Smart Telescopes: Best Buy Guide

last updated: 09/01/2025

With many smart telescopes already on the market and more on the way, it’s becoming a challenge to decide which smart telescope best suits your individual needs. In this Best Buy guide, I compare various brands of Unistellar, Vaonis, ZWO Seestar, and Dwarflab’s Dwarf smart telescopes. Based on factors such as price, telescope type, camera, ease of use, real-world photo quality, storage capacity, weight, and size, this guide aims to help you make an informed decision. I conclude the comparison by discussing which smart telescopes are the best in their price class, ranging from $500, $1500, $2500, and a high-end $4000. I’ll be updating this Best Buy guide periodically as more smart telescopes become available.

The Rise of Smart Telescopes: Simplifying Stargazing and Astrophotography for All

Smart telescopes are becoming increasingly popular. The fundamental concept behind smart telescopes is to merely switch on the device, connect it to an APP on your smart device (phone/tablet), select a celestial object of interest, and then sit back and relax while the smart telescope handles all the challenging aspects for you. This includes locating the object of your interest in the night sky, tracking the object to keep it centered in your telescope’s field of view, and providing you with an excellent view of that object on your smart device (phone/tablet/iPad). Companies like Unistellar, Vaonis, and Dwarflab were among the first to develop smart telescopes with the primary goal of simplifying stargazing and astrophotography for ordinary people who don’t wish to invest days, months, or years mastering all the intricacies of our captivating hobby known as astrophotography. Due to its popularity, more established brands in the amateur astrophotography niche like ZWO, and more recently Celestron, have developed or are developing their smart telescopes.

Smart Telescopes Best Buy Guide: Choosing Your Celestial Companion

The primary objective of the Smart Telescope Best Buy Guide is to assist individuals in choosing the most suitable smart telescope. In this guide, I define a telescope as “smart” when the telescope is capable of autonomously locating, tracking, and capturing images of celestial objects in the night sky. This excludes traditional telescopes designed for naked-eye stargazing with an eyepiece. All featured telescopes are Wi-Fi-enabled and controllable through apps compatible with popular platforms like iOS and Android.

At present, this smart telescope guide includes the following brands: Celestron, Dwarflab, Unistellar, Vaonis, and ZWO Seestar telescopes. Some are older models but might still be relevant, as you could find used telescopes available from their original owners. The blog will be regularly updated to incorporate new smart telescopes as they become available.

I’ve taken various factors into account to help you find the ideal smart telescope:

1. Price
2. Telescope specifications (aperture, focal length, f/ratio)
3. Camera sensor details (resolution, image scale, field of view)
4. APP quality for smart telescope control
5. Picture quality
6. Photo and Video formats
7. Storage capacity
8. Weight and Size
9. Astrophotography filters

You can find my recommendations for the best smart telescopes in different price ranges here:

• Best Smart Telescope for $350
• Best Smart Telescope for $500
• Best Smart Telescope for $1500
• Best Smart Telescope for $2500
• Best Smart Telescope for $4000

My Smart Telescope Table featuring links to reliable telescope retailers in the EU and USA, as well as direct purchase options from the original brands.

Smart Telescope Comparison Table

Price

The ZWO Seestar S30, available for $349, is one of the cheapest smart telescopes on the market today, followed by Dwarflab’s Dwarf 3 and the ZWO Seestar S50, each retailing for approximately $499. These telescopes provide an economical entry point into deep-sky astrophotography. You can check out my detailed review of the Seestar S30 here, the Seestar S50 here, and my review of the Dwarf 3 is available here. If you’re interested in Dwarflab’s older model, the Dwarf 2, my comprehensive review can be found here.

Vaonis currently offers the Vespera II, starting at $1,590, and their newer Vaonis Vespera Pro, starting at $2,799. You can find my review of the Vespera II here. If you’re interested in the older, classic version of the Vespera, you can find my review here.

Unistellar has the Odyssey at $2,299, the Unistellar Equinox 2 at $2,499, the Odyssey Pro at $3,999, and the Unistellar EVscope 2, which tops the range at $4,899. Finally, the Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory is priced t $3,999. Do these price variations correlate with differences in quality? Let’s explore further to find out.

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Telescope types

Telephoto and wide-field design

Although marketed as telescopes, Dwarflab’s DWARF models feature telephoto and wide-field lenses instead of a traditional telescope design for capturing night sky images. This versatile combination makes DWARF telescopes ideal for both daytime nature and wildlife photography as well as nighttime astrophotography, serving as a multipurpose device.

