ZX81 vs Aquaplane
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZX81
Experience early 1980s home computing with this app dedicated to the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81. It includes a wealth of example software, offering a nostalgic journey into the origins of personal computing.
- Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
- Timex Sinclair 1000 support
- Includes example software
- Focuses on early 1980s computing
- ROM code included with permission
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Welcome to a taste of early 1980s home computing. This app focuses on the Sinclair ZX81 experience and is loaded with example software. A streamlined watchOS app is included, offering saved session syncing with the iOS app on the paired iPhone. Background: In 1980 the British company Science of Cambridge (later renamed Sinclair Research) released the Sinclair ZX80 home computer. The computer was developed with another technology company, Nine Tiles, and manufactured in a Timex Corporation factory in Dundee, Scotland. Followed in March 1981 by the even more popular successor, the Sinclair ZX81, both models had a profound impact on home and hobbyist computing in the UK and many other countries. Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research continued their joint venture and released the Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) and 1500 (TS1500) variants of the ZX81 for the US market in July 1982 and July 1983 respectively. Meanwhile, another iconic British home computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, was under development and hit the market in April 1982... but that's another story. Special thanks to Nine Tiles for granting permission to include the ROM code, to which they retain the intellectual property rights after all these years. Additionally, many thanks to all the developers of the loaded ZX81 software who have all granted permission to include their titles in the app. We hope this list of software will continue to grow in future updates.
Aquaplane
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Aquaplane offers a side-scrolling action gaming experience, taking inspiration from water skiing. As players take command of a speedboat, the real challenge unfolds with a waterskier being towed behind. Steering the speedboat through hazards while adjusting speed becomes an intricate task, as the waterskier moves in tandem but with subtle variations in direction. This nuanced movement adds a layer of difficulty, making even smaller gaps a perilous challenge to navigate. The initial round begins with a simple setup featuring rocks and a handful of logs to familiarize participants with the terrain. Subsequent rounds will escalate in complexity, introducing additional obstacles such as more logs, squids, ships, and so forth.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: ZX81 at none against Aquaplane's shown. ZX81 also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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.
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, Aquaplane every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZX81 | Aquaplane |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (92 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 98.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 92 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 90 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kevin Palser | Richard Hughes |
In-app purchases
ZX81
No in-app purchases
Aquaplane
No in-app purchases









