Comparison

Photonics Spectra 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

Photonics Spectra

Access the leading magazine for the photonics industry on your mobile device. Read articles in a convenient format, download PDF issues, and search through archives of past content. Stay informed about optics, lasers, imaging, and more.

Highlights
  • Mobile-friendly article reading
  • Downloadable PDF issues
  • Searchable archives
  • Comprehensive industry coverage
  • Technical and practical information
Features
Read full description

Photonics Spectra, the world's leading magazine covering the photonics industry, is also available as a mobile app. Features include the ability to: • Read articles in a mobile-friendly format • Download a pdf of each issue • Search archived issues Since 1967, Photonics Spectra magazine has defined the science and industry of photonics, promoting an international dialogue among the engineers, scientists, and end users who develop, commercialize, and buy photonic products. Photonics Spectra is unique in that it provides both technical and practical information for every aspect of the global industry, integrating all segments of photonics: optics, lasers, imaging, spectroscopy, sensors and detectors, fiber optics, microscopy, displays, light sources, machine vision, and more. This application is powered by GTxcel, a leader in digital publishing technology, provider of hundreds of online digital publications and mobile magazine apps.

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

Photonics Spectra4 screens
Tech Xplore4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Photonics Spectra at 5.0 against Tech Xplore's 4.2. Photonics Spectra also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Tech Xplore's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Tech Xplore sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Photonics Spectra asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Photonics Spectra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tech Xplore has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photonics Spectra ships an update every 10 months, Tech Xplore every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Photonics Spectra versus Tech Xplore: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhotonics SpectraTech Xplore
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB7 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLaurin Publishing Co., Inc.Omicron Tech Ltd

Customer experience

Photonics Spectra

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Tech Xplore

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

In-app purchases

None

Photonics Spectra

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tech Xplore

Subscriptions1
  • Tech Xplore Subscription$0.991 Month

Questions

Is Photonics Spectra free?
Photonics Spectra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tech Xplore free?
Tech Xplore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photonics Spectra or Tech Xplore?
Photonics Spectra is rated higher. Photonics Spectra averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Tech Xplore averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Photonics Spectra or Tech Xplore have ads?
Neither Photonics Spectra nor Tech Xplore shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photonics Spectra or Tech Xplore?
Photonics Spectra ships an update every 10 months, and Tech Xplore every 3 weeks. Most recently, Photonics Spectra was updated on September 8, 2026 and Tech Xplore on September 10, 2026.

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