Best Portable Telescope 2026: 8 Models Tested & Reviewed

Looking for a telescope that won’t weigh you down on your next stargazing adventure? After testing 20+ portable models in various locations from dark sky sites to urban backyards, I’ve found the perfect balance between performance and portability.

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is the best portable telescope overall, offering exceptional optical quality in an ultra-compact package with dedicated travel backpack, making it ideal for astronomers who frequently observe from different locations.

Portable telescopes have revolutionized amateur astronomy by allowing us to escape light pollution and observe from pristine dark sky locations. Whether you’re camping in remote areas or just want a telescope that’s easy to transport to your backyard, these compact instruments deliver impressive views without the bulk of traditional setups.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover eight top portable telescopes ranging from budget-friendly options perfect for beginners to advanced smart telescopes with automatic object tracking. I’ll share my hands-on experiences, customer insights, and help you choose the right portable telescope for your specific needs.

Our Top 3 Portable Telescope Picks

Complete Portable Telescope Comparison Table

Compare all eight portable telescopes side by side to find the perfect match for your stargazing needs and budget.

Detailed Portable Telescope Reviews

1. Gskyer Telescope – Best Budget Option for Beginners

The Gskyer 70mm AZ telescope stands out as the most affordable entry-level option that doesn’t compromise on essential features. After testing this model extensively over three weekends, I was impressed by its ability to deliver clear, detailed views of lunar craters and the brighter planets, making it perfect for astronomy newcomers.

This refractor telescope features a 70mm aperture with fully coated optics that provide excellent light-gathering capability for its price point. The 400mm focal length offers a nice balance between wide-field views and planetary magnification, while the included 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, along with a 3x Barlow lens, give magnification options from 16x to 120x.

During field testing, I found the AZ mount particularly user-friendly for beginners. The altitude and azimuth movements are smooth and intuitive, allowing for easy tracking of celestial objects. The included aluminum tripod adjusts from 31.5 to 49 inches, though taller users might find themselves hunching slightly at the lowest setting.

What impressed me most about this telescope is its portability. At just 5.7 pounds and with a dedicated carrying bag, it’s easy to transport to dark sky locations. Setup takes less than 5 minutes, requiring no tools, which is perfect for spontaneous observation sessions.

The included smartphone adapter and wireless remote allow for basic astrophotography. While you won’t capture professional-grade images, I managed to get decent shots of the moon’s surface using just my iPhone and the included accessories.

What Users Love: Exceptional value for money, easy assembly, clear views of moon and planets, lightweight design with carrying bag.

Common Concerns: Tripod stability could be improved, materials feel moderate in quality, limited magnification for deep-sky objects.

2. Celestron Travel Scope 70 – Most Portable with Travel Backpack

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is my top pick for astronomers who prioritize portability above all else. Weighing just 4.2 pounds and coming with a custom-designed travel backpack, this telescope redefines what it means to be truly portable. I’ve taken this scope on multiple camping trips, and it never failed to deliver impressive views while taking up minimal space in my gear.

Celestron’s reputation for quality optics shines through with this model’s fully-coated 70mm aperture glass lens. The 400mm focal length provides a perfect balance for both wide-field star cluster viewing and planetary observation. During my tests, Saturn’s rings became clearly visible at 40x magnification, and Jupiter’s four Galilean moons appeared as bright pinpoints surrounding the planet.

The backpack included with this telescope is genuinely well-designed. It features padded compartments for the optical tube, tripod, and all accessories, plus extra pockets for eyepieces and other essentials. The entire package fits easily in airplane overhead compartments, making it perfect for astronomy travel.

Setup is incredibly simple – no tools required. The full-height aluminum tripod extends to 50 inches, providing comfortable viewing for most adults. However, I did notice some stability issues at higher magnifications, particularly when observing in windy conditions.

What sets this telescope apart is its versatility. The included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces provide magnifications of 20x and 40x respectively, while the erect image optics make it suitable for daytime terrestrial viewing as well. Celestron also includes their Starry Night software, which is excellent for learning the night sky.

What Users Love: Excellent portability with backpack, easy no-tool setup, good optical quality, great value for money, suitable for both celestial and terrestrial viewing.

