10 Best Microscopes for Kids who Love Science Reviewed in 2024
The microscopic world that we cannot see with our naked eyes is alive and teeming with life. We can see what is going on with the help of a microscope and some supplies. Manufacturers have made some of these science instruments just for children that are simple to understand and use. Most of them come with a bundle of accessories to create slides or capture specimens for viewing under the lens. These range from the toy level to real ones that can be used for school and home study. We highlight the best of these products on this page to help you choose one for your child. They have the most reviews and the highest ratings of all microscopes listed online. We rank them according to their level of offered creativity, design, ease of use, and capacity or magnification level. Let’s look at the varied assortment of best microscopes!
In a Hurry? The test winner after 45 hrs of research
Magnification range is 60 to 120 times
Has superior optics with the aspheric lenses
Portable, lightweight, and compact
LED light is bright and battery powered
Weighs just 2.4 ounces
- Carson MicroBrite Plus 60 -120x LED
- AmScope M150C-I 40X-1000X LED Student
- National Geographic Dual LED 50+ pc
- Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr Talking
- Junior Scope 3 Magnification Levels
- AmScope Awarded 2017 Best Student
- My First Lab Mini-Duo Entry Level STEM
- TELMU 70pcs+ Kit and Accessory Set
- Koolertron 4.3 Inch LCD Digital USB
- Celestron Kids Let Your Child Explore
10 Best Microscopes for Kids Reviewed
1. Carson MicroBrite Plus 60 -120x LED
Magnification range is 60 to 120 times
Has superior optics with the aspheric lenses
Portable, lightweight, and compact
LED light is bright and battery powered
Weighs just 2.4 ounces
Could use a wider field of view
Lens was distorted for a couple of buyers
The magnification range is 60 to 120 times with the Carson MicroBrite Plus LED Pocket Microscope that goes with you everywhere in the field. Use it for discovering the organisms in a pond, wildlife, plants, or a cell phone screen.
Read moreIt is a powerful pocket instrument that weighs just 2.4 ounces and was created to be portable, lightweight, and compact. The dimensions are 1.2 x 2.25 x 3.5 inches, and it fits easily in the palm of the hand. Observe superior optics with the aspheric lenses that are precision molded. An aspheric lens makes light rays form a single point of focus giving the user a distortion-free, clear, and sharp image. The LED light in this wonderful microscope is bright and powered by a single battery.
Capacity
The image you see through the aspheric lens in this product is magnified 60 to 120 times. You will be able to see the minute details of objects and samples you place in it to observe.
Ease of use
What could be easier than a microscope that you can take anywhere? You do not have to bring back lab samples as long as you have this portable and compact instrument at the ready.
Design
Made to travel and fit in pockets, this terrific instrument will fit in the hand easily and can be put in bags or backpacks for trips. It has an aspheric lens to make the images sharper.
Creativity
Let the imagination run wild when looking for things to explore with this incredible pocket microscope. It can travel anywhere you want to go to grab samples and look at objects right where they are.
2. AmScope M150C-I 40X-1000X LED Student
Monocular head rotates 360 degrees
Magnification of 40, 100, 250, 400, and 1,000
Comes with an adapter and batteries
Has fine and coarse focusing
Focusing knob controls on either side
The stage does not move
Could use better lighting
Great for high school or elementary students or home school for science, the AmScope Student Microscope is a cordless compound biological instrument. It allows creativity, imagination, discovery, and curiosity and has fine and coarse focusing.
Read moreThe glass optical elements have a condenser of a single lens and a disc diaphragm, and the framework is comprised of sturdy metal. It comes with an adapter to plug it in and three batteries as the LED system of illumination requires one of these methods for power. The optical system is fully coated, and the 45-degree inclined monocular head has an eyepiece locked in. It includes focusing knob controls on either side, plus the plain stage has a finish that is stain-resistant and with clips.
Capacity
The monocular head rotates 360 degrees and has five different settings for magnification of 40, 100, 250, 400, and 1,000 times. This makes it perfect for viewing minute details at school and at home.
Ease of use
The flexibility to use this microscope is great with the rotating head, battery operation, and clips to hold specimens on the stage. You can take this item on-the-go or use it indoors.
