The best microscopes for students should be a blend of both affordability and high-quality optics that are feature-rich enough for learners to achieve their education objectives without spending a huge amount of money.
There are two types of microscopes available: simple and compound microscopes. A simple microscope is equipped with one lens but a compound microscope has both an eyepiece and an objective lens. There are also different features to consider like the field of view, its frame, lighting, how good the optics are and the microscope's resolution.
Younger students who may still be in school could benefit from a more basic, cost efficient model, whereas those in higher education or studying for degrees might find a more sophisticated model more appropriate. But for much elementary-age observers, it might be worth checking out our guide to the best microscopes for kids. Curious minds can also check out our guides to the best chemistry sets and best binoculars for kids too.
Black Friday will be taking place on November 29, so we could see some incredible deals on microscopes and other optics. We'll be keeping track of them all in our Black Friday deals hub.
The quick list
Below is an overview of the very best microscopes for students for specific purposes. This curated list gives you a glimpse at the best of the best but more information and reviews can be found below or by clicking the 'Read more below' link in their descriptions.
Best overall
Capable of professional and clinical microscopy at a reasonable price, we think this is the best microscope overall for students.
Best cheap microscope
While it's obvious that corners have been cut to keep the cost low, we think it's a decent starter microscope for beginners or anyone on a lower budget.
Best for home use
Includes everything you need to get started, including 35 pre-prepared slides — this STEM-friendly microscope is great for kids and students to use at home.
Best for biology students
For more advanced users like biology majors, vets and laboratory applications, it's a fantastic microscope with extra functionality.
Best camera microscope
If you're looking for a microscope with a camera to photograph and share your findings, this is a great option, although you'll need to purchase slides separately.
Best portable microscope
For users looking for a compact and lightweight microscope, this option is great for students in middle school up to adulthood — although perhaps not ideal for total beginners.
Best microscopes for students we recommend in 2024
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Best microscope for students overall
✅ You want a large magnification range: With 2 pairs of eyepiece lenses and 4 objective lenses, this microscope has 40X-2500X magnification.
✅ You want to photograph subjects: With the Swiftcam add-on, subjects can be photographed, videoed, projected and live-streamed.
❌ You want to observe whole or solid objects: It doesn't have a built-in top light.
❌ You want a portable microscope: It's quite heavy (12.9 lbs/5.85kg) and requires a power source. Check out the Omano Discovery Professional Microscope instead.
🔎 Swift SW380T: With a number of features to enable clinical and professional compound microscopy, we found it to be an invaluable teaching tool for students of all ages at a reasonable price. We'd recommend the camera add-on for a fuller teaching experience, but overall we found it a pleasure to use. ★★★★
If you’re looking for a microscope that is perfect for students and advanced scientists alike, then the Swift SW380T is the microscope for you. It features four different DIN achromatic objectives, six different magnification levels (40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, 1000X and 2500X), and an ultra-precise focusing system — ensuring that you’ll always be able to see what you need to. We used it to view various subjects, including human cheek cells, onion cells, plant cells and a root tip squash, (squashing the tip of a root between the slide and coverslip) to find cells in the various stages of mitosis.
This model has a 30-degree tilt, which our students appreciated when we reviewed the Swift SW380T and none of them complained of neck strain. With a fully rotatable base, our students found it easy to concentrate during projects. It was smooth and easy to adjust, and you can manipulate the brightness with the LED control to prevent dazzling yourself and getting eye strain. The only thing we found somewhat tricky to use was when trying to attach the trinocular eyepiece, but it just takes some getting used to with repeated use.
We did find that some of the smaller students had trouble carrying it and needed to use two hands, so for a school setting with younger children we'd recommend a teacher or assistant move the microscope around if it needs to be moved. That said, the triangular base kept the microscope steady and secure when being handled by the students. Aside from that, it was easy to clean and came with a dust cover, which we appreciated for a school setting, and we would happily let students aged 11+ use this microscope.
But by far the most useful feature of this microscope is the trinocular rotating head, meaning the teacher was able to observe the student's specimens simultaneously to discuss the features and make sure the students were looking at the right part. Although, we'd have liked the lenses to have a built-in pointer, so whenever we wanted to direct the students to a certain part of the slide or cell, this had to be done verbally.
