Comparison

BLE Update vs Renesas SmartConsole

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BLE Update

This utility app enables convenient over-the-air firmware updates for Bluetooth Low Energy devices. It is specifically designed for devices utilizing the Arendi BLE-Platform, allowing seamless updates directly from your mail application.

Highlights
  • Over-the-air firmware updates
  • Bluetooth Low Energy device support
  • Arendi BLE-Platform integration
  • Convenient updates from mail app
Features
Read full description

Keep your Bluetooth Low Energy devices running the latest firmware — quickly, securely, and without ever plugging in a cable. Ble Update is the firmware update companion for devices built on the Arendi BLE‑Platform. It scans for nearby BLE devices, connects, and pushes new firmware directly over the air — no PC, no cables, no workshop visit required. Built for the field, not just the lab: Nordic DFU support — the proven standard for firmware updates on Nordic Semiconductor‑based BLE devices SMP (Simple Management Protocol) support — for the latest generation of connected devices, including those built on Zephyr and MCUboot Guided, step‑by‑step update flow — connect, select the firmware file, and update in a few taps Reliable over‑the‑air delivery — built to handle real‑world BLE conditions out in the field Works straight from your phone or tablet — take firmware updates wherever your devices are Whether you're a technician updating a single device on‑site or managing a whole fleet of connected products, Ble Update gives you a fast, dependable way to keep firmware current — right from your pocket. Part of the Arendi BLE‑Platform ecosystem.

About

Renesas SmartConsole

Features
Read full description

The SmartConsole app from Renesas Electronics is a mobile application that works with devices which support the Renesas CodeLess™ Service or the Dialog Serial Port Service (DSPS), such as Development Kits based on Renesas DA14585 and DA14531 Bluetooth® Low Energy SoCs. With the app you can connect to CodeLess™ and DSPS devices. The app selects its initial user interface (UI) based on the supported services on the peer device. It supports command mode (CodeLess) and binary mode (DSPS) and can change between the two modes if both are supported by the peer device. CodeLess™ allows control of the peer device, through a comprehensive set of AT commands. With these commands, you can read and modify settings on the peer device and control peripherals connected to it. You can issue AT text commands directly, through the AT console available in the app, or generate them from UI abstractions provided by the app. The Dialog Serial Port Service (DSPS) from Renesas Electronics is a proprietary service over the Bluetooth® Low Energy protocol that emulates a serial cable communication. It provides a simple wireless substitute for wired (RS-232) connections. With the app you can exchange data with other DSPS enabled devices. The functionality of the DSPS app is included in the SmartConsole app, so it can be used as a replacement of the DSPS app.

Screenshots

BLE Update3 screens
Renesas SmartConsole4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Renesas SmartConsole at 9.0 against BLE Update's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BLE Update ships an update every 23 months, Renesas SmartConsole every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
BLE Update versus Renesas SmartConsole: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBLE UpdateRenesas SmartConsole
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 23 months — betterEvery 33 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArendi AGRenesas Electronics

In-app purchases

None

BLE Update

No in-app purchases

None

Renesas SmartConsole

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BLE Update free?
BLE Update is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Renesas SmartConsole free?
Renesas SmartConsole is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BLE Update or Renesas SmartConsole have ads?
Neither BLE Update nor Renesas SmartConsole shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BLE Update or Renesas SmartConsole?
BLE Update ships an update every 23 months, and Renesas SmartConsole every 33 months. Most recently, BLE Update was updated on October 6, 2026 and Renesas SmartConsole on October 2, 2026.

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