Comparison

BBC Science Focus Magazine vs Tech Xplore

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

Head to head
About

BBC Science Focus Magazine

Explore the latest discoveries and breakthroughs in science and technology. This app offers in-depth articles, expert interviews, and answers to your burning questions. Enjoy interactive features like text adjustment, bookmarking, and multimedia content.

Highlights
  • Latest issue access
  • Back issue archive
  • Expert interviews
  • Q&A section
  • Adjustable text size
  • Bookmark features
  • Search tool
Features
Read full description

Enjoy BBC Science Focus Magazine, the UK's leading science and technology monthly, on your iPhone and iPad. Dive into the latest issue, download the entire back issue collection and save more with a subscription. From space travel to brain science, BBC Science Focus Magazine will give you the lowdown on the latest discoveries and the big breakthroughs affecting our future. Interviews with leading scientists and world-leading experts will provide you with thoughtful, accurate analysis, helping you to understand what's going on in the fast-moving world of science. Plus, all your burning questions will be answered in the popular Q&A section. Our App makes it easy to read and enjoy each issue with helpful features like text adjust, allowing you to amend the font size for clear reading on any device size. You can also bookmark your favourite features to revisit, and browse our archive of content with the handy search tool. Plus, you'll find stunning video and audio inside which bring each issue to life. **Reality Check Our team investigates the science behind the headlines. We pore over the research and talk to world-leading experts to find answers to questions like: How can you protect yourself from air pollution? Is screen time bad for you? Are all plastics bad for the planet? **Features Every month, the best science writers in the world explore the big mysteries of our time. From the inner workings of our brains to the cosmic machinations of our Universe, each issue is full of surprises. **Radar We share the best science TV, books, podcasts and radio of the month ahead. PLUS tech experts help us find the best gadgets that money can buy. Terms and Conditions: Customers can buy single issues and subscriptions using In App Purchase Subscriptions are available on monthly or annual terms & will unlock all premium content on the BBC Science Focus Magazine Apple News channel. • Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period • You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for that product • You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase • No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. This does not affect your statutory rights • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription • The app may offer a free trial. At the end of the free trial period, the full price of the subscription will be charged thereafter. Cancellations must occur 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Visit http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098 for more information. The subscription will include the current issue if you do not already own it and subsequently published future issues. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. If you would like more information or support please visit our App support page https://www.ourmediaapps.co.uk/apps-faqs/ Our Media Ltd Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://policies.ourmedia.co.uk/privacy-policy/ https://policies.ourmedia.co.uk/website-terms-and-conditions/ **Please note: this digital edition does not include the covermount gifts or supplements you would find with printed copies

About

Tech Xplore

Stay updated with the latest in electronics and technology. Access a wide range of topics including IT, robotics, and green tech. A monthly subscription unlocks full content with a free trial week.

Highlights
  • Daily technology news updates
  • Covers IT, robotics, engineering, green tech
  • Full content subscription option
  • Free trial week
  • Cross-device access
Features
Read full description

Tech Xplore is an online news source covering the fields of electronics and technology. Tech Xplore is a part of the Science X network (sciencex.com), publisher of such popular news resources as Phys.org and Medical Xpress. Tech Xplore provides the latest news and updates on a wide range of subjects—information technology, robotics, engineering, green tech, computer sciences, semiconductors, telecom and high technology. All content is updated daily. Free app content is limited to selected spotlight stories. Access to Tech Xplore's full content is available with the monthly subscription plan for just $0.99. First subscription week is free! Subscription Options: - Unlimited digital access on any device for $0.99 per month. You will be charged in your local currency at the prevailing exchange rate as defined by iTunes. - The app offers 7 days trial. At the end of the free trial period, the full price of the subscription will be charged thereafter. Cancellations must occur 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Privacy policy can be found at https://sciencex.com/help/privacy/ Terms of use: https://sciencex.com/help/terms/ Questions and feedback: https://sciencex.com/help/feedback/

Screenshots

BBC Science Focus Magazine4 screens
Tech Xplore4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BBC Science Focus Magazine at 52% against Tech Xplore's 0%. BBC Science Focus Magazine also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (78 vs 5). Tech Xplore's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. BBC Science Focus Magazine sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Tech Xplore sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BBC Science Focus Magazine holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BBC Science Focus Magazine has 78 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of BBC Science Focus Magazine's written reviews are positive against 0% of Tech Xplore's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BBC Science Focus Magazine ships an update every 2 months, Tech Xplore every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
BBC Science Focus Magazine versus Tech Xplore: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBBC Science Focus MagazineTech Xplore
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (78 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews52.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings78 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB7 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperOur Media LimitedOmicron Tech Ltd

Customer experience

BBC Science Focus Magazine

All ratings78 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive52.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative43.0%

Tech Xplore

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

BBC Science Focus Magazine

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to access purchased content
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

3 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Offline reading support
  • Better optimization for newer devices

Tech Xplore

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

BBC Science Focus Magazine

Subscriptions8
  • BBC Focus Magazine Apple News$4.991 Month
  • 1-Month Subscription$5.491 Month
  • 3-Month Subscription$12.993 Months
Show 5 more
  • 6-Month Subscription$28.496 Months
  • Discounted Annual Subscription$39.991 Year
  • BBC Focus Magazine Apple News1 Month trial$42.991 Year
  • 12-Month Subscription Bundle$45.991 Year
  • 12-Month Subscription1 Month trial$47.991 Year
One-time5
  • World in Motion: England's StoryFree
  • August 2014$4.99
  • September 2024$5.99
Show 2 more
  • Summer 2024$5.99
  • Complete Your Collection$59.99
1 purchases

Tech Xplore

Subscriptions1
  • Tech Xplore Subscription$0.991 Month

Questions

Is BBC Science Focus Magazine free?
BBC Science Focus Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tech Xplore free?
Tech Xplore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BBC Science Focus Magazine or Tech Xplore?
BBC Science Focus Magazine is rated higher. BBC Science Focus Magazine averages 4.7 out of 5 from 78 ratings, while Tech Xplore averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do BBC Science Focus Magazine or Tech Xplore have ads?
BBC Science Focus Magazine shows ads; Tech Xplore does not.
Which is updated more often, BBC Science Focus Magazine or Tech Xplore?
BBC Science Focus Magazine ships an update every 2 months, and Tech Xplore every 3 weeks. Most recently, BBC Science Focus Magazine was updated on September 24, 2026 and Tech Xplore on September 10, 2026.

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