Magnification tools
In assistive technology, a closed-circuit television is a video magnifier — a camera that displays a magnified image on a screen. Used for reading mail, books, labels, or doing close-up tasks. Desktop and portable versions are available.
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Windows Magnifier
Free
Windows Magnifier is a screen magnifier built into Windows that enlarges part or all of what's on your display, so text and images are easier to see. You can turn it on with a keyboard shortcut (Windows logo key + Plus sign) and turn it off with Windows logo key + Esc. It also offers several viewing modes, edge smoothing, and inverted colors, which makes black become white and the reverse. Some people find inverted colors easier on the eyes, and you can try each setting to see what works for you. It can also be set to start automatically on a computer that someone with low vision uses often.
Verified 3 days agoReady to use -
Orca Screen Reader
Free
Orca is a free, open-source screen reader for Linux desktops that use GNOME. It reads what is on the screen aloud, can send text to a braille display, and can enlarge the screen, so someone who is blind or has low vision can work on their computer. It comes built into most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. You'll want to learn your desktop's own navigation commands too, since Orca works alongside them.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
ZoomText Magnifier/Reader
$545 every year
Also from $93.50 every year
ZoomText Magnifier/Reader is Windows software that makes everything on your computer screen larger and easier to see. It also reads aloud, echoing what you type and announcing key program activity, so you can rely on hearing as well as seeing. It's built for people with low vision who still use the screen but need it enlarged and enhanced. Because it's software rather than a standalone device, it needs a Windows computer to run on.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
FS Student Suite
$225 every year
The FS Student Suite is a one-year license for students who need to see or hear their computer screen. It lets you install JAWS (a screen reader that reads the screen aloud), ZoomText (screen magnification), or Fusion, which combines the two. The license covers every upgrade and update released during the license term, so the software stays current for the school year. This is a software license only, so you'll need a Windows computer to run it, and the license runs for one year.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
RUBY 7 HD
The RUBY 7 HD is a handheld video magnifier with a 7-inch color screen that enlarges whatever you point it at, from 2 to 24 times its size. Its 5-megapixel auto-focus camera rotates, so you can use one device to read up close, work on hobbies, look across a room, check yourself in a mirror view, or spot things at a distance. A large panning button lets you freeze an image, zoom in, and slide across it sideways or up and down. It suits someone who needs more than a simple handheld lens for reading print, labels, or small details, and who wants to carry the magnifier from place to place.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
RUBY 10
The RUBY 10 is a portable video magnifier with a 10-inch touchscreen and three cameras. It enlarges print, labels, magazines, and photos on screen. A swing-out arm lets you view and write on items in your hand, and a third camera looks at things farther away, like signs or menus on a wall. On the speech model, extending the arm also allows full-page OCR (text recognition), so you can scan a page and have it read aloud. The speech feature is only on that model, so check which version you're ordering.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
TOPAZ EZ HD Desktop Video Magnifier
The TOPAZ EZ HD is a desktop video magnifier that uses an HD camera to show printed material enlarged on a 24-inch screen. It keeps the controls simple, with each control doing just one job, so it suits someone who wants to read or look at things up close without learning a complicated menu. It has a lower magnification range and a wider field of view than some models, which can make it a good fit if you need moderate enlargement rather than very high zoom.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
TOPAZ OCR Desktop Video Magnifier
The TOPAZ OCR is a desktop video magnifier with a high-definition camera that shows print on a screen as sharp, clear text. Because the image is crisp, you can often use a lower magnification and see more on the screen at once. That means less sliding of the XY table (the moving platform under the camera) when reading, looking at pictures, or doing crafts. It also has an OCR camera. OCR means the device reads printed text and turns it into speech. One tap on the screen switches it from magnifier to a scan-and-read mode that shows the page and reads it aloud. It suits someone who wants magnification and read-aloud in one desk-based unit.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
