Comparison

Optical Power Meter vs Physics Labs

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 Labs

This app uses your device's sensors to measure various physical quantities like acceleration, magnetic fields, and sound levels. View data in coordinates or scalar magnitude, and export it to Excel for analysis. It's a digital lab for your phone.

Highlights
  • Measure acceleration, magnetic fields, and sound levels
  • View data in X, Y, Z coordinates or scalar magnitude
  • Export sensor data to Excel for analysis
  • Eliminate gravity from acceleration measurements
  • Measure atmospheric pressure
Features
Read full description

Physics Lab is all-in-one Sensor app which let you know physical entities around you like acceleration, magnetic fields, light intensity, sound decibel and much more... Physics Lab measures physical parameters by using your device sensors which typical device contain bunch of those sensors! Application give output in high precision with short intervals based on your sensor's capabilities. In Physics Lab, you can observe physical data in coordinates (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis) or in scalar magnitude. If you want, you can export sensor data into Excel by one click! Using export to excel feature you can obtain statistical information about your measurement. Physical quantities that can be measured Physics Lab: * Accelerometer: Measuring acceleration around your device. Output in m/s2 for x, y and z axes. Also, you can eliminate gravity from your measurements by one click and see real acceleration. * Magnetometer: Measuring magnetic field around your device. Output in µT for x, y and z axes. * Gyroscope: Measure angular inclination in x, y and z axes. Output in degree (°) * Luxmeter: COMING SOON * Barometer: Measure atmospheric pressure. Output in bar. * Noisemeter: Measure loudness around you. Output in dB. If you like our application, you can give us 5 stars. You can forward any suggestions, requests or concerns to info@grandmount.org

Screenshots

Optical Power Meter1 screens
Physics Labs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Physics Labs at 100% against Optical Power Meter's 0%. Physics Labs also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 12 months). Optical Power Meter's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Optical Power Meter ships an update every 12 months, Physics Labs every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Optical Power Meter versus Physics Labs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOptical Power MeterPhysics Labs
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThorlabs GmbHHuseyin Aykut Uludag

Customer experience

Optical Power Meter

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

Physics Labs

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Optical Power Meter

No in-app purchases

None

Physics Labs

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Optical Power Meter free?
Optical Power Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Physics Labs free?
Physics Labs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Optical Power Meter or Physics Labs have ads?
Physics Labs shows ads; Optical Power Meter does not.
Which is updated more often, Optical Power Meter or Physics Labs?
Optical Power Meter ships an update every 12 months, and Physics Labs every 2 weeks. Most recently, Optical Power Meter was updated on October 4, 2026 and Physics Labs on September 18, 2026.

Other comparisons