Design
The LED system of lighting operates on either battery or by a plug-in, and the magnifying head can rotate completely around for a great view. It has glass elements and a strong framework.
Creativity
The possibilities of discovery are endless with an instrument of this magnification. Used at home or school, anything the child desires to explore microscopically can be seen clearly.
3. National Geographic Dual LED 50+ pc
Has 20 slides – 10 prepared and 10 blank
Comes with more than fifty accessories
Has a Learning Guide that is detailed
Magnification is 20 to 50 times
Includes an experiment of brine shrimp
Light could be more powerful
Magnification is not very strong
Of course, National Geographic would put out this excellent microscope kit that includes more than fifty accessories. It is great for ages eight and older and provides endless fun for many hours.
Read moreIt comes with ten slides that are prepared and ten that are blank along with a Learning Guide that is well detailed. You get two instruments in one with the upper and lower levels of LED lights. Use the lower lights for slides of biological specimens or the upper lights for details of 3D objects. It has two sets of optical glass high-quality eyepieces with a magnification of 20 to 50 times. Included are a petri dish, eye dropper, tweezers, and covers and slides. They also give you with the purchase of the microscope an experiment of brine shrimp, so users can track their life cycle microscopically.
Capacity
Objects under scrutiny will be viewed at 20 to 50 times their regular size with this terrific microscope. Leave the items as they are to view them with the upper lights or on the slides with the lower lighting.
Ease of use
Using the booklet of instructions and hints, kids can view their world on a slide and learn all the interesting details of each substance. This is a straight-forward product that is simple enough for children to use alone.
Design
With the upper and lower lights, children can explore objects on slides or as 3D items. There are plenty of accessories and even a wonderful instruction booklet to help you with suggestions and projects.
Creativity
With the magnification of this instrument, kids can explore so many everyday items in and around the home. Good examples are fingernails, rocks, potato chips, and leaves.
4. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr Talking
Two play modes of Quiz and Fact Mode
Over 100 questions, facts, and full-color images
Includes dual, focus-free eyepieces
Storage space in the bottom for slides
Multilingual in German, French, Spanish, and English
Voice accent makes it hard to understand words spoken
Slides can be hard to put in the instrument
The Educational Insights GeoSafari Microscope is a talking microscope that has Bindi Irwin’s voice from Wildlife Warrior from Australia Zoo. It is the only preschool microscope that talks and includes twenty slides.
Read moreIncluded are two play modes of Quiz and Fact Mode with more than 100 questions and facts with sixty full-color beautiful images. It needs batteries for operation, but kids do not have to close an eye to see in the dual, focus-free eyepieces. There is a storage space in the bottom of the instrument where the slides can go when not in use. The audio is multilingual with words in German, French, Spanish, and English. Great for those aged four to seven years, this microscope toy supports STEM programs and has won the Best Toy Award from Good Housekeeping.
Capacity
This item is a simple design with bright coloration, large easy buttons to press, and magnification of five times. It examines everyday items plus plants and animals.
Ease of use
The large buttons are easy to use on this colorful microscope for little ones. They just put in the slides they want to view and listen to the words spoken in the preferred language that describes them.
Design
Although this looks like a real microscope, it is a toy for toddlers to look at the prepared slides that are included. They can play Quiz or Facts and listen to the voice speak the slide contents and details.
Creativity
Giving toddlers the idea and practice to look at the details of their world, this little microscope made just for their age group has lots to offer. They will view plants, animals, and ordinary items we use.
5. Junior Scope 3 Magnification Levels
Magnification levels are 40, 100, and 400
Focus knobs are adjustable
LED lighting for better viewing
Prepared slides and experiment cards
Well-built and solid for a good experience
Some did not like the overall quality
Is a toy and not used as a real microscope
With magnification levels of 40, 100, and 400 times, this portable Junior Microscope is good for beginners and usable in the classroom, home, or backyard.
Read moreIt has glass premium-grade lenses for great visual quality, so children can view germs, DNA, blood, insects, and plants for example. This wonderful product contains the book, The Amazing Microscope Adventures, and a science kit. The accessories include guides, test tube, dropper, forceps, stains, a petri dish, and experiments. It is ready to go from the box with the batteries installed and the product prepped and inspected.