Refractor telescopes

The ZWO Seestar (S30/S50) and Vaonis Vespera (classic/II/Pro), as well as the older Vaonis Stellina belong to the category of refractor telescopes, utilizing lenses to gather and focus light. The Vaonis Stellina stands out as a two-lens ED doublet refractor telescope, incorporating Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements in its lens system. The use of ED glass effectively reduces chromatic aberration, resulting in sharper and more color-accurate images compared to standard refractors.

Notably, the ZWO Seestar S30 and S50 adopts a triplet Refractor Telescope design, featuring a three-lens system, with one extra-low dispersion (ED) element. The additional lenses in a triplet, compared to a doublet, contribute to further correction of chromatic aberration, enhancing image quality and color correction. ZWO does not specify the exact type of ED glass used in their telescopes (e.g. FPL-51, FPL-53, or FCD-100), but does ensure an apochromatic, sharp and color accurate view of the night sky with their Seestar telescopes.

The Vaonis Vespera (classic/II/Pro) adopts a Quadruplet Refractor Telescope design, incorporating a four-lens system with an S-FPL52 ED lens element. The additional lens elements in a quadruplet design, exceeding those in a triplet or doublet, significantly enhance color correction, resulting in exceptionally high-quality images in the field of astrophotography.

Reflector telescopes

Unistellar’s designs (e.g. Odyssey, Equinox 2, EVscope 2) all fall into the category of reflector telescopes, relying on mirrors to collect and focus light. Typically, a reflector telescope includes a curved primary mirror and a secondary mirror. Reflector telescopes are popular choices in astrophotography as they provide a large aperture at lower costs as compared to refractor telescope designs. But Unistellar’s telescopes are priced in the mid-range to high price categories in the smart telescope market.

This may be due to their innovative design where the optical tubes are prime-focus single-mirror telescopes, devoid of a secondary mirror or a coma corrector. In this design, the image directly reflects from the primary mirror to the camera sensor. This design may reflect some of the more expensive reflector designs on the traditional telescope market like Celestron’s RASA Telescopes.

Manual collimation is required for Unistellar’s Equinox and EVscope designs, but not for their Odyssey telescopes. Unistellar provides specific videos on how to achieve collimation. Despite these challenges, reflectors, with their larger apertures, excel in deep-sky astrophotography, capturing ample light for detailed celestial images.

Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph

The Celestron Origin telescope features the advanced Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA), an f/2.2 optical system with an ultra-wide field of view and sharp edge-to-edge clarity. Unlike traditional designs, RASA places the imaging sensor at the front, enabling faster and more efficient light capture. The compact 6” RASA in the Origin offers observatory-grade performance in a portable design. RASA’s speed and aperture surpass Newtonian reflectors, refractors, or other entry-level telescopes, delivering exceptional image detail in shorter exposures. While Celestron ensures the telescope is well-collimated out of the box, it is a mirror-based system, so periodic collimation may be required to align the camera with the mirror. Proper collimation is crucial to maintaining the telescope’s exceptional performance and capturing stunning astrophotography results.

Aperture, focal length, and f/ratio

In astrophotography, aperture and focal length are key. Aperture, the telescope’s lens or mirror diameter, determines its light-gathering ability—essential for capturing faint objects. Among smart telescopes, the largest apertures are in the Unistellar Equinox 2 and EVscope 2 (114mm), followed by the Unistellar Odyssey (Pro) with 85mm. The Vaonis Stellina, now only available used, remains the largest refractor at 80mm. The Vaonis Vespera and Seestar S50 have 50mm apertures, while the Dwarf 3 (35mm), Seestar S30 (30mm), and Dwarf 2 (28mm) offer the smallest apertures.

Focal length, the distance from the lens or mirror to the image plane, affects magnification and field of view. Longer focal lengths provide higher magnification, ideal for detailed shots. The Unistellar Equinox 2 and EVscope 2 lead with 450mm, followed by the Vaonis Stellina (400mm) and Unistellar Odyssey (320mm). The Seestar S50, Vaonis Vespera II/Pro have 250mm, while the classic Vespera has 200mm. The Dwarf 3 and Seestar S30 offer 150mm, with the Dwarf 2 telephoto lens shortest at 100mm.

The f/ratio, calculated as focal length divided by aperture, is crucial in astrophotography. Lower f/ratios enable quicker exposures for capturing faint deep-sky objects, while higher f/ratios are better for bright targets like the Moon and planets. Among smart telescopes, the Unistellar Odyssey (Pro) has the lowest f/ratio at 3.9, followed by the Unistellar EVscope 2, Equinox 2, and Vaonis Vespera at f/4. The Dwarf 2 has an f/ratio of 4.2, and the Dwarf 3 slightly higher at 4.3. The Seestar S50, S30, and the Vaonis Vespera II, Pro, and Stellina all share an f/ratio of 5.

