# i48 vs DB40X

The clearest difference is rating: DB40X at 4.7 against i48's 3.5. DB40X also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). i48's advantage is ratings volume (196 vs 7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

DB40X holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: i48 has 196 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of i48's written reviews are positive against 67% of DB40X's.

i48 ships an update every 4 months, DB40X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | i48 | DB40X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (196 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i48/id329454950/reviews) | **[4.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db40x/id6624315901/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **196** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automagic Software Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/329454953) | [Christophe de Dinechin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761608161) |

## What reviewers say

### i48

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i48/id329454950)

This application emulates the HP48GX calculator on your iPhone or iPod touch. It allows you to perform complex calculations like matrix operations and function integration on the go.

**Highlights:** HP48GX calculator emulation, Matrix calculations, Function integration, Mobile calculator, On-the-go calculations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic HP48 emulation
- 🚀 Great functionality and features
- 💡 Useful unit conversions
- 👍 Familiar interface for HP48 users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Unresponsive buttons and input issues
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🔋 Performance and battery drain problems

**Reported bugs**

- Memory recovery prompt not working
- Cursor keys behaving erratically
- Equation solver locking up the app
- Keyboard issues on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Improved display resolution and graphics
- Haptic feedback for button presses
- Ability to assign units to numbers


### DB40X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db40x/id6624315901)

A high-precision scientific calculator inspired by the HP48 series, offering arbitrary precision computations, complex numbers, vectors, matrices, and graphing. It supports RPN and algebraic operations, with over 1000 built-in functions and a hyperlinked help system.

**Highlights:** Arbitrary precision computations, RPN and algebraic operations, Complex numbers, vectors, and matrices, Graphing and plotting, Engineering units and conversions, Hyperlinked help system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is i48 free?

i48 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DB40X free?

DB40X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, i48 or DB40X?

DB40X is rated higher. i48 averages 3.5 out of 5 from 196 ratings, while DB40X averages 4.7 from 7 ratings.

### Do i48 or DB40X have ads?

Neither i48 nor DB40X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, i48 or DB40X?

i48 ships an update every 4 months, and DB40X every 3 weeks. Most recently, i48 was updated on October 8, 2026 and DB40X on October 3, 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.*