Brain Waves vs Onyx Magic
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Brain Waves
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You hand an ordinary deck of playing cards to a spectator for examination. They may shuffle the cards if they wish. You then slowly go through the face-down cards and ask the spectator to say “Stop” five times, selecting five random cards. (This is a completely free selection.) You hand the iPhone to the spectator and ask them to open the Brain Waves app. You reveal four of the cards one by one, and the spectator enters them into the app by selecting the suit and rank using the picker. Once the cards have been entered, you tell the spectator that you need to concentrate so the iPhone can pick up your brain waves. Next, you ask the spectator to shake the iPhone. After a shake, the back of a single playing card appears in the app. You ask the spectator to tap the card, and it flips over. You then reveal that this card is the same as the fifth card the spectator selected! The app includes a detailed explanation of how the effect works and how it can be performed. Optimized for system-wide light and dark mode (see screenshots).
Onyx Magic
This utility uses AI to remotely alter captured photos in real-time. It allows for seamless modifications to images moments after they are taken, directly on a spectator's device. Create impossible effects like changing playing cards, revealing hidden messages, or altering clock times within photos.
- Real-time AI photo modification
- Remote image alteration
- Spectator's camera integration
- Physical photo printing (Onyx Print)
- Third-party app integrations
- Variable delayed input
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Onyx is a revolutionary utility that allows you to modify a captured image in real-time using variable input data. Using cutting edge AI, Onyx lets you remotely create seamless alterations to photos moments after they've been taken - all with your spectator's camera. For example: — Make a playing card appear in your spectator's wallet. — Morph your spectator's shadow to look like their thought of animal. — Take a photo of your spectator holding a signed card. They name *any* other card. The signed card in the photo transforms to match their thought. — Supplement your Gypsy Queen routine with Onyx: zoom in on a photo of your spectator holding the Queen of Hearts for the reveal. — Reveal a thought-of word, name, or initials hidden naturally in the light reflections of a spectator's eye. — Change the time on a photo of a clock. — Remove your spectator's wristwatch in a photo, making it sbeem that it was removed earlier. ...and more! If you can describe it, Onyx can likely create it. Onyx is particularly great for revealing something ephemeral. Photograph a shadow, clouds, a TV screen or more, and Onyx will realistically insert their free choice. * Variable Delayed Input Inspired by the popular variable trigger system featured in DFB X, Onyx pauses and automatically waits for input, letting you remotely modify a photo *after* it's been taken. * Cutting Edge Technology Take a photo, then have your spectator make a free choice. Onyx's advanced technology seamlessly transforms the photo remotely. * Create Unlimited Effects Change signed playing cards, reveal initials and names, or modify writing. Reveal *anything you can imagine* within a genuine photo you just took. * Your Integrations. Their Camera The effect happens entirely with the spectator's camera. With Onyx's powerful integrations, your phone never needs to leave your pocket. * Invisible, Advanced Technology As only the spectator's device is in play, Onyx remains hidden and inconspicuous. * Third Party Integrations Use your favourite magic apps' input methods, including: — Earworm's covert typing Web Search & Notes input — Native voice input — Native clock swipe input — WebFX's Wrist Gestures — WikiTest — PeekSmith — Bridge ...and any compatible third-party app. # Introducing: Onyx Print Onyx Print brings Onyx’s digital effect into the real world. # Produce Physical Photographs Instead of revealing information only on a screen, Onyx Print can generate and automatically print images on a pocket printer, allowing you to produce a real photograph from your wallet, pocket, or envelope for a powerful ending. # Dynamic Prompting Onyx Print uses the same dynamic prompting and covert input system that powers Onyx. Use any of Onyx’s input methods, and Onyx Print will automatically generate and print an image to match. # Use Your Own Photos You can even modify existing photos. For example: have Onyx Print set up with a photo of yourself and have a spectator name any place in the world. Onyx Print will then create and automatically print a realistic photo of you in that exact location, ready to reveal. # Works With Other Apps Onyx Print can even monitor your photo library and automatically print images saved by other apps. When an app saves a photo, Onyx Print can print it. Onyx Print is an in-app purchase within Onyx, and currently supports the Instax mini Link+, with plans for additional printers in the future. Onyx is a tool specifically designed for entertainment purposes. It uses purchaseable in-app credits or a funded OpenRouter account for best-in-class automatic edits. Onyx supports: Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese simplified and traditional, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Brain Waves at $17.99 against Onyx Magic's $64.99. Brain Waves also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.2). Onyx Magic's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 27 months). On ads 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
Brain Waves costs $17.99 and Onyx Magic $64.99 up front. Onyx Magic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Brain Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.
Brain Waves ships an update every 27 months, Onyx Magic fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brain Waves | Onyx Magic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 — better | $64.99 |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 13 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Breitling | Marc Kerstein |
In-app purchases
Brain Waves
No in-app purchases
Onyx Magic
- 100 Onyx Credits$19.99
- Onyx Print$49.99
Questions
Is Brain Waves free?
Is Onyx Magic free?
Do Brain Waves or Onyx Magic have ads?
Which is updated more often, Brain Waves or Onyx Magic?
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