Brain Waves vs Chronovolt
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).
Chronovolt
This app simulates a phone battery charging or draining magically, controlled by the performer. It works on the spectator's iPhone, even on their Home Screen, and can be customized for various performance styles. A tutorial guides users through the routine.
- Simulates battery charging/draining
- Works on spectator's iPhone
- Customizable performance options
- Home Screen integration
- Step-by-step tutorial
- Performer-controlled routine
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Chronovolt is a magic app for performers. Your spectator holds their own iPhone, and its battery starts charging by itself. No cable, no charger, nothing plugged in. The Charging banner drops down and the level climbs, just like on a real charger. Or it drains instead. THEIRS CHARGES, YOURS DRAINS Your iPhone drains by the same amount, as if the energy jumped from one phone to the other. NOT JUST ONE APP It even happens on their Home Screen. YOUR ROUTINE Choose how much, which way, and when it happens. Perform it close up, on stage or in the street. LEARN IT IN MINUTES A step-by-step tutorial teaches the whole routine. Rehearse every step on your own iPhone before you perform. REQUIREMENTS iPhones running iOS 26.0 or later.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Brain Waves at $17.99 against Chronovolt's $59.99. Brain Waves also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). Chronovolt's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 27 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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 Chronovolt $59.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Brain Waves ships an update every 27 months, Chronovolt daily. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Brain Waves | Chronovolt |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 — better | $59.99 |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thomas Breitling | Bassem Allani |
In-app purchases
Brain Waves
No in-app purchases
Chronovolt
No in-app purchases
