# READING MAGIC 3 vs 1600

The clearest difference is rating: READING MAGIC 3 at 4.9 against 1600's 3.5. READING MAGIC 3 also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 50%). 1600's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 22 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. READING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 1600 asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1600 has 78 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of READING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 50% of 1600's.

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, 1600 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 3 | 1600 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837/reviews)** | [3.5 (78 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1600/id1179840697/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **78** |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 250 MB | 250 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [White House Historical Association](https://appshunter.io/developer/1179840696) |

## What reviewers say

### READING MAGIC 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837)

This app makes learning to read an exciting adventure for children. It uses interactive activities and science-backed methods to help master words with two or more syllables, building essential literacy skills.

**Highlights:** Science of Reading methodology, Focus on multi-syllable words, Blending and segmenting skills, Phonemic awareness development, Three engaging learning modes, Interactive reading games, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


### 1600

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1600/id1179840697)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative concept
- 🤩 Engaging animation
- 👍 Educational for kids
- ✨ Visually appealing
- 💯 Fun bar trick

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Camera focus issues
- 🐛 App crashes
- 🐛 Animation restarts easily
- 🐛 Limited content
- 🐛 Requires constant focus

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC 3 free?

READING MAGIC 3 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, READING MAGIC 3 or 1600?

READING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while 1600 averages 3.5 from 78 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 3 or 1600 have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 3 nor 1600 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 3 or 1600?

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, and 1600 every 3 days. Most recently, READING MAGIC 3 was updated on October 24, 2026 and 1600 on October 26, 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.*