You're tired of watching your series on your smartphone with a screen that's too small, but at the same time, you can't carry an overhead projector with you in your bag.
Well, it's probably time to take an interest in screen enlargers for smartphones. But you don't know which one to choose, there are so many models. Don't panic, you're in the right place and read carefully to the bottom to understand everything about this very practical tool which could make you forget your tablet.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A MOBILE SCREEN ENLARGEMENT!
You could jump headlong into purchasing a magnifier for mobile but before that, it would be useful to clarify certain points that arise regarding the specificities that you may encounter and which ones best correspond to the use you wish to use. TO DO.
- The zoom of the magnifying glass . Since we are talking about screen enlargers, it is important to point out that the enlargers available to you do not all have the same characteristics in terms of enlargement. The size of the object will vary depending on the power of the zoom, hence the importance of asking this question.
- Retractable or foldable. There are several types of smartphone screen enlargers, particularly in terms of operation and storage. While some can fold by folding down the different elements, others allow them to be retracted directly, which, as you will see, makes a notable difference.
- The quality of the lens. Just like a screen, whether it is HD or not, there is always a notion of definition and range. The better quality magnifying glass you choose, the better the image will be transcribed. Not that entry-level devices are necessarily of poor quality, but the rendering will reach an even sharper level with a higher range.
COMPARISON OF THE 5 BEST SCREEN ENLARGERS FOR SMARTPHONE
We will now see how its smartphone enlargers work, what rendering you can expect and for what use. Is it better to invest in this type of device rather than a tablet? Is this intended for all audiences? Is this dangerous for the eye? This is what we will dissect after the comparison.
1. AnCoSoo: The best screen enlarger for smartphones!
Features and Reviews
This AnCoSoo product is the first in our selection. Measuring 12 inches, this phone screen magnifier is made from materials that meet environmental standards, namely solid wood and a High Definition acrylic Fresnel lens. The particularity of this 3D screen amplifier is the wide compatibility.
It would match all brands and models of smartphone, whether you have an iPhone, Samsung or other brand. You can thus benefit from an enlargement of 2 to 4 times the size of your Smartphone screen. Furthermore, the standards of use recommend a distance of 0.5 to 2 m for your comfort and to fully benefit from the advantages of this screen magnifier.
This important accessory for your mobile phone has an ergonomic design, its dimensions are 25.9 x 22.1 x 1.9 cm for a light weight of 0.37 g. For transport or storage, simply fold it, you can take it with you anywhere.
2. ORETECH: The second choice! 12-inch screen amplifier magnifier
Features and Reviews
The OROTECH brand offers us its 3D High Definition Smartphone screen magnifier. Equipped with an ABS 3D acrylic lens, this screen enlarger provides you with visual comfort and a screen enlarged by 3 to 4 times. The screen size is 12 inches. Designed for a foldable design and light weight, storing and transporting this accessory is easy.
You can make yourself comfortable and watch your movie, video or photo wherever you go. For your health, this portable magnifying glass is equipped with anti-UV and radiation protection. Whatever the brand of your Smartphone, this enlarger is compatible with all brands. And to prevent it from slipping, the support is magnetic with non-slip fabric.
3. STEBRUAM: A screen enlarger with support!
Features and Reviews
Designed by the STEBRUAM brand, this screen enlarger is one of the best in its category. Its particularity lies in the 2 in 1 amplifier, equipped with a support. The support can be separated from the enlarger lens. To offer unparalleled visual comfort to its user, the viewing angle as well as the magnifying glass support are adjustable.
Furthermore, certain models of Smartphones are rather preferred and are compatible with this magnifying glass, namely the iPhone versions 6S, 7, 7 Plus, 8 plus, X, XR, XS Max, 12 mini; the Samsung Galaxy S7 pro, S8, Note 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Concerning its characteristics, the dimensions of this screen enlarger are 25.5 x 16.3 x 2.2 for a weight of 235 g .
With an unusual design, it is equipped with an HD acrylic lens for quality images during your moments of relaxation in front of your smartphone.
4. AnCoSoo: A portable 14-inch screen magnifier
Features and Reviews
This time, the AnCoSoo brand presents its mobile magnifier for 14-inch cell phones. It appeals to users and obtains more than 1000 ratings on Amazon.fr. It is undoubtedly an excellent enlarger. With its ergonomic design, you can easily take it on the go.
