Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

Winner
The Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory is a powerful and smart telescope designed for those who want detailed views and astrophotography via their phone or tablet. It features a 6-inch aperture, which allows a lot of light to enter, resulting in bright and clear images. Its fast f/2.2 focal ratio means it captures stunning details quickly, which is great if you want impressive photos without long exposure times.
The telescope uses a fully automated GoTo mount, making it easy to locate and track stars and planets automatically, perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to fiddle with manual adjustments. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices through an intuitive app that simplifies sky navigation and telescope control, so you can connect your iPhone or tablet and start exploring within minutes. The built-in AI helps process images in real-time, stacking multiple frames to produce sharp, colorful pictures of galaxies and nebulae without needing expert knowledge.
This telescope is quite large and heavy (over 40 pounds and nearly 4 feet tall), which makes it less portable and more suitable for home use rather than travel. It requires assembly and both manual and automatic focusing options, which adds flexibility but might need some learning. For those seeking a high-quality, easy-to-use telescope that pairs well with your iPhone for stunning astrophotography at home, the Celestron Origin presents a strong choice, though it’s less ideal if portability is a top priority.
The Celestron StarSense Explorer 10-inch Dobsonian telescope is a solid choice for anyone wanting to explore the night sky using their iPhone. Its large 10-inch aperture (305mm) gathers plenty of light, which means you'll see bright and detailed views of planets, nebulae, and even some distant galaxies. The telescope uses a manual Dobsonian mount, which is stable and easy to move around by hand, though it’s quite large and weighs close to 55 pounds, so it’s less portable and better suited for home use rather than travel.
A standout feature is the StarSense technology, which works with a free app on your iPhone to recognize star patterns and guide you on where to point the telescope. This makes finding celestial objects much easier, especially for beginners who might feel lost without a traditional finderscope. The app also suggests the best things to view based on time and location, enhancing the experience. Focusing is manual, and while this might take some practice, the telescope comes with a 25mm eyepiece that offers a good field of view for starters.
One downside is the size and weight—the telescope isn’t very compact and requires some space to set up. It also doesn’t have motorized tracking, so you’ll need to adjust it manually to follow objects as they move across the sky. For those seeking a powerful, user-friendly telescope that works well with an iPhone for casual to intermediate stargazing sessions, this Dobsonian is a strong contender, provided you’re okay with its bulk and manual operation.
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 is a strong choice for iPhone users interested in astronomy, thanks to its WiFi-enabled computerized control via the Celestron SkyPortal app. This lets you easily select and track celestial objects right from your phone, making it accessible even if you’re new to telescopes. Its 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain aperture gathers a lot of light, offering bright and detailed views of planets, the moon, and some deep-sky objects.
The mount is an altazimuth type with precise motorized tracking, which smoothly follows objects as they move across the sky—great for star parties or beginner astrophotography. Portability is decent for a telescope this size; it weighs about 38.5 pounds and includes carry handles and accessory trays that help in the field, although it’s not something you’d casually carry on a hike. The built-in 10-hour lithium battery is convenient, eliminating the need for extra power supplies and allowing extended observing sessions. Manual focusing might require some patience, but it’s typical for telescopes in this class.
The optical tube length is relatively short, and setup involves some handling of parts, so it’s better suited for users willing to spend a bit of time assembling and aligning the scope. Compatibility with iPhones is seamless through the app, making it a modern choice for those wanting smart control without extra gadgets. While the price can be on the higher side, the combination of powerful optics, computerized tracking, and smartphone control makes it a worthwhile investment if you want to dive deeper into amateur astronomy with your iPhone.
Most Popular Categories Right Now