What's more, this new model features polarization, allowing you to see (and photograph) incredible detail in the structures of materials such as crystals and minerals – all for less than 1% of the cost of the equipment normally required to view these structures.

The iMicro Q3p is the newest, remarkable addition to the fingertip microscope family, which has so far garnered quite the fan base across the globe. And once more, the team behind the tiny wonder has made it incredibly affordable, with a crowdfunding launch price of CA$49, or about US$35.

This model takes the polarizing function of 2021's iMicro Q2p and adds it to the most advanced phone microscope in the line, the iMicro Q3, which offers impressive magnification and resolution.

At a glance

• Resolution power: Below a single micron
• Magnification power: Up to 1,200x
• Polarizing function
• Stable focus control with stand
• Very low distortion: Comparable to a desktop microscope
• Low profile and weight: ½ inch (1.3 cm) and ~1/60 oz (0.42 g)
• Easy to carry: Packed in a card-sized PP case
• Around 1% of the price of a desktop microscope
• Easy to use on any camera phone

The iMicro gadget attaches to almost any smartphone with a camera by a reusable nano-suction pad, and is designed to have a low profile so it won't add bulk to the device. As this video shows, once the lens is attached, simply set up the stand over the object being viewed, and adjust the focus as you would a traditional microscope. It has a range of magnification power, allowing everything from single fibers to leaf cells to be viewed clearly.

The stand is a new addition to the range, created after feedback from customers, and it's a valuable tool to keep things steady when viewing anything at its highest (1,200x) magnification. The whole kit – stand and lens – is stored in a card-like package, making it easy to carry around with your phone in your pocket when not in use.

Perhaps most impressive is the quality of the imaging for about the price of what a decent phone cover would set you back. Though one of its other strongest points is its portability, providing accessible microscopy to everyone with a phone. So whether in the field, on a factory floor or just exploring around the house for fun, the iMicro Q3p has endless possibilities for use.