Comparison

Physics Lab AR vs Engineering Formulas

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

Head to head
About

Physics Lab AR

Explore physics through interactive virtual experiments and augmented reality. Build and test electrical circuits with over 100 components, visualize electromagnetic fields, and even design your own galaxy. Ideal for students, teachers, and curious minds of all ages.

Highlights
  • Virtual lab with AR mode
  • Build 3D electric circuits
  • 100+ circuit components
  • Precise scientific calculations
  • Electromagnetic field visualization
  • Design custom galaxies
Features
Read full description

Are you a curious student eager to explore deeper into the physics world? Are you a science enthusiast who wants to share your ideas with others? Are you an adventurer bounded by textbook instructions and budget limits? Are you a romantic dreaming of having your own customized galaxy? Are you a teacher who wants to use fun and interactive demonstrations in your physics lessons? Learn science by doing experiments in your virtual lab with Physics Lab. With our new AR mode, you can even bring your experiments to life! In Physics Lab, you can play with various circuit components, build your own 3D electric circuits, and see how they work in real time. With 100+ circuit components to choose from (and more coming soon), the possibilities are endless. Plus, all of our experiments are backed by science and calculated with precise numbers, so you can learn and have fun at the same time. Physics Lab is not only for students, but for teachers too! Use it to demonstrate experiments in class, and help your students learn and explore in a new way. And because it's virtual, you don't have to worry about expensive lab equipment or safety concerns. Explore with freedom - Pick from 100+ circuit components (more coming!) - Drag them from the toolbox to the virtual desk and connect them the way you like - All experiment results are backed by science and calculated in precise numbers - Design your own galaxy or load from our solar system - Electromagnetic experiments with field line visualization Better than real life - Set properties of circuit components to different figures and observe changes of behavior and stats in real time - One-click to turn what you have built into an editable circuit diagram and vice versa - No expenses on lab equipments, no worry about safety issues A lab for everyone - Teachers have been using Physics Lab to demonstrate experiments and assist teaching in class - Students, in primary or high schools, can learn science and explore freely anywhere, anytime - Kids or not, curious minds now have their own virtual lab to learn knowledge by doing experiments Whether you're a teacher, student, or just someone who loves learning about physics, Physics Lab has something for everyone. Connect with us and let us know what you think, and check out our subscription options to access even more experiments and components. We can't wait to see what you create! Email: turtlesim@u.northwestern.edu =========================== Concerning Component Subscription During your subscription period, you will have access to all paid components for free, including future ones. 1) Subscription periods are one month long and will be charged to your iTunes Account at the time of purchase. 2) Your subscription is linked to your Physics Lab account. 3) You will be charged for renewals 24 hours before the end of the current period, and will be notified of the cost. 4) You can manage your subscriptions at any time in your Account Settings. 5) By purchasing a subscription, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Terms of Use: https://static.turtlesim.com/products/Term-Of-Use.txt Privacy Policy: https://static.turtlesim.com/products/Privacy-Policy.txt

About

Engineering Formulas

Features
Read full description

EngiRef is the all-in-one engineering reference app that works 100% offline. Access formulas, material properties, reference tables, and a powerful unit converter - all without internet connection. FORMULA LIBRARY Browse 140+ essential engineering formulas organized by discipline: • Mechanical Engineering: stress, strain, torque, power, gear ratios, spring design • Electrical Engineering: Ohm's law, AC/DC circuits, impedance, resonance • Civil/Structural: beam deflection, Euler buckling, Manning's equation • Thermodynamics: ideal gas law, Carnot efficiency, heat transfer • Fluid Mechanics: Bernoulli, Reynolds number, Darcy-Weisbach • Materials Science: Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, fatigue analysis BUILT-IN CALCULATOR Enter your values and get instant results. Every calculation shows step-by-step solutions so you understand the process, not just the answer. Perfect for learning and exam preparation. MATERIALS DATABASE Access properties for 55+ engineering materials: • Carbon steels (AISI 1018, 1045, 4140, 4340) • Stainless steels (304, 316, 17-4 PH) • Aluminum alloys (6061-T6, 7075-T6, 2024-T3) • Titanium, copper, nickel alloys • Plastics (ABS, HDPE, Nylon, PEEK, Delrin) • Composites, concrete, and wood Compare up to 3 materials side-by-side with density, tensile strength, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, and more. REFERENCE TABLES • Bolt specifications: Metric M3-M36, SAE/Imperial sizes • Pipe schedules: NPS dimensions and wall thickness • Wire gauges: AWG 0000-40 with ampacity ratings UNIT CONVERTER Convert between 16 categories including length, pressure, temperature, force, energy, flow rate, and viscosity. Accessible from any screen via slide-over panel. PHYSICAL CONSTANTS Quick reference for 34 constants including speed of light, gravitational constant, Boltzmann constant, Avogadro's number, and more. QUIZ MODE Test your knowledge with flashcard-style quizzes. Track progress across all disciplines. Prepare for FE and PE exams. ADDITIONAL FEATURES • Dark and light themes (follows system setting) • Favorites to bookmark frequently used formulas • Calculation history with timestamps • Create and save custom formulas • Export and share your data • LaTeX formula rendering • iPad-optimized layouts PRIVACY FOCUSED EngiRef collects zero personal data. No analytics, no ads. All your calculations and favorites stay on your device. We believe engineering tools should respect your privacy. Whether you are a student preparing for exams, a working engineer needing quick field reference, or a technician looking for material specs, EngiRef puts essential engineering knowledge in your pocket. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Physics Lab AR4 screens
Engineering Formulas4 screens

Verdict

The call

Physics Lab AR and Engineering Formulas are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Physics Lab AR sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Engineering Formulas sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Physics Lab AR versus Engineering Formulas: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhysics Lab AREngineering Formulas
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.8K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size177 MB45 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperTurtle Sim LLCMobin Akhter

Bugs and requests

Physics Lab AR

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes when opening experiments or circuits
  • Wires don't attach properly
  • Objects fall through the table
  • Camera position issues
  • App freezes or becomes unresponsive

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more components like transistors and potentiometers
  • Improve camera controls and view options
  • Implement saving and loading of circuits
  • Add more tutorials and explanations
  • Support for Vietnamese and other languages
Show 1 more
  • Improve stability and reduce crashes

Engineering Formulas

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Physics Lab AR

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Component Subscription$1.491 Month
One-time6
  • 60 Diamonds$0.99
  • 10 Diamonds$0.99
  • 120 Diamonds$1.99
Show 3 more
  • 300 Diamonds$4.99
  • 680 Diamonds$9.99
  • 1280 Diamonds$19.99
3 purchases

Engineering Formulas

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$54.99

Questions

Is Physics Lab AR free?
Physics Lab AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Engineering Formulas free?
Engineering Formulas is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Physics Lab AR or Engineering Formulas have ads?
Neither Physics Lab AR nor Engineering Formulas shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Physics Lab AR or Engineering Formulas?
Physics Lab AR ships an update every 2 months, and Engineering Formulas every 2 months. Most recently, Physics Lab AR was updated on October 19, 2026 and Engineering Formulas on October 4, 2026.

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