The closing system designed by the brand protects the lens from impact and ensures a long life of the product. This screen enlarger adapts to all situations, you can use it in the car, in the office or even on the bed. In terms of characteristics, this magnifying glass offers the following dimensions: 31.5 x 20.8 x 2.2 cm; big enough to make your phone feel like a private movie theater.
The lens offers HD resolution, and also protects your eyes from blue lights. This product has great compatibility, as it would be suitable for all brands and sizes of Android and iPhone Smartphones.
5. A 12-inch screen amplifier in white!
Features and Reviews
Invented by the DEGY brand, this screen amplifier for Smartphone offers HD 3D resolution. It enlarges the size of your phone screen by 2 to 4 times, so you can enjoy visual comfort in front of your phone. To protect your eyes, it protects you from blue lights. It is also possible to adjust the height of the lens according to your needs.
This portable magnifying glass is easy to store, just fold it and you're done! You can store it in your bag, use it indoors, in your office and outdoors. Made from high quality ABS plastic, this screen enlarger is specially dedicated to iPhone Xs Max, XR, X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 plus and 6 Plus models; Samsung Galaxy Note 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Edge. It does not require any power supply . Its plus is that the support can be used separately.
Smartphone screen enlarger buying guide
WHAT IS A PHONE ENLARGER OR MAGNIFIER?
You need to understand how these screen enlargers work before going into the technical characteristics a little more.
You might think that it is an additional screen that connects to your smartphone and could replace it, in reality this is not the case and you will understand why.
This type of support will allow you to project your entire screen via a magnifying glass and thus benefit from a larger image for better eye comfort.
Who hasn't watched their series at work during a lunch break while frowning because the screen was too small? The advantage of this object is to be able to comfortably enjoy a larger image without carrying an additional screen, because taking a replacement screen with you brings constraints of weight, space, but also recharging.
Another important point, these magnifiers for mobiles have universal adaptability , which is an advantage because, which has never had compatibility problems between this or that device, and which sometimes causes limited use since what is usable on a device, may not be on another.
You will therefore be dealing with an unfoldable or retractable in which you will have a panel which integrates a magnifying glass and a second, smaller one which allows you to place your smartphone. All assembled on a small, thin plate for storage that takes up relatively little space.
You will never need to recharge it, because we are talking about a magnifying glass which allows you to enlarge the image, but nothing to do with the Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass which causes a distortion on its contour. You will have an image transcribed without modification, because here we are talking about projection, so to speak, to understand how it works.
You will also have the option, for those most concerned about the environment, of a classic plastic structure, but also of a frame made of wood.
WHAT TYPES OF ZOOM
If you opt to purchase a mobile screen enlarger, it is with the aim of being able to watch what is on your smartphone, but in an enlarged version.
The question is whether the size gain is worth it and whether it actually enlarges the image. This type of device actually enlarges the image but don't expect to have a portable movie theater either.
Likewise, if we can see that we can obtain the equivalent of the size of a television using video projectors, this will also not be the case with a mobile screen enlarger. We must take into consideration that we are in a product which still remains small, or in any case, no larger than a tablet because what is sought is that it takes up as little space as possible.
We will therefore have, depending on the product, different types of zoom.
What we've noted is that some products can go up to 7x zoom, but 7x your screen size can be quite large. Unfortunately, there are very few screen enlargers of this type of size, if the information provided by the manufacturer proves to be accurate.
Generally, you will find two types of zoom, zoom up to x3 and zoom up to x6. In our opinion, the 3x zoom is more for solo and extra use, which means that if you want to watch content on your phone with someone at your side, it might be a little small.
On the other hand, we have screen enlargers that have a zoom of up to x6. Still for nomadic purposes, you will be able to watch your screen, but with a little more comfort since the size of your screen will be much larger. Also, it will be more pleasant to watch your content with someone next to you, which can be more difficult for those with 3x zoom.
We therefore rather recommend enlargers that have a x6 zoom in order to avoid situations where you might regret not being comfortable, and thus want to acquire one that is larger after your purchase.
DOES A SMARTPHONE ENLARGER IMPROVE THE IMAGE?
This is an important point that must be taken into consideration when purchasing this type of device; improving the image is not the point on which you should concentrate. You understand, it's about enlarging an image rather than magnifying it.
