Quadcorder vs Sphero Play
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Quadcorder
Transform your device into a futuristic scanner with multiple animated scanning modes and sound effects. Perfect for sci-fi enthusiasts looking to enhance their imaginative play and role-playing experiences.
- Futuristic scanning device simulation
- Three distinct scanning modes
- Animated graphics
- Sound effects
- Customizable background volume and sound
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Turn your iPhone/iPod touch into a futuristic scanning device! Has three scanning modes, with animated graphics and sound effects! No sci-fi fan should be without it! If you have a phaser and a communicator, then all you need is Quadcorder and you will be set to explore the galaxy! Check out a video of Quadcorder in action, click on my website below! To access the other animations, press the Library AB button once. Then press one of the DEVICE INPUT buttons that is not currently active. Special Note: Under the Settings application, there are controls for background volume and background sound. The background sound is off by default. This app is intended for entertainment purposes only and does not provide true functionality.
Sphero Play
Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.
- Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
- Robot-controlled games
- Block Drive programming
- Sports-themed drive modes
- Voice control
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Drive and play games from ONE app with your Sphero Mini, Sphero 2.0, SPRK, SPRK+, BOLT, and BOLT+. Connect and control your robots with several exciting drive modes, use your robot as a controller to play games, or try out Block Drive for an intro to programming with colorful blocks. Features include: DRIVE MODES Drive your robots several ways with the Sphero Play app. Use the joystick and slingshot controls, tilt your device, or use your voice. Our sports-themed drive modes keep things fun with the ability to swing your device to "golf"*, or flick to "kick" your robot. BLOCK DRIVE PROGRAMMING Learn programming basics by controlling your robot with colorful movement and light blocks. GAMES Use your robot as a controller to shoot your way through space, race your vehicle through a tunnel avoiding obstacles and scoring points, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Need robots? We know a guy. Visit sphero.com and order today. *This mode is not available on iPads.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sphero Play at Free against Quadcorder's $1.99. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (37K vs 81). Quadcorder's advantage is chart position (#120 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Sphero Play is free to download; Quadcorder costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 81, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Quadcorder's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's.
Quadcorder ships an update every 4 months, Sphero Play every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Quadcorder | Sphero Play |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (81 ratings) | 4.8 (37K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 67.2% of reviews | 69.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 81 | 37K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #120 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 193 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Adam McElhaney | Sphero, Inc. |
Customer experience
Quadcorder
Sphero Play
User reviews
Quadcorder
From 81 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎮 Fun and entertaining novelty app for Star Trek fans
- 🔊 Authentic sound effects and beeps
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing graphics
- ⚡ Responsive button interactions
- 💰 Affordable price point ($0.99-$2.00)
Room to improve
- 🐛 Sound functionality breaks with iOS updates
- 📱 Not optimized for newer screen sizes
- ❌ No actual functional features or real sensor integration
- 🔇 Muted by default, confusing for new users
- ⚠️ Inconsistent audio across different iOS versions
Sphero Play
From 37K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fun and engaging app
- 👍 Great controls and customization
- 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
- 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
- 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
- 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability
Bugs and requests
Quadcorder
Reported bugs
10 issues- Sound stops working after iOS updates
- Emergency data upload button animation broken
- App crashes on iOS 9 and later versions
- No audio on iOS 14.2 and newer
- Intermittent sound functionality
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- Library button no longer switches input categories
- GPS and decibel readings show random numbers
- App not appearing in Settings for sound control
- Screen ratio not optimized for iPhone 5, 5s, 6s Plus
- Coordinates and decibel level functions non-functional
Requested features
14 requests- Update for iPhone 14+ and iPad Pro screen sizes
- Real sensor integration (camera, GPS, accelerometer)
- Medical/body scan display screen
- More interactive screens and functionality
- Voyager or Nemesis tricorder variants
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Background scanning sound toggle in app settings
- Custom image display on screen
- Actual scanning sound tied to motion/gestures
- Additional emergency alerts and life sign notifications
- Code blue and medical alert sounds
- iPad version with full screen support
- LCARS interface improvements
- More button interactivity and options
- Off button to toggle beeps and lights
Sphero Play
Reported bugs
2 issues- Joystick controls not working as expected
- Alignment issues causing unexpected movement
Requested features
4 requests- More games and activities
- Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
- Improved aiming and control precision
- Camera integration to see the Sphero's view
In-app purchases
Quadcorder
No in-app purchases
Sphero Play
No in-app purchases
