Quadcorder vs Pocket Beacon
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
Pocket Beacon
Unlock exclusive content and benefits for fans of a popular web series. Enjoy ad-free viewing, early access to events, merchandise discounts, and bonus episodes. Support independent creator-owned media.
- Ad-free access to video and podcast library
- Exclusive pre-sales for live events
- Invitation to a private Discord server
- Persistent merchandise discount
- Bonus content (Cooldown, Fireside Chats)
- Same-day podcast releases
Read full descriptionHide full description
Beacon is a special membership program that offers unparalleled and ad-free access to Critical Role and its vast video and podcast library, exclusive pre-sales for live events, invitation to a private Discord server, and a persistent discount on merchandise throughout all international online shops! By becoming a Beacon member, you’ll unlock special bonus content like Critical Role Cooldown and Fireside Chats, same-day Critical Role podcast releases alongside the VODs, and more, all while directly supporting creator-owned independent media.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Pocket Beacon at Free against Quadcorder's $1.99. Pocket Beacon also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (362 vs 80). Quadcorder's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.3) and review sentiment (67% vs 27%). 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
Pocket Beacon is free to download; Quadcorder costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Quadcorder holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 80 and 362 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Quadcorder's written reviews are positive against 27% of Pocket Beacon's.
Quadcorder ships an update every 4 months, Pocket Beacon fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Quadcorder | Pocket Beacon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (80 ratings) — better | 3.3 (362 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.9% of reviews — better | 27.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 80 | 362 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Adam McElhaney | Critical Role Productions, LLC |
Customer experience
Quadcorder
Pocket Beacon
User reviews
Quadcorder
From 80 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
Pocket Beacon
From 362 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth streaming
- 🎥 Great content organization
- 💰 Good value for subscription
- 👍 Easy to navigate
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Inconsistent progress tracking
- 🔇 No background audio playback
- 🔒 Repeated login issues
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
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- 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
Pocket Beacon
Reported bugs
3 issues- Videos starting from the beginning
- Freezing when switching to audio mode
- Inconsistent behavior when locking screen
Requested features
4 requests- Picture-in-picture mode
- Offline video downloads
- Customizable playback controls
- Apple TV app support
In-app purchases
Quadcorder
No in-app purchases
Pocket Beacon
No in-app purchases
