10 Best Cheap Telescopes 2025 in the United States

The Gskyer Telescope 600x90mm AZ is an affordable option for amateur astronomers and casual stargazers. With a 90mm aperture and a 600mm focal length, it offers a clear and bright view of celestial objects, making it great for beginners. The fully coated optics enhance image quality while protecting your eyes, ensuring a good viewing experience. The included three eyepieces (24X, 60X, 120X) along with a 3x Barlow lens allow for versatile magnification options, which is a fantastic feature for exploring various objects in the night sky.

Portability is another strong point, as the adjustable aluminum tripod makes it easy to set up and use in different locations. Its height range of about 31.5 inches to 49 inches caters to users of various heights. Additionally, the telescope is designed to be user-friendly, requiring no tools for assembly and offering quick focusing, which is ideal for novices.

There are some drawbacks to consider. Weighing 18 pounds, it’s not the lightest telescope out there, which might hinder portability for some users. The manual focus can be a bit challenging for those who prefer more automatic mechanisms. Also, while it's suitable for viewing planets and the moon, its performance may not be adequate for deep-sky objects, limiting its use for more advanced astronomical pursuits.

The Sky Watcher Sky-Watcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian is a budget-friendly telescope with some impressive features, making it a great option for amateur astronomers. Its large 12-inch aperture provides bright and detailed views of celestial objects, which is a significant advantage for a telescope in this price range. The focal length and magnification capabilities allow for detailed observations, and the included wide-angle eyepieces enhance the viewing experience.

The innovative collapsible design adds to its portability, making it convenient to transport despite its weight of 99.2 pounds when fully assembled. Additionally, the telescope's built-in WiFi and the extensive 42,000 object database controlled by the SynScan hand controller make it user-friendly and engaging, even for beginners. However, the telescope's weight and size can be a drawback for those looking for something more lightweight and compact. Although it is designed to be portable, it may still be cumbersome for some users to move and set up. Moreover, the altazimuth mount might require some practice for inexperienced users to get accustomed to.

Despite these drawbacks, the Sky Watcher Flextube 300 offers robust features and excellent value for those seeking a powerful, yet affordable telescope.

The Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ is a budget-friendly telescope that combines traditional optics with modern smartphone technology, making it particularly appealing for beginners. One of its standout features is the StarSense app, which uses your smartphone to help locate celestial objects, even providing real-time guidance with arrows on your screen. This makes it significantly easier for those with no prior experience to navigate the night sky.

The 114mm aperture is decent for viewing not only the Moon's craters but also planets like Jupiter and Saturn, as well as some deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula when in darker areas. The manual altazimuth mount, paired with a slow-motion rod, aids in smoothly tracking objects, although it might require a bit of practice to master. Weighing 10.4 pounds and with its relatively compact design, portability is another plus, allowing easy transport to various stargazing spots.

However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. Manual focusing can be a bit challenging, especially for those not used to it, and the basic 25mm and 10mm eyepieces included might prompt users to purchase additional, higher-quality eyepieces for better magnification and clarity. Additionally, while the reliance on a smartphone app is innovative, it does require that you have a compatible device, which could be a limitation for some users. All in all, this telescope is well-suited for hobbyists and beginners looking for an accessible way to start exploring astronomy without a steep learning curve.