Along with the microscope, you will also get a 10X and 25X eyepiece, sample immersion oil, blue filter, dust cover, spare fuse and a user manual. There's also an option for a camera add-on, which we'd recommend if your budget allows.
- Read our full Swift SW380T review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Strong and sturdy, but comfortable to use. |
| Performance | Smooth and easy to adjust the brightness. |
| Functionality | Available with a camera add-on for imaging and projection. |
Best cheap microscope for students
✅ You want a portable microscope: It's lightweight and can run on batteries, making it easy to transport outside.
✅ You're on a budget: Although it's lacking in some areas, it's a good starter microscope on a budget.
❌ You want bi or trinocular view: This microscope is limited to monocular viewing.
❌ You're an advanced user: This is more suited to beginners. For a more advanced microscope, consider the Swift SW380T.
🔎 AmScope M150C-MS: A good starter telescope for beginners and students, although there are more advanced features missing, as expected for the price. ★★★½
AmScope microscopes are known for being some of the best on the market for affordability and versatility. The M150C-MS is a budget-friendly option for students that comes with many features, including a monocular viewing head that has a 45-degree vertical inclination and 360-degree rotation capability. Because the M150C-MS model has a diascopic Brightfield illumination, light appears upwards through the slide rather than shining down on it.
This allows darker images to show up better through the lens, making it easier to see what you’re examining. You’ll have three objective choices: 4X, 10X, and 40X. The package also comes with a selection of 25 prepared slides, a widefield 10X eyepiece, two stage clips, and a dust cover.
During our full AmScope M150C-MS review, our first impressions were that its basic features were of good quality for the price and simple to use. It's lightweight so it can easily be transported outside for fieldwork, where it can be powered by 3 AA batteries (included) or connected to a portable USB power bank. When inside, this can also be connected to mains electricity. We used the AmScrope M150C-MS to look at human cheek cells, microorganisms from pond water, blood and onion cells.
Naturally, because of its lower price, some of the more advanced features have been omitted. For instance, it's limited to monocular viewing, which can lead to eye strain, although, there is a pointer in the eyepiece, which is great for teaching. The stage doesn't have XY mechanical function (although our students didn't seem to mind this), but overall the metal body and mechanical parts were robust and sturdy enough to be used by inexperienced students.
Disappointingly, we found the quality control to be quite poor. The clarity of the lenses was terrible and had to be thoroughly deep cleaned, inside and out, and the rotating objectives head was not secured properly. These are fixable issues, but still annoying to have to contend with. That said, we were pleased with how it performed in the field, and it's a good starter microscope for a small budget.
- Read our full AmScope M150C-MS review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Lightweight and portable. |
| Performance | Didn't disappoint at lower magnifications. |
| Functionality | Poor quality control. |
Best for home use
✅ You want a STEM-friendly microscope: National Geographic are well-known for their STEM-appropriate products.
✅ You're on a budget: It's the most affordable microscope on this list.
❌ You don't want to rely on batteries: It uses 2 x AA batteries.
❌ You want a microscope with a camera: In this case, we'd recommend the Swift SW380T or the OMAX M83EZ-C02.
🔎 National Geographic Ultimate Dual Microscope: An all-inclusive STEM-friendly microscope with everything you need to get started, with sturdy construction and 35 pre-prepared slides. ★★★★½
The National Geographic Ultimate Dual Microscope is just the tool your aspiring scientist will need to start investigating the world around them. It includes everything students need to get an introduction into biology, including 35 pre-prepared slides, a storage box, tools for slide prep, a petri dish and more.
For those interested in live specimens, the kit also comes with brine shrimp eggs and a hatching station. LED lights assist users in being able to see objects on the slide clearly, along with glass lenses that can get 20X or 50X magnification levels. For those looking to find a STEM-friendly microscope on a budget for home use, this is a great option for beginners looking for an all-inclusive experience.
It runs off 2 AA batteries, which is fine for casual or occasional use, but if your kids become more interested in microscopy over time then you may want to upgrade and invest in a better microscope to avoid having to repurchase batteries.
