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Did you know some apps turn your smartphone into a magnifying glass to help you read printed writing? They use the built-in camera on your device to scan documents or pages and enlarge text.
While both iPhone and Android include a built-in magnifying function, third-party apps offer additional features. Here are the best magnifying glass apps for Android and iOS devices.
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Pony Mobile
What We Like
Zoom, lighting, and filter functionality.
Pinch and slider controls for zooming.
Magnifying Glass is a free Android app that features all of the functionality one wants from a magnifier app. You can use it to zoom in on printed text with up to 10 times magnification, apply filters for easier reading, and activate your tablet or phone’s light when reading in dim light or the dark.
The app’s controls are a bit on the small side, which may frustrate you if you have large fingers and a small screen, but it’s very easy to use and isn’t too confusing unlike many of the other magnifier apps on Google Play.
Falcon In Motion LLC
Magnifying Glass With Light, or Mag Light as it’s called once installed on your iPhone, boasts an incredibly streamlined display that takes advantage of almost all of the screen’s real estate: It can show as much of what the camera sees as possible.
While most other magnifying glass apps only provide one way to zoom in on text, Mag Light lets you use the popular pinch gesture for zooming in and out, in addition to a slider on the right side of the screen.
This is one of the easiest magnifier smartphone apps out there, making it ideal if you’re an older user who often feels overwhelmed with modern apps and all of their features.
RV AppStudios LLC
Magnifying Glass + Flashlight is a free app for iOS and Android devices that makes reading small text much easier. Using the device’s camera, the app displays exactly what it sees on the screen and allows you to zoom in and out by sliding your finger up and down.
This app also features a reading light that activates your smart device’s built-in flashlight. The light’s brightness can be adjusted via an easy-to-use slider on the left side of the app, while the screen’s brightness can be dimmed or brightened by sliding your fingers left and right.
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Beacon Studio
The Android Magnifying Glass app is as simple as its name, with a clean user interface that’s easy to use and a basic feature set that gets the job done but won’t overwhelm the user.
With Magnifying Glass, you can use your Android smartphone or tablet to zoom in on any text the device’s camera can see while activating the light to get a better look when lighting conditions aren’t at their best. There are no bells and whistles to speak of, but for most people, especially more mature users, this is all they need.
Hantor
The Cozy Magnifier & Microscope app has the usual magnifier zoom and lighting features one expects, but what makes it stand apart are its contrast and brightness sliders that add an aspect of image editing to the reading experience.
These sliders work much like tools in image editing apps, and their inclusion here means you can adjust the lighting of whatever the camera sees in real time without having to take a photo and open it in a separate image editing app.
Combined with the free color filters, this magnifier Android app is a good choice if you find yourself often struggling to read in unusual lighting conditions.
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