# SEGA Play AR vs SameBoy

The clearest difference is rating: SameBoy at 4.5 against SEGA Play AR's 3.0. SameBoy also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and ratings volume (110 vs 4). SEGA Play AR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SameBoy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. SEGA Play AR asks for nothing beyond the download.

SameBoy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SameBoy has 110 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SEGA Play AR's written reviews are positive against 84% of SameBoy's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SEGA Play AR | SameBoy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sega-play-ar/id1572783786/reviews) | **[4.5 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **110** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **83.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 221 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SEGA CORPORATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/302946768) | [Lior Halphon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741211844) |

## What reviewers say

### SEGA Play AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sega-play-ar/id1572783786)

Experience augmented reality with special effects and immersive soundscapes. Capture and save your favorite AR scenes as images or videos. Requires compatible products to unlock the full experience.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality effects, Immersive soundscape, Scene saving (images/videos), ARKit integration, Compatible product integration

**In-app purchases:** none


### SameBoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295)

Experience classic handheld gaming with a highly accurate emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy. Enjoy advanced features like save states, rumble support, and controller compatibility. Play on your Apple Watch and customize your experience with various filters and themes.

**Highlights:** Accurate Game Boy emulation, Save states with gesture support, Rumble support, Apple Watch playability, Scaling filters, Game Boy Camera emulation, Controller support

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter | $0.99 | per month |
| Supporter Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Supporter Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Theme Access | $4.99 | one-time |
| SameBoy for Apple Watch | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 No ads or intrusive monetization
- 🎮 Highly accurate Game Boy/GBC emulation
- 💡 Innovative gesture controls (swipe to save/load/fast-forward)
- 🎨 Beautiful, authentic design with multiple themes
- ⚙️ Extensive customization and emulation options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Apple Watch support requires paid subscription
- 🐛 iPad portrait mode menu bug
- ❌ No Game Boy Advance emulation despite claims
- 🎮 Small button sizes for large hands
- ⚠️ Cheats feature limited or non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- iPad portrait mode triggers menu on A button/Up arrow press
- Game Boy Camera crashes on iPhone 17 Pro Max when switching cameras
- Rewind function causes game data loss in some titles
- 200% and 400% speed boost settings don't work
- Cheats don't function properly for certain games

**Requested features**

- Game Boy Advance emulation support
- Cheat code functionality
- Multiplayer/wireless linking for Pokémon games
- Online multiplayer support
- Adjustable screen and button sizes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SEGA Play AR free?

SEGA Play AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SameBoy free?

SameBoy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SEGA Play AR or SameBoy?

SameBoy is rated higher. SEGA Play AR averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while SameBoy averages 4.5 from 110 ratings.

### Do SEGA Play AR or SameBoy have ads?

Neither SEGA Play AR nor SameBoy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SEGA Play AR or SameBoy?

SEGA Play AR ships an update every 4 months, and SameBoy every 4 months. Most recently, SEGA Play AR was updated on October 6, 2026 and SameBoy on October 11, 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.*