Common Concerns: Tripod feels flimsy and wobbly, limited magnification for detailed planet viewing, finder scope alignment can be tricky.

3. HEXEUM 80mm Telescope – Best Value with 80mm Aperture

The HEXEUM 80mm telescope delivers exceptional value by combining a larger 80mm aperture with premium multi-coated optics at a budget-friendly price point. During my testing, this telescope consistently outperformed similarly priced 70mm models, delivering noticeably brighter views of nebulae and galaxies.

The standout feature is the 80mm aperture with 600mm focal length, providing excellent light-gathering capability for observing faint deep-sky objects. The fully multi-coated high transmission optics ensure bright, clear views with minimal chromatic aberration. I found that the Andromeda Galaxy appeared as a distinct fuzzy patch, even from my semi-rural testing location.

This telescope comes well-equipped with two eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a 3x Barlow lens, and a 5×24 finder scope. The combination provides magnifications from 24x to 180x, offering excellent versatility for different targets. The wireless remote control and smartphone adapter add convenience for both observation and basic astrophotography.

The aluminum tripod is adjustable and includes a convenient accessory tray. While the tripod performs well at lower magnifications, I experienced some stability issues above 100x magnification, particularly when observing planets at high power.

Portability remains a strong point with the included carrying bag. At 6.15 pounds, it’s still lightweight enough for regular transport to dark sky sites. The no-tool setup process takes just a few minutes, making it perfect for quick observation sessions.

What Users Love: Excellent value with 80mm aperture, stunning views of the moon, multi-coated optics for clarity, easy setup and portability, includes useful accessories.

Common Concerns: Tripod limitations at high magnification, customer service could be better, mount feels restrictive for certain viewing angles.

4. EACONN 80mm Telescope – Premium Compact Refractor

The EACONN 80mm telescope surprised me with its exceptional optical quality combined with an ultra-lightweight design. At just 1.85 pounds for the optical tube assembly, this telescope redefines portability without sacrificing performance. During my testing sessions, I consistently achieved crystal-clear views of lunar features and planetary details.

The 80mm aperture with fully coated green optics glass lens delivers impressive light-gathering capability. The 600mm focal length provides a good balance between wide-field and high-magnification viewing. I was particularly impressed with the sharpness of Saturn’s rings and the detail visible on Jupiter’s cloud bands.

What sets this telescope apart is its unique rough adjustment gimbal mount with scale markings. This innovative design allows for smooth, precise movements in both altitude and azimuth, making it easier to track celestial objects compared to traditional alt-azimuth mounts.

The included carrying backpack is well-designed with dedicated compartments for all components. The complete package, including the aluminum tripod, weighs just over 5 pounds, making it one of the most portable 80mm telescopes available.

Setup is straightforward and takes only a few minutes. The telescope comes with two Kellner eyepieces (K20mm and K9mm), a 5×24 finder scope, and a custom mobile phone adapter. While the cellphone adapter works well, I found it slightly wobbly when mounting larger smartphones.

What Users Love: Crystal clear views of night sky, lightweight and portable design, 80mm aperture for excellent light gathering, includes carrying backpack, easy setup and assembly.

Common Concerns: Some find build quality flimsy, cellphone holder can be wobbly, calibrating finder scope can be frustrating, limited magnification for deep space.

5. DWARF 3 Smart Telescope – Most Advanced Smart Telescope

The DWARF 3 represents the cutting edge of portable telescope technology, combining artificial intelligence with traditional optics in an incredibly compact package. Weighing just 3 pounds, this smart telescope amazed me with its ability to automatically locate, track, and image celestial objects with minimal user intervention.

The standout feature is the dual imaging system, which includes both a telephoto lens for deep space objects and a wide-angle lens for capturing the Milky Way. During my testing, I captured impressive images of the Andromeda Galaxy and Orion Nebula from my suburban backyard, something that would typically require much larger equipment and dark skies.

The 4K auto-tracking system works flawlessly, keeping objects centered for extended imaging sessions. The cloud-powered processing eliminates the need for complex software on your device – simply connect to the DWARFLAB app, select your target, and let the telescope do the work.

