Beginner telescopes are typically easy to use and very affordable, but they often don't last the user very long due to their simplistic nature. Once your enjoyment in astronomy grows, you find yourself wanting to upgrade.
The Celestron NexStar range is widely considered to be one of the best telescope ranges on the market, so if you can afford to spend a bit more than you normally would on a beginner telescope, the Celestron NexStar 4SE will amaze beginners and last them beyond beginner status. It has all the perks of other beginner scopes — user-friendly and quick to set up, plus the quality and functionality of more expensive scopes. We awarded it 4 stars in our review over at our sister site Space.com.
Plus, with Saturn making its return to the night sky next week after spending the last few months as a 'morning star', the Celestron NexStar 4SE is the ideal scope to view it.
We track the prices throughout the year, and although it's been cheaper in previous years (which is the same story for many of this year's deals), it typically retails for $749, making this price of $679 the cheapest we've seen it since April.
- We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.
The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for a backyard setup, and its sturdy frame reduces vibrations very well. We found the calibration to be easy to do and only took a few minutes, and the motors are smooth and efficient to get you observing in no time. Once you're up and running, you'll be treated to the instant wow factor of lunar and planetary views — we loved observing Jupiter and its moons.
Even if you have no telescope experience or prior knowledge of the night sky, this telescope is suitable for everyone and its automated GoTo technology and database will guide you through the sky, so you just need to select an object using the hand controller, and the telescope will locate and track it for you. While it's not the most powerful telescope in the range, it's still worth buying and will suit beginners for a long time until you're ready to level up.
Key features: 4-inch aperture, 52.17-inch (1325 mm) focal length, 25mm eyepiece, 22 lbs 15 oz (10.4kg).
Product launched: 2003
Price history: It's been cheaper during previous Prime Day and Black Friday events, but this price of $679 is the best we've seen since April.
Price comparison: Amazon: $679 | Walmart: $679 | Best Buy: $679
Reviews consensus: Rated as our best beginner telescope, it's a quick and easy way to get beautiful views of the moon and planets, with a user-friendly GoTo system that's ideal for newbies.
Space: ★★★★
Featured in guides: Best beginner telescopes
✅ Buy it if: You want an easy-to-use telescope for a good price that doesn't compromise on features and optical quality.
❌ Don't buy it if: You want to view deep space objects — we'd recommend at least a 6-inch telescope for this.
Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.
