# Magic vs DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL

The clearest difference is update cadence: DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL at fortnightly against Magic's every 5 weeks. Magic's advantage is chart position (#160 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Magic ships an update every 5 weeks, DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Magic | DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.3 (819 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-lantern/id1479587050/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **819** | — |
| Positive reviews | 29.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#160** | — |
| Size | 80 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [shenzhen ELK Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1491353983) | [SIU KEUNG CHAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1408408970) |

## What reviewers say

### Magic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-lantern/id1479587050)

**Currently charting:** #160 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Control your RGBIC LED strips with this app. Adjust brightness, colors, dynamic modes, and scenes. Sync lights to music, set timers, and customize pixel configurations for a personalized lighting experience.

**Highlights:** Color control, Dimming and grading, Dynamic modes and scenes, Music rhythm sync, Timer settings, Pixel and line sequence customization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great product
- 👍 Lots of color options and effects
- 🎨 Decent app functionality
- 💡 Music sync feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues
- 🔌 Unreliable remote and app control
- 🎨 Limited color customization
- 🤔 Confusing UI and settings
- 🔒 Security/privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Colors not displaying correctly
- Lights not responding to app commands
- App crashing or not connecting
- Scheduled timers not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add holiday-themed color presets
- Allow custom color/pattern creation
- Improve music integration
- Add Siri/HomeKit support
- Provide better instructions and troubleshooting


### DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds18-sdx-remote-control/id6450036796)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Magic free?

Magic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL free?

DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Magic or DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL have ads?

Neither Magic nor DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Magic or DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL?

Magic ships an update every 5 weeks, and DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL fortnightly. Most recently, Magic was updated on September 25, 2026 and DS18 SDX REMOTE CONTROL on September 18, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*