ONYX Deskset HD Video Magnifier
The ONYX Deskset HD is a video magnifier that pairs a camera with a built-in monitor, so you can enlarge print and other items on screen. Its flexible 3-in-1 camera swings between three jobs: reading documents on your desk, viewing things across the room, and looking at yourself, such as for grooming. That makes it a good fit if you want one magnifier for close reading and for seeing a whiteboard or a person at a distance. It's a complete desktop unit, so you don't need to connect it to another screen or computer.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
ONYX OCR
The ONYX OCR is a desktop video magnifier with a built-in 24-inch touchscreen that also reads documents aloud. You can place a page under the fixed camera on the left and have it spoken, or use the second camera to magnify what's on your desk, from small print to hobby work to writing, up to 131 times. That second camera can also show you something across the room or even show you yourself. It's a good fit if reading magnified text gets tiring and you want to switch to listening without changing devices. A full letter-size page fits on screen at once.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
ONYX PRO
The ONYX PRO is a portable camera-and-stand system that turns a Microsoft Surface Pro 7 into a video magnifier. It has two cameras: one switches between close-up magnification and distance viewing, and the other is dedicated to reading printed pages aloud. Set a book, letter, or magazine under the reading camera and press a button, and the text is read in a natural-sounding voice while a high-contrast, enlarged version shows on the tablet screen. It's built to be light and has a handle, so you can carry it from room to room or between home and work. The Surface Pro tablet is not included, so factor that cost in.
Verified 4 days agoSetup with instructions -
explorē 5 – Pocket-size video magnifier
$859.00
The explorē 5 is a pocket-size video magnifier. It shows enlarged print on its own screen, so you can read small text without holding a lens up to your eye. It offers 18 contrast modes, which change the colors of the text and background so print is easier to see. It's built for spot reading, like labels, menus, and short notes, rather than long stretches of reading.
Not recently verifiedSetup with instructions -
explorē 8 Kit
$1,549.00
The explorē 8 Kit is a handheld digital video magnifier. It shows a close-up view of printed material on an 8-inch screen at up to 30X magnification. It is made for someone with vision loss who needs an electronic reading aid for small tasks and reading, at home or on the go. The kit name points to a handheld unit plus a stand, so you can hold it or set it down over what you're reading. Check what else comes in the box before ordering.
Not recently verifiedSetup with instructions -
Reveal 16 – Digital desktop magnifier with XY table
Est. $1,200–$2,000
The Reveal 16 is a desktop video magnifier that shows printed pages and handwriting enlarged on a screen, with an XY table that lets you slide your reading material around under the camera. It's meant for people with low vision who read or write for long stretches and want a comfortable setup. The unit folds, so it can be put away when you're done. This is a complete stand-alone magnifier; no computer or tablet is needed to use it.
Not recently verifiedSetup with instructions -
Prodigi for Windows
$995.00
Prodigi for Windows is software that puts magnification, text-to-speech, and document access together in one program for people with low vision who use a Windows computer. It is meant to make everyday computer use and reading easier on screen. Because it runs on your own PC, you get a software solution rather than a separate dedicated device, so the computer you already use is part of the setup.
Not recently verifiedSetup with instructions -
Prodigi All-in-One PC
$1,995.00
The Prodigi All-in-One PC is a Windows computer built for people with low vision who want to use a computer without a separate magnification setup. HumanWare makes it as part of its range of electronic magnifiers and other tools for people living with vision loss. It is meant for someone who needs on-screen magnification to do everyday computer tasks. The product information doesn't spell out the screen size, the specific Prodigi features, or any included accessories, so check those details with the vendor before you buy.
