Minilabsters Miniscope Kids, Mini Labsters Portable Microscope, Miniscope Portable Microscope Kids Minilabsters, Pocket Microscope, Handheld Micro...

**I would like to point out that I am unsure if this is the official Minilabsters microscope, as the box doesn't say so, so I don't know if this is an error in the product description. For the sake of the review I am referring to it as the Minilabsters, though the brand is listed as "Gocikiko" in the description. My kid had a Carson mini microscope that he promptly lost, so I ordered this one as an alternative. So far it's been working out great. I like the fact that it comes with 12 prepared slides so your kid can get right into the world of microscope viewing. There is good variation in the slides; six are what I consider plant life, and six are what I consider insect/animal. My kid would probably prefer if everything were insect/animal, but at least there's something for everyone. The viewing is pretty good for a small portable microscope. It takes 2 AAA batteries, and the on/off switch is on the bottom. The on/off switch is a little small but it does the job. The focusing is pretty standard for a microscope of this size and pretty sufficient for a smaller kid. Since I have owned a Carson Microbrite, I can compare the two. Batteries: The Minilabsters takes 2 AAA, the Carson takes 1 AA. The Minilabster battery door is slightly more difficult to open as it sits in the middle vs. the Carson where the door slides out the bottom. On/Off Button: The Minilabsters has a small on/off toggle switch at the base, which is slightly more difficult than the Carson, where it is a push button on/off towards the top. This makes the Carson button more convenient to turn on/off, but it also means it's easier to accidentally do so. Focus/Magnification: The Minilabsters focus feature is in the actual eyepiece, where you rotate the knob to magnify. The Carson separates it with a small lever that you would adjust left to right. The focusing knobs are both at the bottom. The Minilabsters is smaller in comparison to the Carson, but the functionality is the same. Build Quality: They both are made primarily of plastic components. The Minilabsters is more lightweight, while the Carson has slightly more heft. There is a little bit of an indent in the Carson, which makes it easier for little hands to grip. Secondly, the overall movement of the knobs feels much smoother and more substantial in the Carson vs. the Minilabsters. Overall, given the minimal price difference, I would probably pick the Carson over the Minilabsters, but I think the Minilabsters is a nice option as well and has the added bonus of the 12 slides, so the value is definitely there.

This handheld microscope is very cute. Its nice for on the go adventures. The battery compartment was super hard to get open but with some trials and errors we were able to and it works great. The microscope comes with slides of basic different materials to view for samples. Its great for a curious science loving kiddo.