All Telescope Reviews: 167 Telescopes Tested

Each of our telescope reviews goes into great detail about the features and capabilities of the scope in discussion. In order to help you choose the best telescope for your needs, we consider nine factors: optics, focuser, mount, accessories, moon and planet viewing capacity, wide-field viewing of DSO, ease of use, portability, and value. We then assign a final telescope rating of 1–5 stars to each telescope, with 5 being the best. There are many excellent telescopes available, but there are significant differences between them, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Find all our in-depth reviews of telescopes below.
Why trust us?

When it comes to the telescopes we review, our editorial board (which is comprised entirely of astronomers) makes unbiased judgments. Please keep in mind that our performance rating system on this page is completely unrelated to any kind of monetary gain. Read our telescope testing methodology.

3/5

Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ

Refractor

GoTo German Equatorial

Considered one of the better models in the PowerSeeker line, this 70mm refractor still faces issues with its small aperture and mediocre accessories.

Read Review

3.8/5

Explore One Aurora 114

Reflector

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

Marketed for kids but suitable for adults, this 4.5” telescope has good optics and eyepieces but falls short in construction quality.

Read Review

3.1/5

Celestron Astromaster 76EQ

Reflector

German Equatorial

Though possessing limited light-gathering ability, this 3” reflector provides sharp images and sits atop a sturdy tripod.

Read Review

3.1/5

Gskyer 80mm AZ

Refractor

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

Gskyer’s 80mm refractor is acceptable for wide-field viewing but saddled with low-quality accessories and a pan-head mount designed more in mind for terrestrial than astronomical use.

Read Review

2.4/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114 AZ

Bird-Jones

Altaz Fork Mount/Tripod

While seemingly promising on paper, this model is let down by its mediocre mount and optics, which don’t allow you to get much out of the StarSense Explorer technology.

Read Review

1.3/5

Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ

Bird-Jones

German Equatorial

A best-selling telescope but offering extremely poor performance, cashing in on Celestron’s brand and reputation. Low-quality optics, mount, and accessories make this one a “hobby killer.”

Read Review

3.1/5

Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ

Refractor

GoTo German Equatorial

This 80mm long-focus refractor is good enough but suffers from its low-quality supplied eyepieces and finderscope.

Read Review

2.3/5

Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ

Reflector

German Equatorial

A decent 114mm telescope hindered by a weak mount and low-quality accessories. Replacigng the accessories and mount can transform it into a decent instrument.

Read Review

1.8/5

Celestron ExploraScope 114AZ

Bird-Jones

Alt-Az Fork

Flawed Bird-Jones optics and a wobbly tripod make this telescope far from ideal compared to optically excellent Dobsonians of the same aperture available at the same price.

Read Review

4.1/5

SarBlue Mak70

Mak-Cass

Altaz Fork Mount/Tripod

A larger version of the Mak60, this telescope offers sharp optics and decent accessories but is limited in aperture, excelling mainly in observing the Moon, planets, and double stars.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron Cometron 114AZ

Reflector

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

This telescope combines an otherwise capable telescope and accessories with a subpar photo tripod, resulting in a frustrating experience.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80 AZ

Refractor

Altaz Fork Mount/Tripod

An 80mm long refractor with decent optics and easy aiming thanks to its StarSense Explorer technology, but limited by its small aperture and rather expensive for the quality and performance it offers.

Read Review

3.7/5

Explore Scientific FirstLight AR80 with Twilight Nano

Refractor

Altaz fork Mount/Tripod

Explore Scientific’s FirstLight AR80 offers decent views of the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects and makes for an ideal “grab n’ go” setup atop the lightweight Twilight Nano, though the accessories could be better.

Read Review

2.6/5

Celestron AstroMaster 90AZ

Refractor

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

Like other AstroMaster telescopes, it is not recommended due to its substandard mount and tripod, with better alternatives available at the same price point

Read Review

1.7/5

Celestron Astromaster 114EQ

Bird-Jones

German Equatorial

Despite positive reviews, this telescope’s disastrously flawed optics and poor-quality accouterments make it a poor pick compared to our top picks.

