Pocket Binocular Review: Our Search for the Best Tiny Binoculars

A shortened version of this article also appeared in the Autumn 2024 issue of Living Bird.

Binoculars don’t have to be big to be bright. That’s the main takeaway from our recent review of pocket binoculars—the smallest and most packable category of binoculars on the market.

In our review, we tested 13 pocket binoculars representing a wide range of prices, from about $100 to nearly $1,000. Not all of those models wowed us, but the best binoculars provided delightfully bright, crisp, colorful images while weighing next to nothing and all but disappearing into a pack or pocket. If you want to enjoy birds without slinging a couple of pounds of metal and glass around your neck, a good set of pocket bins could be the perfect solution.

But there’s a catch: To shrink binoculars this small, manufacturers are pushing up against the limits of how much light their lenses can gather. Pocket binocular objective lenses are only about 1/3 the size (in terms of area) of standard 8×42 binocular lenses.

Larger lenses mean more light to work with—that’s why the market for full-size binoculars has so many attractive lower-priced options. But when it comes to pocket binoculars we found that the high-end glass of premium models really pays off: images are noticeably brighter and especially sharper. And that translates into better views of subtle details, especially at distance.

Binocular Types at a Glance

Full Size

• Objective lens: ca. 42 mm (1.7 in)
• Pros: Best light-gathering power; best affordable options
• Cons: Biggest and bulkiest class of binoculars
• Weight: 1.6 lb/726 g (average)
• Our review of full-size binoculars

Compact

• Objective lens: ca. 32 mm (1.3 in)
• Pros: Good mix of small size and bright optics
• Cons: Fewer outstanding options in affordable range
• Weight: 1.1 lb/502 g (average)
• Our review of compact binoculars

Pocket

• Objective lens: ca. 25 mm (1 in)
• Pros: Smallest, lightest, most packable binoculars
• Cons: Can be fussy to use; small lenses require high-quality glass to provide a great image
• Weight: 11 oz/302 g (average)

Two Ways to Design Pocket Binoculars—Which Is Best for You?

When trying to make sense of all the options among pocket binoculars, it can help to know that they fall into two general categories. Binocular designs can either optimize for size and packability, or they can use a slightly bulkier design with more birder-friendly features. Recognizing these basic design differences can help you focus on a binocular that’s suited to your needs.

Almost Invisible: In an effort to be as small as possible, most pocket binoculars feature a double-hinge design that allows the barrels to tuck away under the bridge. But those two hinges take time to fit to your eyes and easily get knocked out of position. Many pocket binoculars also have narrow eyecups and tiny focus wheels to fit their low-profile design. It can be hard to fit the eyecups around your eyes, and the small focus wheel can be imprecise, with the chance of zipping past the focus point even with a small turn. Still, their small size makes them comfortable and easy to carry along on travels—increasing the chance you’ll have binoculars handy when some marvelous bird happens by.

Birding Optimized: Pocket binoculars like the Vortex Diamondback HD and Maven B.7 make deliberate choices to improve your birding experience. The Diamondbacks use a bulkier one-hinge design (standard in larger binoculars) that offers more reliable viewing, especially with fast-moving or flying birds. Birding-optimized models also opt for larger eyecups that fit easily around your eyes and shade them; and a large focus wheel that allows fine, precise adjustments. These models don’t pack away so easily and don’t look or feel as elegant as their peers. But they do make birdwatching easier.

Here’s How We Rated 13 Pairs of Pocket Binoculars 

This graph shows our ratings and the list price of each binocular in our review. For our review and analysis methods, see the end of this article. Hover on or tap each point to bring up details about the binoculars. 

Ratings in this review are a subjective evaluation of each binocular’s image quality, comfort/feel, and perceived build quality as assessed by the authors (see Review Methods). Binocular prices vary through time and from retailer to retailer. For consistency, we quote prices as MSRP as of July 2024. Mobile users: rotate your device for a better view.

Caveat: binocular rankings are inherently subjective. We do everything we can to make them objective—multiple testers, clear ranking criteria—but people’s needs and preferences differ in ways that no single number can capture perfectly. So don’t worry too much about exactly where each binocular sits on the graph, and be sure to try out multiple pairs.

Top Picks

We were delighted to discover some pocket binoculars were capable of delivering seriously good images despite their small size. Their light weight helped eliminate neck or back strain, and they folded down to fit easily into travel bags or even in a jacket pocket.

The best optical performance came from the most expensive models—their high-quality glass delivered great color and thrilling sharpness even at distance. A couple of our Top Picks had slightly less brilliant glass but made up for it with great birding ergonomics like deep, roomy eyecups and smooth, precision focusing. In particular we were impressed by the sharpness of the Swarovski models, the clever asymmetrical design of the Zeiss Victory, and the excellent balance of price and performance in the Vortex Diamondback HD. Here’s how we rated our Top Picks (prices listed are MSRP):

• 2-way tie: Zeiss Victory Pocket 8×25 ($899) and Swarovski CL Pocket 8×25 ($949)
• 2-way tie: Swarovski Curio 7×21 ($899) and Leica Ultravid 20 8×20 ($929)
• Maven B.7 8×25 ($600)
• Vortex Diamondback HD 8×28 ($209; our pick for Best Budget pocket binocular)

Solid Choices

If your budget doesn’t go past $400, you’ve still got some attractive options. These Solid Choices feature sharp images and good ergonomics.

• Zeiss Terra ED Pocket 8×25 ($399)
• Kowa BD25 8×25 ($275)
• Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10×25 ($212)

Middle Ground

The models at the lower end of our price range are noticeably dimmer or harder to use than more expensive models, but might do the trick for specific situations like feeder watching. Here’s how we rated them:

• Kowa Genesis 22 Prominar XD 8×22 ($799)
• Opticron Oregon 4 LE WP 8×25 ($109)
• Vanguard Vesta 8×25 ($129)
• Nocs Standard Issue 8×25 ($95)