Capacity
Items are viewed at the magnified rate of 40, 100, or 400 times their normal size with this item. The large knobs on the sides make changing this magnification quick and simple.
Ease of use
The focus knobs are adjustable, and the LED lighting is for better viewing. There is even a book included with this instrument to help kids get the hang of using it quickly and easily.
Design
Well-built and solid for a good science experience, this microscope features prepared slides and experiment cards. There is also a bunch of supplies in the science kit to explore and analyze.
Creativity
A wide assortment of objects is on the prepared slides in the science kit that comes with this terrific microscope. They will certainly spark the interest of children and give them ideas of what to look at next.
6. AmScope Awarded 2017 Best Student
Contains bottom and top LED lights
Magnification is 40 to 1000X with five levels
Includes a large bundle of tools and materials
Has a booklet of The World of the Microscope
Is low-powered and prime-powered
Bad packaging – slides were received broken
Higher magnifications were not clear
With bottom and top LED lights, this award-winning microscope for kids includes a monocular optical glass and two science kits that have ten slides each.
Read moreThe magnification is 40 to 1000 times with five different levels, which is perfect for students in high school and elementary levels. It has fine and coarse coaxial focusing and a metal frame that is sturdy. The condenser with a single lens has a disc diaphragm with six holes, plus you get the booklet, The World of the Microscope to help with discoveries. Included is a large bundle of tools and materials for slide preparation and the needed batteries for functioning.
Capacity
There are five levels of magnification with this science instrument. Kids can choose from 40 to 1000 times the regular size of objects, substances, and samples on their slides.
Ease of use
There is plenty to do and look at in this marvelous set of plenty of accessories. Using the included book will be a big help in using the microscope to the best ability possible.
Design
The featured lighting is low-powered and prime-powered for various types of viewing. This allows kids to view slides or the whole object in 3D under the lights and with the magnification levels.
Creativity
With the two included science kits that have blank and prepared slides, children will get the opportunity to see what is possible to view under a microscope. Then, they can begin to make discoveries on their own.
7. My First Lab Mini-Duo Entry Level STEM
Has more than twenty accessories
Includes an instruction booklet with experiments
Contains a brine shrimp experiment
Magnification levels are 40, 100, and 400
Construction is complete metal
Lens was not clear enough for a few people
Some were missing the prepared slides
This Entry-Level Mini-Duo Microscope is a STEM entry-level instrument with terrific image quality and a completely metal build. It is ideal for young children that are aged eight and above.
Read moreIncluded is a dual system of viewing objects with the glass slides or as 3D objects and an instruction booklet that relates several wonderful experiments. It comes with more than twenty accessories to begin discoveries right away along with a brine shrimp experiment to explore. The clarity is improved with the coating on the proprietary lens that keeps the lens from collecting mold and doing harm. This substance is usually only on professional expensive instruments. It is battery operated and a good investment in your child’s future scientific career.
Capacity
The LED lights are durable, long-lasting, and safe, and the magnification levels are 40, 100, and 400. The huge knob on the side is used for changing the magnification as needed or preferred.
Ease of use
As an entry-level product, this microscope is very simple to use and comprehend. You get many accessories to help with the initial projects and suggestions to go from there for individuals.
Design
The dual system used to view objects with this scientific mechanism is incredible to use. It allows the matter to be put in slides or seen in a 3D form under the top lens without having to alter them.
Creativity
The included brine shrimp experiment is a great one to spark the interest of young children into making their own explorations. The instruction book will give them many ideas for creative specimen hunting.
8. TELMU 70pcs+ Kit and Accessory Set
Includes more than 70 accessories
Has a brine shrimp experiment and prepared slides
Magnification levels are 300, 600, and 1200
Includes a small projector to show images
Comes in a hard case for safety and storage
Does not have instructions for the experiments
Some people had specks on the lens
Including more than 70 pieces of accessories along with a brine shrimp experiment and prepared slides, this marvelous microscope and accessory kit makes the invisible visible. It has magnification levels that are 300, 600, and 1200 times.
