Smartphones equipped with cameras can do more than take photographs – they can now function as high-resolution microscopes. A new optical device engineered by Canada-based QingYing E&T LLC easily and inexpensively transforms smartphone cameras into portable and powerful imaging tools.

The iMicro Q3p offers a resolution below one micron and magnification up to 1,200 times, providing the ability to reveal intricate details in objects as tiny as crystal and mineral structures. Its low distortion is comparable to that of a desktop microscope, yet the device has a profile of only 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) and weighs a mere 1/60 of an ounce (0.42 g).

Source: QingYing E&T LLC

A three-stage magnification process uses digital enhancement to reach its powerful magnification capacity. Polarization is mimicked without the complex light filtering hardware that would normally be involved in laboratory-based instruments.

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. The lens package includes a stage micrometer for calculating correct scale measurements of magnified objects such as cell width. A dedicated app enables users to adjust magnification and switch the polarization function on and off.

A crowdfunding campaign is underway on Kickstarter, and worldwide shipping of the $35 lens is planned for April 2025.