# DWARFLAB — user reviews > 103 indexed App Store user reviews of DWARFLAB by Tinyphoton (Wuhan) Technology. Co., Ltd., rated 3.50/5 from 140 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarflab/id1667394131/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dwarflab/id1667394131.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 66 · 4★ 18 · 3★ 12 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 35 ## What do users think of DWARFLAB? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 📸 High-quality astrophotography results - 💰 Excellent value for price - 🎯 Intuitive sky atlas and target selection - 🔄 Frequent app updates and improvements - ⚡ Responsive developer team - 🌙 Effective deep-sky object capture - 🛠️ Built-in image processing (Stellar Studio) - 📱 Easy to learn for beginners - 🎮 Flexible control options - 🌍 Multi-language support **Cons** - 🔌 Persistent WiFi connectivity issues - ⏱️ Slow connection establishment (15-30 minutes) - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes - 📉 Tracking frame drops (25% loss reported) - 🔄 Connection drops after minutes - 🌡️ Dark frame calibration failures - 🎨 Confusing and cluttered UI - ⚙️ Inconsistent settings persistence - 📱 iOS app significantly behind Android version - 🔧 Mandatory firmware updates during sessions - 🖼️ Full-screen mode freezes - ⌨️ Difficult slider controls on mobile - 📚 Poor documentation and unclear instructions - 🔐 Account creation/security verification failures **Commonly reported bugs** - WiFi connection fails repeatedly or drops within seconds - App crashes on iOS 18 and older iOS versions - Account creation security verification fails - Full-screen mode freezes with no escape option - Autofocus produces inconsistent or blurry results - Manual focus unresponsive - Tracking takes excessive time to initiate - Dark frame calibration lines appear and ruin images - Temperature-related calibration failures - Settings reset to defaults after stacking - IR Cut/Pass filter constantly resets to Pass mode - Photo saving to album is inconsistent (hit or miss) - App freezes when changing camera systems - Inverted controls and flipped image display - Battery icon obscures capacity readout on iPhone - STA mode connectivity broken - Firmware update errors prevent connection - Image preview not displaying in app - Joystick controls unresponsive intermittently - Wide and telephoto lens menu settings reversed - App incompatible with iOS versions below 15 **Most requested features** - One-tap return to home and power off function - Panorama/mosaic image merging capability - Comet-aligned tracking mode - Dew control for iOS (available on Android) - iPad-optimized app version - Histogram display in app - Burst mode functionality - External Barlow lens support - Mac M-series silicon compatibility - Ability to skip firmware updates until convenient time - Milky Way capture documentation for Dwarf Mini - Photo album integration improvements - STA mode WiFi connectivity fix ## Newest reviews (15 of 103) ### 3/5 — Nice but…. *2026-08-18* No Google Maps/open Maps Support to Plan in Atlas ### 3/5 — No Promised Improvement, Refuses to Connect *2026-07-31* This update was supposed to improve connection a reduce problems, in fact connection problems are much worse now, it requires or resets the WiFi password over and over and will not connect to the telescope to show the new features. Don’t update if you can possibly help it. ### 2/5 — Still feels unfinished *2026-06-28, version 3.4.0* Eq mode only calibrates in the dark so there’s no pre setting up the dwarf or using schedule. Schedule is broken anyway. Timelapse is a format iPhone and Android can’t view… So 10:30 rolls around and you still have to focus, align eq, create darks, physically touch the lens to rotate and remove cap after darks, re calibrate eq because you don’t trust it after you did darks and touched the lens, /re locate a target, focus again, now it’s 11:45 and you might get something red if you leave it for the night with some lines running through your photo. Why anyone would have to physically “rotate the camera and face it towards the sky” when it’s a motorized unit confuses me and always throws off alignments. I feel like I’m the beta tester for the next model. ### 2/5 — Schlecht *2026-05-20* Erkennt oftmals die Objekte nicht. Verbindung zum Handy braucht sehr sehr lange. ### 3/5 — Performance Issues after a firmware update. *2026-03-19* The Dwarf3 is now taking upto 30minutes to connect with my iPad . The tracking, once the Dwarf3 is capturing an Astro object is below average dropping nearly 25 percent of all captured frames. I have updated the iPad app in the hope it will cure these issues. Disappointing because it was working very well before the firmware update. ### 2/5 — Failed Darks Ruin Your Night *2026-02-27, version 3.3.9* By far, the darks are the worst part about this device. I finally