Read Review

4.4/5

SkyWatcher Heritage 130P

Reflector

Tabletop Dobsonian

Compact 130mm Dobsonian, perfect for kids and travel, with a user-friendly collapsible tube, mount, and decent provided accessories.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
2.4/5

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ

Reflector

German Equatorial

Praised beginner telescope with several out-of-box issues; not recommended.

Read Review

2.7/5

Solomark Polaris 130mm EQ

Reflector

German Equatorial

Acceptable but cheaply-made 130mm equatorial reflector of dubious optical provenance.

Read Review

3.8/5

Gskyer 130mm EQ

Reflector

German Equatorial

Budget-friendly 130mm equatorially-mounted reflector with large accessory assortment. 

Read Review

4.5/5

SkyWatcher Heritage 150P

Reflector

Tabletop Dobsonian

Portable 150mm Dobsonian with collapsible tube, great eyepieces, and still light enough to carry in one hand. What more is there to ask for in a telescope?

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
2.9/5

Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ

Refractor

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

Decent 4” refracting telescope atop a glorified photo tripod, with poor supplied accessories.

Read Review

3.5/5

Celestron Inspire 100AZ

Refractor

Altaz Pan Head Tripod

Affordable 4” refractor with beginner-friendly features but lacking in performance, stability or quality given the price point.

Read Review

4.1/5

Celestron StarSense 114mm

Reflector

Tabletop Dobsonian

Parabolic 4.5" primary mirror and sturdy, simple Dobsonian mount, with StarSense Explorer technology.

Read Review

3.8/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ

Refractor

Alt-Az Fork Mount/Tripod

Small aperture scope with smartphone-aided PushTo system; arguably less capable than its 130mm reflector sibling.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130 AZ

Reflector

Alt-Az Fork Mount/Tripod

130mm f/5 reflector with smartphone-aided PushTo system and 2” focuser atop a manual mount.

Read Review

1.9/5

Celestron 114 LCM

Bird-Jones

Altaz GoTo

Bird-Jones design with poor optics and low-quality mount; not recommended for any use case.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron StarSense 130mm

Reflector

Tabletop Dobsonian

130mm tabletop Dobsonian with Celestron’s award-winning StarSense Explorer technology - albeit lacking the 2” focuser of some of Celestron’s other 130mm f/5 offerings.

Read Review

4.4/5

SkyWatcher 6” Classic

Reflector

Dobsonian

Popular, affordable 6" f/8 Dobsonian telescope, ideal for hobbyists seeking a versatile "grab n’ go" scope and including a basic accessory package.

Read Review

4.4/5

SkyWatcher Virtuoso GTi 130P

Reflector

GoTo Tabletop Dobsonian

Upgraded GoTo variant of the Heritage 130P controlled via your smartphone/tablet, similar to the GTi 150P model.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
4.7/5

Apertura AD6

Reflector

Dobsonian

A high-quality 6” f/8 Dobsonian with a dual-speed Crayford focuser and other features borrowed from Apertura’s esteemed larger AD series Dobsonians.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
4.8/5

SkyWatcher Virtuoso GTi 150P

Reflector

GoTo Tabletop Dobsonian

High-quality, versatile, and portable GoTo 6" f/5 tabletop Dobsonian telescope in a lightweight, compact package at a competitive price.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
3.4/5

Celestron Astro Fi 90 Telescope

Refractor

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

90mm refractor on a smartphone/tablet-controlled GoTo mount and tripod. Decent, but the other Astro Fi scopes are better performers.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron Astro Fi 102

Maksutov-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Compact 4” Maksutov-Cassegrain with smartphone-operated GoTo, easy for newcomers and offering sharp views, though limited in target choices.

Read Review

3.2/5

Celestron NexStar 90SLT

 Maksutov-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Optically excellent 90mm GoTo Maksutov-Cassegrain; but time-consuming setup for a small scope that’s only useful for the Moon, planets and other bright objects.

Read Review

3.6/5

DwarfLab DWARF II Smart Telescope

Refractor

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Tiny telescope/camera suitable for wide-field shots, more useful for non-astronomical applications than for serious astrophotography.

Read Review

4.1/5

Celestron AstroFi 130

Reflector

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A tripod-mounted 130mm Newtonian with phone-controlled GoTo, albeit power-hungry and not any different in views from a 130mm tabletop Dobsonian.