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Camera sensors: Resolution, Image Scale, and Field of View

Sony STARVIS (IMX) sensors

All the smart telescopes featured in this overview come equipped with Sony STARVIS IMX sensors. Sony’s STARVIS CMOS image sensors use back-illuminated pixel technology and exhibit remarkable sensitivity, rendering them perfectly suited for applications such as astrophotography, security, and other scenarios with low-light conditions.

Resolution (MP)

The Vaonis Vespera Pro leads with a 12.5-megapixel sensor (3536 x 3536), followed by the Vaonis Vespera II, Unistellar Odyssey (Pro), Dwarf 2, and Dwarf 3 at 8 megapixels (3840 x 2160). The Unistellar EVscope2 offers 7.7 megapixels (2088 x 1536), the Celestron Origin and the Vaonis Stellina both offer 6.4 megapixels (3096 x 2080), and the Unistellar Equinox 2 6.2 megapixels (2048 x 1536). The Vaonis Vespera (classic) and ZWO Seestar S50/S30 have the smallest resolution at 2 megapixels (1920 x 1080), with ZWO using a portrait-oriented sensor for smartphone alignment.

Image scale

Image scale measures how much sky each camera pixel covers, expressed in arcseconds, with 1 arcsecond equaling 1/3600th of a degree. For context, the Moon spans about 1800 arcseconds (0.5 degrees). In astrophotography, an ideal image scale is 1–2 arcseconds per pixel, balancing sharpness and avoiding overly bloated or blocky stars. The optimal scale also depends on the target’s apparent size and personal preference, whether for wide fields or detailed close-ups.

The Unistellar EVscope 2 and Equinox 2 offer the finest image scale at 0.66 arcseconds per pixel, followed by the Unistellar Odyssey at 0.93. The Vaonis Stellina achieves 1.24, the Celestron Origin 1.48, the Vespera Pro 1.60, and both the Vespera II and Seestar S50 2.39. The Dwarf 3 provides 2.75, while the classic Vespera and Dwarf 2 are at 2.99. The Seestar S30 has the highest image scale at 3.99 arcseconds per pixel.

Field of View

The Field of View (FoV) measures the portion of the sky visible in a single image. Wider FoVs are ideal for large nebulae or star clusters, while narrower ones are better for smaller objects like distant galaxies. For instance, the Andromeda Galaxy spans about 3°x1°, while the Whirlpool Galaxy covers just 11’x7′ (0.18°x0.12°).

Among smart telescopes, the Dwarf 2 has the widest FoV at 3.2°x1.8°, followed by the Dwarf 3 (2.93°x1.65°) and Vaonis Vespera II (2.5°x1.4°). The Vaonis Vespera Pro captures 1.6°x1.6°, the Seestar S30 covers 1.2°x2.13°, the classic Vespera 1.6°x0.9°, the Celestron Origin 1.27°x0.85°, and the Stellina 1°x0.7°. The Seestar S50 captures 0.7°x1.3° in portrait mode, while the Unistellar Odyssey provides 0.56°x0.75°. The EVscope 2 and Equinox 2 have the narrowest FoV at 0.34°x0.45°, just large enough to fit the full Moon.

Importantly, Seestar’s framing mode and Vaonis’s CovalENS can expand their telescopes’ FoV by two to four times by capturing and stitching multiple images into a single mosaic. However, this process takes more time, as different sections of the night sky must be photographed separately and then combined into the final image.

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Smart Telescope Control via Wireless APPS

Each brand offers a dedicated app for wirelessly controlling their telescopes, available on both iOS and Android. After downloading and installing the app, you’ll be prompted to grant GPS access for precise sky tracking based on your location. Bluetooth and WiFi must also be enabled for a wireless connection. I’ve noticed periodic software updates, similar to other apps on your phone. Once the app is installed, simply open it, power on your smart telescope, ensure the mount is level, connect to the telescope’s WiFi, and you’re set to start. Keep in mind that some apps are more user-friendly and feature-rich than others, and updates often introduce new functionalities. Here’s my personal experience with different apps.