experienced the lines that everyone on every forum posts about every day yet isn’t fixed. Lines that appear and ruin your nights work because the “darks” fail. This device changes temperature so drastically of course the darks will fail at the starting temp. Another wasted night. God forbid you try to save a time lapse on an iPhone. ### 4/5 — Dwarf Mini *2026-02-21* Really enjoying it and need more clear skys not may around at the moment!!! But can’t find any info about Milky Way capture on the mini? ### 4/5 — Good, but… *2026-02-18* I’m very satisfied with the camera itself and with the app overall — both work really well and deliver great results. However, I find it frustrating that there is no single button to return the camera to its home position and power it off at the same time. Having to manually reposition the device before shutting it down every time breaks the workflow. Adding a one-tap “return to home & power off” option would greatly improve the user experience. ### 2/5 — What have you done *2026-02-14* 14/02/2026 Previously I had connection issues to my iPad but the previous update fixed it. Seeing there was an update I made a huge error and updated. Now I’m back to square one my iPad will not stay connected to my dwarf 3 for more than 5 seconds. My iPhone will stay connected for a couple of minutes that’s it. You have made my dwarf 3 unusable 😡. I don’t get many clear skies at the moment and tbh now I have I wish it was cloudy 🥲 ### 4/5 — Rapidly Advancing System *2026-02-11* Happy by the months since I got my D2. I was quite skeptical at first, but the App and the DScope have increasingly become better and capable with updates across board. There’s still room for improvement, but the progress and feature set available now, simply makes it a very capable contender to some of the muscle out there. ### 3/5 — Needs work *2026-02-09, version 3.3.5* Works, but Needs Work ### 3/5 — Brutal Connection Issues *2026-01-13, version 3.3.5* It’s like the device has never been connected before. My new iPhone 16 can be touching the dwarf3 and the wifi fails every time. Whatever the “tap to connect” thing is, it doesn’t work. This device is hard to find and hard to connect to every time ### 2/5 — Updates *2026-01-10* Maybe dont make it so I have to stop 2.5 hours into my shot and reboot to update the dwarf 3. Wasted all that time freezing outside for nothing. Let me skip it until I’m at a point where I can do it. Dumbest feature ever. ### 3/5 — Schlechte Lokalisierung. *2026-01-04* Wo ist die deutsche Lokalisierung geblieben? Ich sehe auf Videos, dass es sie in älteren Versionen gab aber jetzt nur noch auf der Startseite existiert. Das war ein Kaufkriterium für mich. Das sollte doch heute kein Problem mehr sein. ### 2/5 — Freezes on full screen *2025-12-02* After tapping the eye icon for full screen, it freezes with no way to get back to the controls. Switched telescope off and on. Still frozen. Not a good start ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Won’t connect *2026-06-07, version 3.4.0* Have to forget my wifi to connect, and then I can’t login to stellar studio. ### 1/5 — App is WORTHLESS *2026-04-07* Smart telescope works fine, SOME of the app works fine too, but all goes off the rails when trying to edit or do anything with the photos. I try to create an account and the app keeps telling me “security verification failed” with my phone number and email address. They have 1 day to fix this or I’m deleting the app, returning the smart telescope and getting a SEESTAR instead. What a waste of time! ### 1/5 — The app is horrible *2026-02-02, version 3.3.5* Constant connection issues, can sometimes take up to 15 minutes to connect to the telescopes hotspot just for it to disconnect 2-3 minutes later. ### 1/5 — Needs serious improvement *2026-01-24, version 3.3.5* Constant drops, randomly unable to connect to network, and constant mandatory firmware update errors. Borderline unusuable app. ### 1/5 — Garbage! *2025-11-30, version 3.3.2* Buy something better ### 1/5 — Unusable *2025-11-28, version 3.3.2* The latest update to the app has rendered my Dwarf II almost unusable. The interface is a significant change from the previous version. Why the need to move functionality around and hide it under different menus? It’s atrocious. Autofocus now flips between not working at all, or producing a different blurry result each time (under clear skies on a first quarter moon). The manual focus just doesn’t respond. The tracking takes ages to kick in. ### 1/5 — Connection issues *2025-11-27* Latest update has made the dwarf 3 into an expensive paperweight. Fails to connect and takes min of 20 attempts to connect and then promptly drops connection. If the connection lasts long enough to select target and start a shoot it then drops and looses all data. Telescope now unusable due to these issues and admin on the owners group nasty and