Portability is exceptional with this telescope. The included carrying bag provides protection during transport, and the magnetic solar filters make it safe for daytime solar observation. The battery life allows for several hours of continuous operation, perfect for a full night of observing.

While primarily designed for astrophotography, the DWARF 3 also excels at wildlife and panorama photography, making it a versatile imaging tool beyond astronomy. The automatic object recognition and tracking work equally well for terrestrial subjects.

What Users Love: Extremely lightweight and portable, dual-camera system produces stunning images, cloud processing eliminates software complexity, auto-tracking works perfectly, excellent customer service.

Common Concerns: WiFi signal strength could be better, limited internal storage (128GB not expandable), planets appear small due to deep space focus, learning curve for optimal use.

6. ZWO Seestar S50 – Best All-in-One Smart Telescope

The ZWO Seestar S50 delivers professional-grade astrophotography capabilities in an all-in-one, user-friendly package. After spending multiple nights with this telescope, I’m consistently impressed by its ability to produce high-quality deep sky images with minimal setup and technical knowledge required.

The professional-grade triplet apochromatic optics provide excellent color correction and sharpness, rivaling telescopes that cost thousands more. The built-in dew heater and anti-light pollution filter are thoughtful additions that eliminate the need for additional accessories, especially valuable for portable setups.

Operation couldn’t be simpler – level the tripod, attach the telescope, and turn it on. The full-automatic find and track functionality, combined with the phone app’s voice broadcast of imaging progress, makes it accessible for users of all experience levels.

What impressed me most is the Seestar S50’s ability to work offline without cell service. This makes it perfect for remote dark sky locations where connectivity is unavailable. The built-in solar filter also adds versatility for daytime observing.

The EQ Mode, Plan Mode, and Mosaic Mode provide advanced imaging capabilities for experienced users who want to push beyond basic point-and-shoot astrophotography. The dual-mode Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connection ensures reliable communication with your devices.

What Users Love: Exceptional value compared to traditional setups, extremely easy to use, professional-grade optics, all-in-one design eliminates accessory needs, works offline.

Common Concerns: Not ideal for planetary observation, small aperture limits deep space performance, alt/az mount limitations for long exposures.

7. Celestron StarSense Explorer 114AZ – Best Smartphone-Enabled Telescope

The Celestron StarSense Explorer 114AZ bridges the gap between traditional telescopes and smart telescopes by using your smartphone’s camera to create an intuitive navigation system. During my testing, the patented StarSense technology made finding celestial objects remarkably easy, even for someone with minimal astronomy experience.

The 114mm Newtonian reflector delivers impressive light-gathering capability, providing bright, detailed views of the Moon, planets, and brighter deep-sky objects. The high-reflectivity coatings on the mirrors maximize light transmission, ensuring good performance even in moderately light-polluted areas.

The StarSense app is the standout feature – simply dock your phone and follow the on-screen arrows to locate any celestial object in the database. The app’s “Tonight’s Best” feature generates a curated list of optimal targets based on your time and location, which I found particularly helpful for planning observation sessions.

The tabletop Dobsonian-style base provides stable support for the optical tube while maintaining a compact footprint. However, at 12.6 pounds, it’s heavier than most other options in this guide, though still portable enough for car camping trips.

The included 10mm and 17mm Kellner eyepieces provide good magnification options for various targets. The StarPointer red-dot finderscope works well for initial alignment, and the 2-year US warranty with unlimited support from Celestron’s experts provides excellent peace of mind.

What Users Love: StarSense app makes finding objects incredibly easy, accurate real-time guidance, 114mm aperture delivers bright views, stable tabletop design, excellent warranty and support.

Common Concerns: Assembly instructions could be clearer, base quite heavy for a tabletop model, requires some learning to use effectively, focus wheel initially stiff.

8. Koolpte 70mm Telescope – Most Affordable Entry-Level

The Koolpte 70mm telescope proves that quality astronomy equipment doesn’t have to break the bank. At under $60, this telescope offers impressive features and performance that make it perfect for budget-conscious beginners or as a gift for children interested in astronomy.

The high-quality lenses with anti-reflection coatings provide surprisingly good views for the price point. During my testing, I was able to clearly observe lunar craters, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s moons – more than enough to spark enthusiasm in new astronomers.

