What is the difference between the ASIAIR 256GB and the ASIAIR Plus 256GB?

They look identical. The key distinction is the micro SD (TF) card slot beside the USB-C PC port on this earlier ASIAIR Plus 256GB. The version ZWO sells today has no card slot; it has its own page.

Did it save its guiding logs?

Yes. In my seven-mount showdown this unit recorded the guiding logs, while the ASIAIR Mini recorded nothing, so I read the Mini mounts from my screen recordings instead.

Does it work with non-ZWO cameras?

No: only ZWO cameras and DSLR cameras, and the focuser, filter wheel and camera angle adjuster have to be ZWO too. Just about any mount connects.

ASIAIR 256GB review: the ASIAIR Plus with a microSD slot

Where does it rank on our leaderboard

Nine of the 46 accessories on my board, against price
Rank	Accessory	Stars for Your Buck	Recorded UK price
1	GEMINI EAF	100 out of 100	£42
2	Generic Dew Heater	93 out of 100	£9
6	Generic Guide Scope 50mm	88 out of 100	£41
18	Smartphone eyepiece mount	77 out of 100	£55
23	ASIAIR 256GB	72 out of 100	£230
31	ZWO TC40 Tripod	60 out of 100	£342
40	ZWO EAF (legacy)	44 out of 100	£199
45	SKY ROVER 2x54 Binoculars	28 out of 100	£139
46	365 Solar Telescope Cover	5 out of 100	£73

Contents

01 Where does it rank on our leaderboard
02 Specifications and features
03 In use
04 Watch it in my videos
05 Should you buy it?
06 Questions and more about this review

In 30 seconds

Stars for Your Buck 72/100

Reviewed 16 Oct 2025 Updated 25 Sep 2026

Rank: #23 of 46 accessories
Verdict: Worth a look

Written by Damon Scotting 3 min read

Buy it if

You want a microSD card slot as well as the built-in storage.
You image with ZWO cameras and want the rig run from your phone.

Skip it if

Your cameras, focuser or filter wheel are other brands.
You want the version on sale today: that is the ASIAIR Plus 256GB without the card slot.

“Some models let you add your own storage, and the app designed for it is second to none.”

Specifications and features

Against the other controllers I have reviewed

Compare with

ASIAIR 256GB reviewed #23 of 46	ASIAIR Plus 256GB #13 of 46	MeLE MiniPC #10 of 46	ASIAIR Mini #28 of 46	ToupTek AstroStation / StellaVita #43 of 46
Recorded UK price	£230	£399	£490	£215	£339
Stars for Your Buck	72/100	81/100	84/100	64/100	40/100
Storage	256 GB eMMC	256 GB eMMC	By version: eMMC or SSD	32 GB eMMC, 20 GB free	32 GB built in
Card slot	microSD (TF)	None (USB drives)	microSD	None (USB drives)	SD card
USB ports	2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0	2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0	2 x USB 3.2, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB-C	4 x USB 2.0	2 x USB 3.0, 2 more marked WiFi
Power outputs	4 x DC 12 V	4 x DC 12 V	None	4 x DC 12 V	4 x DC out, 3 A maximum
Power input	DC 12 V	DC 12 V, 2 to 10 A	12 V 2 A USB-C adapter	DC 12 V; USB-C 5 V for the Mini alone	DC in, with a power switch
Wireless	Dual-band Wi-Fi, 20 m	Dual-band Wi-Fi, 20 m	Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1	Dual-band Wi-Fi, 20 m	Wi-Fi, external antenna
Wired network	Ethernet	Gigabit Ethernet	Gigabit Ethernet	None	Ethernet
Camera support	ZWO cameras and DSLRs	ZWO cameras and DSLRs	Any brand, through NINA or SharpCap	ZWO cameras and supported DSLRs	Open to other brands
Sky Atlas	Yes	Yes	Through NINA	Yes	No, on my unit
Live stacking	Yes	Yes	Through NINA	Yes, up to 26 MP cameras	No, on my unit

