# SameBoy vs GBA Emulator

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SameBoy at 84% against GBA Emulator's 40%. SameBoy also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). GBA Emulator's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 110). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SameBoy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and GBA Emulator sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SameBoy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GBA Emulator has 1.2K ratings behind it against 110, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of SameBoy's written reviews are positive against 40% of GBA Emulator's.

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, GBA Emulator fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SameBoy | GBA Emulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295/reviews)** | [3.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-games/id6502157237/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 110 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 39.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#199** |
| Size | 7 MB | 314 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lior Halphon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741211844) | [SMART WIDGET LABS COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561934122) |

## What reviewers say

### SameBoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295)

Experience classic handheld gaming with a highly accurate emulator for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Super Game Boy. Enjoy advanced features like save states, rumble support, and controller compatibility. Play on your Apple Watch and customize your experience with various filters and themes.

**Highlights:** Accurate Game Boy emulation, Save states with gesture support, Rumble support, Apple Watch playability, Scaling filters, Game Boy Camera emulation, Controller support

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Supporter | $0.99 | per month |
| Supporter Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Supporter Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Theme Access | $4.99 | one-time |
| SameBoy for Apple Watch | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 No ads or intrusive monetization
- 🎮 Highly accurate Game Boy/GBC emulation
- 💡 Innovative gesture controls (swipe to save/load/fast-forward)
- 🎨 Beautiful, authentic design with multiple themes
- ⚙️ Extensive customization and emulation options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Apple Watch support requires paid subscription
- 🐛 iPad portrait mode menu bug
- ❌ No Game Boy Advance emulation despite claims
- 🎮 Small button sizes for large hands
- ⚠️ Cheats feature limited or non-functional

**Reported bugs**

- iPad portrait mode triggers menu on A button/Up arrow press
- Game Boy Camera crashes on iPhone 17 Pro Max when switching cameras
- Rewind function causes game data loss in some titles
- 200% and 400% speed boost settings don't work
- Cheats don't function properly for certain games

**Requested features**

- Game Boy Advance emulation support
- Cheat code functionality
- Multiplayer/wireless linking for Pokémon games
- Online multiplayer support
- Adjustable screen and button sizes


### GBA Emulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gba-emulator-retro-games/id6502157237)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store)

Relive classic gaming with this comprehensive emulator supporting a vast array of retro consoles. Save progress, fast-forward, customize controls, and even play with friends. Explore game facts and quizzes to enhance your retro experience.

**Highlights:** Supports multiple classic game consoles, Save and load game states, Fast forward gameplay, Customizable controller skins, Multiplayer support, Community game sharing

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per year |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium Game Emulator | $6.99 | per month |
| Weekly Premium Game Emulator | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Game Emulator | $12.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plus | $15.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Game Emulator | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Game Emulator | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Great game
- 🎮 Enjoyable emulation experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with ROMs
- 🚫 Doesn't work as expected
- 💸 Excessive ads and premium paywall
- 🔇 Missing audio/sound

**Reported bugs**

- White screen on startup
- Inability to download/play certain games

**Requested features**

- Option to adjust controller transparency
- Support for more game systems (N64, DS)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SameBoy free?

SameBoy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is GBA Emulator free?

GBA Emulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SameBoy or GBA Emulator?

SameBoy is rated higher. SameBoy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 110 ratings, while GBA Emulator averages 3.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do SameBoy or GBA Emulator have ads?

GBA Emulator shows ads; SameBoy does not.

### Which is updated more often, SameBoy or GBA Emulator?

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, and GBA Emulator fortnightly. Most recently, SameBoy was updated on October 11, 2026 and GBA Emulator on October 14, 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.*