Telescope Comparison
Meade LX65 6" Mak vs Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5
The specs are close. The experience isn't.
First light
Meade Instruments · 152mm · £699
The automated deep-sky platform
- 152mm maksutov-cassegrain on a computerised mount with motorised tracking
- Good for: Moon, planets, bright nebulae, star clusters, and deep-sky objects
- GoTo system finds any object in its database after initial star alignment — no star atlas needed
- Tracking motors keep objects centred as Earth rotates — useful above 100×, essential for photography
- 13.5kg total — requires a fixed garden spot or car transport
Sky-Watcher · 150mm · £999
The automated deep-sky platform
- 150mm maksutov-cassegrain on a computerised mount with motorised tracking
- Good for: Moon, planets, bright nebulae, star clusters, and deep-sky objects
- GoTo system finds any object in its database after initial star alignment — no star atlas needed
- Tracking motors keep objects centred as Earth rotates — useful above 100×, essential for photography
- 24kg total — requires a fixed garden spot or car transport
The full picture
The numbers that separate these two scopes — and what they mean at the eyepiece.
Aperture
Meade LX65 6" Mak gathers 1× more light. On bright targets — Moon, Saturn, Jupiter — you won't notice. On fainter targets — dim galaxies, faint globular clusters — the gap is real.
Focal length
Same focal length — identical magnification with any given eyepiece. Differences come from optical design and coatings.
Focal ratio
Same focal ratio — the same eyepiece gives equivalent magnification and true field in both scopes.
Mount type
Same mount type — setup experience and ergonomics will be similar. Differences lie in build quality and included accessories.
Weight (OTA)
Similar optical tube weight. Any portability difference between these setups comes from the mount, not the tube itself.
Optical design
Both Maksutov-Cassegrains — compact tubes, long focal length, excellent planetary contrast. Performance differences come from aperture and mount, not optical formula.
At the eyepiece
Both scopes · same aperture
Both scopes share essentially the same aperture — views through each will be very similar on all standard targets. The differences show up in setup, mount type, and focal ratio, not in fundamental light-gathering.
The real tradeoff
Both scopes are capable. The question is which one fits the way you actually observe.
The Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 costs 43% more. The premium buys a more capable mount and better build quality, not larger optics. For a first telescope, the Meade LX65 6" Mak is the smarter entry point. Return to the Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 when you know from experience what you actually need.
The dark side
Every scope has a personality. Here’s where each one gets difficult.
Meade Instruments
Meade LX65 6" Mak
Alignment required every session
GoTo star alignment cannot be skipped — the mount needs to know where it is pointing before it can find objects. This adds several minutes to the start of every session, every time.
Sky-Watcher
Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5
Alignment required every session
GoTo star alignment cannot be skipped — the mount needs to know where it is pointing before it can find objects. This adds several minutes to the start of every session, every time.
Not a spontaneous telescope
At 24kg total, this goes out when you plan to go out — not for a quick look on a clear evening.
Which is right for you?
Two different buyers. Two different right answers.
The automated deep-sky platform
Meade Instruments · Meade LX65 6" Mak
You’ll love this if…
- You want to navigate straight to targets without a star atlas — align once and the scope slews to any object in its database on demand
- You observe from a light-polluted garden where star-hopping to faint deep-sky objects would take most of a clear night
- You want objects to stay centred at high magnification without having to manually nudge the scope every few minutes
This will frustrate you if…
- You find the star alignment required at the start of every session frustrating — GoTo alignment cannot be skipped, and several minutes on a cold night before you can observe is the reality
The automated deep-sky platform
Sky-Watcher · Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5
You’ll love this if…
- You want to navigate straight to targets without a star atlas — align once and the scope slews to any object in its database on demand
- You observe from a light-polluted garden where star-hopping to faint deep-sky objects would take most of a clear night
- You want objects to stay centred at high magnification without having to manually nudge the scope every few minutes
This will frustrate you if…
- You find the star alignment required at the start of every session frustrating — GoTo alignment cannot be skipped, and several minutes on a cold night before you can observe is the reality
- You want to take it out for spontaneous sessions — at this weight, getting it in and out of a car on your own requires planning and ideally a second pair of hands
Our verdict
At £699 versus £999, the Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 costs 43% more. The extra money buys a more capable mount and better build quality, not larger optics.
For most buyers starting out, the Meade LX65 6" Mak is the sensible choice — put the savings into a better eyepiece. The Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 makes sense once you know exactly why you need what it offers. If I had to choose: the Meade LX65 6" Mak, and spend the difference on a quality eyepiece.
Meade LX65 6" Mak
View Meade LX65 6" Mak →Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5
View Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 →Deep field: Full specifications
Every data point, for those who want to go further.
Full specifications
Fields highlighted in blue or amber indicate the better value for that spec. Data is manufacturer-stated and may vary.
How much can it see?
| Spec | Meade LX65 6" Mak | Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 |
|---|---|---|
Apertureⓘ The most important spec — bigger = more light = better views | 152mm | 150mm |
Focal Length Longer = more magnification potential | 1800mm | 1800mm |
Focal Ratio Lower f-number = wider field of view; higher = more magnification per eyepiece | f/11.84 | f/12 |
Optical Design The type of optics — each design has different strengths | Maksutov-Cassegrain | Maksutov-Cassegrain |
Coatings Better coatings = more light transmission through the optics | Fully multi-coated Maksutov-Cassegrain optics | Fully multi-coated Maksutov-Cassegrain optics |
How do you point it?
| Spec | Meade LX65 6" Mak | Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 |
|---|---|---|
Mount Type The mechanical system that holds and moves the telescope | GoTo (Computerised) | GoTo (Computerised) |
GoTo Computer-controlled pointing — finds any of thousands of objects automatically | ||
Tracking Motor keeps objects centred as the Earth rotates — essential for astrophotography |
The focuser
| Spec | Meade LX65 6" Mak | Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 |
|---|---|---|
Focuser Size 2" accepts wider eyepieces and gives better low-power views | 1.25" | 1.25" |
Focuser Type Rack-and-pinion is standard; Crayford and dual-speed are smoother | Rear-cell focuser | Rear-cell focuser |
Size & weight
| Spec | Meade LX65 6" Mak | Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 |
|---|---|---|
OTA Weightⓘ Optical tube only — useful for comparing mount load capacity | 4.8kg | 4.2kg |
Total Weightⓘ Full setup including mount — this is what you lug to the car | 13.5kg | 24kg |
Tube Length | 440mm | 480mm |
Tube Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
What's in the box?
| Spec | Meade LX65 6" Mak | Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 |
|---|---|---|
Eyepieces Included eyepieces — more is better, but quality matters more than quantity | 26mm eyepiece | 25mm Super eyepiece |
Finder Scope Helps you locate areas of the sky before switching to the main eyepiece | Red dot finder | 8x50 right-angle finder with illuminated reticle |
Diagonal Tilts the eyepiece 90° for comfortable viewing — useful on refractors |
Blue highlight: Meade LX65 6" Mak advantage · Amber highlight: Sky-Watcher SkyMax 150 Pro + HEQ5 advantage · Greyed cells: equal or subjective.