# PONO（ポノ） vs Minesweeper NEXT

The clearest difference is ads: PONO（ポノ） at none against Minesweeper NEXT's shown. PONO（ポノ） also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and device support (3 vs 1). Minesweeper NEXT's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PONO（ポノ） ships an update every 2 months, Minesweeper NEXT every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PONO（ポノ） | Minesweeper NEXT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 28 MB | 258 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MAKOTO HIRAYAMA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1722890244) | [Takeru Ito](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153247304) |

## What reviewers say

### PONO（ポノ）

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pono/id6474948263)

This is a simple, non-competitive game designed to help you relax and find a calm, balanced state. It requires no memorization or complex controls, allowing you to play at your own pace and reconnect with yourself.

**Highlights:** Simple, intuitive gameplay, No complex controls or memorization, Play at your own pace, Non-competitive, no winning or losing, Dynamic meditation experience, Four number display styles, Random inspirational messages

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Minesweeper NEXT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minesweeper-next/id6742145717)

This game enhances the classic Minesweeper experience with unique stage-specific rules. Solve logic puzzles by deducing bomb locations using number clues and special conditions. Offers challenging levels for strategic thinkers.

**Highlights:** Classic Minesweeper gameplay, Unique stage-specific rules, Logic-based puzzle solving, Variety of difficulty levels, Challenging high-difficulty puzzles, Solvable through logic alone

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PONO（ポノ） free?

PONO（ポノ） is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Minesweeper NEXT free?

Minesweeper NEXT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do PONO（ポノ） or Minesweeper NEXT have ads?

Minesweeper NEXT shows ads; PONO（ポノ） does not.

### Which is updated more often, PONO（ポノ） or Minesweeper NEXT?

PONO（ポノ） ships an update every 2 months, and Minesweeper NEXT every 5 days. Most recently, PONO（ポノ） was updated on October 7, 2026 and Minesweeper NEXT on October 17, 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.*