ordered this to replace one my youngest son had dropped (more than once). They're a bit older now and I hope we'll be more careful with that. I originally got a microscope when my boys were distance learning at home during the Corona crisis. The purchase was definitely not part of the curriculum but they/us had so much fun! They are both visual learners like me. I always enjoyed science/biology at school so I was probably more excited than they were. This works just as well as our old one (which cost more), except the body doesn't shake and the lenses aren't scratched, at least not yet. We recently removed a tick from our dog and decided to look at it under a microscope - see image. If you've never done this before, I highly recommend it! You can see the blood pumping through the body and all. It's a bit gross and not for everyone I know! It takes a little getting used to at first, especially if you haven't used a microscope for a while, but you get the hang of it pretty quickly. In my opinion the quality is really decent for the price and it comes with some 'extras' too. The magnification works well for most things and I find the resolution quite clear. It has multiple light sources, but placing it in a well-lit spot also helps. The case is mostly made of metal and seems relatively robust. The buttons for moving the sliders back and forth aren't as smooth as I'd hoped, as they occasionally get stuck, although that wasn't a major issue. I wouldn't expect lab quality as it's definitely more of an entry-level microscope. I probably would have given it four stars if it was more expensive.