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APEXEL Phone Microscope Lens

Curated from 87 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 26, 2025

APEXEL Phone Microscope Lens

Brand: APEXEL
Price: $18
Snoop Score:
6.2
Sentiment
5.4
Popularity
6.0
Technical
6.7

Snoop's Take

The APEXEL Phone Microscope Lens is a compact, clip-on attachment that transforms your smartphone into a handheld microscope, enabling you to capture intricate details at up to 100X magnification. With its built-in LED light and multi-coated glass lens system, it’s designed for close-up exploration of everything from plant textures to tiny coins. Consumer feedback paints a picture of a gadget that delivers sharp, vibrant images, with one reviewer noting, "I was really surprised with the quality. The Apexel lens is pretty sharp..." However, users have also bemoaned its finicky focus and mounting challenges, with comments like "Difficult to sharpen but you can take nice macro pics!" Overall, while the device isn’t without its quirks—particularly around focus and ease of mounting—it remains a recommended choice for smartphone enthusiasts eager to dive into macro photography. For those interested in capturing microscopic details on the go, the APEXEL lens is a cost-effective and creative tool, provided you’re prepared for a slight learning curve with its focusing and mounting mechanism.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Lens Attachments

it’s just absolutely fantastic. I am just as likely to reach for the Apexel add-on macro as I am for my “real” camera.

Positive Feedback

Difficult to sharpen but you can take nice macro pics!

Negative Feedback
Product
6.2
APEXEL Phone Microscope Lens
Macro Photography
9 / 10
Telephoto Imaging
3 / 10
Travel & Outdoor Photography
6 / 10
Creative Content Creation
7 / 10
See how this compares to all Lens Attachments

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
High image quality and performance
it’s just absolutely fantastic. I am just as likely to reach for the Apexel add-on macro as I am for my “real” camera.
the Apexel has been a super nice, not too pricey way for me to dip my toe into macro shooting.
I was really surprised with the quality. The Apexel lens is pretty sharp, has decent colors and not as much blur and vignette on the outer edges.
I have this on my S21 Ultra.
Budget-friendly and good performance
So for about $65 I have a versatile suite of lenses that uses a mounting system that allows for more lens and case options.
Reliable clip‐on mechanism and build quality
Clips works really well and the build quality is good too.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Difficulty in achieving sharp focus
Difficult to sharpen but you can take nice macro pics!
Unfortunately, the object I'm trying to photograph goes out of focus in any of these positions.
Difficult mounting system
the mount it came with is a pain to fiddle about with getting it on, and it deters me from using it as much as I’d like to.
The threads are a little difficult.
I’m having fun with this relatively cheap option and so far I like the shots I’m getting with them.
Lack of manual focus capability
one downside to that is that you can’t manually focus it on the iPhone, which vastly reduces its efficacy.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product NameImagePriceScoreCompareSee DetailsBuy Now
APEXEL 15X Macro Lens for iPhone with LED Fill LightAPEXEL 15X Macro Lens for iPhone with LED Fill Light$29
8.3
DetailsBuy
APEXEL 37mm 52mm Thread Macro Lens Fill LightAPEXEL 37mm 52mm Thread Macro Lens Fill Light$19
7.6
DetailsBuy
MIAO LAB 2 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit for iPhone and AndroidMIAO LAB 2 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit for iPhone and Android$26
6.7
DetailsBuy
Mocalaca Phone Camera Lens KitMocalaca Phone Camera Lens Kit$23
6.4
DetailsBuy
APEXEL Phone Microscope LensAPEXEL Phone Microscope Lens$18
6.2
DetailsBuy
Borcorz 75mm Macro Lens for Smartphone CamerasBorcorz 75mm Macro Lens for Smartphone Cameras$36
5.1
DetailsBuy
Evil eye - 2 in 1 Phone Camera Lens KitEvil eye - 2 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit$59
2.5
DetailsBuy
lightdow Lightdow 52MM 0.43x High-Definition Wide Angle + Macro Lens Attachmentlightdow Lightdow 52MM 0.43x High-Definition Wide Angle + Macro Lens Attachment$29
1.6
DetailsBuy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Positive feedback for Apexel telephoto lens performance
How do you like the Apexel telephoto lens? I'm thinking of getting one.
It's honestly pretty great. I've gotten some crystal clear shots that look darn near professional just using a Revvl 5g.
Varied performance among mobile attachment lenses
So it entirely depends on expectations.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Mobile lens attachments seen as fun toys for casual photography
They're fun toys which you might enjoy.
They are toys.
I wouldn't expect much from any 'in front of the lens contraption'.
I feel like Moment has some good products, but they ride those coat tails with their clip ons.
Exploration of alternative macro accessory options and approaches
You get what you pay for but it's good enough to see stuff swimming in moss water lol.
It will not be a simple 'made for iphone' experience but I have had good results shooting through a 10x loupe one handed.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
General macro photography tips and recommendations
the more expensive brand lens just performed better, and quality went slightly higher every time i spent more.
Also, love the pictures you took with them!
Can you shoot videos with these macro lenses?
But because you'll be so magnified, i HIGHLY recommend a tripod of some sort.
Questions about compatibility of Apexel lens adapters
If the inner thread of a lense from another brand is 17mm, will it always fit with apexel lense 17mm adapter?
General photography tips for macro shooting
These chinese lens are fun to play around with for like 5€, 20€ seems like to much for me, the quality you get won't justify it.
Alternative microscope adapter recommendations
I have and like this one.
I've used the Swift adapter and found it to be pretty good.
you can check some of the footage I have uploaded in this subreddit :)

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Nostalgic reference to older camera systems
I miss the old days where Sony had the QX30 and such.
Concerns about magnification limitations and bulky designs in pocket microscopes
The 250x is basically a zoom of the same objective and seems to be in empty magnification territory.
Too big for me. Anything smaller?

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