Comparison

Optical Power Meter vs Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Optical Power Meter

Control handheld optical power meters remotely via Bluetooth. View power readings on a large gauge and a 5-digit display, with min/max tracking. Adjust basic settings like wavelength and zeroing from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Remote control via Bluetooth
  • Large needle gauge display
  • 5-digit power reading
  • Minimum and maximum readings
  • Wavelength correction
  • Zeroing function
Features
Read full description

The Thorlabs Powermeter App is designed to remote control the PM160 series handheld optical power meters via Bluetooth® connection. This application allows the user to read the optical power from a large needle gauge, supported by a 5 digit display with additional minimum and maximum readings. Basic settings like wavelength correction and zeroing can be performed directly from your mobile device. The app requires a Bluetooth® paired device. Supported Power Meters: - Thorlabs PM160 - Thorlabs PM160T

About

Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

This app turns your smartphone into a scientific instrument suite, enabling measurement, recording, analysis, and export of real-time sensor data. It offers tools for kinematics, acoustics, light, magnetism, and more, suitable for students, educators, researchers, and hobbyists.

Highlights
  • Real-time sensor data measurement
  • Data recording and analysis
  • Data export functionality
  • Kinematics tools (accelerometer, gyroscope)
  • Acoustics tools (sound meter, oscilloscope)
  • Magnetism tools (compass, magnetometer)
  • AR visualization for magnetic fields and measurements
Features
Read full description

Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, or hobbyist, Physics Toolbox transforms your smartphone’s built-in sensors into a powerful suite of scientific instruments. Easily measure, record, analyze, and export real-time data for a variety of uses—from classroom experiments to cutting-edge research. KINEMATICS G-Force Meter Linear Accelerometer Gyroscope Inclinometer Motion Visualizer (LiDAR-tracked position and velocity) ACOUSTICS Sound Meter Tone Detector Tone Generator Oscilloscope Spectrum Analyzer Spectrogram LIGHT Light Meter Color Detector Proximeter Stroboscope MAGNETISM Compass Magnetometer Magna-AR (AR visualization of magnetic field vectors) OTHER Barometer GPS - latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, number of satellites Ruler-AR (AR-estimated measurements) COMBINATION Multi Record Roller Coaster GAME Play (data-verified challenges)

Screenshots

Optical Power Meter1 screens
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite at 80% against Optical Power Meter's 0%. Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 12 months). Optical Power Meter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Optical Power Meter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite has 1.8K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Optical Power Meter's written reviews are positive against 80% of Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Optical Power Meter ships an update every 12 months, Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Optical Power Meter versus Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOptical Power MeterPhysics Toolbox Sensor Suite
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (5 ratings)4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews80.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings51.8K — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThorlabs GmbHChrystian Vieyra

Customer experience

Optical Power Meter

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

All ratings1,786 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews123 reviews
Positive80.5%
Neutral8.1%
Negative11.4%

In-app purchases

None

Optical Power Meter

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Optical Power Meter free?
Optical Power Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite free?
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Optical Power Meter or Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite?
Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite is rated higher. Optical Power Meter averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite averages 4.7 from 1.8K ratings.
Do Optical Power Meter or Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite have ads?
Neither Optical Power Meter nor Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Optical Power Meter or Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite?
Optical Power Meter ships an update every 12 months, and Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite weekly. Most recently, Optical Power Meter was updated on September 17, 2026 and Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite on September 26, 2026.

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