# Charging Engine vs Universal Remote for TV Smart

The clearest difference is rating: Charging Engine at 4.8 against Universal Remote for TV Smart's 4.1. Charging Engine also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). Universal Remote for TV Smart's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Charging Engine sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Universal Remote for TV Smart sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Charging Engine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11K and 7.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Charging Engine's written reviews are positive against 68% of Universal Remote for TV Smart's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Charging Engine ships an update every 6 weeks, Universal Remote for TV Smart weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Charging Engine | Universal Remote for TV Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charging-engine-4kwallpapers/id1602309907/reviews)** | [4.1 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-tv-smart/id6461691664/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 7.2K |
| Positive reviews | 51.6% of reviews | **67.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 112 MB | 159 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bluewolf Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1477300424) | [VTN GLOBAL LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1699925027) |

## What reviewers say

### Charging Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charging-engine-4kwallpapers/id1602309907)

Enhance your phone's charging experience with dynamic, futuristic animations and live wallpapers. Visualize battery performance and enjoy regular content updates to keep your device looking fresh and engaging.

**Highlights:** Futuristic charging animations, High-definition dynamic screensavers, Dozens of 3D charging wallpapers, Live wallpaper collections, Battery performance monitor, Regular content updates

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $23.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $23.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Charging animations are cool
- 👍 Variety of wallpaper options
- 💡 Customizable charging experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires subscription to access full features
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 Drains battery when app is open
- 💸 Misleading about free trial, charges immediately

**Reported bugs**

- Wallpapers don't work as advertised
- App only functions when kept open during charging
- Subscription cannot be easily canceled

**Requested features**

- Add search bar to find desired wallpapers
- Allow users to upload their own photos/videos
- Provide option to mute sound effects
- Make app fully free without subscription


### Universal Remote for TV Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universal-remote-for-tv-smart/id6461691664)

Control your TV and smart devices with your smartphone. This app offers universal remote functionality, on-demand controls for volume and playback, and quick access to apps and channels. It also features voice command capabilities for a hands-free experience.

**Highlights:** Universal remote compatibility, On-demand controls (volume, channels, apps), Quick app and channel access, Voice command functionality, Intuitive smartphone interface

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly sale off | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Premium Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use as a TV remote
- 🤩 Great for pranking family members
- 🙌 Helpful when losing the physical remote
- 🎉 Works well with various TV models

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Constant ads and in-app purchases
- 🔌 Drains phone battery quickly
- 🤔 Misleading advertising about projector feature

**Reported bugs**

- Connectivity issues with certain TV models
- Remote controls not always responsive
- App crashes or freezes occasionally

**Requested features**

- Add ability to cast phone screen to TV
- Improve instructions and setup process
- Reduce number of ads or make them optional


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Charging Engine free?

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

### Is Universal Remote for TV Smart free?

Universal Remote for TV Smart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Charging Engine or Universal Remote for TV Smart?

Charging Engine is rated higher. Charging Engine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Universal Remote for TV Smart averages 4.1 from 7.2K ratings.

### Do Charging Engine or Universal Remote for TV Smart have ads?

Neither Charging Engine nor Universal Remote for TV Smart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Charging Engine or Universal Remote for TV Smart?

Charging Engine ships an update every 6 weeks, and Universal Remote for TV Smart weekly. Most recently, Charging Engine was updated on October 20, 2026 and Universal Remote for TV Smart on October 19, 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.*