Cameras & Imaging / Optics
Last updated: Written by: Rafael Rocha

5 Best Telescopes for Beginners

Five telescopes for beginners, including Koolpte Telescope for Adults & and Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm, compared for aperture, mount stability and eyepiece selection.

Our top 5 telescopes for beginners

Swipe to compare price, customer rating and best use →

Five products compared by price, customer rating and best use.
ProductPriceCustomer ratingBest for
01Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm Fully Multi-Coated High Transmission Coatings with AZ Mount Tripod Phone Adapter, Carrying Bag, Wireless Control. product image from AmazonKoolpte TelescopeDetails ↓$139.99
4.3/5Observed Oct 13, 2026
Best overall
02Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote. product image from AmazonGskyer Telescope 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount AstronomicalDetails ↓$96.99
4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
Best for first-time stargazing
03Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered, 80mm Aperture 600mm AZ Mount Refractor Telescope for Kids Beginners - Portable Telescopes for Adults Astronomy with Backpack, Phone Adapter, Moon Filter product image from AmazonCelticbird Telescope for Adults High PoweredDetails ↓$89.99
4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
Best for 80mm optics
04MEEZAA Telescope, Telescope for Adults High Powered Professional, 90mm Aperture 800mm Refractor Telescopes for Astronomy Beginners Stargazing Fully Multi-Coated with Tripod & Phone Adapter & Carry Bag product image from AmazonMEEZAA Telescope TelescopeDetails ↓$149.98
4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
Best for 90mm aperture
05Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope | Smartphone App Sky Navigation, Manual Reflector Telescope, Beginner Deep-Sky Telescope, Bright Celestial Views, Portable product image from AmazonCelestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian SmartphoneDetails ↓$239.99
4.1/5Observed Oct 13, 2026
Best for phone-guided viewing
Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm Fully Multi-Coated High Transmission Coatings with AZ Mount Tripod Phone Adapter, Carrying Bag, Wireless Control. product image from Amazon

01 — Koolpte

Best overall

Koolpte Telescope

4.3/5Observed Oct 13, 2026
$139.99In Stock

Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm Fully is a telescope with 80mm, 600mm, 25mm. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+Manageable 80 mm refractor format

+80 mm

+600 mm

Reasons to avoid

−Accessory photos can overstate imaging ability

−Mount alignment and setup take time

Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote. product image from Amazon

02 — Gskyer

Best for first-time stargazing

Gskyer Telescope 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical

4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
$96.99In Stock

Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope gives this telescope 70mm, 400mm. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+70 mm

+400 mm

Reasons to avoid

−Limited aperture and mount expectations

−Mount alignment and setup take time

Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered, 80mm Aperture 600mm AZ Mount Refractor Telescope for Kids Beginners - Portable Telescopes for Adults Astronomy with Backpack, Phone Adapter, Moon Filter product image from Amazon

03 — CELTICBIRD

Best for 80mm optics

Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered

4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
$89.99In Stock

Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered lists 80mm, 600mm, 20mm for this telescope. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+80 mm

+600 mm

+Filter

Reasons to avoid

−Accessory bundle needs exact-model checking

−Mount alignment and setup take time

MEEZAA Telescope, Telescope for Adults High Powered Professional, 90mm Aperture 800mm Refractor Telescopes for Astronomy Beginners Stargazing Fully Multi-Coated with Tripod & Phone Adapter & Carry Bag product image from Amazon

04 — MEEZAA

Best for 90mm aperture

MEEZAA Telescope Telescope

4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026
$149.98In Stock

MEEZAA Telescope, Telescope for Adults High Powered Professional, 90mm Aperture 800mm is built as a telescope with 90mm, 800mm, 10 mm. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+90 mm

+800 mm

Reasons to avoid

−Mount alignment and setup take time

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope | Smartphone App Sky Navigation, Manual Reflector Telescope, Beginner Deep-Sky Telescope, Bright Celestial Views, Portable product image from Amazon

05 — Celestron

Best for phone-guided viewing

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone

4.1/5Observed Oct 13, 2026
$239.99In Stock

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope offers 114MM in a telescope format. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+Phone-guided target finding and 114 mm aperture

+Manual

Reasons to avoid

−Reflector alignment and phone reliance

−Mount alignment and setup take time

Price information

Amazon price and availability checked Oct 25, 2026, 4:14 PM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.

Our process

How we picked.

We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.

  • 01
    Relevance

    Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.

  • 02
    Specifications

    We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.

  • 03
    Use case and fit

    We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.

  • 04
    Strengths and limitations

    We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.

Read our full methodology →

Good questions

FAQ — Telescopes for Beginners

01What matters most when comparing telescopes for beginners?+

Aperture matters here. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification.

02What should I check before buying telescopes for beginners?+

Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

03How do Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner and Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ differ?+

Koolpte Telescope for Adults & Beginner Astronomers - 80mm Aperture 600mm Fully has 80mm and 600mm; Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope has 70mm and 400mm. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

04Is Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered a suitable telescope for this use?+

Celticbird Telescope for Adults High Powered identifies 80mm and 600mm. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification.

05What should I know about MEEZAA Telescope, Telescope for Adults High?+

MEEZAA Telescope, Telescope for Adults High Powered Professional, 90mm Aperture 800mm lists 90mm and 800mm. Check included eyepieces and the assembled weight before choosing a telescope.

06Who is Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ best suited to?+

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Newtonian Smartphone Guided Telescope lists 114MM. A larger aperture gathers more light, but a shaky mount can make the view frustrating even at low magnification.

The short answer

Start with the Koolpte Telescope.

It is our first pick for this guide’s exact scope. Choose another option when its stated use case or trade-off better matches yours.

View on Amazon ↗