Seestar APP (S50/S30)

The Seestar app, designed for ZWO Seestar smart telescopes, is a well-crafted tool suitable for both novice and experienced astronomers. It provides key information like moon phase, weather forecast, and recommended celestial objects based on your location. The app features a virtual sky atlas, a searchable database of celestial bodies, and detailed information on selected targets. Users can easily select an object, and with a tap on “go gazing,” the Seestar S50 automatically slews to the target, centers it in the view, and starts calibration with 10-second photo stacking for improved views. Special modes for lunar, solar (with filter), and planetary observations are included, with automatic camera settings and up to 4x digital zoom for planetary views. The app also allows users to capture up to 2x the original field of view and rotate deep-sky objects to their liking. It also offers a community tab for interaction and a scenery mode for daytime use, making it versatile for activities like birding or wildlife photography. Its automation enhances the stargazing experience with both video and photography capabilities.

Singularity APP (Vaonis Vespera/Stellina)

Vaonis offers the Singularity app for their smart telescopes. The main screen provides a weather forecast, upcoming astronomical events, and articles on using Vaonis telescopes and image processing, with direct links for purchasing accessories. In the exploration tab, users find recommended targets, as well as categorized listings of celestial objects, constellations, and Messier objects. The constellation feature details observation times, directions, altitudes, and more about selected targets. After a brief initialization, Vaonis telescopes automatically slew to the target, perform autofocus, and deliver live feeds on connected devices. Solar mode, requiring a solar filter, includes a feature showing the Sun’s size from different planets. The app also supports collaborative observation, letting multiple users join and control the telescope remotely. The “plan my night” option allows users to schedule sessions, and the covaLENS panorama mode capture larger parts of the night sky for large objects. The app is beginner-friendly and intuitive.

Dwarflab APP (Dwarf 2 and 3)

The Dwarflab app is designed for both nature and wildlife photography, as well as astrophotography. It offers live views from wide-angle and telephoto lenses, with a smooth switch between them for capturing subjects. The joystick-like button controls telescope movement, and the speed dial adjusts slewing speed. Although automatic tracking is somewhat inconsistent, it can follow moving subjects. The app supports photo, video, and timelapse modes for daytime use. With the Dwarf 3, Dwarflab introduced a virtual sky atlas for easier object search, tracking and an experimental EQ mode (polar alignment procedure), allowing users to capture longer exposure photos and collect more faint light from deep-sky objects. EQ mode also reduces problems concerning field rotation, which is common in smart telescopes and alt-az tracking. The app also includes automatic settings for Sun and Moon capture, adjusting shutter speed and gain for detailed observation. While setup is more involved compared to other apps, it offers manual control over camera settings, and astrophotography mode offers features like live stacking and AI noise reduction.

Unistellar APP (EVscope 2, EQuinox 2, Odyssey)

The Unistellar app provides an intuitive home screen with recommended targets and helpful guidance for first-time users. It features categorized lists of celestial objects—such as solar system targets, nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, and stars—along with a searchable catalog of over 5,000 objects. Selecting an object reveals its description, location, and optimal viewing times. The app supports up to 10 connected devices, highlighting the brightest and best-positioned objects for easy observation. Once a target is selected, the telescope automatically slews to it and begins live stacking images. Additionally, the app connects users to a global citizen astronomy community, enabling participation in science missions and sharing stunning astrophotography results. It makes exploring the universe accessible and engaging for all levels of stargazers.

Celestron Origin APP (Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory)

The Celestron Origin’s companion app transforms how you explore the night sky, making astronomy simple and engaging. Setup is effortless with StarSense technology: place the telescope outside, turn it on, and connect to the app. Within minutes, Origin aligns itself by mapping star patterns and is ready for use. The app offers an intuitive planetarium interface powered by SkySafari™, letting you explore the sky in “compass mode.” Tap any highlighted object or use the “Tonight’s Best” list for curated celestial targets based on your location and time. Once selected, Origin automatically centers the target, tracks it, and starts capturing 10-second exposures at the press of a button. Real-time AI algorithms process images to enhance detail while preserving your data. Share the experience with friends through live device streaming or cast to your TV. Origin ensures everyone, from beginners to experts, can enjoy breathtaking cosmic views with ease.

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Photo & Video formats

All smart telescopes in this overview support multiple photo formats like JPEG, FITS, and TIFF files. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) utilizes lossy compression, discarding some data to achieve smaller file sizes. Because of their limited size, JPEG files can be readily shared with friends and family, or on social media.

In contrast, FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) files employ lossless compression, crucial for preserving scientific data in astronomy, and are stored in a 16-bit format, which provides more color depth. These higher-quality FITS files are often used for post-processing, where you can (re-)stack multiple images of a celestial object and recreate your final image to your liking. While smart telescopes do the stacking and processing of pictures automatically for you, there’s also the option to download the FITS files on your computer and use third party Astro-processing software to enhance your pictures. Post-processing Astro-pictures has its learning curves, but it gives you more autonomy to create astrophotography pictures to your liking.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files are used by smart telescopes to save a final, stacked picture of a celestial object in 16-bit lossless compression, preserving the image quality and true color of the picture. They are also better suited for post-processing images, as compared to JPEG files This creates two options; you can either recreate the entire stacking process by restacking the individual fits files, or you can take the automatically stacked TIFF file for further processing.