Read Review

3.9/5

Celestron StarSense 150mm Tabletop Dobsonian

Reflector

Tabletop Dobsonian

Read Review

3.3/5

Celestron NexStar 130SLT

Reflector

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A decent telescope limited by its tripod stability; similar models such as the Astro Fi 130 or Virtuoso GTi 130mm provide more features and sturdier mountings.

Read Review

3.4/5

Celestron NexStar 4SE

Maksutov-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A 4” GoTo Maksutov-Cassegrain on a heavy-duty tripod. Sturdy and capable, but only insofar as what any other 4” Maksutov offers. Rather heavy/bulky.

Read Review

2.7/5

Celestron’s NexStar 102SLT

Refractor

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

4” GoTo refractor suffering from mechanical shortcomings and mediocre optical quality.

Read Review

4.3/5

Explore Scientific 10” Truss Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

Expensive but compact with all-metal construction, Explore Scientific’s 10” Truss Tube Dobsonian fits almost anywhere, though it’s quite expensive to get up and running.

Read Review

3.5/5

NexStar 127SLT Telescope

 Maksutov-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A 5” Maksutov-Cassegrain with a GoTo mount, the NexStar 127SLT is a sharp but perhaps undermounted telescope.

Read Review

4.1/5

SkyWatcher 8″ Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

A simple but powerful 8” Dobsonian with a basic accessory package offering the same performance as other models but with a lower price tag.

Read Review

4.9/5

Apertura AD8 Dobsonian

  Reflector

Dobsonian

A highly praised 8" Dobsonian, offering a comprehensive start in astronomy. Features like a cooling fan and dual-speed focuser ensure minimal aftermarket buys.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
4/5

Celestron Omni XLT 150

Reflector

German Equatorial

A beginner-friendly, medium-aperture telescope and equatorial mount. Offers quality views, though it's a bit cumbersome for a 6” reflector.

Read Review

4.3/5

Explore Scientific 10″ Hybrid Truss Tube Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

A bit complicated for newbies, this telescope offers a large aperture and all the compactness of a truss tube Dobsonian in a sturdy metal frame.

Read Review

3.8/5

Vixen R130SF/Porta II

Reflector

Alt-Az Fork

A 130mm f/5 Newtonian paired with a simple but elegant alt-azimuth mount and tripod, the R130SF itself doesn’t offer appreciably different views from other 130mm reflectors sold at a fraction of the price, but the Porta II certainly makes for a nice mount.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron Omni XLT 120

Refractor

German Equatorial

A 4.7” refractor offering decent lunar, planetary, and deep-sky views and sporting high-quality construction/optics.

Read Review

3/5

Celestron SkyProdigy 130

Reflector

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

An upgraded version of the NexStar 130SLT featuring Celestron’s StarSense AutoAlign, which rarely works as advertised and isn’t worth the hassle on this telescope.

Read Review

4.1/5

SkyWatcher 8″ Flextube

Reflector

Dobsonian

While a bit more time-consuming to set up, this 8” Dobsonian stands out for its collapsible design, perfect for storing in tight spaces.

Read Review

4.7/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer 8

Reflector

PushTo Dobsonian

An 8" Dobsonian with unique StarSense Explorer tech for easy sky navigation. Offers good views but may not provide the best value in its price range.

Read Review

4.7/5

Explore Scientific FirstLight 8″ Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

This 8” Dobsonian may not be a first pick but stands out with premium design features to accommodate heavier aftermarket accessories and a base that packs flat.

Read Review

4.4/5

SkyWatcher 10” Classic Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

A basic but capable 10” Dobsonian equipped with two eyepieces and a 9x50 finder to get you started.

Read Review

4.7/5

Explore Scientific 10″ FirstLight Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

Known for high-quality fittings and a collapsible base, it needs additional eyepieces for a complete experience.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron NexStar 5SE

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Popular but costly for beginners, this telescope offers decent quality but provides inferior views compared to more affordable alternatives.

