Comparison

ZX81 vs The Brain Split

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
  • Timex Sinclair 1000 support
  • Includes example software
  • Focuses on early 1980s computing
  • ROM code included with permission
Features
Read full description

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.

About

The Brain Split

Features
Read full description

Control two worlds at once in this mind-bending runner. Hold to jump in the top world while crouching in the bottom world. Release to stand tall below while landing above. Navigate crystal obstacles and flying hazards as speed increases. One tap controls both players simultaneously. Master the split-brain challenge and see how long you can survive. Simple controls, impossible to master. Test your multitasking skills in this dual-world arcade experience.

Screenshots

ZX814 screens
The Brain Split4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Brain Split at every 4 days against ZX81's every 10 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, The Brain Split every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
ZX81 versus The Brain Split: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZX81The Brain Split
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (92 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews98.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings92 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB1 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperKevin PalserSuleyman Dibirov

In-app purchases

None

ZX81

No in-app purchases

None

The Brain Split

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZX81 free?
ZX81 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Brain Split free?
The Brain Split is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZX81 or The Brain Split have ads?
Neither ZX81 nor The Brain Split shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZX81 or The Brain Split?
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, and The Brain Split every 4 days. Most recently, ZX81 was updated on October 13, 2026 and The Brain Split on September 26, 2026.

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