BLExAR vs iRobbie
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BLExAR
This app enables iOS devices to communicate with Arduino boards via Bluetooth Low Energy. It allows real-time control of Arduino pins, data logging with GPS coordinates, and serial text communication for makers and students.
- Real-time control of Arduino digital and analog pins
- Real-time data plotting
- Data logging to CSV files
- Capture GPS coordinates for data points
- Serial text communication terminal
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BLExAR turns your iPhone or iPad into a pocket bench instrument for Arduino-class boards over Bluetooth Low Energy. Connect to a board with an HM-10 style UART module (CC2541, AT-09, JDY-08, SH-M08), an nRF52840 MakerBLE board or a Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6, then switch pins, stream sensor values, plot and record them, all without writing an app of your own. BLExAR 3.0 is a complete rewrite that keeps working with the sketches and tutorials written for earlier versions: the same commands, the same pins and the same CSV files. CONTROL • Switch digital pins and set PWM from pin tiles laid out like your board's header • Analog sliders for the A-pins • Board profiles for Arduino Uno, Arduino Nano, MakerBLE (nRF52840), Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 and the classic 2.7 layout • TX/RX activity lights show every message to and from the board DATA • Live chart of the comma-separated values your board sends, with Run/Hold and 10 s, 1 min and 10 min windows • Readout cards with min, max and standard deviation for each series, plus the incoming stream rate • Record sessions to CSV, optionally with your location on each row, and keep recording in the background • Browse, reopen and share recorded sessions; they also appear in the Files app CONSOLE • Serial terminal to send and receive text, with a hex view and quick command keys PANELS • Build your own control dashboards with buttons, toggles, sliders, a joystick and gauges bound to your board's commands and data columns • Share panels with others as files ALWAYS AT HAND • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island while connected or recording • Control Center controls to toggle a pin without opening the app • Scan list puts UART-ready boards first, ordered by signal strength • Automatic reconnect after a dropped link • Light and dark appearance and Dynamic Type BLExAR is made for makers, students, teachers and engineers. Tutorials and example sketches are at makersportal.com.
iRobbie
Enhance robotic projects with smartphone capabilities. Connect to Arduino, ESP32-CAM, or ESP8266 boards via Bluetooth or WiFi. Utilize object recognition, tracking, and voice control for interactive robot experiences.
- Object recognition and tracking
- ESP32-CAM video surveillance
- Voice and remote control
- Touch screen joystick
- Music playback (Xylophone)
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iRobbie is the revolutionary app that brings a smartphone power to your robotic projects. iRobbie connects via Bluetooth or WiFi to the Arduino, ESP32-CAM or ESP8266 boards. Use the iPhone camera and play with object recognition, object tracking and more. Start learning computer vision and neural networks with iRobbie App! With iRobbie your Arduino robot can recognize and track over 60 objects, get a responsive touch screen joystick and even allow you to play music! With ESP32-CAM you can build your own video surveillance robot and control it through the Internet. For example, with the iRobbie-A app you can send the robot to the kitchen to check if you accidentally left the kettle on the stove! Features: o ESP32-CAM – build your own video surveillance car! o Object Tracker – tap and drag over the object you want to track and your iRobbie robot will follow the object. o iFinder – just tell iRobbie what you want him to find. iRobbie is able to recognize over 60 objects and he will start tracking the object after recognizing it. o Voice Control – you can control your iRobbie robot by telling him here to go. o Remote Control – a responsive touch screen joystick on your iPhone to control the iRobbie robot. o Xylophone – play music with your iRobbie robot. Arduino compatible boards, parts and kits are sold separately. Visit our web-site to find detailed instructions on to build the robots. Arduino is Trademark of Arduino AG, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: BLExAR at 75% against iRobbie's 0%. BLExAR also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (14 vs 1). iRobbie's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
BLExAR costs $4.99 and iRobbie $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BLExAR holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BLExAR has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of BLExAR's written reviews are positive against 0% of iRobbie's.
BLExAR ships an update every 3 months, iRobbie every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BLExAR | iRobbie |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (14 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 12.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 395 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maker Portal LLC | MCV Palo Alto LLC |
Customer experience
BLExAR
iRobbie
In-app purchases
BLExAR
No in-app purchases
iRobbie
No in-app purchases