In addition to this, the Dwarf 2/3, and Seestar S50/S30 also support video. The Dwarf 2 and 3 include an option to take MP4 videos, while the Seestar S50 stores videos in MP4 and AVI RAW format. MP4 files have a smaller file size due to the advanced compression algorithms and are great for immediate sharing. The Seestar S50 also stores solar and lunar videos in uncompressed 16-bit AVI RAW, which is excellent for manual post-processing using third party software tools like Autostakkert! and Registax.Videos are also exciting as it provides you with the opportunity to record lunar and solar eclipses. Note that you can also stack and process FITS images using autostakkert.

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Image Quality

Real-world images best showcase performance. Here are some pictures I took with some of the Smart Telescopes in my light-polluted Bortle 7 urban sky. All images were stacked and processed by me, with exposure times ranging from 45 to 90 minutes.

ZWO Seestar S30 – my real-word pictures in an urban area

ZWO Seestar S50 – my real-world pictures in an urban area

Vaonis Vespera II – my real-world pictures in an urban area

DWARF 2 – my real-world pictures in an urban area

DWARF 3 Smart Telescope (with new EQ mode) – my real world pictures in an urban area

Other images

Astrobin is a reliable website to check out astrophotography photos taken with other smart telescopes that I’ve not yet tested and/or included in this overview.

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Storage capacity and Battery life

All smart telescopes have internal storage capacity to save your photos, which can be transferred to your computer, smartphone, or tablet after an imaging session. More storage capacity is useful as it relates to less time needed to transfer files to other devices and delete images to free up space for the next imaging session. In that respect, the Vaonis Vespera Pro stands out with a storage capacity of 225GB, followed by the Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope at 128GB; the Seestar S50/S30, Unistellar Equinox 2, Odyssey and EVscope 2, as well as the Dwarf 2 Smart telescopes, all have a 64GB storage capacity. The Celestron Origin has about 45GB storage capacity, the Vaonis Vespera II only has 25 GB of storage, and the Vaonis Stellina and classic version of the Vespera only have 10GB.

All smart telescopes have internal batteries that can be recharged after an imaging session. Longer battery life is useful so you don’t have to worry about forcefully stopping an imaging session because your smart telescope runs out of battery. In that respect, the Vespera Pro and Unistellar Equinox 2 boast 11 hours of battery life, followed by the Unistellar EVscope 2 rated at 10 hours. The classic Vaonis Vespera lasts for 8 hours, the Seestar S50/S30, Dwarf 3, and the Celestron Origin all boast about 6 hours, the Unistellar Odyssey and Vaonis Stellina have about 5 hours of battery life. Finally, the Vaonis Vespera II and the Dwarf 2 only run for 4 hours before needing a recharge. The Dwarf 2 is the only telescope with a removable battery. Most smart telescopes can be recharged using a USB-C cable, also while in use, except the Classic (first) edition of the Vaonis Vespera and Stellina, which needs a proprietary cable that comes with the telescope for recharging.

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Weight and Size

The portability and size of these smart telescopes may also be important, especially if you’re planning to take them on to remote places for stargazing. The Celestron Origin is the heaviest smart telescope weighing 18,9 kg, followed by the Vaonis Stellina at 11kg, the Unistellar EVscope 2 at 9kg, and the Unistellar Equinox 2 at 7kg. Significantly more portable are the Vaonis Vespera models at 5kg. The Unistellar Odyssey weights 3 kg. The Seestar S50 is only 3kg, and by far the most portable devices are the Seestar S30 at 1.65 kg, and Dwarlab’s Dwarf 3 and Dwarf 2 smart Telescopes, weighing only 1.3 and 1.2 kg, respectively.

As for size, the Celestron Origin (61 x 66 x 121 cm) is the biggest telescope. The Unistellar Evscope 2 (77 x 33 x 26 cm) and Equinox 2 (65 x 23 x 12 cm) are also pretty bulky, although they do fit in a backpack, followed by the Vaonis Stellina (49 x 39 x 13 cm). All models of the Vaonis Vespera are significantly smaller (48 x 20 x 9 cm), as well as the Unistellar Odyssey (43 x 20 x 13 cm), and easily fit in a backpack. Finally, the Seestar S50 (14 x 13 x 26 cm), S30 (21 x 14 x 8 cm), Dwarf 3 (20 x 6 x 13 cm) and the Dwarf 2 Smart Telescope (20 x 5 x 13 cm) are the most portable smart telescopes in this overview.

