105x macro lens for (almost) every smartphone: MagStack launches on Kickstarter
Clip-on lenses for smartphones are no longer a new idea, but Martvsen MagStack is designed to offer a particularly versatile macro solution for smartphones. The included clip allows the lens to be attached to most smartphones, ranging from the small Apple iPhone 16 to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The manufacturer also offers a protective case for selected smartphones to mount the lens. The base lens, which offers 30x magnification, attaches magnetically to the clip or case. Depending on the model, two to three additional lenses can then be attached magnetically, each increasing the magnification by 25x, allowing users to choose between 30x, 55x, 80x and 105x magnification.
How Martvsen calculates this magnification is unclear, because according to the manufacturer's sample images, the "30x" lens produces results that are hardly distinguishable from the macro mode of a conventional smartphone. Nevertheless, with all four lenses, users should be able to get much closer to the subject and thus capture it in greater detail. At a working distance of only 2.5 centimeters, MagStack is only suitable to a limited extent for photographing living subjects such as insects.
Price and availability
The Martvsen MagStack lens for smartphones is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter. The lens and clip cost $69 ("Launch Special" price), but the full 105x magnification is only available with the MagStack Pro, for which the manufacturer currently charges $99. Prices exclude shipping, import tax and customs duties.
Delivery is expected to begin in November 2025. As always, crowdfunding campaigns come with a certain degree of risk, including the eventuality that the product may never make it to market.
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