patronising deleting his own comments to hide his rants ### 1/5 — Update Broke WiFi Connectivity *2025-11-10* Once updated I could no longer use STA mode. I now have to constantly switch back and forth to connect to Internet to edit photos. I am also seeing bugs with the automatic settings after the update. Very disappointed with the new UI. ### 1/5 — Android app is so much better *2025-09-28, version 3.2.3* I could never get the app to connect to my dwarf 2. Tried for days. Then I thought I'd try my Android tablet and it was easy peasy. Connected the first attempt. Wish this app worked as good. ### 1/5 — App needs work!!!! *2025-08-17, version 3.2.3* I love the telescope. But the app needs major help. Every time I go to use it. It’s super slow and very laggy. It’s almost unusable. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fantastic little device!! *2026-08-15* First of all, you’re i’m buying a relatively inexpensive little device, not a multi thousand dollar telescope. The company has made massive moves forward to keep making the device and software better. Great great quality for the price and a company that truly cares about the consumer. ### 5/5 — Good Quality, minor tracking issues, atlas QoL update suggestions *2026-06-16* The app itself can be mildly clunky at times, but not that insane. I'd call it decent quality overall. The camera itself works good, especially for the price. It does, unfortunately, struggle to track Azimuth objects like Pinwheel or M13 though, it works much better on lower large sky objects. I've taken numerous good quality image stacks under rural skies between city and town light domes. I also wish DL would give us a "manual" auto tracking mode. I haven't found one if there is, and what I mean is that after I point it at a random section of sky, we can set the camera to auto-track that random section. Regardless, the DWARF 3 is definitely worth the buy and I would definitely recommend to any person wanting to give deep sky imaging a run. The Atlas is nice to, because I can use other apps to find an object and then search it in the atlas. I would also like it if DL would consider adding a cardinal (North, South, East, West) directional indicator for their Atlas objects. Right now the Atlas only gives degrees. A direction indicator could save some time for amateurs who are learning the sky and let them disregard objects that might be behind trees or buildings they are near. ### 5/5 — Decent app *2026-05-04* Works well with my Dwarf 3, can position the telescope/Camera outside on my balcony & easily connect to the app inside my home. App is fairly easy to use with a few hours practice & it has a nice interface which works well on iPad & iPhone. Tutorials for the app can easily be found on YouTube or just ask A.I. if you need help. I only use it for wildlife photography & have got some great shots of wild birds & squirrels within a few days of use. Would definitely recommend, can’t understand all of the negative reviews. Great app 👍 ### 5/5 — Love *2026-02-10, version 3.3.8* I really don’t have anything bad to say. The telescope is amazing especially for the price and this app has given me 0 issues. I’ve had the telescope for about 2 months now and I love it! ### 5/5 — Amazing experience *2026-02-10* Love this device and app for both astrophotography and bird photography. 5/5 for ease of use, price and quality. Obviously not as good as a full astro rig but at this price there can be no complaints. Good support team also ### 5/5 — Not Buggy anymore! *2026-01-10, version 3.3.5* As above! Great mache with great features. Even with built in basic post processing. Great value! ### 5/5 — Great option for cutting through city light pollution *2026-01-09* The Dwarf3 has been getting amazing shots of deep space objects even though I live in a city that never gets dark skies. The EQ mode is great for super long tracking sessions. I hope they eventually add comet aligned tracking, but I’m extremely happy with what it’s been able to do so far. ### 5/5 — Excellent system *2026-01-04* I've had the Dwarf 3 for about a month now and am impressed. The latest version of the app is reliable, offers flexible control of the scope, features an excellent and easy to use sky atlas, and has now even added a built-in processor called Stellar Studio … which works great. There is still a waiting list for these units, but it's well worth the wait. ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-11-06, version 3.3.0* It’s just a great app nothing else to add actually just let me take panorama with the dwarf 2 and it will be 6 stars ### 5/5 — Great device *2025-10-26* The Dwarf3 is absolutely amazing in its capabilities and for the price. Like most complex electronics and apps, it has its limitations and frustrations. But what it accomplishes makes it well worth it. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-07.*