On the other hand, the very important point to which particular attention must be paid is whether it can be returned as is, or even worse, whether it can be damaged. We have indeed observed that some enlargers can somewhat degrade the original image of your smartphone, but don't forget one thing. Your smartphone is undoubtedly equipped with an HD, Oled and other screens, which means that you probably benefit from the best image quality available.
It is therefore quite easy to guess that your enlarger will not benefit from such screen quality but the important thing once again is to know if the image can be affected by this device. Not all entry-level devices are created equal, and indeed, we noticed a certain degradation of the image in some. This is why we advise you to consider mid-range devices at least in order to ensure correct image quality.
As the prices do not vary greatly, you will not have to pay a fortune to go to this category. Also, some people warned us that they encountered certain difficulties in having a correct image under certain conditions, but we noticed something that is important to highlight. Some people use this enlarger diagonally, although it is strongly recommended to stay on axis as much as possible. You will see that the difference is notable, depending on the angle from which you view your content.
Ultimately, you will still have very good reproduction quality in the majority of models available to you, even if some may present some image degradation.
IS THE ENLARGER INTENDED FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE?
As we age, our vision may deteriorate over time. How many times have we seen an elderly person have their nose pressed to the screen in order to better read what is on it. Indeed, these screen enlargers are a good alternative if we want to avoid straining our vision to clearly see what is on the screen.
We observed that of the overall number of devices sold, a good third were done by older people, and surprisingly, this also allows them to share content with someone next to them. Finally, we must admit, the use of smartphones by our seniors is totally different from five years ago.
Today, it would be wrong to believe that mobiles still remain an equation with a great unknown for people of advanced age. We see that, more and more, this device has become more and more commonplace among the youngest of course, but also among the oldest who use it better and better, and in particular to watch films or series.
So to say that enlargers are intended for elderly people would be going a bit too quickly, but could this type of device make their lives easier? Yes clearly and the least we can say is that they didn't wait for us to acquire it.
IS THE SMARTPHONE SCREEN ENLARGEMENT NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN?
Who has never heard parents scolding their children about using their cell phone or writing and drawing tablet ?
We have this idea that the screens could damage the eyes, we advise you to check this information, because depending on the quality of the panel of your phone, the results diverge and it is quite complicated to be affirmative on the subject, both there are different mobiles on the market.
Some studies have shown that rays can emanate from the screens of certain models, so it is possible that this could have consequences on our eyes. The screen enlarger could be a good defense in case of doubt, because with the help of its lens, you will be much less exposed to your screen and with a reasonable distance.
Rather than recommending against this purchase for your children, it would be rather the opposite if you want to place additional protection over the eyes of your cherubs. The fact of having a certain distance from the initial image, accompanied by protection via the magnifying glass, inevitably protects more than if you had your eyes directly riveted on a screen a few centimeters away.
Based on the principle that the better we protect ourselves, the better, this enlarger will provide a certain security regarding its use by your children with this guarantee that they are kept away from the signal from the screen of your smartphone.
WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SMARTPHONE SCREEN ENLARGEMENT AND A PORTABLE SCREEN.
Portable screens represent as many advantages as they represent disadvantages in reality, and it all depends on the use you want to make of them. We'll start with the notable differences in image quality between a portable display and a screen enlarger.
Portable screen
By design, portable screens are a sort of second screen and the advantage of these is that you can find them with very good definitions. A screen enlarger does not offer to integrate a digital signal to transcribe it on another medium since we have a magnifying glass which will simply be used to restore the same image quality to within a few degrees, while enlarging it.
No need for battery or power supply !
The second important point is the load required by a portable screen. Indeed, to be able to enjoy a second HD screen, it will need to be charged beforehand while taking into account its ability to hold up with this charge. Depending on the model, they hold a charge for a longer or shorter time, but you will sometimes have to use them while keeping them plugged in, which makes a big difference with screen enlargers.
And this is where we can put our finger on the way in which the different devices are used, because if a portable screen will require organization in use, and as such we are talking about the load, it does not will not be the same for a screen enlarger. This is also the whole point of this device, which is to be able to use it whenever you want, and without setting up an organization for the purpose of using it.
Lightweight and portable everywhere!