Read moreThe lowest level of magnifying is chosen first to view a slide. A color filter that rotates is built into the instrument to prevent the staining of the slides. Rotating the LED light on the bottom turns it on or off easily. This splendid product includes a small projector to show images when it is dark and is constructed of durable metal for the base and arm. The many accessories and the scientific instrument come in a neat hard case for safety and storage.
Capacity
As one of the strongest microscopes we highlight on this page, this fabulous instrument has magnification levels of 300, 600, and 1200 times the original size of the object.
Ease of use
As an entry-level mechanism, this microscope will be easy for kids to navigate and understand. As they explore the contents of the kit, children will gain much knowledge about the organisms we cannot see.
Design
The LED light and the color filter make this an incredible piece of equipment for viewing slides. The addition of the projector is a fantastic item to have for showing the slide contents on a flat surface.
Creativity
The prepared slides and the brine shrimp project are exciting extras that will keep kids busy for hours at a time. The other accessories should ignite the imagination and creativity level in the user quickly.
9. Koolertron 4.3 Inch LCD Digital USB
Has a 4.3-inch view screen
Independent and portable with a lithium battery
Stand is adjustable for height
Magnification range is from 10 to 600
Transfer images to a TV screen or PC
Battery did not last long for a few users
Not MAC compatible
With a 4.3-inch view screen and a measuring scale, this LCD Digital Microscope is independent and portable since it is powered by a lithium battery that is rechargeable or a USB connection.
Read moreThe stand is adjustable for height and made of high-quality. Use the controller to adjust the distance from the object to the camera and the magnification. It features eight LED lights with intensity control that is adjustable. The magnification range is from 10 to 600 times normal size. Videos and images from viewings are put on a microSD card which has a maximum of 32GB. Images can be transferred to a TV screen or PC monitor easily.
Capacity
Users can look at item under this lens at 10 to 600 times the normal size. Every detail can be seen that makes up objects showing how they really look and function in color.
Ease of use
Objects do not have to be squeezed onto a slide to view with this instrument. The stand is adjustable to allow for all sorts of items to be scrutinized and analyzed under its guise.
Design
Unlike any other microscope we feature in this buying guide, this is a digital product that is highly adjustable and portable. It has the ability to not only save the images you view but to also save them and show them on a screen.
Creativity
Possible uses for this scientific product include repairing circuit boards, print detection, jewelry identification, learning detection, and insect observation, just to name a few good ones.
10. Celestron Kids Let Your Child Explore
Is a pocket zoom lab for travel
Fits in a pocket well
Works anywhere and anyplace
Magnification range is from 60 to 120
Has a bright LED light
Is marketed as a toy but it is not
Is quite small
Perfect for curious children to explore their world, this pocket zoom for discoveries on-the-go has the dimensions of 1.4 x 3.5 x 1 inches and weighs only 0.8 ounces.
Read moreIt is a personal transportable lab that works anywhere and anyplace and fits in a pocket. This incredibly strong piece shows a detailed view of ordinary objects and is not a toy. Plenty of adults purchase this microscope for things they want to view up close. The magnification ranges from 60 to 120 times the normal size, plus the product stands on surfaces that are flat well. the bright LED light that is incorporated makes the viewing excellent. This company is known for high-quality optics and telescopes, so it is no wonder that they can make such a superb miniature microscope too.
Capacity
The magnification range of 60 to 120 times the regular size of objects is not the best that microscopes can do, but for the miniature size of this instrument, that is excellent.
Ease of use
Slip it into a pocket and you are ready to go. Using this microscope is just as easy as transporting it. this item has a good close up view and a clear lens that works fabulously.
Design
This is the smallest microscope that we list and the smallest one we have ever seen. It is made to go where the action is happening and the details need to be seen wherever that may be.
Creativity
With such a small instrument with high magnification, the microscopic world is yours to discover and enjoy. The specimens are numerous, and the view is great for anytime exploration.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Capacity
The magnification levels are so varied with these instruments that we dare not list them all. The general range is from 5 to 1,000 times the normal size depending on the model of the microscope and the selection of the lens level. Nearly all of them have several choices for the magnification level, so users can choose the one that looks the best and shows the most detail. Picking the range of magnification is part of the fun and experimental phase of using such an object.
