ZX81 vs The Brain Split
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
The Brain Split
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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, The Brain Split every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZX81 | The Brain Split |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kevin Palser | Suleyman Dibirov |
In-app purchases
ZX81
No in-app purchases
The Brain Split
No in-app purchases









