Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite vs Steam Pad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite
This app turns your smartphone into a scientific instrument suite, enabling measurement, recording, analysis, and export of real-time sensor data. It offers tools for kinematics, acoustics, light, magnetism, and more, suitable for students, educators, researchers, and hobbyists.
- Real-time sensor data measurement
- Data recording and analysis
- Data export functionality
- Kinematics tools (accelerometer, gyroscope)
- Acoustics tools (sound meter, oscilloscope)
- Magnetism tools (compass, magnetometer)
- AR visualization for magnetic fields and measurements
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Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, or hobbyist, Physics Toolbox transforms your smartphone’s built-in sensors into a powerful suite of scientific instruments. Easily measure, record, analyze, and export real-time data for a variety of uses—from classroom experiments to cutting-edge research. KINEMATICS G-Force Meter Linear Accelerometer Gyroscope Inclinometer Motion Visualizer (LiDAR-tracked position and velocity) ACOUSTICS Sound Meter Tone Detector Tone Generator Oscilloscope Spectrum Analyzer Spectrogram LIGHT Light Meter Color Detector Proximeter Stroboscope MAGNETISM Compass Magnetometer Magna-AR (AR visualization of magnetic field vectors) OTHER Barometer GPS - latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, number of satellites Ruler-AR (AR-estimated measurements) COMBINATION Multi Record Roller Coaster GAME Play (data-verified challenges)
Steam Pad
This app calculates thermodynamic and transport properties of water and steam using IAPWS standards. It allows users to input any two basic parameters to derive others, visualize results on various charts, and compute additional properties. It supports both SI and I-P unit systems for engineering and educational purposes.
- Calculate properties from any two basic parameters
- Generate T-S, H-S, P-H, T-H charts
- Compute additional thermodynamic and transport parameters
- Save and restore calculation results
- Supports SI and I-P unit systems
- Interactive chart manipulation (pan, zoom)
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1. Introduction Steam Pad calculates the thermodynamic and transport properties of water and steam, using the latest releases of IAPWS. It has some distinctive features, and is applicable for industrial, engineering, and teaching processes: − Uses any selected 2 basic parameters to calculate others. − Provides T-S, H-S, P-H, T-H charts, and locates results (point locations) on them. − Computes additional thermodynamic and transport parameters. − Allows saving the results, and supports restoring one of them. 2. Calculator 2.1 Inputs and outputs By given any selected 2 parameters as the inputs from the Basics (Pressure, Temperature, Enthalpy, Entropy, Specific volume, Vapour Fraction), this App calculates other 4 parameters, and calculates some other thermodynamic and transport parameters. The inputs and outputs of the basics can alternate, which fulfills alterable calculating demands. 2.2 The range of validity The range of validity defined by pressure and temperature for general properties is the same to the definition in the release of IAPWS IF97. 2.3 Single-Phase regions and Two-Phase region The calculating demands are handled coordinately both for the Single-Phase regions and the Two-Phase region. The calculated properties and the corresponding region of the results can be distinguished from inputs automatically, and will be displayed in the outputs list box. For example, the saturation properties can be derived from the given P (less than 22.06395Mpa) and X (0.0-1.0). 2.4 Other properties The optional parameters are calculated based on the releases of IAPWS, or on the physical models, which include: − u: Specific internal energy − Specific isobaric heat capacity − Specific isochoric heat capacity − Speed of sound − Dynamic viscosity − Kinematic viscosity − Thermal conductivity − Entropy index − Static Dielectric Constant − Prandtl number 2.5 Units The parameters are shown in SI(metric) or in I-P(English) system of units, which can be reset in the Outputs Setting function of the app. 3. Charts 3.1 Chart types Typical thermodynamic charts are embedded in this app, and displayed as vector-graphs. Only regions 1 to 4 are shown in the charts, and region 5 is ignored for the applicative concern. The gradual changes (the lines) of the other 4 parameters along with the X and Y ordinates, are shown in the charts. There are 4 charts available: − T-S Chart − H-S Chart − P-H Chart − T-H Chart 3.2 Charts display − The lines of other 4 parameters are displayed in different colors. − Lines are displayed or hidden by checking the checkboxes. − The charts can be moved, enlarged or contracted by dragging or pinching gestures of fingers. − The corresponding values are attached along with the lines at certain intervals. − The boundary of the saturation region, and the critical point, are especially identified. 3.3 Calculated results The calculated results will be located in the charts as an identifying point (or points) with the corresponding ordinates. 4. Results The calculated records, each of which contains 6 basic parameters, can be stored in a row in the list of the Results panel by clicking the Save button on the Calculator panel. − The 2 inputs of one record are displayed in a distinctive color. − The region of each result, as well as the possible arrangement number of multiple outputs, is shown on the top of the row. − The records can be re-arranged and be deleted. − The selected record can be restored both on the Calculator panel and on the Charts panel, by clicking the Restore button.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite at 4.7 against Steam Pad's 3.7. Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 3) and review sentiment (80% vs 67%). Steam Pad's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). 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
Both are free to download. Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Steam Pad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite has 1.8K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite's written reviews are positive against 67% of Steam Pad's.
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite ships an update weekly, Steam Pad every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite | Steam Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.5% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chrystian Vieyra | 晓东 翟 |
Customer experience
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite
Steam Pad
In-app purchases
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite
- Upgrade to Pro$5.99
Steam Pad
- Full Functions$3.99
Questions
Is Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite free?
Is Steam Pad free?
Which has better reviews, Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite or Steam Pad?
Do Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite or Steam Pad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite or Steam Pad?
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