ZWO discontinued the original Seestar S50 and replaced it with the S50 Pro, and Dwarflab announced the 90 mm Draco. Here is the full current lineup grouped by what you want to spend.
All prices are US list prices as of September 2026. AstroSight shows the local price for your country.
The lineup at a glance
| Model | US list price | Aperture | Focal length | Sensor | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZWO Seestar S30 | $399 | 30 mm | 150 mm | 2 MP | 1.65 kg |
| Dwarflab Dwarf mini | $399 | 30 mm | — | 2.1 MP | 0.84 kg |
| ZWO Seestar S50 (clearance) | about $499 | 50 mm | 250 mm | 2 MP | — |
| Dwarflab Dwarf 3 | $549 | 35 mm | 150 mm | 8.3 MP | 1.35 kg |
| ZWO Seestar S30 Pro | $699 | 30 mm | 160 mm | 8.3 MP | 1.65 kg |
| ZWO Seestar S50 Pro | $999 | 50 mm | 260 mm | 8.3 MP | 2.8 kg |
| Dwarflab Draco | $1,399 | 90 mm | 340 mm | 50 MP | 5.5 kg |
| Vaonis Vespera 3 | $2,490 | 50 mm | — | 8.3 MP | 5 kg |
| Unistellar Odyssey | $2,599 | 85 mm | 320 mm | — | — |
| Unistellar eQuinox 2 | $2,899 | 114 mm | 450 mm | — | — |
| Vaonis Vespera Pro 2 | $2,990 | 50 mm | — | 12.5 MP | 5 kg |
| Celestron Origin Mark II | $4,299 | 152 mm | 335 mm | 8.3 MP | 18.9 kg system |
| Unistellar Odyssey Pro | $4,599 | 85 mm | 320 mm | — | — |
| Unistellar eVscope 2 | $4,999 | 114 mm | 450 mm | — | — |
A dash means no confirmed figure.
Under $500
ZWO Seestar S30 ($399) is the easiest way in. A 30 mm lens at 150 mm gives a wide field suited to big nebulae and star fields, and a solar filter is included. The 2 MP sensor is its limit: images look good on a phone, soft on a monitor.
Dwarflab Dwarf mini ($399) is the smallest smart telescope made, at 0.84 kg. It is the one to throw in a carry-on for a trip. Expect similar image quality to the S30.
Seestar S50 (about $499 clearance) has more aperture and focal length than either, which helps on galaxies, but it was discontinued in early 2026 and uses the same 2 MP sensor. Buy only at a real discount.
$500 to $1,000
This is where most buyers should look. The 8.3 MP sensors in this tier are a clear step up.
Dwarflab Dwarf 3 ($549) is the value pick. It has an EQ mode for longer exposures, plus built-in solar ND and dual-band filters, so it handles city nebulae and the Sun without accessories.
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro ($699) pairs an 8.3 MP 1/1.2″ sensor with a 4-element APO lens and adds Milky Way and star-trail modes. It is the most versatile small scope if you also shoot wide-field night sky.
ZWO Seestar S50 Pro ($999) is the best all-rounder. The 50 mm f/5.2 APO, 2.8° field, 60 s EQ-mode exposures, 9-hour battery and included solar filter cover most deep-sky targets well. Our S50 Pro vs Draco comparison goes into detail.
$1,000 to $2,000
Dwarflab Draco ($1,399, SHO edition $1,599) is the only model in this bracket, and it is still a pre-order that ships in November 2026. Its 90 mm f/3.8 optic and rotating sensor promise 300 s exposures without an equatorial mount, and the built-in dual-narrowband filter targets suburban and city skies. It is the most capable deep-sky smart telescope under $2,000 on paper; wait for reviews if you need certainty.
$2,000 and up
Vaonis Vespera 3 ($2,490) and Vespera Pro 2 ($2,990) share a 50 mm f/4.9 APO quadruplet and an 11-hour battery. The Vespera 3 has an 8.3 MP sensor and a 2.5° × 1.4° field; the Pro 2 moves to 12.5 MP with a 1.6° square field and adds a carbon tripod and hard case. You pay for build quality and design rather than aperture.
Unistellar Odyssey ($2,599) and Odyssey Pro ($4,599) use an 85 mm, 320 mm optic. The Pro adds a live eyepiece, which makes it a strong choice for outreach and families who want to look, not just photograph.
Unistellar eQuinox 2 ($2,899) and eVscope 2 ($4,999) step up to 114 mm and 450 mm, the longest focal length of any smart telescope. The eVscope 2 includes an eyepiece.
Celestron Origin Mark II ($4,299) is in a class of its own: a 6-inch RASA astrograph at f/2.2. That speed gathers light much faster than anything else here. The whole system weighs 18.9 kg, but the heaviest single piece is 7.7 kg, so it is a backyard instrument rather than a travel one.
What no smart telescope does well
Even the longest focal length in this list, 450 mm, leaves Jupiter and Saturn as small discs. For planets, a Maksutov or SCT on a GoTo mount is far better; see smart telescope or traditional rig.
How to choose
- Portability first: Dwarf mini, Seestar S30 or S30 Pro.
- Best value: Dwarf 3.
- Best all-rounder now: Seestar S50 Pro.
- City nebulae and faint detail: Draco, once it ships.
- Visual observing with others: Odyssey Pro or eVscope 2.
- Fastest optics: Celestron Origin Mark II.
Your sky changes what each can achieve. Check your Bortle class in our light pollution guide, then let AstroSight rank the lineup for you: smart telescopes for nebulae, galaxies and the Moon under $1,000.