Then, the weight is a difference that we will note on their respective uses since if you want to take a portable screen with you, you will have to count on a certain overload during transport.
Where precisely a screen enlarger will only weigh a few grams since its lighter design and without electronic skeleton is incommensurable when traveling. The same goes for the space it can take up in a bag, you can imagine that a portable screen does not take up the same space as a screen enlarger.
In reality, what will make the difference between a portable screen and a screen enlarger is its purpose of use.
Where a portable screen will find its place with you if you want to watch the content of your phone on the equivalent of a TV but portable, the screen enlarger will be the additional solution in order to move without bulk with a device that is flexible in its use.
Frequently Asked Questions!
FOLDABLE OR RETRACTABLE SCREEN?
There are two types of screen enlarger models, the first is foldable and the second is retractable. It is hardly possible to pit one against the other, as it will depend on what you are looking for.
The foldable screen
The advantage of the foldable screen enlarger is that you will literally be able to use all types of smartphone and hold on, on certain models, you will also be able to use your Nintendo Switch. This will allow you to play with a larger diagonal on the go and practical with several people. On the other hand, there will be no closure or rampart on the sides which will prevent light from penetrating.
The retractable screen
This is what makes the difference with retractable screen enlargers, since you will have a device that will perhaps make you think of a sort of giant lens in which you will be able to insert your smartphone inside so as to keep it in a closed space and away from light for better restitution.
The downside is that you won't be able to insert whatever you want into it, as is the case with its cousin. This means choosing a slightly better image quality since it will benefit from a closed space. Also, the way in which the retractable screen enlarger will make the difference will be in the way it is placed on the surface.
Because if it sits directly on your table, it does not have a flat surface, which is not the case for foldable models, but again, it all depends on the type of comfort in use that you look for and what benefits you want to get from each of them.
WHAT SIZES OF SCREEN ENLARGERS FOR SMARTPHONE
Note that there are two sizes of magnifying glasses for mobiles. In reality, this may not make a big difference between the two types of models that we may encounter, but they have the merit of existing in order to offer a wider choice.
12 inches
We will note 12 inch versions and to give you an idea of what this dimension can represent, you can compare this screen size to that of an Ipad pro which is more like 12.9 inches but quite close of that of this screen enlarger.
14 inches
Second, you will generally find 14-inch versions. At this point, we are much closer to a portable screen in size than to a standard tablet.
It all depends on the use you want to have, but if the 14-inch version, which is larger, poses absolutely no problem for you in transport and the use you are looking for is nomadic, you can go for it without any problem. .
Our choice
If we had to caricature the two models a little, we would say that the 12-inch model is the ideal model to carry thanks to its size. The 14-inch model will perhaps have a slightly more casual use as it finds its place at home.
CURVED MAGNIFIER?
Remember when the first curved computer screen was created ? The least we can say is that this format was undoubtedly divided and did not have everyone's approval.
Some smartphone screen enlargers are equipped with them. What is the advantage you ask me? Well it depends on everyone's tastes. But if we were to be the spokesperson for those who are totally won over by this format, we would tell you that this format is more immersive than when you look at a completely flat image.
Of course, we do not dispute this analysis and perhaps you will purchase an image enlarger in this format. This immersive sensation is there on this type of format, because it is easy to see that this curved shape around us helps us get into what we are looking at.
The observation we also made is that it is not always very practical to be two people on a screen enlarger with a rounded shape. It is true that for use at your desk, during a lunch break, this could be an excellent choice if you want to fully enjoy your film or series.
ACRYLIC GLASS LENSES OR NOT?
The glass plate, therefore the magnifying glass, has its importance regarding the definition of the image. Depending on the model, you will not be equipped with the same type of glass to project the screen of your mobile. Some are equipped with acrylic glass, but you are certainly wondering what this material is?
This material is a derivative of glass, it is a transparent plastic similar to the rendering it gives. The advantage of acrylic glass is that it is more resistant and will be less scratched than traditional glass.
Another advantage is that this material is lighter, which is actually felt when you carry your screen enlarger. Concerning transparency, it is very effective in that you can see clearly through it but clearly we are a slight degree below traditional glass.
On the other hand, it will have the advantage of less reflection from the sun, which is a significant point. The advice we can give is to actually choose this material if you want a real “glass” effect without having the disadvantages and for a very correct result.