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Astrophotography filters

Good quality astrophotography filters play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of light pollution in urban settings while enhancing the nebulous details in your astronomical images. Additionally, employing a solar filter is imperative for safeguarding your smart telescope by reducing solar energy, and enabling the observation of sunspots. Remember, never gaze directly at the sun, as it poses a risk of blindness.

The Seestar S50 is equipped with an internal light pollution filter to counter urban light pollution and enhance signal to noise ratio. The Seestar S30 is equipped with a Dark Field Filter (reduces noise), a UV/IR Cut Filter (blocks infrared light interference) and a Light Pollution Filter (Optimized for OIII and Ha wavelengths, great for nebulae). Both Seestar telescopes also include a solar filter without any extra charge. The Dwarf 3 has a magnetic solar glasses with ND filters that come with the telescope to place in front of the two lenses. The Dwarf 3 also comes with additional VIS filter for daytime use, an internal Astro filter to combat light pollution, and a Duo band filter (Ha, Oiii) for deep sky astrophotography.

For an enhanced experience, the (older) Dwarf 2 model has a deluxe version at an additional cost of around $120, featuring a 1.25″ solar filter and a 1.25″ ultra-high contrast filter. It is advisable to skip the UHC filter from Dwarflab and opt for the superior 1.25″ dual-band filter (e.g. from ZWO or Optolong), which can be easily mounted on the Dwarf 2.

The Vaonis Vespera provides customization options with separately purchasable dual-band, light pollution, and solar filters, ranging from $199 for a solar filter to $399 for a dual-band filter. Not cheap, but the filters do their job well. The older Vaonis Stellina came with an internal light pollution filter and a solar filter, available for $199.

the Celestron Origin has a built-in filter drawer that accepts standard 1.25” and 2” format filters. This allows you to install optional filters, which can be especially useful in imaging nebulae in light-polluted environments like the typical suburban backyard. Celestron offers an optional ‘Nebula’ filter (Hydrogen-alpha, Hydrogen-beta, doubly ionized oxygen) for $199.  

Unistellar only offers a smart solar filter for the Evscope 2 and Equinox 2 ($249) and Odyssey ($199). Unistellar asserts that its software is crafted to combat light pollution. While they may employ techniques like dynamic background extraction, background neutralization, and color balancing in their capturing software, like I do when I’m processing my astro-pictures, the specifics remain undisclosed…

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Final verdict

Best Smart Telescope for $349; Seestar S30

The Seestar S30, priced at $349 at the time of writing, is the most affordable smart telescope for those looking to enhance their stargazing experience without breaking the bank. Ideal for beginners, it features an intuitive Seestar app, available for iOS and Android devices. The app allows users to wirelessly control the telescope with a smartphone or tablet. This makes astrophotography and advanced stargazing accessible without the steep learning curve of traditional equipment. Simply select an object, and the S30 handles the rest, delivering impressive images for its price. Like all telescopes, the S30 has its limitations. It’s not ideal for planetary observation—larger aperture telescopes like Dobsonians or SCTs are better suited. The alt-az tracking limits deep-sky exposures to max. 30 seconds and can cause field rotation during longer integrations. Still, the S30’s affordability and ease of use make it a great choice for beginners and casual users. Even experienced astrophotographers can appreciate its convenience and capabilities for quick, enjoyable observations.

Seestar S30 ($349)
✔ Very affordable ✔ Intuitive app for wireless control ✔ Beginner-friendly automation ✔ Great for casual astrophotography
✘ Limited to max. 30-second exposures ✘ Field rotation in long integrations ✘ Small aperture unsuitable for detailed planetary observation

Strengths: Affordable at $349, intuitive app for wireless control, beginner-friendly automation, great for casual astrophotography.

Drawbacks: Limited to 30-second exposures, field rotation in long integrations, small aperture unsuitable for detailed planetary observation.

The Seestar S30 is currently available at ZWO (WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), Agena Astro (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

Best Smart Telescope for $500; Seestar S50 & Dwarf 3

At $499, the Dwarf 3 and Seestar S50 cater to distinct preferences in astrophotography.

The Dwarf 3 is ideal for those seeking an all-in-one, multipurpose telescope for nature, wildlife, and astrophotography. It features a 150mm focal length, 35mm aperture ED telephoto lens, and Sony IMX678 8 MP sensor, making it perfect for capturing large deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula. With a 2.93° x 1.65° field of view (FoV), it enables wide-angle imaging, and its new EQ mode allows up to 60-second long-exposure astrophotography, reducing distortion and field rotation.

