Allow us to help you weigh some facts on the top-performing products of microscopes for kids across the market. There’s certainly a lot of them to choose from, and we want to make sure that you already know the best set of items before you decide to buy the right one for your little one.
Buyer’s Guide on How to Choose the Best Microscope for Kids
There are a lot of considerations you need to take note of in choosing the best microscope, whether it’s for a hobby or for school projects.
The following is a shortlist of questions you need to answer.
What are you looking for in a kid’s microscope?
There are two basic types of commonly used microscopes. A stereoscope is a binocular (two eyepieces) microscope used for viewing any object that is opaque and/or three-dimensional such as leaves, flowers, or insects. The other type is called a compound microscope which can either have a monocular or binocular eyepiece. It is designed to view cells, or portions of small tissues placed on a glass slide.
It is important to identify the specifications of a microscope. Especially in terms of the magnification features which indicates the functionality of the microscope. Other features such as weight, size, etc. might also be essential in choosing the item you’re looking for.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the microscope?
Once you’ve narrowed down your search, you can also look into the pros and cons of the product.
Every product has its own strengths and weaknesses. These are the details a buyer must account for, especially when it is something that you are going to give to your kid.
Will it be able to serve the purpose of buying the microscope? The pros and cons section might be able to give you the answers that you need.
What is your budget?
Personally, we believe that whether you’re on a budget or not, it’s still wise to make sure that you are going to get what you paid for. Since you already have knowledge on the product, you can gauge the worth of the item you are thinking of buying.
While others may think that a microscope for kids is not supposed to be expensive, you might also want to recognize the advantages that you can get out of it. Besides, seeing your kid’s smile when he/she opens a box full of surprises is absolutely priceless.
Our Five Top Picks for the Best Microscopes for Kids in 2019
Without further ado, here are the five best microscopes that buyers consider as their top choice for their kids.
AmScope-Kids M30 Microscope
The AmScope-Kids M30 Microscope kit is suitable for beginners who want to perform science experiments inside the house or outside, just right at your backyard. It comes with a complete and handy set of accessories that you can use for exploration.
This product is designed to have a monocular viewing scope. It has coaxial coarse and fine focus adjustments for better specimen examination. An inbuilt color-filter wheel is added so that you can view different kinds of samples. The clips attached on the plain stage are also helpful in keeping the slides in place.
Specifications:
- Model No. M30-ABS-KT2-W
- Dimensions: 15.8 x 14.6 x 5.1 inches
- Item weight: 2.9 pounds
- Dynamic magnification: 120x, 240x, 300x, 480x, 600x, and 1200x
- Monocular microscope head
- With LED and reflective mirror
- Requires two AA batteries
- Metal frame, with a few plastic parts
- Plastic ABS case
Pros:
✔️Child-friendly- recommended for beginners, 7 years old and above
✔️Complete 52 piece set- includes AmScope M30 microscope, seven pieces blank slides, Petri dish, specimen slicer, shrimp hatchery, tweezer, cylinders, and many more.
✔️Convenient use- includes an instruction manual
✔️Stain-resistant white metal frame
✔️Portable- lightweight and easy to carry hard plastic case
✔️Affordable gift for kids
Cons:
❌Child user needs a little assistance in focusing the microscope
❌Delicate plastic microscope shaft
AmScope Dual Light Student Microscope
This AmScope microscope set has a comprehensive collection of accessories fit for kids and young students interested in scientific experiments.
The set comes with two widefield eyepieces (10X and 25X), two 10-piece slide kits (each with five biological specimens and five blank slides), a pack of 50 blank slides with 100 coverslips, and more. Enclosed along with these accessories is the book “The World of the Microscope”— an introduction to microscopy applicable for first-time users.
Specifications:
- Model No. M162C-2L-PB10-WM-SP14-50P100S
- Shipping weight: approximately 5.6 pounds
- Five widefield magnifications: 40X, 100X, 250X, 400X, and 1000X
- Single-lens condenser with six-hole disc diaphragm
- Optical glass lenses
- All-metal framework
- Dual LED light
- Power supply: three AA batteries or AC Power Adapter
Pros:
✔️Can view microscopic slides as well as opaque subjects
✔️Solid-built with coarse and fine focusing control
✔️Includes slide preparation tools and other introductory materials
✔️The product package includes accessories with a wide range of prepared slides
✔️Five-year factory warranty
✔️Rechargeable
Cons:
❌No case included
❌Non-mechanical stage
National Geographic Dual Microscope Science Kit
Avid beginners can enjoy a full learning experience with National Geographic Dual Microscope Science Kit for kids. This kit provides the ultimate guide for a course in introduction to microscopes.