With magnification options from 20x to 200x (using the included 3 eyepieces and 3x Barlow lens), this telescope offers excellent versatility. The aluminum tripod is stable for the price and includes an accessory tray for keeping eyepieces organized during observation sessions.

The included phone adapter and wireless remote add significant value, allowing for basic astrophotography and convenient operation. While you won’t capture professional images, I was able to take recognizable photos of the moon’s surface using just my smartphone.

At just 4.05 pounds, this telescope is highly portable and easy to transport to dark sky locations. Setup is straightforward once you understand the process, though the included instructions could be more detailed.

What Users Love: Excellent value for money under $60, superior quality optics with coatings, versatile magnification range, portable and stable tripod, includes phone adapter.

Common Concerns: Instructions can be unclear and limited, build quality not as robust as expensive models, limited deep space observing capabilities.

How to Choose the Best Portable Telescope?

Understanding Aperture and Its Importance

Aperture, or the diameter of the telescope’s main lens or mirror, is the most critical factor determining a telescope’s performance. Larger apertures gather more light, allowing you to see fainter objects and resolve finer details. For portable telescopes, apertures typically range from 50mm to 114mm.

For planetary and lunar observation, a 70mm aperture provides good views of the Moon’s craters, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s moons. If you want to observe brighter deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, consider 80mm or larger apertures.

Focal Length and Magnification Considerations

The focal length determines your telescope’s field of view and magnification potential. Longer focal lengths provide higher magnification but narrower fields of view, while shorter focal lengths offer wider views suitable for star clusters and large nebulae.

For portable telescopes, focal lengths between 400mm and 600mm offer a good balance. Avoid telescopes advertising unrealistic magnification claims – the useful magnification is typically 2x the aperture in millimeters.

Mount Types: Alt-Azimuth vs. Equatorial

Alt-azimuth mounts move up-down (altitude) and left-right (azimuth), making them intuitive and easy to use. They’re perfect for casual observing and terrestrial viewing. Most portable telescopes use alt-azimuth mounts because they’re lightweight and require no alignment.

Equatorial mounts align with Earth’s rotation axis, making it easier to track celestial objects as they move across the sky. While better for astrophotography, they’re typically heavier and more complex to set up, making them less common in portable designs.

Portability Features to Consider

When choosing a portable telescope, consider the complete package weight including tripod and accessories. Look for telescopes under 10 pounds for easy transport. Carrying cases or backpacks add significant value by protecting your equipment during transport.

Setup time is another crucial factor – the best portable telescopes require no tools and can be ready for observing in under 5 minutes. Consider how often you’ll be moving your telescope and choose accordingly.

Smart vs. Traditional Telescopes

Smart telescopes like the DWARF 3 and ZWO Seestar S50 offer automatic object location and tracking, making them perfect for beginners. However, they come at a premium price and may not provide the same hands-on learning experience as traditional telescopes.

Traditional telescopes teach valuable skills in navigation and star identification while typically costing less. They also offer more flexibility in eyepiece selection and manual control over observations.

Final Recommendations

After spending over 40 hours testing these portable telescopes in various conditions from urban backyards to dark sky sites, I’m confident in my recommendations. Each telescope excels in different areas, so your choice should align with your specific needs and budget.

Best Overall: The Celestron Travel Scope 70 offers the perfect balance of portability, optical quality, and value. Its included travel backpack and no-tool setup make it ideal for astronomers who frequently observe from different locations.

Best Value: The HEXEUM 80mm telescope delivers impressive performance with its larger aperture and multi-coated optics, all at a budget-friendly price point that makes quality astronomy accessible to everyone.

Best for Beginners: The Gskyer 70mm AZ telescope provides everything needed to start your astronomy journey, including a phone adapter for astrophotography, all at an affordable price that won’t break the bank.

Best Smart Option: For those who want cutting-edge technology, the DWARF 3 Smart Telescope offers automatic object tracking and impressive imaging capabilities in an ultra-portable package that redefines convenience.

Remember that the best telescope is the one you’ll actually use regularly. Consider how often you’ll transport it, where you’ll observe from, and what celestial objects interest you most. With any of these portable telescopes, you’ll be well-equipped to explore the wonders of the night sky from anywhere your adventures take you.