The Seestar S50, on the other hand, is designed for ease of use and offers an advanced stargazing experience. It boasts a longer 250mm focal length, 50mm aperture, and Sony IMX462 2.1 MP sensor, which are well-suited for smaller deep-sky objects. Its standard 0.73° x 1.29° FoV can be expanded with a framing mode in the Seestar app to capture larger mosaics (up to 1.4° x 2.6°), although this process requires more time. While its image scale (2.39 arc seconds) is slightly better than the Dwarf 3’s (2.75 arc seconds), the Seestar S50 uses only alt-az tracking and officially lacks an equatorial mode, limiting exposure times to 10–30 seconds.

Both devices feature user-friendly apps: the Seestar app is optimized for advanced stargazers and beginner astrophotographers, while the Dwarf 3 app caters to nature and wildlife photography as well as astrophotography.

If you prefer a versatile telescope for multiple purposes, the Dwarf 3 is likely your best choice. If you value simplicity and a refined stargazing experience, the Seestar S50 may be the better fit.

Dwarf 3 ($499)	Seestar S50 ($499)
✔ Ideal for large deep-sky objects ✔ Wide field of view ✔ Long exposures with equatorial tracking mode ✔ Versatile for nature, wildlife, and astrophotography	✔ Great for deep-sky objects ✔ Mosaic capturing for broader views ✔ Superior image detail ✔ Intuitive and user-friendly app
✘ Not suited for small objects ✘ Limited resolution ✘ Dwarflab App may feel complex for beginners	✘ Short exposure time limits long integrations ✘ Lacks equatorial tracking mode ✘ Narrower native field of view

Check out my full reviews of the Seestar S50 and the Dwarf 3 for more details!

The Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope is available at Dwarflab (WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

The ZWO Seestar S50 can be purchased directly at ZWO (WW), and at Agena Astro (USA/WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

Best Smart Telescope for $1000-$2000; Vaonis Vespera vs Vespera II

If you’re deciding between the Vaonis Vespera and the Vespera II, the newer Vespera II is the more preferred option despite its slightly higher price. Priced $100 more, the Vespera II includes significant upgrades: an advanced Sony IMX 585 8.3 camera sensor, a longer 250mm focal length providing a higher resolution, and greater magnification. It also offers 25 GB of internal storage compared to the original Vespera’s limited 10 GB and supports a modern USB-C charging port, whereas the classic Vespera relies on a proprietary cable.

The only downside to the Vespera II is its lower battery life of 4 hours compared to the original’s 8 hours. However, this can be easily addressed by powering the telescope with an external battery via its USB-C connection while imaging, making this limitation negligible in most situations.

Both models feature the CovalENS mode, which enables panoramic imaging with fields of view up to four times larger than the native range. This is perfect for capturing expansive objects like nebulae and galaxies, although it requires longer imaging times for optimal results. The intuitive Singularity app and a variety of optional accessories, including filters and carrying backpacks, enhance the experience with both telescopes.

In summary, except for its slightly shorter battery life, the Vespera II is the clear winner, offering better imaging capabilities, more storage, and improved versatility for a relatively small increase in price. For the best value in this price range, the Vespera II is the way to go.

Vaonis Vespera ($1499)	Vaonis Vespera II ($1590)
✔ Great for panoramic imaging ✔ Longer battery life (8 hours) ✔ Affordable compared to the Vespera II	✔ Advanced camera sensor (IMX 585) ✔ Longer focal length (250mm) for higher resolution ✔ More storage (25 GB) ✔ USB-C charging port for convenience
✘ Limited storage (10 GB) ✘ Proprietary cable for charging	✘ Shorter battery life (4 hours)

Check out my reviews of the Vaonis Vespera and Vespera II for more details.

The Vaonis Vespera II is available at Vaonis, Agena Astro (USA/WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

The Vaonis Vespera (classic edition) is available at Agena Astro (USA/WW) and Astroshop (EU/WW)

Best Smart Telescope for $2000-$3000; Vaonis Vespera Pro vs Unistellar Equinox 2 vs. Unistellar Odyssey

When shopping for a smart telescope in this price range, your decision ultimately depends on what you want to capture and how much effort you’re willing to put into maintenance and setup.

