SMO vs mScopePal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SMO
Capture detailed macro and microscopic photos and videos with enhanced magnification and illumination. Features digital zoom, adjustable autofocus, and a timer for stable shots.
- Capture photos and videos
- Digital zoom for magnification
- Adjustable flashlight for illumination
- Manual and autofocus control
- Full-screen observation
- In-app timer for stable shots
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Application with dedicated functions for easy use of the BLIPS lenses; for Macro photos or videos, or for observation at Microscopic scales. FEATURES: - Ability to take pictures and to shoot videos. - Digital Zoom to further increase the magnification and to observe microscopic details on the smartphone screen. - Flashlight can be activated whenever the user wants to increase the illumination on the observed subject, for enhancing the image definition. - Autofocus normally turned off; it can be easily activated and locked, if needed. - Full use of the screen to observe the tiniest details directly on your smartphone. - Timer: for keeping the camera still during the shot
mScopePal
This camera app aids in capturing microscopic images by allowing easy adjustment of color and brightness. It supports zooming and manual focus to avoid disturbing the microscope's settings. It's designed to be used with a microscope and an adapter on compatible Apple devices.
- Microscopic image capture
- Color adjustment (white balance)
- Brightness adjustment (exposure)
- Zooming support
- Manual focus function
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mScopePal is a camera app specialized for microscopic shooting. (This is not an application that turns your iPhone into a microscope. Run mScopePal on iPhone or iPod touch which is attached to a microscope using an available adapter etc.) Easy adjustment of color (white balance) and brightness (exposure). Zooming supported. The manual focus function does not disturb the focus of the microscope. How to use: https://studio-phiz.com/apps/mscopepal-desc-eng/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SMO at 3.2 against mScopePal's 2.7. SMO also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SMO holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of SMO's written reviews are positive against 44% of mScopePal's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SMO | mScopePal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (16 ratings) — better | 2.7 (27 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews — better | 44.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 | 27 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SmartMicroOptics | Studio Phiz |
Customer experience
SMO
mScopePal
In-app purchases
SMO
No in-app purchases
mScopePal
No in-app purchases