In use

The micro SD card slot that sets this version apart

Power end

Watch it in my videos

This £299 Telescope Mount Just Beat the £2,260 Mount… · published 16 October 2025 · 18:28 · Watch on YouTube · 67,163 views, 2,432 likes on 2 Oct 2026

Jump to

0:45 Mounts Overview
3:10 Small mounts (Andromeda galaxy)
4:23 The guiding logs: ASIAIR Plus against ASIAIR Mini
7:00 Big mounts (Andromeda galaxy)
14:14 FINAL RESULTS!
17:28 Conclusion

Transcript of the video 73 words · 2 chapters · searchable

Press a time stamp to play from there.

4:19 Small mounts (Andromeda galaxy)

4:19 Now, when I was filming this video, the goal was to analyze the log graphs recorded throughout these observations later on.

4:23 The guiding logs: ASIAIR Plus against ASIAIR Mini

4:27 But for some very frustrating reason, only the ASIAIR Plus recorded this data, while the ASIAIR Mini recorded absolutely nothing. 4:33 So, instead, I've had to write a script that will analyze each individual frame of my screen recordings to determine what the total RMS value was over the course of these observations.

Should you buy it?

72/100 Stars for Your Buck

Pros

The one thing that sets it apart: a micro SD (TF) card slot beside the USB-C port, on top of 256 GB of built-in storage.
In my seven-mount showdown it recorded the guiding logs; the ASIAIR Mini beside it recorded nothing.
Four DC 12 V outputs, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and a DSLR shutter port.
It takes everything complicated about setting up a rig and getting it all running together, and makes it simple, portable and, above all, controllable from my phone.

Cons

Only ZWO cameras and DSLRs work with it.
The focuser, the filter wheel and the camera angle adjuster all have to be ZWO too.
ZWO's own store now sells only the ASIAIR Plus 256G without the card slot; this version turns up as clearance stock.

The ASIAIR is so useful because it also carries the power inputs and outputs for the rig.

Three alternatives I have reviewed

Questions and more about this review

Reviewed by

Damon Scotting

The Telescope Man Verified

BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, Loughborough University PGCE / QTS, University of Nottingham

About Damon About Damon Damon Scotting is The Telescope Man. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology from Loughborough University and a PGCE with QTS from the University of Nottingham, and taught physics in secondary schools before becoming an astronomy creator. He is a contributing writer for BBC Sky at Night Magazine and the author of 42 Wonders of Our Night Sky, and his photograph of the galaxy M100 with the dwarf planet Ceres was Highly Commended in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition run by Royal Observatory Greenwich. He has appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter. More than 750,000 people follow his astronomy channels on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and he has reviewed more than 140 telescopes, mounts, cameras, filters and accessories hands-on for this site. More about Damon · How I test · Damon's book

I review all kinds of gear: most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way. How this site is funded

Three questions, answered

Questions about the ASIAIR 256GB

Reviewed 16 October 2025 ·Updated 25 September 2026

I review all kinds of gear. Most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way: no company sees or approves a review before it is published. How this site is funded

What is the difference between the ASIAIR 256GB and the ASIAIR Plus 256GB? They look identical. The key distinction is the micro SD (TF) card slot beside the USB-C PC port on this earlier ASIAIR Plus 256GB. The version ZWO sells today has no card slot; it has its own page. In use ↓
Did it save its guiding logs? Yes. In my seven-mount showdown this unit recorded the guiding logs, while the ASIAIR Mini recorded nothing, so I read the Mini mounts from my screen recordings instead. Watch it in my videos ↓
Does it work with non-ZWO cameras? No: only ZWO cameras and DSLR cameras, and the focuser, filter wheel and camera angle adjuster have to be ZWO too. Just about any mount connects. The specifications and the comparison table ↓