# Photonics Spectra vs SubTel Forum

The clearest difference is update cadence: SubTel Forum at every 5 days against Photonics Spectra's every 10 months. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Photonics Spectra against 5.0 for SubTel Forum. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Photonics Spectra ships an update every 10 months, SubTel Forum every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photonics Spectra | SubTel Forum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonics-spectra/id657383359/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtel-forum/id6476313086/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 29 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laurin Publishing Co., Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/657383362) | [Submarine Telecoms Forum, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726411968) |

## What reviewers say

### Photonics Spectra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonics-spectra/id657383359)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SubTel Forum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtel-forum/id6476313086)

Stay informed with the latest news and updates in the submarine telecommunications industry. Access the newest editions of industry publications directly through the app.

**Highlights:** Latest industry news notifications, Access to SubTel Forum Magazine, Submarine Cable Almanac available, Submarine Telecoms Industry Report access, Real-time updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photonics Spectra free?

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

### Is SubTel Forum free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Photonics Spectra or SubTel Forum?

Photonics Spectra and SubTel Forum are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Photonics Spectra or SubTel Forum have ads?

Neither Photonics Spectra nor SubTel Forum shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photonics Spectra or SubTel Forum?

Photonics Spectra ships an update every 10 months, and SubTel Forum every 5 days. Most recently, Photonics Spectra was updated on November 1, 2026 and SubTel Forum on November 4, 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.*