nRF Edge Impulse vs NanoBeacon BLE Scanner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
nRF Edge Impulse
Train and deploy embedded machine learning models on a Nordic Thingy:53 device. Upload sensor data to the cloud for training and deploy models back to the device via Bluetooth LE. Supports various onboard sensors for data collection and inference.
- Train and deploy embedded ML models
- Utilizes Edge Impulse Studio
- Supports Nordic Thingy:53
- Upload raw sensor data
- Deploy models via Bluetooth LE
- Collect data from multiple sensors
- Label data for training/testing
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nRF Edge Impulse app is developed in collaboration with Edge Impulse to train and deploy embedded machine learning models on the Nordic Thingy:53 using Edge Impulse Studio. Every Nordic Thingy:53 comes pre-installed with firmware compatible with the nRF Edge Impulse mobile app. The app allows you to upload raw sensor data via your mobile device to the cloud-based Edge Impulse Studio and deploy fully trained ML models to the Nordic Thingy:53 over Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE). The app allows you to choose between existing projects in Edge Impulse studio data or creating a new project and can collect sensor data from the following set of sensors on the Nordic Thingy:53: - Accelerometer - Microphone - Magnetometer - Light - Temperature, Pressure, Humidity and Air quality - Inertial (Accelerometer and Magnetometer) - Light and Environment - Light and Inertial - Environment and Inertial - Light and Environment and Inertial The collected sensor data can be labeled as training or testing data and may be inferenced directly in the app with machine learning model deployed to the Nordic Thingy:53. A free Edge Impulse account, which may created from the app or at www.edgeimpulse.com, is required to connect nRF Edge Impulse with Edge Impulse studio.
NanoBeacon BLE Scanner
This app helps you discover and analyze Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices and beacons. It presents advertising data in a user-friendly format, especially when paired with a specific development kit. Advanced filtering and notification features are available.
- Discover BLE devices
- Display RSSI and advertising interval
- Parse advertising data
- Advanced filtering
- Sort by RSSI
- Parse Eddystone, iBeacon, custom data
- Import IN100 configuration via QR code
- Notifications for triggered advertisements
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The NanoBeacon BLE Scanner is an advanced Bluetooth LE scanner app. Unlike offerings from other vendors and developers, our main focus is on presenting the advertising/broadcast data transmitted by surrounding BLE peripherals and beacons in the most user-friendly manner. By combining it with the NanoBeacon IN100 Bluetooth beacon development kit, you unlock a whole new level of advanced functionality not possible in any other platform! The NanoBeacon IN100 is our ultra low power, ultra low cost, BLE beacon platform that you can configure from a connected PC app with no programming or writing a single line of code. After you’ve configured the device, you can then import that same configuration into the app with a simple QR code scan. Now the app will not only find your device, but also fully parse the advertising data and display it in a human readable format that actually makes sense! Main features: - Discover advertising BLE devices around you - Display the RSSI and advertising interval - Display the details of the advertising data - Advanced filters for filtering or unwanted devices - Sort by RSSI - Supports parsing and labeling of Eddystone, iBeacon, and custom data beacons - Import the IN100 configuration file from the companion PC app via a simple scan of an autogenerated QR code - Parse and display the advertising data off devices that match the imported configuration in a human readable format - Receive app notifications for “triggered” advertisements. Triggered advertisements are advertisements that get transmitted only when a set of conditions, defined by the user, have been met.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: NanoBeacon BLE Scanner at 50% against nRF Edge Impulse's 0%. NanoBeacon BLE Scanner also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). nRF Edge Impulse's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.
nRF Edge Impulse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of nRF Edge Impulse's written reviews are positive against 50% of NanoBeacon BLE Scanner's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
nRF Edge Impulse ships an update every 3 months, NanoBeacon BLE Scanner weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | nRF Edge Impulse | NanoBeacon BLE Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.3 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nordic Semiconductor ASA | onceLabs LLC |
Customer experience
nRF Edge Impulse
NanoBeacon BLE Scanner
In-app purchases
nRF Edge Impulse
No in-app purchases
NanoBeacon BLE Scanner
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is nRF Edge Impulse free?
Is NanoBeacon BLE Scanner free?
Which has better reviews, nRF Edge Impulse or NanoBeacon BLE Scanner?
Do nRF Edge Impulse or NanoBeacon BLE Scanner have ads?
Which is updated more often, nRF Edge Impulse or NanoBeacon BLE Scanner?
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