I have used microscopes quite a bit both in university and at work. This is a pretty good microscope, especially for the price. Everything functions as well as a much more expensive research quality microscope, but it isn't built as well in a way you can just feel. However, given the fact that microscopes are delicate and treated with care regardless this seems more than capable of standing up to a lifetime of heavy home use and probably even decades of research use. It is a well built, though obviously economically built microscope.

My biggest complaint is the proprietary power source plug. In a world where everything is usb, having a port type adapter with plug was just a poor choice. Not a huge deal, but certainly an odd choice that doesn't make sense for a microscope much more likely to land on the desk of a hobbyist than professional.

The monocular is close to being in the same focal field, but not exactly. This will work very well for an added (separately purchased, reasonably priced) camera insert. The smartphone attachment kinda works, but really isn't practical and doesn't provide great images or images easily for that matter.

There weren't instructions, and if you aren't familiar with this type of microscope that could pose some issues - but instructions are easy to find online and shouldn't discourage you from purchasing this for yourself or your science inclined teenager.

For the price, this is a great high magnification optical microscope with the easy ability to expand into high quality photos and videos if you are so inclined.