Plugable 250X Digital USB Microscope Review: Affordable Tool for Students, Hobbyists and Collectors

The Lowdown

The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope is a fun way to inspire young minds to look more closely at the world around them. It is also a useful tool for collectors and those who work on circuit boards and tiny tech. It is widely compatible and completely portable. It also shoots time lapses and videos.

Overall
3.8

Pros

  • Simplicity and ease of use
  • Impressive results when used properly
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • The location of the shutter button
  • Why is the app not mobile compatible?

Plugable is a company whose Washington state-based design team produces a wide variety of computer-related products, including audio, chargers, data storage, docking stations, graphic adapters, hubs, cables, and switches. In this review, we look at something a bit different: the Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope with Observation Stand.

Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope with the object that is being magnified showing on the author's desktop monitor.

Plugable sells two digital microscopes: the 250x model reviewed here and an 800x inverted digital/optical model ($89.95). Both microscopes are aimed at the hobby market segment, but while the 800x model more closely follows the traditional shape of typical laboratory microscopes, the 250x model is much simpler.

What’s in the Box

  • The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope body
  • An Observation stage
  • A Suction cup
  • A Gooseneck
  • A C-clip
  • A USB C Keychain Adapter
  • The Quick Start Guide

Plugable 250x Digital USB MicroscopeDesign

The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope incorporates all of the technological components into a cylindrical head that is suspended by a gooseneck arm, which uses a suction cup to attach to the supplied observation stage. A cable extends from this head and connects to your computer via USB-A or the attached USB-C adapter.

All of the controls are found on the head unit. At the very top of the head is a button for taking photos. Directly below is a thumb wheel that controls the brightness of the integrated LEDs.

The textured gray rubber ring at the center of the head controls focus. A tapered plastic cowl at the low end prevents touching objects with the microscope’s lens.

Build Quality

Except for the rubber focus ring, the microscope’s body is made entirely of black plastic, the gooseneck is metal, and the gridded base, or observations stage, is white plastic.

While aimed at a price-conscious segment of the market, the product feels completely satisfactory. The gooseneck is sufficiently robust for the microscope’s weight and, for the most part, holds it where it is placed. The thumb wheel and especially the focus ring feel quite good.

Installation

We tested the Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope on three PCs. The first step is to download the appropriate version of Plugable’s Digital Viewer app from their website.

The app is compatible with Windows (11, 10, 8.x, 7, Vista, XP), macOS – 10.5 and above, ChromeOS – All, iPadOS – USB C 17.x (Third Party Application Required), Android – USB C (Third Party Application Required) and Linux – Kernel 2.6.26 and above.

It seems odd that the app is unavailable for Apple and Android mobile devices; the product seems like a perfect match for iPads, for example.

With the software installed, the next step is to connect the microscope to the USB cable and confirm that the app has identified the device correctly. We had no issues installing the software, but one computer did not recognize the new device at first, and then it confused the microscope with the laptop’s built-in camera.

Upon closing and restarting the app and reinstalling it, the laptop finally identified the microscope’s camera correctly.

The USB connector on the Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope

One concern about the attached USB-C adapter is that its body is quite large, and it may not work on some computers with close-together USB-C ports.

Performance

The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope’s specifications are impressive for a product in this price range: 2.0 Megapixels, 60x to 250x magnification, LED halo light with brightness control, 7000K color temperature, and 0-38 lumens for optimal light and clarity.

Using the device, you quickly learn what it does well and where it is lacking. This is a fun device perfectly suited for inspiring students to look at the world around them more closely. It is equally well suited for coin, stamp, and rock enthusiasts who wish to examine and document their collections. It can also be very useful for soldering and repairing circuits and other small components.

As you can see from the various sample images, you can get impressive results when used properly. That is not to say that there are not some drawbacks to the design, the most significant of which is the placement of the camera shutter button at the top of the microscope’s head.

While the gooseneck is perfectly sufficient to hold the weight of the head, it is not good at dampening vibrations. Pushing the button gently enough to achieve a focused photo is virtually impossible.

Luckily, users can take photos, time-lapses, and videos directly from the app. While the button’s placement seems intuitive and integral to the design, issues with its performance could easily be avoided by placing it in the middle of the USB cable. In any case, solid results can be achieved when the microscope is properly set up, the gooseneck tightened, and the captures initiated from the app.

Specifications

Video Capture Modes

Video Capture Source Data Interface Video Formats Audio Formats Video Capture Resolutions
Camera Sensor UVC YUY2 (USB 3.0+ Only) or MJPEG No Audio 640×480 @ 30Hz

Image Capture Modes

Data Interface Capture Resolutions Image Format Chipset
UVC 1600×1200 JPEG SN9C292A Sonix

Power

Port Placement Power Host / Device Notes Voltage Amperage Wattage
USB-A to Host Cable End Host Bus Powered (No Power Adapter) 5.0V 500mA 2.5W

Connection To Host

Port  Placement Version and Link Rate 
1x USB-A Cable End USB 2.0 (480Mbps)

Physical Stats

Item Size (H x W x D) or Length Weight
Digital Microscope 9 x 3 x 3 centimeters
3.5 x 1.2 x 1.2 inches
84 grams
3 ounces

The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope is a fun way to inspire young minds to look more closely at the world around them. It is also a useful tool for collectors and those who work on circuit boards and tiny tech. It is widely compatible and completely portable. It also shoots time lapses and videos.

Who knows the ways in which inquisitive minds might use this technology?

The Plugable 250x Digital USB Microscope with Observation Stand sells for $38.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Update 11/20/2024: Plugable’s 250x digital microscope will be 20% off from November 29 – December 2, 2024, for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Simplicity and ease of use; Impressive results when used properly; Inexpensive

What Needs Improvement: The location of the shutter button; Why is the app not mobile compatible?

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About the Author

Charles Kliment
A lifelong gearhead, as a teenager Charles was obsessed with high-end audio and musical instruments and through the years has focused on computers, mobile devices, 3d printing and drones. Both in his career and hobby, he employs a wide range of video, still and VR cameras. An avid gamer, dog lover and father of three adult sons, Charles is married to Jane Randel and lives in New Jersey.

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