Ease of Use
Using a microscope is easy. The hard part is finding something fun to look at in a slide or in 3D form. It is a good thing that most of these products come with exciting accessories to help out with this. The prepared slides are just slipped under the lens and viewed, while the blank ones must be filled with something. Once kids get the hang of it, they will be on the hunt for anything they can put in a slide or under the lens. These featured science instruments are quite simple and straight-forward to use. We particularly favor the pocket microscopes that allow the scientific fun to be conducted outside where the best specimens are. They are super easy to use and understand.
Design
Each of these microscopes has different magnification levels, accessories, slides, booklets, lens types, and lighting techniques. We try to describe them in detail for you from the information we retrieve about each one, as they are all so varied. Some are toys for toddlers to explore, while others are real science instruments used to place specimens in slides and view. They all give the child who receives them a unique experience to view the very essence of life in all things alive or constant. These do vary greatly in size and capacity, as the smaller pocket instruments are best for observing things in their natural habitat.
Creativity
Encourage kids to be creative in their specimen hunts, so they can see thing microscopically on their own. Simple things such as hair, fingernails, leaves, twigs, dust particles, molds, foods, material, paper, and skin can be magnified to reveal a whole new world that we normally cannot see with our own eyes. Using some of the included booklets, children will be able to make discoveries of what to look for to use their microscope the best.
Several lenses can be on a microscope depending on the type. There are an ocular lens and an objective lens on most kinds. An ocular lens is a 10X magnification, and a compound microscope is one with many objective lenses.
There is a certain way to carry a microscope properly. Use both hands all the time to do this with one under the bottom and the other one holding the arm. Try not to bump into anything, as microscopes are delicate instruments.
Other Factors to Consider
Educational Value
The learning never stops with a microscope at the ready. Through it, children can view their world in a detailed way that the naked human eye can never see. Once they realize that they are viewing things at a magnified rate, kids will be fascinated for life and want to put everything in a slide. Children not only learn how to operate a microscope but to create slides, hunt for specimens, and look for patterns and details in their slides. It is endless fun for hours and hours of excitement.
Maintenance
Proper care of a microscope whether it is a toy model or a real one starts with keeping it clean and unbroken. When it is not in use, it should be stored out of the way of regular traffic and covered to keep the lenses free of dirt and particles. Make sure to carry it properly with both hands and never use it for doing activities that are not specified. Misuse of any item could lead to the destruction of it quickly. Store the slides away and keep them labeled for future use.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Are any of these microscopes good for travel?
Yes, most of them are fabulous for travel or going in the yard to look at things up close. They can be used indoors or outdoors with great results. We discovered that many adults use these portable instruments too for using outdoors to see things where they are rather than bring them indoors to view. Even the miniature ones have great lenses and a good magnification level.
q: Do any of these instruments come with slides to look at?
Yes, some of them do have blank slides and prepared slides for kids to look at without having to do any collecting of specimens. You will also find that about half of them come with ready-made experiments to conduct and brine shrimp projects.
q: What are some of the accessories that are included with these microscopes?
Plenty of accessories come with some of these microscopes that have kits included. They could have blank slides, prepared slides, Petri dishes, booklets, test tubes, droppers, experiments, and instructions, just to name a few items.
q: Are there any for very young kids to use?
Yes, the GeoSafari Jr is perfect for toddlers since it is not a real microscope but a toy. It comes with prepared slides that children put in the instrument to look at up close. This item is very safe and is perfect for getting little ones in the swing of looking at things in slides.
q: What did customers not like the most about these items?
Broken slides received in the packaging and lenses that do not focus well are the major problems with these entry-level microscopes. These are not the most professional microscopes that money can buy, and parents need to keep that in mind. They are beginner level instruments meant to introduce kids to the world of microscopic viewing.
q: Do these microscopes need a source of power?
They all have a light source, except the GeoSafari item, so they need some sort of power. Most of them function with batteries, but a few can use an electrical outlet for power too.
Sources
- How to Use a Microscope: Lesson for Kids, Online Article ,
- Microscope Use: Safety Basics, Online Article ,
- Using Microscopes With Young Children, Online Article ,