Comparison

True Note vs Strobe Light

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

Head to head
About

True Note

Check your record player's speed accuracy using your phone's LED light and a printable strobe disc. Ensure your turntable is playing at the correct RPM for optimal audio quality. Useful for calibration and pre-purchase checks.

Highlights
  • Turntable speed testing
  • Strobe disc calibration
  • Adjustable speed check
  • Portable for on-the-go use
  • Accurate RPM verification
Features
Read full description

Use True Note to test a record player to see if it's playing at the correct speed. Here's how: 1. Download the True Note app and open it 2. Print and cut out the included turntable strobe disc 3. Place the strobe disc on your record player and start it at the 33 1/3 RPM speed 4. Tap "START" in the True Note app and shine the flashing LED light from your iOS device onto the strobe disc If your record player is playing at the correct speed, you should be able to make out the individual lines on the strobe disc - and they should appear to remain in the same position (not drifting in one direction). Many record players have an adjustable speed and can be calibrated with the help of True Note. Perhaps you're shopping for a used record player? The True Note strobe disc is small enough that you can fold it in half to keep in your wallet or iPhone case - ready to use when you're at a thrift store or garage sale and want to make sure the turntable you're considering buying works properly.

About

Strobe Light

This application transforms your smartphone into a digital tachometer using its flashlight. It measures the rotational speed (RPM) of objects by flashing light at them, making them appear stationary when the flash rate matches their speed. Save readings and use it for mechanics, education, or industrial checks.

Highlights
  • Measures RPM of rotating objects
  • Adjustable strobe speed (1-10,000 RPM)
  • Quick adjustment buttons (+/- increments)
  • Flash sync for accuracy
  • Save and review RPM data
  • Works in low light conditions
Features
Read full description

Strobe Light - RPM turns your phone into a powerful tool for measuring the speed of rotating objects. The app works like a digital tachometer and offers two measurement modes: Strobe Light and Camera. You can measure the RPM of fans, motors, wheels, and other rotating devices without touching them. In both modes, the same stroboscopic principle is used. When the flash rate or camera frame rate matches the speed of the object, it creates the illusion that the object is standing still. This helps you visually determine the exact rotational speed of the object with high accuracy. Strobe Light Mode Using your phone's flashlight, this mode flashes light at the object in a specific pattern. It works best in a dark or low-light environment and is ideal when you want a quick RPM reading with the built-in flashlight. How to Use (Strobe Light): Mark the rotating object with something visible (a sticker or tape works well). Point your phone's flashlight toward the object. Turn on the strobe using the power button. Adjust the strobe speed using the + and - buttons until the object looks still. The RPM shown on the screen is the object's rotation speed. You can save the reading for later reference. Camera Mode Camera mode uses your phone's camera to show a live preview at a set frame rate (FPM — Frames Per Minute). When the frame rate matches the object's RPM, the rotating object appears frozen on screen. This mode is useful in well-lit conditions when you want to see the object clearly while tuning the speed. How to Use (Camera): Open Camera mode from the home screen and allow camera permission. Point the camera at the rotating object. Adjust the frame rate using the + and - buttons until the object looks still. The value shown on the screen is the object's RPM. Use the flash button if you need extra light in darker areas. Save or reset your reading anytime from the bottom buttons. Where It's Useful: Mechanics: Test fans, engines, or motors by measuring RPM. Education: Ideal for physics experiments that require RPM measurements. Industrial Use: Check the condition of rotating machinery. Calibration: Ensure rotating devices are running at the correct speed. Maintenance: Compare readings over time using saved history. Key Features: Two Measurement Modes: Choose Strobe Light or Camera from the home screen based on your environment and preference. Adjustable Strobe Speed: Set the strobe from 1 to 10,000 RPM for accurate measurements. Camera Frame Rate Control: Set camera preview from 30 to 14,400 FPM for precise visual tuning. Quick Adjustment Buttons: Easily change the speed with buttons for +1, +10, +50, or +100 RPM increments in both modes. Flash Sync (Strobe Light): Ensures the light flashes at the correct frequency for accurate RPM readings. Built-in Camera Flash (Camera Mode): Toggle the flash on or off for better visibility in low light. Save and Reset: Save current RPM readings with a custom title or reset to default anytime. History Tracking: Save and review your RPM data anytime for easy access from the menu. Works in Different Lighting: Strobe Light works best in the dark; Camera mode works well in normal and low-light conditions. Simple and Energy-Efficient: The app's interface is easy to use and designed to be practical for everyday measurements. Visual Tachometer: Acts just like a real tachometer using visual strobe techniques with your phone's flashlight or camera. Strobe Light - RPM makes it simple to measure RPM without any special tools or equipment. Whether you prefer the classic flashlight strobe method or the new live camera preview, this app gives you flexible and accurate RPM measurement in one place. Perfect for mechanics, hobbyists, students, and professionals alike. Contact us at: zsmapps2024@gmail.com Terms of use: Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

True Note2 screens
Strobe Light3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: True Note at 68% against Strobe Light's 0%. True Note also leads on rating (3.6 vs 2.0) and ads (none vs shown). Strobe Light's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, update cadence 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. True Note sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Strobe Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

True Note holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: True Note has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of True Note's written reviews are positive against 0% of Strobe Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

True Note ships an update every 10 months, Strobe Light every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
True Note versus Strobe Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrue NoteStrobe Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (16 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews68.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS10.2 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames RhoadesZain Saeed Mughal

Customer experience

True Note

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative31.3%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral15.8%
Negative15.8%

Strobe Light

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

True Note

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Huge Tip$9.99
None

Strobe Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is True Note free?
True Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Strobe Light free?
Strobe Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, True Note or Strobe Light?
True Note is rated higher. True Note averages 3.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Strobe Light averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do True Note or Strobe Light have ads?
Strobe Light shows ads; True Note does not.
Which is updated more often, True Note or Strobe Light?
True Note ships an update every 10 months, and Strobe Light every 7 months. Most recently, True Note was updated on September 23, 2026 and Strobe Light on September 22, 2026.

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