The non-electronic magnifiers range from hand-held models to standalone ones for hands-free reading (which can be placed or clamped to the table). These come in different shapes and sizes and are customizable for specific use. Say, a bar magnifier for reading one-line of text at a time or a page magnifier designed for an entire page.

Based on the functionality, these may be lightweight, small and inexpensive. Some of them have a built-in light to increase contrast while others have multiple lenses, which can be interchanged based on the task.