Not recently verifiedSetup with instructions -
LookyPlus Handheld Video Magnifier- 2x to 20x
$295.00
The LookyPlus is a pocket-sized video magnifier that shows whatever you hold it over on a 3.5-inch screen, magnified from 2x to 20x across four preset levels. You hold it like a regular magnifying glass, and the image stays sharp. It has five viewing modes, including full color, black on white, white on black, and yellow on blue or black, so you can pick the contrast that is easiest to read. A folding handle lets you rest it right on a page or fold it small to carry in a pocket, purse, or the case. LED lights brighten the image, and pressing the power button once freezes the picture so you can look at it without holding steady. It is a good fit for reading labels, menus, and printed text on the go.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
Explore 8 inch Handheld Electronic Video Magnifier
$1,299.00
The Explore 8 is a handheld video magnifier with an 8-inch touchscreen. It shows magnified print and objects on screen so they are easier to see. It has two 21-megapixel cameras, one for close items like books, newspapers, and photos, and one for distance viewing, such as street or store signs. Large physical buttons adjust magnification and contrast, and a folding stand lets you read at a table. It can connect to a TV over HDMI, and the screen is larger than many 7-inch handheld models. The battery is built in and charges over USB-C, so you can't swap in a spare.
Verified 2 days agoSetup with instructions -
Reizen LED Desktop Magnifier 10X
$39.95
This is a desk lamp with a flexible neck that holds its position, so you can aim the light right at what you're reading. A 120mm acrylic magnifier attaches in place of the lampshade, giving you magnification and light in one setup. It suits someone with low vision who reads, does crafts, or works on small detail tasks at a table. Because it sits on the desk, it's for close work in one spot rather than something to carry around.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
Reizen Multifunctional 3-in-1 Desktop Magnifier
$49.95
This desktop magnifier sits on a base with a flexible lamp arm that has 6 small LED lights, and three different lenses attach to the arm one at a time. The lenses magnify at three strengths: 2x at 90mm, 5x at 75mm, and 16x at 37mm. That gives you a wider view for casual reading and a stronger, smaller view for fine detail. The lenses are acrylic, so they stay light to handle, and each one snaps into a slot on the base when you're not using it. A clear cover for the base is included for storage. It suits someone with low vision who wants a lit magnifier set up at a desk or table.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
Extreme Close-Focus Monocular - 6x
$27.95
This small 6x monocular lets you see distant objects up close and also focus on things as near as 10 inches, so one device covers faraway and nearby viewing. It has an 18mm lens, fully coated optics, and weighs 1.7 ounces, so it slips into a pocket or bag easily. It's a good fit if you have low vision and want a pocket-sized way to see details at different distances, such as signs across a room or objects right in front of you. A soft pouch, carrying strap, and lens cloth come in the box. With only 6x power and a small lens, it won't match larger binoculars or a video magnifier for long reading or very fine detail.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
Jumbo Dual Power LED Magnifier- 1.8x + 5x
$12.95
This is a handheld magnifier with two lens strengths, 1.8x and 5x, and 12 built-in LED lights to brighten what you're reading or examining. It's meant for low vision and for hobby work like close-up crafts.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
Multifunction Handheld+Hands-Free Dual Power LED Magnifier - 3x + 4.5x
$14.95
This is a handheld magnifier with two lens strengths, 3x and 4.5x, and 10 built-in LED lights to brighten what you're reading. Its name says it can also be used hands-free, which suits someone who needs both hands free while looking at small print or fine detail.
Verified 2 days agoReady to use -
New Smartlux Digital Handheld Magnifier
$845.00
The Smartlux Digital is a portable video magnifier with a full HD camera and a 5-inch glare-free screen that shows enlarged print. Its built-in stand folds three ways: closed for handheld use, fully open to rest on a page, or partway open so you can write under the display. It offers 14 color contrast modes, individually adjustable LEDs, and reading lines and blinds to help you keep your place. Four color-coded tactile buttons run the controls. You can plug it into an external screen with the HDMI cable, or use USB to move photos to a computer. A zippered case, charger, cleaning cloth, and neck lanyard come in the box. At this price and size, it suits someone who wants a pocketable magnifier for daily reading and writing rather than a basic optical one.
Verified 2 days agoSetup with instructions