The Unistellar Equinox 2 and Odyssey stand out with their larger apertures (114mm and 85mm, respectively) and longer focal lengths (450mm and 320mm). These features make them excellent for capturing high-magnification views of smaller, more distant celestial objects like planetary details or compact star clusters. However, the Equinox 2, being a Newtonian reflector, requires manual focusing and collimation, which can be a dealbreaker for those seeking a maintenance-free experience.

On the other hand, the Vaonis Vespera Pro is designed for convenience and portability. With a 50mm aperture and 250mm focal length quadruplet refractor telescope, the Vespera Pro is perfect for wide-field imaging, making it the ideal choice for capturing expansive celestial wonders like the Andromeda Galaxy or the Orion Nebula. Its 225 GB of storage also far outpaces the Odyssey and Equinox 2, which offer 64 GB, giving you plenty of room to save and process your astrophotography sessions. Additionally, the Vespera Pro’s sleek design and maintenance-free operation make it an excellent choice for beginners or those who value simplicity.

• Choose the Vaonis Vespera Pro if you want a hassle-free, portable telescope that excels in wide-field imaging of large celestial objects and offers generous storage for extended imaging sessions.
• Opt for the Unistellar Equinox 2 or Odyssey if you’re focused on high-magnification views of smaller, more distant objects and don’t mind the extra effort involved in maintenance and collimation in case of the Equinox 2.

Unistellar Odyssey ($2299)	Unistellar Equinox 2 ($2499)	Vaonis Vespera Pro ($2799)
✔ Large aperture (85mm) ✔ Focal length (320mm), great for medium-sized objects	✔ Large aperture (114mm) ✔ Focal length (450mm), higher resolution	✔ Maintenance-free ✔ Wide-field imaging ✔ 225 GB storage
✘ Limited storage (64 GB) ✘ Not ideal for wide-field	✘ Manual collimation required ✘ Not ideal for wide-field	✘ Small aperture (50mm) ✘ Not ideal for small objects

The Vaonis Vespera Pro will be available from May 2024 onwards, and can be pre-ordered at Vaonis, High Point Scientific (USA/WW).

The Unistellar Equinox 2 is available at High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW)

The Unistellar Odyssey is available at High Point Scientific (USA/WW) and Astroshop (EU/WW)

Best Smart Telescope for $3000 – $4500: Celestron Origin Home Intelligent Observatory versus Unistellar EVscope 2 and Unistellar Odyssey Pro

When it comes to high-end smart telescopes, the competition is between the Unistellar Odyssey Pro, EVscope 2, and Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory. The Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory stands out as a versatile and powerful option. With a 152mm aperture, f/2.2 optics, and a wide field of view (1.83° x 1.22°), it captures more light and provides a broader view than its competitors. This makes it ideal for imaging both expansive nebulae and smaller galaxies. At 18.9 kg, it’s the heaviest of this price range, but its sturdy build and impressive capabilities more than compensate for the added weight.

The EVscope 2, with a 114mm aperture, f/4 optics, and a narrower field of view (0.6° x 0.4°), excels at higher magnifications for smaller objects like globular clusters. It’s lighter at 9 kg and offers a more modern camera sensor, but its limited field of view restricts its versatility. The Odyssey Pro, featuring an 85mm aperture, f/4 optics, and a 0.93° x 0.69° field of view, is the most portable at just 4 kg, making it a great budget-friendly option—especially the standard model, which avoids the $1700 markup for the Pro’s Nikon eyepiece.

Smart telescopes shine for their ease of use, portability, and seamless app integration, making them perfect for beginners and casual astronomers. However, at this price point, a dedicated astrophotography setup offers superior flexibility and image quality for those willing to embrace a steeper learning curve. For versatility and value, the Celestron Origin is the top pick. For more guidance, feel free to contact me at astroforumlive@gmail.com or check out my information on this website on how to start astrophotography.

Unistellar Odyssey Pro ($3999)	Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory ($3999)	EVscope 2 ($4899)
✔ Portable (4 kg) ✔ More affordable option without eyepiece	✔ Large aperture (152mm) ✔ f/2.2 optics captures light faster ✔ Wide field of view (1.83° x 1.22°)	✔ Higher magnification ✔ Great for smaller objects
✘ Expensive Nikon eyepiece ✘ Not ideal for wide-field objects	✘ Heaviest (18.9 kg) ✘ Camera sensor outdated	✘ Narrow field of view (0.6° x 0.4°) ✘ Limited versatility

The Celestron Origin is available at Agena Astro (USA/WW), High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW).

The Unistellar EVscope2 is available at High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW)

The Unistellar Odyssey Pro is available at High Point Scientific (USA/WW), and Astroshop (EU/WW)

Clear skies!

Smart Telescope Comparison Table

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