ZX81 vs ArcadeBox
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.
ArcadeBox
This application serves as a free emulator for GameBoy and GameBoy Color games. It supports iCade controllers and offers customizable game modes. Users can legally add their own purchased ROMs via file sharing.
- GameBoy and GameBoy Color emulation
- iCade controller compatibility
- 80s and 90s arcade style design
- Color or green game mode
- Supports user-added ROMs
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"ArcadeBox" is a free emulator for GameBoy, GameBoyColor. The emulator is free, what you pay (at the price indicated in the App Store for downloading the app ArcadeBox) is the ROM of the ArkAttack game (COLOR version, copyright Gianluca Natalini 2024) already pre-installed inside the ArcadeBox emulator. To add new ROMs: ArcadeBox allows the installation (using file sharing or the FILE application - copy/paste or share with or AirDrop, see screenshots of the app) of additional original ROMs for GameBoy, purchased by You in other stores. Please remember that downloading ROMs from internet is ILLEGAL; you can therefore only install the ROMs that you have regularly purchased and for which you have the license to use. COMPLIANCE with the LAWS / COPYRIGHT for the ROMs is your responsibility. Features: - compatible with iCade - 80s and 90s arcade style console/controller - color or green game mode (green phosphors, it depends on the installed ROM) LICENSE for ArcadeBox: - ArcadeBox is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 License. LICENSE for ArkAttack ROM: - ArkAttack ROM is NOT FREE (copyright: Gianluca Natalini 2024).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZX81 at 98% against ArcadeBox's 0%. ZX81 also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 12 months). On ads, 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
ZX81 is free to download; ArcadeBox costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ZX81 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZX81 has 92 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 98% of ZX81's written reviews are positive against 0% of ArcadeBox's.
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, ArcadeBox every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZX81 | ArcadeBox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (92 ratings) — better | 4.5 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 98.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 92 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | +4 |
| Developer | Kevin Palser | Gianluca Natalini |
Customer experience
ZX81
ArcadeBox
In-app purchases
ZX81
No in-app purchases
ArcadeBox
No in-app purchases








