# Bacterial ID Virtual Lab vs Physics Lab AR

The clearest difference is rating: Physics Lab AR at 4.7 against Bacterial ID Virtual Lab's 3.7. Physics Lab AR also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 9). Bacterial ID Virtual Lab's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and review sentiment (75% vs 47%). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Physics Lab AR sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Bacterial ID Virtual Lab asks for nothing beyond the download.

Physics Lab AR holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Lab AR has 1.8K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Bacterial ID Virtual Lab's written reviews are positive against 47% of Physics Lab AR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab ships an update every 14 months, Physics Lab AR every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bacterial ID Virtual Lab | Physics Lab AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bacterial-id-virtual-lab/id443867462/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-lab-ar/id1298984261/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 47.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 177 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Howard Hughes Medical Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/411540290) | [Turtle Sim LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1568741108) |

## What reviewers say

### Bacterial ID Virtual Lab

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bacterial-id-virtual-lab/id443867462)

Explore the science and methods for identifying bacteria using DNA sequences. This interactive virtual lab simulates modern techniques applicable in research and forensics. It's designed for high school biology students and science enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Learn DNA sequencing techniques, Identify different bacteria types, Simulates real-world lab methods, Applicable to research and forensics, Interactive virtual lab environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Physics Lab AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/physics-lab-ar/id1298984261)

Explore physics through interactive virtual experiments and augmented reality. Build and test electrical circuits with over 100 components, visualize electromagnetic fields, and even design your own galaxy. Ideal for students, teachers, and curious minds of all ages.

**Highlights:** Virtual lab with AR mode, Build 3D electric circuits, 100+ circuit components, Precise scientific calculations, Electromagnetic field visualization, Design custom galaxies

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Component Subscription | $1.49 | per month |
| 60 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10 Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 120 Diamonds | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 680 Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1280  Diamonds | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nice app
- 🚀 Awesome app
- 💡 Good app idea
- 👍 Helpful for learning
- 👍 Useful for teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Unstable app
- 🐛 Buggy app
- 🐛 App doesn't work
- 🔧 Needs improvements

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening experiments or circuits
- Wires don't attach properly
- Objects fall through the table
- Camera position issues
- App freezes or becomes unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add more components like transistors and potentiometers
- Improve camera controls and view options
- Implement saving and loading of circuits
- Add more tutorials and explanations
- Support for Vietnamese and other languages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bacterial ID Virtual Lab free?

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Physics Lab AR free?

Physics Lab AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bacterial ID Virtual Lab or Physics Lab AR?

Physics Lab AR is rated higher. Bacterial ID Virtual Lab averages 3.7 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Physics Lab AR averages 4.7 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Bacterial ID Virtual Lab or Physics Lab AR have ads?

Neither Bacterial ID Virtual Lab nor Physics Lab AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bacterial ID Virtual Lab or Physics Lab AR?

Bacterial ID Virtual Lab ships an update every 14 months, and Physics Lab AR every 2 months. Most recently, Bacterial ID Virtual Lab was updated on June 4, 2026 and Physics Lab AR on September 28, 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.*