Context-sensitive, automated use of a magnification loupe is disclosed to facilitate management and manipulation of user interface content and small user interface elements via gestures on a touch-sensitive surface. In one embodiment, a magnifying loupe is displayed based on the context associated with a finger-based gesture on a touch-sensitive surface. For example, a magnification loupe is displayed when one or more user interface elements corresponding to the location of the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface is smaller than a predefined size threshold, but the loupe is not displayed when the user interface elements corresponding to the location of the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface are larger than the predefined size threshold. In another embodiment, the magnification power of the loupe varies based on the size of the one or more user interface elements corresponding to the location of the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface.