How we score smart telescopes
One formula, the same for every telescope. Here it is in full, so you can redo any score yourself and see exactly why one model beats another.
Last updated November 9, 2026 · prices checked November 9, 2026
The rules
- Where the figures come from. Our scores come from manufacturer data, published prices and the formula on this page.
- Each criterion is scored out of 10 on a fixed scale (below), then combined with published weights.
- A missing figure is never guessed. The criterion is left out and the other weights are rescaled. Example: ZWO does not state a battery runtime for the Seestar S50, so battery is left out of its score.
- No score without a price, or with fewer than 3 known technical criteria (warranty and price do not count as technical).
- Rankings by use change the weights only, never the figures. Pre-orders are scored but not ranked until they ship.
- No brand pays for a place. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our scores.
Criteria, scales and overall weights
| Criterion | Overall weight | How it is scored (value = points out of 10, straight line in between) |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 25% | Diameter in mm: 30 mm = 3, 50 mm = 6, 85 mm = 8, 114 mm = 9, 152 mm = 10. More aperture gathers more light and resolves finer detail. |
| Sensor resolution | 10% | Native megapixels of the main camera: 2 MP = 3, 4 MP = 5, 8 MP = 8, 12 MP = 10. |
| Image scale (detail) | 10% | Arcseconds per pixel (smaller is finer): 1.2″ = 10, 1.6″ = 8.5, 2.4″ = 6.5, 4″ = 4. Stated by the maker when published; otherwise 206.265 × pixel size (µm) ÷ focal length (mm), or the stated field divided by the frame size. |
| Light pollution filter | 10% | Built in = 10, sold separately = 5, none offered = 2. |
| Battery life | 10% | Hours stated by the maker: 4 h = 4, 6 h = 6, 9 h = 8.5, 11 h = 10. |
| Portability (weight) | 10% | Weight of the telescope without tripod: 0.8 kg = 10, 2 kg = 8.5, 3 kg = 7.5, 5 kg = 6, 7 kg = 4.5, 13 kg = 2. |
| Tracking mode | 5% | Equatorial mode or field derotation = 10, alt-azimuth only = 5. |
| Warranty | 5% | 5 years or more = 10, 3 years = 8.5, 2 years = 7, less = 4. |
| Price | 15% | Checked price (sale price when lower) divided by the median price of all compared telescopes ($1,599): ratio 0.25× = 9, 0.5× = 8, 1× = 6, 2× = 3.5, 3× = 2. |
From criteria to the displayed score
raw score = Σ (criterion score × weight) ÷ Σ (weights of the known criteria) displayed score = 7.4 + 0.4 × (raw score − 4), kept between 7.0 and 9.8, rounded to 0.1
The displayed scale spreads the scores of current models, all serious products, on a readable range without changing their order. Labels: Excellent from 9.0, Very good from 8.5, Good from 8.0, Fair from 0.0. Ties are broken by the raw score, then by the lower price.
Weights of the rankings by use
Each ranking re-weights the same criterion scores. A weight of 0 means the criterion does not count for that use.
| Criterion | Overall | Beginner | Astrophotography | Planet | Portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 25% | 15% | 25% | 35% | 15% |
| Sensor resolution | 10% | 5% | 15% | 0% | 0% |
| Image scale (detail) | 10% | 5% | 20% | 40% | 0% |
| Light pollution filter | 10% | 10% | 10% | 0% | 10% |
| Battery life | 10% | 10% | 5% | 5% | 15% |
| Portability (weight) | 10% | 10% | 0% | 5% | 40% |
| Tracking mode | 5% | 0% | 15% | 0% | 0% |
| Warranty | 5% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
| Price | 15% | 35% | 10% | 15% | 15% |
Eligibility per ranking: main ranking: every smart telescope you can order in the US today, from the $399 Seestar S30 to the $4,299 Celestron Origin; best smart telescope for beginners: smart telescopes with autofocus and no collimation to do, the two chores a first-time owner should not have to learn; best smart telescope for astrophotography: every rated smart telescope, re-weighted for imaging: aperture, image scale, sensor resolution and equatorial tracking count more; best smart telescope for planets: every rated smart telescope, re-weighted for the Moon and planets: image scale and aperture make up three quarters of the score; best portable smart telescope: smart telescopes that weigh 3 kg (6.6 lb) or less without the tripod, light enough for a backpack or a carry-on; best smart telescope under $1,000: smart telescopes with a checked US price of $1,000 or less, which is where most first purchases happen.
Every criterion score
Criterion scores out of 10 for each telescope ("–" = figure not published, criterion left out).
| Telescope | Aperture | Sensor resolution | Image scale | Light pollution filter | Battery life | Portability | Tracking mode | Warranty | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWARFLAB Draco | 8.2 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.9 |
| Seestar S50 Pro | 6.0 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.8 |
| Seestar S50 | 6.0 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 10.0 | – | 8.0 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| DWARF 3 | 3.8 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 10.0 | 5.5 | 9.3 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Unistellar eQuinox 2 | 9.0 | – | 9.5 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.9 | 8.5 |
| Vespera Pro 2 | 6.0 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 3.8 | 8.5 |
| Seestar S30 Pro | 3.0 | 8.2 | 4.4 | 10.0 | – | 8.9 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 8.5 |
| Celestron Origin Mark II | 10.0 | 8.2 | 9.9 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 2.5 | 8.4 |
| Vespera 3 | 6.0 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 10.0 | 4.6 | 8.4 |
| Unistellar Odyssey | 8.0 | – | 10.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.2 | 8.4 |
| Unistellar eVscope 2 | 9.0 | – | 9.5 | 2.0 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 2.7 | 8.3 |
| Seestar S30 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 10.0 | – | 8.9 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 8.3 |
| DWARF mini | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 8.2 |
| Vespera II | 6.0 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 8.5 | 6.0 | 8.2 |
| Unistellar Odyssey Pro | 8.0 | – | 10.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 8.2 |
What the formula does not see
Software quality, app stability, optical sharpness at the edge of the field, real battery life on a cold night and customer service do not appear on spec sheets, so they are not in the score. That is why each review also says who the telescope suits and who should skip it. The electronic eyepiece of two Unistellar models is not scored either: it is a matter of taste.
Found an error? Write to [email protected] with the official page that settles it.