Comparison

Miniscope vs Duet

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

Head to head
About

Miniscope

Features
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This application is only applicable to devices with Type-C ports. Miniscope is the official companion app for the Centauri Optics Miniscope microscope. View live microscopic images, zoom in on details, and capture high‑quality photos or videos directly to your device. Full Description Miniscope app by Centauri Optics Miniscope app is the dedicated viewing app for the Centauri Optics Miniscope series of microscopes, transforming your iPad into a high‑resolution digital microscope interface. Connect your Miniscope via USB‑C and start exploring the microscopic world instantly, no complicated setup required. Key Features: Live Video Feed – View real‑time images from your Miniscope with smooth, high‑resolution streaming. Zoom Function – Pinch to zoom or use on‑screen controls to examine fine details in your samples. Image and Video Capture – Take high‑quality still images or record full‑motion videos directly from the live feed. Time‑Lapse Recording – Document slow processes like crystal formation, microorganism movement, or plant cell changes. Simple Storage and Sharing – Save files directly to your device for easy access in reports, presentations, or archives. Plug‑and‑Play Simplicity – Just connect via USB‑C to start observing immediately. Ideal For: Classroom demonstrations and hands‑on STEM learning Student projects and science experiments Hobbyists exploring plant, water, or material samples Fieldwork and mobile microscopy setups The Miniscope app makes digital microscopy simple, portable, and precise, giving you a clear window into the hidden world.

About

Duet

Features
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Duet sends what matters from one phone to another — and gets out of your way. Pick a file, a contact, a Wi-Fi password, a 2FA setup code, or any text. The sender shows a QR code; the receiver scans it. For larger files, the two phones connect directly over your local network. Everything is end-to-end encrypted, and nothing ever touches a server. No account. No sign-up. No ads. No tracking. No cloud. WHY DUET • Reliable by design — built to finish the transfer, every time. • Truly private — your data goes phone-to-phone, never through us. We can't see it because it never reaches us. • Zero clutter — no ads, no upsells, no “create an account” wall. WHAT YOU CAN SEND • Files of any kind — documents, photos, videos, archives. Streamed directly, so size isn't a problem. • Wi-Fi credentials — share your network without reading the password aloud. • Contacts — send a contact card that drops straight into the other phone. • 2FA / authenticator setup codes — move your TOTP seeds to a new phone. • Plain text and links. HOW IT WORKS • Small items travel in a single QR code — scan and done, no network needed. • Larger items use animated QR or a direct local-network link between the two phones. Your data stays on your local network; it never goes to the cloud. • Every transfer is encrypted end-to-end. For the local-network mode, both phones show a quick visual match-check first, so you know there's no one in the middle. PRIVACY YOU CAN VERIFY • Data Not Collected. No analytics SDKs, no ad SDKs, no trackers. • No internet connection is used to move your data. • Transfer contents are never written to permanent storage. Duet is free, and it stays free. No subscriptions, no “pro” paywall on the core transfer.

Screenshots

Miniscope3 screens
Duet4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Miniscope at none against Duet's shown. Duet's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). 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

Miniscope ships an update every 2 months, Duet daily. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Miniscope versus Duet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMiniscopeDuet
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB36 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperCentauri Optics LimitedMICHAL DOMINIK GIZA

In-app purchases

None

Miniscope

No in-app purchases

None

Duet

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Miniscope free?
Miniscope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Duet free?
Duet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Miniscope or Duet have ads?
Duet shows ads; Miniscope does not.
Which is updated more often, Miniscope or Duet?
Miniscope ships an update every 2 months, and Duet daily. Most recently, Miniscope was updated on October 4, 2026 and Duet on October 31, 2026.

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