The best smart binoculars are very new to the market and represent a unique experience that enables identification of stars, galaxies, landscapes and even wildlife in real time. Right now, there are only two models of smart binoculars available. Unistellar is currently taking pre-orders for its Envision binoculars, which use augmented reality (AR) to explore and identify landscapes and night sky targets. Then there are the Swarovski AX Visio smart binoculars, which work with wildlife databases to identify species on the internal display in real time.
With the best smart telescopes disrupting the telescope market, we expect smart binoculars to do the same thing to the binoculars market in the next decade. We haven't seen smart binoculars on sale during Black Friday yet, but there is always a possibility and it's good to keep an eye out this week just to make sure.
The quick list
Offering excellent analogue imagery, these cutting-edge smart binoculars are a game changer for beginners and experts alike.
Unistellar is offering batch two of its Envision AR smart binoculars for $999 for those who pre-order before Nov. 2. Models are expected to ship in October 2026.
Best smart binoculars we recommend in 2025
Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.
Best overall
✅ You're a keen wildlife watcher: This model's most attractive feature is the ability to identify wildlife with the click of a button.
✅You want top-tier optics: Swarovski is known for the quality of its optical technology, from binoculars to camera lenses.
❌ You're working to a budget: Costing several thousand dollars, these are not cheap.
❌ You want these for stargazing: These are focused on wildlife and won't help you identify planets, stars or galaxies.
🔎 Swarovski AX Visio: Featuring smart technology, superb quality optics and more, these are a pricey but powerful, game-changing tool for wildlife watchers.
The AX Visio's smart technology is a blessing for beginners and experts alike. It identifies and stores the positions of birds in their various habitats and creatures too, including mammals and insects. We've rated it 4/5 stars in our full Swarovski AX Visio 10x32 binocular review.
Identified something interesting? Then why not photograph or record it? The Swarovski AX Visio's 8GB of internal memory is enough for 1,000 photographs or an hour of footage. On top of that, its built-in GPS ensures you won't get lost when you're out and about wildlife-watching.
This pair weighs 2.4 lbs/1090g, so they're not light, but considering they have to have batteries to function, it's not bad. The Swarovski AX VISIO is a game changer in the world of binoculars. Time will tell whether the implementation could be improved, because purchasers have reported difficulty identifying some birds.
Hopefully, market research will soon improve the product, as with all new technology. Swarovski's reputation for high-quality optics precedes the Visio, and with its smart features, it's an attractive package.
- Read our full Swarovski AX Visio review
Best for stargazing
✅ You want to stargaze with them: The stargazing features will make it easier to spot objects of interest and the 50mm aperture drinks in plenty of light.
✅ You're working to a budget: These are a fraction of the price of Swarovski's AX Visio binoculars.
❌ You want something lightweight: At over 2.65 lb, these binos are pretty hefty.
❌ You want to able to take pictures directly: The Envision does not include a still image or video camera.
🔎 Unistellar Envision smart binoculars: With AR integration and a record of over 200,000 stars, plus quality Nikon lenses, these should be a treat for stargazers and wildlife watchers.
With a projected shipping date of October 2026, Unistellar has already sold out its first pre-order batch of 750 units and announced a second batch with 350 units but they are moving fast and pre-orders end on Nov. 2.
Primarily using similar technology and combining the same features, the Unistellar Envisions will be hard to beat in price. Unistellar states that you will be able to see a whole range of night sky targets, including stars, galaxies, comets and even human-made points of interest like the International Space Station (ISS) and highlights of Lunar geography, including the Apollo mission landing sites.
The Unistellar Envision does not have built-in identification apps but does have a built-in Augmented Reality (AR) system that enables you to identify over a million mountains and trails and approximately 200,000 night sky objects. The Envision uses Nikon lenses, so you can expect the analog side of the binoculars to be excellent.
Unistellar put the project out to crowdfunding in 2024 and we got our hands on an early prototype this year. They started their official pre-orders this year and have already sold out of their first batch. A second batch has under 200 units available and is moving fast, so you should act quickly if you want to get your hands on these soon. Expected delivery and shipping are in November 2026.
User reviews
The Swarovski Optik AX Visio users have said that the camera has a few problems identifying birds accurately. The image you see isn't the one the camera sees, which means that the image is often too small for the ID software to be reliable.
Best smart binoculars: Comparison
Product | Magnification: | Objective lens | Built-in camera | Is AR built in? | Can use without power? | Field of view |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Swarovski AX Viso | 10x | 32mm | Yes | No | Yes | 6 degrees |
Unistellar Envision | 10x | 50mm | No | Yes | Yes | 6.4 degrees |
Best smart binoculars: Frequently Asked Questions
When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is on Friday, Nov. 28, but there will be deals starting in the few days leading up to it too. For a comprehensive list of the best deals, check out our Black Friday hub.
Cyber Monday is on Monday, Dec. 1 and focuses more on strong tech deals, so it is worth paying attention to deals around then too.
What are the best smart binoculars?
As the Swarovski Optik AX Visio binoculars are the only smart binoculars in production at the time of writing, we would have to recommend them over their competition. They are an auspicious start in the new market of smart binoculars.
What are the cheaper smart binoculars?
If the Unisteller Envision binoculars' current crowdfunding campaign succeeds, they will likely be very keenly priced, with Nikon glass and well-integrated Augmented Reality. We are currently unaware of any other smart binoculars priced lower than this.
Update log
Editor's Note 10/24/25: Information about Unistellar second batch pre-order sale added to introduction and new hands-on imagery for Envision binoculars has been added to their buying guide entry.
How we test the best smart binoculars
To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best smart binoculars to buy, here at Space.com, we rigorously review every binocular to fully test each instrument. Each binocular is reviewed based on a multitude of aspects, from its construction and design to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field. We have currently completed our first review of the only smart binocular available to buy by consumers, the Swarovski Optik AX Visio, which we will publish soon.
Where possible, each pair of binoculars is carefully tested by our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing, backed by personal, hands-on experience with each binocular and judged based on its price point, class, and intended use.