Read Review

4.9/5

Apertura AD10

Reflector

Dobsonian

Award-winning 10” Dobsonian with excellent features, accessories, and performance for the price, sold exclusively by High Point Scientific.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
4/5

SkyWatcher 10″ FlexTube Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

Popular for its collapsible design, this 10” Dobsonian is beginner-friendly but may have compromises in performance and value.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron NexStar 6SE

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A middle-of-the-pack 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain with quality optics and a sturdy mount, ideal for lunar, planetary, and some deep-sky viewing.

Read Review

4.7/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer 10″ Dobsonian

Reflector

PushTo Dobsonian

A 10" Dobsonian with a lightweight base and StarSense Explorer technology to aid you in exploring the night sky, the StarSense Explorer 10” Dobsonian offers an unmatched experience for newcomers.

Read Review

4.8/5

Apertura AD12 Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

Explore galaxies and nebulae with the 12" AD12 Dobsonian, offering Apertura’s high-quality accessory bundle and features like a dual-speed focuser with a huge 12” primary mirror.

Read Review

TelescopicWatch Editor's Choice
3.7/5

Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Newtonian

Reflector

GoTo German Equatorial

An entry-level astrophotography kit, Celestron’s 6" Newtonian on the Advanced VX mount is an okay tool for the job if you don’t mind upgrading the focuser straightaway.

Read Review

3.7/5

Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Celestron’s flagship 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain is paired with a number of mount and tripod options; the 8SE is certainly the most affordable but far from the sturdiest of these configurations.

Read Review

4/5

SkyWatcher 8″ FlexTube GoTo Dobsonian

Reflector

GoTo Dobsonian

Automated tracking in an 8" Dobsonian. The 8” FlexTube GoTo offers convenience, albeit with a price that rivals that of larger manual scopes.

Read Review

4.1/5

Celestron NexStar Evolution 6

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A high-quality 6" telescope with an integrated battery and WiFi. Pricey, with identical views to the more affordable Celestron NexStar 6SE.

Read Review

4.5/5

Celestron StarSense Explorer 12” Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

With a lighter base and StarSense Explorer tech, this 12" Dobsonian is a bit easier to use than its manual counterparts, while offering spectacular views of deep-sky objects as well as those in our own Solar System.

Read Review

3.7/5

Vaonis Vespera Smart Telescope

Refractor

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A tiny 50mm astrophotography rig equipped with advanced features in a compact and convenient package.

Read Review

4.3/5

SkyWatcher 10″ FlexTube GoTo Dobsonian

Reflector

GoTo Dobsonian

A 10" motorized Dobsonian with a collapsible tube, featuring full GoTo and Sky-Watcher’s FreedomFind technology allowing for manual aiming.

Read Review

3.5/5

Celestron Advanced VX 8 Newtonian

Reflector

GoTo German Equatorial

An 8" Newtonian on the Advanced VX mount, suitable for visual use but a little undermounted and underperforming for astrophotography purposes.

Read Review

4.5/5

SkyWatcher 12″ FlexTube Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

The 12" FlexTube Dobsonian offers a balance in portability and performance, easing transport without compromising on observational power.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron Advanced VX 6″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German Equatorial

3.2/5

Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Refractor

Refractor

GoTo German Equatorial

A big and impressive 6” refractor, this scope is cool to look at but completely impractical and lacking in performance for the price.

Read Review

4.3/5

Explore Scientific 12″ Truss Tube Dobsonian

Reflector

Dobsonian

A compact, all-metal truss tube Dobsonian with premium features—accessories sold separately.

Read Review

2.5/5

Unistellar eVscope eQuinox

Reflector

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A “digital telescope” offering convenience but disappointing in quality and performance, often misconstrued as a satisfactory telescope for novices.

Read Review

4.2/5

Celestron NexStar Evolution 8

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

An 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain with integrated WiFi and battery, offering convenience and quality views, along with some astrophotography capabilities.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron Advanced VX 8″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German EQ

A versatile 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain on the Advanced VX mount, offering various capabilities for changing interests within astronomy.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron Advanced VX 700 Maksutov

Maksutov-Cassegrain

GoTo German EQ

A 7" Maksutov excels in planetary views but with limited usefulness beyond. The Advanced VX mount complements it well, despite the high price.

