Qivika has launched an AI-powered and pocket-sized smart telescope on Kickstarter, promising to transform any iOS or Android smartphone into a compact system for stargazing, birding and wildlife photography. It’s promising delivery by the end of December 2026 - with early investors being able to pre-order from under $260 / £200.
Weighing around 300g, the portable device combines high-magnification optics with on-device AI, aiming to offer an accessible alternative to carrying a traditional telescope, spotting scope or camera.
Rather than competing purely as a self-contained robotic observatory, it relies on the user’s existing smartphone. At its heart is a precision folded periscope optical system featuring ED glass and multi-coated lenses. Qivika claims 24x optical magnification and a field of view equivalent to a 3,000mm lens.
Rather than incorporating its own conventional camera system, Qivika clips onto an existing smartphone, using the phone as the display and interface.
Its on-device AI is designed to help users frame subjects, assist in composition and identify objects being observed. The core AI experience can operate offline, potentially making the device useful in remote locations where mobile data or Wi-Fi connectivity is limited.
Astronomy is another major focus. Qivika’s Smart Sky Guide uses constellation overlays and directional guidance to help observers locate celestial targets rather than requiring them to navigate the night sky unaided. It has three dedicated shooting modes — Solar, Explore and Deep Sky. It also introduces more game-like elements to astronomy. Moon Hunter mode, for example, encourages users to explore every phase of the moon. It also adds a collectible feature inspired by Chinese astronomy’s concept of 28 lunar mansions, an ancient way of dividing the sky according to the moon’s movement against the stars.
Qivika arrives at a time when smart telescopes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly for automated astrophotography. Recent launches include the Seestar S50 Pro and DwarfLab’s Draco, both advanced smart telescopes targeting portable astrophotography and automated observing.
Conceptually, however, Qivika seems closer to the Vaonis Hestia, which puts a smartphone at the heart of the observing and imaging system rather than using a dedicated astronomical camera. That makes Qivika less a miniature version of today’s robotic smart telescopes and more a smartphone-powered optical attachment.
