# SameBoy vs TinyEmulator

The clearest difference is rating: SameBoy at 4.5 against TinyEmulator's 3.9. SameBoy also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 55%) and ratings volume (110 vs 14). TinyEmulator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SameBoy sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. TinyEmulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

SameBoy holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SameBoy has 110 ratings behind it against 14, 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 55% of TinyEmulator's.

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, TinyEmulator every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SameBoy | TinyEmulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sameboy/id6496971295/reviews)** | [3.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinyemulator/id6667099562/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **110** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **83.6% of reviews** | 54.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lior Halphon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741211844) | [兴海 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764570631) |

## 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


### TinyEmulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinyemulator/id6667099562)

Play classic retro games on your device with this emulator. Enjoy solo or multiplayer experiences, with support for a wide range of classic gaming systems. Save your progress, use controllers, and even chat with friends during netplay sessions.

**Highlights:** Multi-platform support, Solo and multiplayer netplay, State save and load, Gamepad controller support, Voice and message chat during netplay, Controller skins and haptics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SameBoy free?

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

### Is TinyEmulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SameBoy or TinyEmulator?

SameBoy is rated higher. SameBoy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 110 ratings, while TinyEmulator averages 3.9 from 14 ratings.

### Do SameBoy or TinyEmulator have ads?

Neither SameBoy nor TinyEmulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SameBoy or TinyEmulator?

SameBoy ships an update every 4 months, and TinyEmulator every 2 weeks. Most recently, SameBoy was updated on October 10, 2026 and TinyEmulator on October 6, 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.*