We're yet to upload our review of the National Geographic Ultimate Dual Microscope, but it has 4.5/5 stars on Amazon, with users praising its ease of use and quality. The binocular viewing prevents users from straining their eyes, and the build quality is sturdy enough to handle the challenges of an 8-12 age range. Plus, the 35 pre-prepared slides give them something to get their hands on straight out of the box.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy construction. |
| Performance | Easy to use. |
| Functionality | Comes with 35 pre-prepared slides. |
Best microscope for biology students
✅ You want a clinical-quality microscope: With advanced LED lighting and 1.25 NA Abbe condenser, it's best suited to more experienced and advanced users.
✅ You want a lightweight microscope: At 3.25 lbs / 1.47kg, it's the lightest on this list.
❌ You're a beginner: This is an advanced scope for professional and clinical use — try the National Geographic Ultimate Dual microscope.
🔎 AmScope B120C Siendentopf microscope: A fantastic microscope for biology students, clinical exams and teaching demonstrations, this microscope has bright and clear optical quality, sturdy construction and is portable and ease to use for a reasonable price. ★★★★
The AmScope B120C Siedentopf Microscope is recommended for clinicians on a budget and students in medical school or who are studying biology. It has all the features of a basic microscope, plus other functionality advancements like advanced LED lighting and a 1.25 NA Abbe replaceable condenser with an iris diagram and a 52-77 mm interpupillary adjustment — both of which can help provide a better quality experience. The ocular tubes are also angled at 30 degrees to comfortably accommodate use while sitting down to prevent neck and eye strain, which is particularly useful for clinical usage as opposed to occasional use.
The double-layer mechanical stage helps to keep slides in their place, along with rotating them around to see all sides of the specimen. All in all, the kit comes with 4 DIN standard objectives (4X, 10X, 40XS and 100XS) which are achromatically corrected to improve resolution and color accuracy, a 10X and 25X eyepiece to extend the maximum magnification, a blue color filter, one bottle of immersion oil and a dust cover. It's worth noting here that it doesn't come with any slides.
We haven't reviewed the AmScope B120C microscope yet, but Amazon users have rated it 4.3/5 stars and praised its solid design and high-quality build, with an easy setup and good image quality.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy yet lightweight build. |
| Performance | Bright and clear images. |
| Functionality | Advanced LED lighting and 1.25 NA Abbe condenser. |
Best camera microscope for students
✅ You want a high-quality microscope: For teachers, biology students and clinical purposes, this is a fantastic option.
❌ You're a beginner: Its features are overkill for beginners — check out the AmScope M150C-MS instead.
❌ You don't want a camera: If you don't need a microscope with a camera, the AmScope B120C would be the most similar option.
🔎 OMAX M83EZ-C02: Ideal for use in veterinary offices, clinics, schools and homes, this microscope features a digital camera to photograph your subjects and share your findings, although it doesn't come with any slides. ★★★★
If you’re looking for a microscope that has more than the average features, the OMAX Digital Lab Trinocular Compound LED Microscope is an option for you. Although the microscope can be used without a computer, it does come with downloadable software so that you can connect it to outside technology — and it works for both Mac and Windows. This allows you to upload and share your findings. The digital camera produces true color 640 x 480-pixel images.
This microscope has an adjustable trinocular viewing head with a dedicated photo port, mechanical stage controls and focusing, and energy-efficient LED lighting to give a natural looking picture.
With a magnification capability of up to 2500X and widefield eyepieces capable of WF10X or WF25X, you won’t have a problem seeing your specimens. Its simul-focal design allows simultaneous use with both eyepieces so you won't need to switch between them.
It also features an inclined head (45-degrees) for comfortable viewing while seated or standing (great for preventing eye and neck strain) and a trinocular mount that can rotate 360-degrees. Plus, the ocular spacing can be easily amended using sliding interpupillary adjustments to probide greater comfort for different faces.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Four objective lenses and two pairs of eyepieces. |
| Performance | Easy to set up and use. |
| Functionality | Produces true color 640 x 480-pixel images. |
Best portable microscope for students
✅ You want a lightweight microscope: This is one of the most lightweight options in this list, alongside the AmScope B120C.
❌ You want lots of magnification options: This microscope only has 3 levels of magnification — 40x, 100x and 400x.
❌ It's your first microscope: While it may not overwhelm beginners, it doesn't come with any slides like the more beginner-friendly packages do, so you'll need to purchase those separately.