This microscope kit is loaded with an array of 50 accessories included for a hands-on practice in basic science exploration: Microscopes Learning Guide, two sets of optical glass lenses providing 20x and 50x magnification, 10 prepared slides, 10 blank slides, 10 slide covers, 10 slide labels, brine shrimp eggs, brine shrimp hatchery station, tweezers, dropper, Petri dish, and one mini geode.
The National Geographic Dual Microscope Science Kit also has a dual function light system. The base LED light can view biological specimens on slides. Lights on the upper portion can examine 3D objects meticulously.
Specifications:
- Model No. NGMICROSCOPE
- Dimensions: 6 x 9.2 x 2.2 inches
- Item Weight: 2 pounds
- Dynamic Magnification: 20x and 50x
- Two sets of high-quality glass optics
- Dual function light system
- Requires two AA batteries
Pros:
✔️Recommendable for children 8 years old and above
✔️Complete Brine Shrimp Experiment
✔️Comprehensive learning guide: Introduction to Microscopes
✔️Upgraded glass optics and high powered lights
✔️Lightweight
✔️Budget-friendly
✔️Two-year warranty
Cons:
❌No control to light intensity
❌Batteries not included
❌No case included
Omano JuniorScope
Take your child to an exciting adventure with Omano JuniorScope microscope for kids. The box contains a fully-packed kit for young scientists who are ready to start their journey.
The JuniorScope microscope can be used in two ways. You can use it for viewing specimens through slides or directly through solid objects. It is also bundled with accessories such as blank slides, glass prepared slides, test tube, forceps, Petri dish, lens cleaning paper, dropper, and more. Aside from these, an awesome additional goes along with the whole package— The Amazing Microscope Adventures experiment cards. It is a step-by-step guide with fun activities that will help your child get started.
The features of JuniorScope can be useful not only at home but can also be functional for school activities.
Specifications:
- Model No. SG_B00669JMKS_US
- Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 14 inches
- Item Weight: 3 pounds
- Dynamic magnification: 40x, 100x, and 400x
- Monocular microscope head
- Crystal-clear glass optics
- Top and bottom LED lighting
- Requires three AA batteries
Pros:
✔️Starter pack for young scientists
✔️Equipped with precision glass optics for clearer viewing
✔️EZ focus knobs
✔️Ready to use out of the box
✔️Full metal microscope with necessary accessories
✔️Comes with a freebie: The Amazing Microscope Adventures experiment cards
Cons:
❌More expensive compared to similar top-rated products
❌No case included
My First Lab Mini-Duo Scope
Satisfy your child’s curiosity with the use of My First Lab Mini-Duo Scope. This is another microscope kit that is appropriate for kids aging 8 years and above.
My First Lab Mini-Duo Scope is proud with its famous coated lenses that do not only improve clarity but also prevents the lens from developing mold and retains lens condition. It also has a dual-view lighting system for a better experience in viewing flat specimens and three-dimensional objects.
Specifications:
- Model No. MFL-20
- Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.5 x 9 inches
- Item Weight: 1 pound
- Dynamic magnification: 40x, 100x, and 400x
- Monocular microscope head
- Dual-view lighting system
- Requires three AA batteries
Pros:
✔️Coated lenses- a highlight feature usually for expensive, professional-grade microscopes
✔️Can function either as a stereo or a compound microscope
✔️Comes with a user manual
✔️Economical rate
✔️Easy to carry
✔️Child-friendly
Cons:
❌Made of fragile materials
❌No case included
Our Top One
You might be wondering which among these products we would recommend the most. All of them are apparently commendable in light of the factors described above. However, we do have our number one choice as the best microscope for your kids— the AmScope-Kids M30 Microscope.
Three things come to mind as to why AmScope-Kids M30 Microscope is our final choice. Firstly, it suits well for kids who would like to start learning and exploring the field of science. Secondly, it is a complete science kit with features such as the dynamic magnification of 120X-1200X, the 52 piece set of accessories, and the handy case that comes with the package. And lastly, it is made widely available for all because of its affordability.
The AmScope-Kids M30 Microscope generally won over our standards in terms of product specifications, usage, and budget. It fits just right into what the majority of the buyers are looking for.