Comparison

SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs 1600

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SPELLING MAGIC 2

This app teaches children to read by focusing on consonant blend words. It uses interactive activities to help build words and understand letter sounds, aligning with Science of Reading principles. Two versions are available, offering different word counts and customization options.

Highlights
  • Teaches CVCC and CCVC words
  • Focuses on letter sounds and word construction
  • Word Building section
  • Moveable Alphabet section
  • Two levels of challenge
  • Developed with educators and Montessori principles
Read full description

Introducing SPELLING MAGIC 2, a key to your child's future reading success. SPELLING MAGIC 2 incorporates the main principles of the Science of Reading. SPELLING MAGIC 2 is tailored to focus on CVCC (consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant) words like "hand," "sent," and "gift," as well as CCVC (consonant-consonant-vowel-consonant) words such as "spin," "flap," and "stop." These types of words are also known as "consonant blend words" and are categorized into themes for enhanced learning. This app is designed to teach children the sounds of letters and how to construct words. It emphasizes the skill of building CCVC/CVCC words with four phonemes using short vowel words, indirectly imparting the essential reading skill of segmenting. With two levels of challenge, it offers a comprehensive learning experience. In the "Word Building" section of the app, only the components (letters) of the word are used for building, while the "Moveable Alphabet" section utilizes the entire alphabet for word construction. Please note that the purpose of this app is to provide ample opportunities for practicing building CCVC & CVCC words, presenting a chance to expand vocabulary. When tapped, the pictures always pronounce the sound of the word that the app prompts the child to build. The free version of SPELLING MAGIC 2 includes 72 words, while the DELUXE version offers 235 words and provides several choices in the options menu, including two types of voices, three font styles, two letter color options, a special feature to connect letters, and over 160 additional words from the free version. Developed by a team of educators using accelerated learning techniques and Montessori principles, this app has been tested and approved by preschoolers, who found it enjoyable and beneficial for learning letter sounds. We eagerly await your feedback and suggestions as we strive to provide a rewarding educational experience for young learners.

About

1600

Explore the White House interactively by pointing your camera at a one-dollar bill. This app educates users of all ages about the institution's role in democracy through engaging augmented reality experiences.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality exploration
  • Point camera at dollar bill to activate
  • Learn about the White House
  • Interactive educational content
  • Explore from different angles
  • Discover hidden surprises
Features
Read full description

The White House's "1600" is a new way for kids and playful Americans of all ages to learn about what happens at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. All you need to do is tap "Start" and point your camera at George Washington (on the one dollar bill). Built through a collaboration with the White House Historical Association and Nexus Studios, the app’s aim is to educate and inspire the youngest Americans to learn more about the White House's role in our democracy. Our hope is that whether it is experienced on a teacher's desk or dining room table, kids walk away from "1600" with a better sense of the institution and its purpose. Not to mention, a smile. Tip: Move your phone around to explore from different angles, and touch the Oval Office to reveal a surprise.

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 24 screens
16004 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 4.3 against 1600's 3.5. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 50%). 1600's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 1600 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 77 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 50% of 1600's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, 1600 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SPELLING MAGIC 2 versus 1600: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 21600
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (16 ratings) — better3.5 (77 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1677 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.48.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB250 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYWhite House Historical Association

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 2

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

1600

All ratings77 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral10.4%
Negative32.5%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative36.7%

Bugs and requests

SPELLING MAGIC 2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

1600

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Camera focus is blurry
  • Animation restarts when dollar bill moves
  • App does not work on $1 bill only
  • Camera keeps getting blurry
Show 2 more
  • App crashes after clicking start
  • App does not download

Requested features

12 requests
  • Support for other denominations ($2, $5, $10, etc.)
  • Support for international currencies (pesos, yuan)
  • Ability to continue animation without constant focus
  • VR option
  • Expand content and features
Show 7 more
  • Add more historical details
  • Interactive elements
  • Button to choose seasons
  • Allow fast-forwarding or skipping sections
  • Support for coins
  • More White House situations
  • Animated US Constitution app

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 2

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

1600

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 1600 free?
1600 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or 1600?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while 1600 averages 3.5 from 77 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or 1600 have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 2 nor 1600 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or 1600?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, and 1600 every 3 days. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 2 was updated on October 7, 2026 and 1600 on October 13, 2026.

Other comparisons