Best Refractor Telescopes of 2025

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Refractor telescopes are optical instruments that use lenses to bend and concentrate light, allowing users to observe distant objects with great clarity. These telescopes are popular among astronomers and hobbyists alike, as they provide crisp images of celestial bodies and are relatively low maintenance compared to other types of telescopes. Refractor telescopes come in a range of sizes and prices, making them accessible to anyone with an interest in stargazing. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a beginner, a refractor telescope can provide hours of enjoyment and insight into the mysteries of the universe.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Refractor Telescopes
Celestron 22035 Travel Scope DX 70mm Telescope Kit
The Celestron Travel Scope DX is an all-in-one telescope kit designed for astronomy enthusiasts. With fully-coated glass optics and a large 70mm objective lens, you can enjoy brighter and more detailed views of celestial objects at night and land-based sights during the day. The powerful eyepieces, including 20mm and 10mm options, allow you to experience both low- and high-power viewing. Additionally, attaching your smartphone lets you capture stunning images and videos of the Moon, planets, or wildlife, enhancing your stargazing experience.
Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is a powerful refractor telescope perfect for both adults and children. It features high-quality 70mm optics that allow you to clearly view celestial and terrestrial objects. With a lightweight frame and a manual Altazimuth mount, you’ll enjoy smooth and accurate pointing, making it easy to locate and observe your desired targets. Additionally, the included eyepieces and StarPointer red dot finderscope enhance your stargazing experience, allowing for quick adjustments and precise aiming.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 70AZ Telescope
The Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescope transforms your stargazing experience with its innovative smartphone guided tour feature. You can easily navigate the night sky without any prior telescope experience. Its award-winning StarSense technology analyses star patterns overhead, providing real-time positioning to help you locate celestial objects. The accompanying Explorer app generates a list of visible objects, making it simple for you to spot planets, bright nebulae, and more, whether in the city or under darker skies.
SOLOMARK 80mm Aperture Professional Telescope
The SOLOMARK Telescope features an impressive 80mm large aperture, allowing you to capture more light for brighter and clearer images. The stable tripod with a super azimuth gimbal enables you to easily adjust and position your telescope for optimal viewing. With high-quality WA eyepieces, you can enjoy multi-magnifications, providing breathtaking views of lunar craters and planets. Furthermore, this telescope is designed for easy assembly, making it perfect for beginners and kids who want to explore the wonders of astronomy.
Celestron Inspire 80AZ Telescope with Smartphone Adapter
The Celestron Inspire 80AZ Telescope is an excellent choice for budding astronomers. With its 80mm refractor design and fully coated glass optics, you can enjoy clear, bright images of celestial objects. The panning handle allows for smooth and precise adjustments, ensuring you never miss a moment of the night sky. Additionally, the included smartphone adapter lets you easily capture and share your observations, making stargazing a social experience. Plus, the lightweight frame and adjustable height tripod provide convenience and comfort during your explorations.
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Telescope
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX is a 102mm refractor telescope that features patented StarSense Sky Recognition Technology, allowing you to easily locate celestial objects. By using your smartphone, the telescope analyses star patterns overhead, providing real-time positioning. The StarSense Explorer App automatically generates a list of visible objects, making stargazing effortless, whether you're in the city or under darker skies. With stable, slow-motion control, you can smoothly track your desired targets, ensuring a delightful viewing experience.
EACONN 80mm Refractor Telescope for Beginners
The EACONN Refractor Telescope features a large 80mm aperture that captures more light, providing you with bright and clear images of celestial objects. Its rough adjustment and positioning gimbal makes it easy for you to adjust the telescope's altitude and azimuth, allowing for comfortable viewing. You will also appreciate the included accessories, such as two eyepieces for varying magnifications and a finder scope to simplify locating targets. Additionally, the design is portable, complete with a carrying backpack, making it convenient for outings and adventures in astronomy.
OYS 70mm Aperture 400mm Telescope for Beginners
The OYS Beginner Telescope is an excellent choice for both novice astronomers and children. With its 400mm focal length and large 70mm aperture, you can enjoy stunning images that are bright and clear. The variable magnification, featuring two eyepieces, allows you to view objects at 20X or 44X magnification, making it easier to explore celestial bodies and landscapes. Its portable design means you can set it up quickly and take it anywhere with ease. Plus, the included phone adapter lets you capture amazing moments to share with family and friends.
HETEKAN 90mm Professional Refractor Telescope
The HETEKAN Refractor Telescope is perfect for both adults and children eager to explore the night sky. With its 90mm multi-coated optical lens, you can enjoy brighter images while observing lunar features and planets in stunning detail. The high magnification range of 36X to 450X allows for versatile viewing, making every observation an exciting experience. Coupled with practical accessories like a phone adapter, you can easily capture images and videos of celestial objects, enhancing your astronomical adventures.
Celestron Travel Scope 60 DX Telescope Kit
The Celestron Travel Scope 60 is a portable telescope kit that includes everything you need to start your astronomical journey. With its 60mm refractor and fully coated glass optics, you can enjoy clear images of celestial bodies at night and observe birds and wildlife during the day. The included smartphone adapter allows you to capture stunning photos and videos, enhancing your viewing experience. The intuitive pan handle and Alt-Az control ensure smooth tracking and accurate pointing, making navigation easy and enjoyable for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a refractor telescope better?
If you are interested in astrophotography, purchasing a refractor is a better option because of it's specialized optic design that captures deep space objects like galaxies and nebulae. If you are interested in brighter celestial objects like the Moon or planets or a beginner, a reflector telescope is ideal.
2. Is a refractor telescope better than a reflector?
Refractors generally have the edge over reflectors for a quality image, both from the standpoint of lens/mirror quality and precision optical mountings, and lack of central obscurations. Equally important in a choice of telescope type is the focal length and the resulting field of view.
3. What is a disadvantage of a refractor telescope?
1. Very high initial cost relative to reflector. 2. A certain amount of secondary spectrum (chromatic aberration) unavoidable (reflector completely free of this)
4. What are refractor telescopes used for?
Refracting telescopes. Commonly known as refractors, telescopes of this kind are typically used to examine the Moon, other objects of the solar system such as Jupiter and Mars, and binary stars.
During our refractor telescope research, we found 206 refractor telescope products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 58,254 customer reviews through our big data system to write the refractor telescopes list. We found that most customers choose refractor telescopes with an average price of £146.05.
The refractor telescopes are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of refractor telescopes, including Celestron, SOLOMARK, EACONN, OYS, HETEKAN.

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.