Comparison

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone vs Unique for iPhone

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

Head to head
About

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone

This app digitally recreates a classic analog synthesizer, offering vintage sound effects and modern updates. It features intuitive controls for pitch, filters, and delay, allowing for extensive sound customization. Ideal for musicians and enthusiasts seeking authentic analog tones.

Highlights
  • Faithful digital re-creation of a cult-classic analog synthesizer
  • Vintage synth sounds with modern updates
  • Intuitive controls with 12 sliders and 9 switches
  • Extensive sound shaping for pitch, filters, and delay
  • 25 presets and unlimited user preset storage
  • Audiobus capabilities
Features
Read full description

Electro-Harmonix, a pioneer since 1968 in the field of sound effects pedals for musicians, has produced an app which is a faithful digital re-creation of their circa 1980 analog cult-classic, The MINI-SYNTHESIZER. Available for iPad and iPhone (IOS version 15.0 or later), the EHX MINI-SYNTHESIZER accurately delivers all the vintage synth sounds of the original plus modern updates. EHX President and Founder, Mike Matthews stated: “Fans of vintage synths will appreciate the apps ability to recreate the original’s warm analog sounds and deep funky bass, but because it’s so affordable ($2.99 for phone, $4.99 for tablet) and user-friendly, parents, educators and non-musicians will love it, too.” The MINI-SYNTHESIZER app comes with 25 presets and the ability to store an almost unlimited number of user presets programs. Audiobus capabilities are also included. Intuitive, flexible and powerful control are provided by the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s 12 sliders and nine switches. Here’s a breakdown of the user interface: OSC Section - PITCH slider lets the player raise or lower the pitch of the note by +/- 1 octave - SUB-OCTAVE slider introduces a note one octave below what’s being played for extra bottom - OCTAVE UP switch causes the note being played to jump up one octave. - TUNE knob lets the player tune the MINI-SYNTHESIZER to other instruments and sound sources over a +/- 50 cents range. FILTERS Section - PHASE RATE slider adjusts the speed of the phase shifter - FILTER START sets the start frequency of the filter sweep - FILTER STOP sets the stop frequency of the filter sweep - SWEEP RATE controls the speed of the filter sweep - PHASE switch turns the effect on/off - 2X FILTER switch changes how the audio passes through the filters (either in parallel or in series) - Q switch sets the amount of resonance on the filter sweep - RETRIGGER switch turns the filter retrigger on/off DELAY Section - TIME slider adjusts the delay time up to two seconds - FEEDBACK controls the number of echo repeats - BLEND adjusts the mix of the original signal and the echo repeats - DELAY switch turns the effect on/off - TIME label can be tapped for tap tempo REVERB Section - AMOUNT slider adjusts the reverb effect level - BLEND slider controls the mix of the wet and dry signals - REVERB switch turns reverb on/off - REVERB>DELAY switch lets the user place either Delay or Reverb first in the effects chain for a variety of cool sound effects. MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS - VOL (Volume) slider adjusts the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s overall sound output level - POLY/MONO switch toggles between polyphonic (four notes can be played simultaneously) or monophonic (only one note can be played at a time) modes - PRESETS pop-down menu displays the presets available and allows the user to instantly select one - HORIZONTAL slider lets the player adjust the keyboards sounding range over an expansive eight-octave range. - RIBBON Interface lets the player perform portamento (glide up or down to pitch), vibrato and other expressive playing. The easy-to-use Electro-Harmonix MINI-SYNTHESIZER App is loaded with great sounds and features and is sure to appeal to serious musicians and non-musicians alike. LIMITATIONS - InterApp Audio experiences periodic crashes and graphics issues. - The MINI SYNTH runs at 48 kHz sample rate; using the MINI SYNTH in an environment with 44.1 kHz sample rate (such as Garageband for iOS) may cause aliasing. - Presets saved in the standalone app cannot be accessed when using the MINI SYNTH as an AudioUnit, and vice versa. DOWNLOADING iPHONE VERSION ON iPAD - The iPhone version is not meant to perform optimally on the iPad. Be aware that if you download the iPhone version on the iPad you are more prone to glitches and crashes than having the iPad version on the iPad.

About

Unique for iPhone

Create unique analog synth sounds with a wide sonic spectrum. Explore classic and gritty tones with versatile oscillators, filters, and built-in effects. Features a unique Vowel Filter for distinctive vocal-like textures.

Highlights
  • Multiple oscillator waveforms
  • Analog filter types
  • Vowel Filter with formant stringing
  • LFO and envelope modulation
  • Recordable XY field and sequencer
  • Dual effect units
  • Audio Unit v3 support
Read full description

“Unique sounds like syrup with dirt kicked into it. If Bootsy Collins, Roger Troutman and Daft Punk would have met up in Studio 54 to create a soft-synth, for sure something like Unique would have come out of it…” Sound & Recording Mag Unique was made for fun and vibes: Analogue sound, intense modulation and a killer set of features, delivering an amazing sonic spectrum that’s full of character: Classy sounds, powerful, warm… sometimes gritty. Each of the 2 oscillators offers a selection of 5 waveforms: sawtooth and pulse waves are here, along with noise, triple saw and triple FM waves. There's also an additional sub-oscillator strapped into the master section for added oomph. The internal controllers will bring in the dynamics: an LFO and an envelope, there's a recordable XY field & a sequencer. Use these to modulate any knob – a simple long tap will do. The sound springs to life when it hits the filter section. Needless to say, analogue high-pass, low-pass and band-pass varieties are in place, along with a comb filter. Standards aside, the actual intention behind this project, the Vowel Filter, also became its outstanding feature: string together two or four vowel formants and play them back in a multitude of ways. Once you’ve built your sound, there’s tons of sound polish in two chained multi-effect units. Features • Sawtooth, Triple Saw, Pulse, Triple FM, Noise with tonal Filter, Sub Sine • 5 Filters with 5 Modulators each • Duophone Arpeggiator • Vowel Filter • Two Effect Sections • Audio Unit v3 • Ableton Link Kit • MIDI Learn & Host Automation • 300 groovy presets by various artists

Screenshots

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone3 screens
Unique for iPhone4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mini Synthesizer for iPhone at 4.3 against Unique for iPhone's 3.8. Mini Synthesizer for iPhone also leads on price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Unique for iPhone's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (27 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone costs $2.99 and Unique for iPhone $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Unique for iPhone has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of Mini Synthesizer for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 44% of Unique for iPhone's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone ships an update every 4 months, Unique for iPhone monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone versus Unique for iPhone: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMini Synthesizer for iPhoneUnique for iPhone
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better3.8 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews35.9% of reviews44.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings327 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperElectro-HarmonixSugar Bytes GmbH

Customer experience

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive35.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative61.5%

Unique for iPhone

All ratings27 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral7.4%
Negative25.9%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive44.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative48.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mini Synthesizer for iPhone

No in-app purchases

None

Unique for iPhone

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mini Synthesizer for iPhone free?
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Unique for iPhone free?
Unique for iPhone costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mini Synthesizer for iPhone or Unique for iPhone?
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone is rated higher. Mini Synthesizer for iPhone averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Unique for iPhone averages 3.8 from 27 ratings.
Do Mini Synthesizer for iPhone or Unique for iPhone have ads?
Neither Mini Synthesizer for iPhone nor Unique for iPhone shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mini Synthesizer for iPhone or Unique for iPhone?
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone ships an update every 4 months, and Unique for iPhone monthly. Most recently, Mini Synthesizer for iPhone was updated on October 26, 2026 and Unique for iPhone on October 21, 2026.

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