ZX81 vs Chip8 Emulator
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.
Chip8 Emulator
Experience vintage games and programs from 8-bit microcomputers on your mobile device. This app brings the charm of retro computing to the palm of your hand.
- Play classic Chip-8 games
- Experience vintage programs
- Retro computing simulation
- Mobile retro gaming
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Relive the golden age of retro computing with Chip8 Emulator! Experience the charm of vintage games and programs, originally developed for 8-bit microcomputers, all in the palm of your hand.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZX81 at 98% against Chip8 Emulator's 50%. ZX81 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (92 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZX81 has 92 ratings behind it against 3, 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 50% of Chip8 Emulator's.
| Parameter | ZX81 | Chip8 Emulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (92 ratings) — better | 4.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 98.4% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 92 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kevin Palser | SUPERSONIC BYTE Sarajevo |
Customer experience
ZX81
Chip8 Emulator
In-app purchases
ZX81
No in-app purchases
Chip8 Emulator
No in-app purchases