🔎 Omano Discovery Professional microscope: A great option for a variety of users from middle school up to adults, it's simple enough for beginners but has the functionality for more advanced applications. ★★★★½
The Omano Microscope for Students is a versatile option for students from middle school up to adulthood. It’s simple enough not to overwhelm a beginner but has the professional features needed for more advanced projects, making it a great middle-ground option.
Weighing in at just under 2 lbs, this model is also lightweight enough to easily transport to different locations, which is a big advantage for use in school and the home without having to keep the microscope limited to one area.
Whether you’re examining a plant from your garden or analyzing specimens for a graduate-level lab, this tool can help you get it done with three levels of magnification — 40x, 100x and 400x, although this is the least of all the microscopes in this guide. Variable illumination and 0.65 N.A condenser also enhances the image quality.
We haven't reviewed this model yet, but the Amazon reviews are very promising, scoring an average of 4.9/5 stars, with users stating that the overall build and feel is reminiscent of professional microscopes, and they liked that it was quick and easy to set up and get going in minutes. However, this is another model that doesn't come with any slides, so you'll need to purchase some separately.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Lightweight and easily portable. |
| Performance | Easy to set up and use. |
| Functionality | Only has 3 levels of magnification. |
Comparison
| Product | Rating | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift SW380T | ★★★★ | ✅ Large magnification range, lots of features, reasonably priced. | ❌ Heavy and not very portable, requires mains power. |
| AmScope M150C-MS | ★★★½ | ✅ Beginner friendly, good value for money, portable design. | ❌ Poor quality control, basic functions, no XY stage movement. |
| National Geographic Ultimate Dual Microscope | ★★★★½ | ✅ Lightweight, budget friendly, includes prepared slides. | ❌ Requires adult assistance, relies on AA batteries. |
| AmScope B120C | ★★★★ | ✅ Clear and bright optics, lightweight, reasonably priced. | ❌ No slides or manual included. |
| OMAX M83EZ-C02 | ★★★★ | ✅ Includes digital camera, can be connected to other technology, includes 5 year warranty. | ❌ Slides sold separately, have to download software. |
| Omano Discovery Professional Microscope | ★★★★½ | ✅ Lightweight and portable, reasonably priced. | ❌ Ony three magnification options, no slides included. |
How we test microscopes
All our microscopes for students reviews are conducted in a real-life setting. Students, scholars and keen amateur scientists get hands-on with the microscopes and test every feature, led by our own scientific expert writers.
A number of specimens are analyzed under the microscope and all focusing controls, objectives, eyepieces and stages are tested alongside the supplied lighting and any pre-prepared slides that may ship with them. They are also tested using a number of custom slides prepared by our scientific experts. Specimens range from onion epidermis, skeletal muscle, motor nerves, cheek swabs and blood smears.
If a microscope works on both battery power and via the mains they are tested both in the field and in the lab or classroom setting for a balanced view of its use across environments.
We always want to see if products live up to the claims of manufacturers, and we often source independent experts to get their opinions. We look carefully at factors like price, value for money, ease of use, and performance compared to competitors.
Through the combination of expert opinion, rigorous testing, and research, we're confident that we provide readers with reliable and transparent buying advice.
Microscope frequently asked questions
What is the best microscope for students overall?
We think the Swift SW380T is the best student microscope overall because of its ergonomic design features, large magnification range and excellent XY mechanical stage.
What is the best camera microscope?
While many microscopes can be upgraded with camera add-ons, we think the OMAX M83EZ-C02 is the best camera microscope for students as it ships with a USB connector to plug straight into a laptop or tablet.
What type of microscope should I buy?
We recommend you buy the best microscope you can afford. Simple microscopes work through the use of a single lens to focus a closer image for the observer, similar to a magnifying lens which uses a double convex lens. These are generally cheaper but give only one magnification when observing subjects.
Compound microscopes use two lenses: One for the eyepiece (i.e. closest to the eye) and one for the objective (i.e. closest to the object). The benefit of this microscope is that objectives can be swapped out for greater magnifications but they are more expensive.
What is the best beginner microscope?
We think the best microscope for beginners and new students is the AmScope M150C because it combines a durable metal body, glass optics and adjustable LED with good value for money.
What type of microscope is best for students?
The best type of student microscope is a compound microscope. Compound microscopes have multiple objective lenses and allow for a greater range of magnification to study specimens prepared on slides.
