Comparison

DragonScale vs Onyx Magic

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

Head to head
About

DragonScale

This app acts as a remote for a smart scale that detects subtle weight differences in cards or objects. It transmits this data to your device, revealing details like card suits, sums, or which object was removed.

Highlights
  • Card and object weight detection
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Supports popular card stacks
  • Custom stack arrangements
  • Real-time information delivery
  • Watch support
Features
Read full description

** This app is the remote control for DragonScale, our smart scale product** Prepare to know everything. You’ll know how many cards people are holding, how many are red, black, the suits. You’ll even know the sum of the cards in their hands. Know which objects are where. The routines possible are so strong that they could astonish people who have seen creatures of myth and legend. This is DragonScale from Penguin Magic. A top-secret project at Penguin Magic for five years, the DragonScale is a patented smart scale hidden inside of a card box that is so sensitive it can detect the slightest differences in weight down to a single card. The information the DragonScale learns is sent to the app that converts weight into details that create unreal revelations. This precision-made prop operates in stealth and feeds you real-time information so that you can focus on your presentation. It’s the closest you will ever feel to having actual magical powers. How does it work? Our precision-engineered smart scale communicates directly with our the app via Bluetooth, no manual pairing necessary! Just turn on the scale, open the app while near the scale, and a connection will be automatically established! The app is preloaded with popular card stacks like Mnemonica, Aronson, and Si Stebbins and allows for custom stacks and arrangements. Place the stacked deck on the box and have your spectators cut off packets of cards, then wait for the information delivery. You read that right, spectators. Plural. Multiple people can remove packets of cards, and precise information about each packet is delivered to your smart device (we included watch support for people who really want to fly under the radar). Then reveal the exact information you want at your leisure. Whether it’s the exact card they cut to, the number of cards in their hand, or even how many cards are red or black. You aren’t just limited to cards. DragonScale can be set up for custom weight arrangements. That means three objects can be placed on the card box. You turn your back, and when a participant removes an object, you will instantly know which one is taken. The applications with this incredible device are limitless. Tip the scales of astonishment in your favor with DragonScale by Penguin Magic.

About

Onyx Magic

This utility uses AI to remotely alter captured photos in real-time. It allows for seamless modifications to images moments after they are taken, directly on a spectator's device. Create impossible effects like changing playing cards, revealing hidden messages, or altering clock times within photos.

Highlights
  • Real-time AI photo modification
  • Remote image alteration
  • Spectator's camera integration
  • Physical photo printing (Onyx Print)
  • Third-party app integrations
  • Variable delayed input
Read full description

Onyx is a revolutionary utility that allows you to modify a captured image in real-time using variable input data. Using cutting edge AI, Onyx lets you remotely create seamless alterations to photos moments after they've been taken - all with your spectator's camera. For example: — Make a playing card appear in your spectator's wallet. — Morph your spectator's shadow to look like their thought of animal. — Take a photo of your spectator holding a signed card. They name *any* other card. The signed card in the photo transforms to match their thought. — Supplement your Gypsy Queen routine with Onyx: zoom in on a photo of your spectator holding the Queen of Hearts for the reveal. — Reveal a thought-of word, name, or initials hidden naturally in the light reflections of a spectator's eye. — Change the time on a photo of a clock. — Remove your spectator's wristwatch in a photo, making it sbeem that it was removed earlier. ...and more! If you can describe it, Onyx can likely create it. Onyx is particularly great for revealing something ephemeral. Photograph a shadow, clouds, a TV screen or more, and Onyx will realistically insert their free choice. * Variable Delayed Input Inspired by the popular variable trigger system featured in DFB X, Onyx pauses and automatically waits for input, letting you remotely modify a photo *after* it's been taken. * Cutting Edge Technology Take a photo, then have your spectator make a free choice. Onyx's advanced technology seamlessly transforms the photo remotely. * Create Unlimited Effects Change signed playing cards, reveal initials and names, or modify writing. Reveal *anything you can imagine* within a genuine photo you just took. * Your Integrations. Their Camera The effect happens entirely with the spectator's camera. With Onyx's powerful integrations, your phone never needs to leave your pocket. * Invisible, Advanced Technology As only the spectator's device is in play, Onyx remains hidden and inconspicuous. * Third Party Integrations Use your favourite magic apps' input methods, including: — Earworm's covert typing Web Search & Notes input — Native voice input — Native clock swipe input — WebFX's Wrist Gestures — WikiTest — PeekSmith — Bridge ...and any compatible third-party app. # Introducing: Onyx Print Onyx Print brings Onyx’s digital effect into the real world. # Produce Physical Photographs Instead of revealing information only on a screen, Onyx Print can generate and automatically print images on a pocket printer, allowing you to produce a real photograph from your wallet, pocket, or envelope for a powerful ending. # Dynamic Prompting Onyx Print uses the same dynamic prompting and covert input system that powers Onyx. Use any of Onyx’s input methods, and Onyx Print will automatically generate and print an image to match. # Use Your Own Photos You can even modify existing photos. For example: have Onyx Print set up with a photo of yourself and have a spectator name any place in the world. Onyx Print will then create and automatically print a realistic photo of you in that exact location, ready to reveal. # Works With Other Apps Onyx Print can even monitor your photo library and automatically print images saved by other apps. When an app saves a photo, Onyx Print can print it. Onyx Print is an in-app purchase within Onyx, and currently supports the Instax mini Link+, with plans for additional printers in the future. Onyx is a tool specifically designed for entertainment purposes. It uses purchaseable in-app credits or a funded OpenRouter account for best-in-class automatic edits. Onyx supports: Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese simplified and traditional, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

Screenshots

DragonScale4 screens
Onyx Magic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Onyx Magic at 100% against DragonScale's 50%. DragonScale's advantage is price (Free vs $64.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence and ads 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

DragonScale is free to download; Onyx Magic costs $64.99 up front. Onyx Magic sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. DragonScale asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DragonScale ships an update every 3 weeks, Onyx Magic fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
DragonScale versus Onyx Magic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDragonScaleOnyx Magic
PriceFree — better$64.99
Rating—5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.2 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB36 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPenguin MagicMarc Kerstein

Customer experience

DragonScale

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Onyx Magic

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

DragonScale

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Onyx Magic

One-time2
  • 100 Onyx Credits$19.99
  • Onyx Print$49.99

Questions

Is DragonScale free?
DragonScale is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Onyx Magic free?
Onyx Magic costs $64.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do DragonScale or Onyx Magic have ads?
Neither DragonScale nor Onyx Magic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DragonScale or Onyx Magic?
DragonScale ships an update every 3 weeks, and Onyx Magic fortnightly. Most recently, DragonScale was updated on September 24, 2026 and Onyx Magic on October 5, 2026.

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