They use the built-in camera on your smart gear to scan documents or pages and enlarge the text on-screen.

Here are the best magnifying glass apps for Android and iOS devices.

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A blond middle-ages woman reading a sheet of paper with her smartphone magnifying glass app.

JGI / JamieGrill / Getty Images

Both pinch controls and slider option for zooming.

Advanced filters require a $1.99 upgrade.

Ad banners get in the way.

Magnifying Glass With Light app on an iPhone XS.

Falcon In Motion LLC

Freeze what the camera sees for great visibility.

Opening app turns on the smartphones light.

App instructions are ironically very small and hard to read.

Magnifying Glass + Flashlight app on an iPhone XS smartphone.

RV AppStudios LLC

This app also features a reading light that activates your smart devices built-in flashlight.

Pinch and slider controls for zooming.

App buttons are a bit on the small side.

Magnifying Glass app on an Android tablet.

Pony Mobile

In-app ads are annoying.

Magnifying Glass is a free Android app that features all of the functionality one wants from a magnifier app.

Contrast options that other apps dont have.

Magnifier & Microscope [Cozy] app on an Android tablet.

Hantor

Contrast and brightness sliders a bit difficult to use on tablets.

No in-app controls for returning to the main screen.

Simplest Android Magnifier App: Magnifying Glass

Beacon Studio

Very streamlined app design thats easy to use.

Magnifying Glass app on an Android tablet.

Beacon Studio

Occasional fullscreen ads may frustrate some.