Pocket Slide Rule Expert vs Atomic Spectra
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pocket Slide Rule Expert
Learn to use a classic slide rule with this app. It offers precise calculations and an "auto-slide-rule" mode to demonstrate operations. Save and reuse slider positions for frequent calculations.
- Classic slide rule simulation
- Auto-slide-rule demonstration mode
- Precise cursor and slider control
- Save and reuse slider positions ('Snaps')
- 19 basic operations supported
- Multiplication, division, powers, logs, trig functions
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When it comes to nerd street cred, having a slide rule is not enough. You need to know how to use it! Hence, Pocket Slide Rule Expert. This has the style of a classic rule, including great precision, but can also show you how to DO calculations. Learn simply by watching auto-slide-rule mode. Select from 19 different basic operations, including: -Multiplication and Division -Squares, Cubes, arbitrary powers -Logarithms, both natural and base 10 -Trigonometric and reverse trig functions Think you can't perform precise calculations using a touch screen? Not at all! Try the newly-added "brakes" button. By holding it down, you can move the cursor and slider with extreme precision. Are you a power user? Then check out the 'Snaps.' With the click of a button, quickly save a slider position -- and reuse it time and time again. Multiply by the square root of 2 a lot? Make a button for it! Speed, accuracy, and a teacher right there with you.
Atomic Spectra
This reference app provides detailed information on strong line atomic emission spectra within the visible range. Users can search for elements by name, symbol, or atomic number and inspect individual spectra lines. It offers interactive features to visualize and navigate spectral data.
- Visible range spectra (380-740nm)
- Search by element name, symbol, or atomic number
- Sort by name, symbol, or spectra line count
- Inspect individual spectra lines
- Interactive spectrum visualization
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Reference app for Strong Line Atomic Emission Spectra in the visible range of 380-740nm. Can search by element name, symbol, or atomic number. Sort by name, symbol, or count of spectra lines. Drill down to an element and inspect the individual spectra lines. Tap on the line to show it in the spectrum; tap on the spectrum to scroll to that line.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Pocket Slide Rule Expert at every 4 months against Atomic Spectra's every 19 months. Pocket Slide Rule Expert also leads on chart position (#183 vs unranked) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). Atomic Spectra's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). On 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
Pocket Slide Rule Expert costs $0.99 and Atomic Spectra $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Atomic Spectra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Pocket Slide Rule Expert's written reviews are positive against 100% of Atomic Spectra's.
Pocket Slide Rule Expert ships an update every 4 months, Atomic Spectra every 19 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pocket Slide Rule Expert | Atomic Spectra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 19 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #183 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TestTubeGames | Jim Haungs |
Customer experience
Pocket Slide Rule Expert
Atomic Spectra
In-app purchases
Pocket Slide Rule Expert
No in-app purchases
Atomic Spectra
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pocket Slide Rule Expert free?
Is Atomic Spectra free?
Which has better reviews, Pocket Slide Rule Expert or Atomic Spectra?
Do Pocket Slide Rule Expert or Atomic Spectra have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pocket Slide Rule Expert or Atomic Spectra?
Other comparisons