Read Review

3.8/5

Celestron CPC 800 GPS SCT

Aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

An 8" aplanatic SCT with all-round usefulness but underperforming compared to specialized telescopes at this price.

Read Review

3.9/5

Celestron Advanced VX 8” EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo German EQ

An 8" aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain is versatile in functionality but under-mounted for astrophotography and comparably pricey for visual observation.

Read Review

4.2/5

Celestron Advanced VX 9.25″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German EQ

This 9.25" SCT on the Advanced VX mount is ideal for planetary viewing and deep-sky observation, but not for deep-sky astrophotography.

Read Review

4.2/5

Celestron Advanced VX 800 RASA

Schmidt Camera

GoTo German Equatorial

An 8" F/2 astrograph designed for deep-sky astrophotography, the RASA is fast but demands specific accessories and familiarity with astrophotography.

Read Review

3.9/5

Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25″

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Celestron’s C9.25 XLT optical tube is excellent, but it’s rather big for the lightweight and compact NexStar Evolution mount to carry, even with the addition of a beefed-up tripod borrowed from the CPC telescopes.

Read Review

4.1/5

Celestron NexStar Evolution 8″ EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A high-quality 8" telescope but with few advantages over the regular NexStar Evolution 8, considering the additional cost.

Read Review

4/5

Celestron CGEM II 800 8″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German Equatorial

An 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and equatorial mount designed for imaging; we’d recommend you upgrade to the EdgeHD version if that’s your goal.

Read Review

3.9/5

Celestron Advanced VX 11″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German Equatorial

Celestron’s Advanced VX can technically hold the C11 XLT optical tube, but we’d recommend you consider a heftier mount like the CGEM II before choosing this combination of telescope and mounting.

Read Review

3.6/5

Celestron CPC 800 EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

An 8" aplanatic SCT with all-round usefulness but underperforming compared to specialized telescopes at this price.

Read Review

4.3/5

Celestron CPC 925 XLT GPS

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Celestron’s 9.25” Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube is coupled to a simple and capable alt-azimuth fork mount.

Read Review

4.7/5

SkyWatcher 14″ FlexTube GoTo Dobsonian

Reflector

GoTo Dobsonian

A monster 14” Dobsonian with GoTo and Sky-Watcher’s unparalleled FreedomFind technology to quickly navigate between stunning deep-sky objects.

Read Review

3.5/5

Celestron Advanced VX 9.25″ EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo German Equatorial

An under-mounted 9.25" EdgeHD telescope, unsuitable for deep-sky imaging and offering no otherwise relevant advantages over the regular C9.25 XLT.

Read Review

4.3/5

Celestron CGEM II 800 8″ RASA

Schmidt Camera

GoTo German Equatorial

An 8" specialized telescope optimized for deep-sky astrophotography, offering short exposure times but unsuitable for visual observation.

Read Review

4.6/5

Celestron CGX 800 8″ EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo German Equatorial

An astrophotography-oriented setup from Celestron, offering excellent all-round performance for both visual and imaging needs.

Read Review

4.4/5

Celestron CPC 1100 GPS

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A high-performance 11” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with GPS functionality for easy alignment and tracking.

Read Review

3.8/5

Vaonis Stellina Smart Telescope

Refractor

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

An all-in-one 80mm apochromatic refractor designed exclusively for astrophotography, providing ease of use and automated image processing.

Read Review

4.2/5

Celestron CGX 925 SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German Equatorial

A versatile 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain mounted on the CGX, Celestron's advanced equatorial mount designed for astrophotography and easy setup.

Read Review

3.6/5

Celestron CPC 925 EdgeHD

Aplanatic SCT

GoTo Alt-Az Fork

A 9.25" aplanatic SCT offering decent visual and astrophotography capabilities in a single, albeit rather bulky, package.

Read Review

4.4/5

Celestron CGEM II 1100 11″ SCT

Schmidt-Cassegrain

GoTo German EQ

A large 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain and equatorial mount, mainly designed for visual observation and planetary imaging.

Read Review

3/5

Unistellar eVscope 2

Reflector

 GoTo Alt-Az Fork

Marketed as innovative, this “digital telescope” falls short in functionality and value, with high cost and lackluster performance compared to traditional telescopes.

Read Review