality of an experience through high definition magnification.

These telescopes, though small in size, offer an impressive high quality visual. The best handheld telescopes, such as the ones on our list, feature a BAK-4 prism multi-coated lens that allows for an array of colors and light to be magnified without distortion.

This means you have the opportunity to see the details of a bird that is actually 1000 feet away. This also offers a great quality for images and videos taken through the eye of the lens, if the telescope has the smartphone holder feature.

Due to their size, handheld telescopes are often more affordable than larger telescopes. Whilst they do not have the capacity a large telescope has to offer in terms of distance magnification and other technical features, they have their own qualities that cannot be underestimated.

What to Look for in a Handheld Telescope 

Fortunately, handheld telescopes are incredibly versatile pieces of equipment, so it doesn’t really matter which model you choose to go for.

It doesn’t matter if you want a handheld telescope only for hiking or one specifically for birdwatching, because all of the features are transferable for any activity. The best qualities to look for are ergonomics, comfortability, magnification, and extra features such as weather resistance.

Most handheld telescopes are incredibly lightweight due to their compact size, which is beneficial for portability, long usage, and convenience. For maximum comfort, it is best to look for a rubber telescope with a non-slip grip texture that allows the hand to stay comfortably around the telescope.

The non-slip and shockproof material is most beneficial for those who want maximum visual control and focus. This does come down to personal preference, however, as some may prefer the feel of a smoother rubber or plastic. 

Most handheld telescopes also come with a retractable eyecup that is really suitable for glasses wearers, so they don’t have to worry about pushing their glasses against an uneven surface. This makes them an ideal piece of equipment for visual impairment.

Magnification on handheld telescopes usually ranges between 10x and 20x, but some offer a higher magnification. A 10x magnification is highly effective, but sometimes the option of a larger magnification can offer more distance to the telescope. This comes down to personal preference and what you intend to use the telescope for.

We highly recommend looking into telescopes that are waterproof and fog resistant to work in any weather condition for the ultimate versatility. Remember, handheld telescopes are not designed for heavy water or underwater usage, so some may only withstand light rain and water.

Accessories

Some handheld telescopes come with necessary additional equipment already. If your purchase does not come with some accessories, here is what to look out for.

The most beneficial accessories for the safety and protection of the telescope are fitted bags, lens covers, and cleaning cloths for removing dust or debris. This is to help with the longevity of the product.

Fitted bags protect the structure of the telescope without letting it bounce around in another bag, and the lens covers go over the lens to prevent scratches and cracks when not in use.

Cleaning cloths wipe away dust to keep the lens clear. Straps and clips are really useful for keeping the telescope attached to a bag or clothing for extra convenience.

This is great for hiking, so you don’t have to repeatedly reach into your bag. The size of handheld telescopes means they can go anywhere, just keep in mind that any damage can affect the quality of the whole telescope.

For enhancing the versatility of a handheld telescope, most offer a smartphone holder feature. These are here to hold any smartphone camera in line with the telescope, to capture magnified images and videos that the lens can see. This is a great feature for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to experiment with capturing something that is magnified.

Tripods are a useful accessory for this feature to maintain balance in case the smartphone holder isn’t strong enough. Tripods are also useful for keeping the focus on a controlled area, which is beneficial for watching targets at a shooting range or birdwatching.

Some telescopes with this feature also provide remote controls, which are great for holding the phone and telescope in place without potentially disrupting the image by touching the screen. Whilst these aren’t necessities, they are great for enhancing the quality of the product. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a handheld telescope called? 

These products are either called handheld telescopes, or monoculars.

This is because they are effectively half of a binocular with one eye piece, and with the features of a smaller telescope.

What does 10x50 magnification mean? 

There will be several different versions of these figures depending on the model of handheld telescope. The first number is the magnification, and the second number is from the view of the lens. In this case, it is a 10x magnification through a 50mm lens.

These figures are helpful for understanding how much the telescope can see and magnify. Generally speaking, if both figures are large, the telescope will offer better viewing.

Can I see planets with a handheld telescope? 

Handheld telescopes are generally made for Earth-based magnification. This is due to their size and capacity. Also, most handheld telescopes work best in daylight and do not have night vision functions.

However, some models may offer a low-light night vision function that may allow for stargazing at a closer level. There are telescopes designed specifically for astronomy and planet-viewing.

What is the best entry level telescope? 

If you are interested in getting a telescope to enhance your vision of what is around you, a handheld telescope is ideal!

They are not complicated and are adjustable to different distances, so beginners can benefit from the clarity from their crisp pictures without having to worry about technical issues that large telescopes may have. 

They are also incredibly versatile, offering a unique portability and usability in any setting.

Are monoculars better than binoculars?

This does come down to personal preference. A monocular is half of a binocular, and is another name for a handheld telescope.

Binoculars, as according to the design, require two hands to hold and can often take up more space. 

Monoculars are lighter, smaller, easier to travel with, and can come with features such as smartphone holders than binoculars may not offer.

What is the best magnification for a handheld telescope?

From research, the standard magnification setting is 10x50. Remember, handheld telescopes are smaller than large telescopes, which means they won’t be as effective in distance and magnification.

The bigger the lens (the second figure measured in millimeters), the better the clarity of the image. That being said, handheld telescopes can go up to 40x magnification, allowing for a unique and practical piece of equipment to change your (literal) view of the world around you.