Comparison

NEX vs GBDev

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

Head to head
About

NEX

Import and play your favorite retro games with customizable controls and features like achievements and save states. Enjoy a seamless gaming experience optimized for mobile devices.

Highlights
  • Import and play retro games
  • Customizable screen layouts
  • Independent achievements and badges
  • Unlimited save slots
  • Speed control up to 5x
  • Built-in cheat codes
  • Visual filters and pixel effects
Features
Read full description

NEX might just be the retro game library that knows you best. Independent achievements, landscape optimization, and fully customizable layouts—your screen, your way. Retro gaming shouldn’t begin with complicated setup. With NEX, simply import your games and start playing—straight back to those handheld summers. [ MORE THAN JUST PLAYING ] - Landscape Optimized: Thoughtfully designed from interface to controls. - Random Wheel: Can’t decide what to play? Let fate choose. - Independent Achievements: Complete challenges, unlock badges, and discover new ways to enjoy classics. [ SUPPORTED SYSTEMS ] - Nintendo DS (NDS) - Game Boy Advance (GBA) - Game Boy Color (GBC) - Game Boy (GB) [ KEY FEATURES ] - Offline Play | Play anytime, anywhere - Random Wheel | Let the wheel choose your next game - Achievements | Complete challenges and unlock exclusive badges - Unlimited Saves | Unlimited manual and auto-save slots - Speed Control | Play at speeds of up to 5× - Cheat Codes | Built-in codes to help you complete every challenge - Visual Filters | Relive the classics with immersive pixel effects - Screenshots | Capture memorable moments instantly - Screen Layouts | Seamlessly adapts to portrait and landscape modes - Custom Controls | Freely adjust button positions and layouts [ SUPPORT & TERMS ] - Privacy Policy: https://emu.best/privacy - Terms of Use: https://emu.best/terms - Official Website: https://emu.best/ - Support: support@emu.best [ LEGAL DISCLAIMER ] This app is not affiliated with any game company. Platform names are mentioned solely to describe the supported gaming environments.

About

GBDev

Play your favorite Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on your iPhone with this emulator. It features a beautiful game library, responsive on-screen controls, and customizable palettes and themes for a comfortable gaming experience.

Highlights
  • Game Boy & Game Boy Color ROM support
  • Personalized game library with box art
  • Save states for instant progress capture
  • Customizable on-screen controls
  • Adjustable game palettes and app themes
  • Integrated cheat engine
Features
Read full description

GBDev is a fast multi emulator with an immersive feel and lots of good ways to customize your emulation experience. Emulates: GB • GBC • GBA • NES • SNES • DS • DSI • 3DS • GC • Wii Get cozy under the covers with our screen bleed and crt scanlines options. Reposition the screens and buttons to maximize the emulation feel. Enhance the look with animated themes and custom buttons. Landscape mode goes hard too especially when a bluetooth controller is connected. SNES Mouse works for mar10 pain7 too!! GBDev even has 3ds mii support. Connect to a tv with airplay, connect some controllers via bluetooth, and set the phone on charge for a night of retro gatherings. Button haptics make you feel more immersed so we have that too. Our game library is seperated by console. Thank you for using GBDev!!

Screenshots

NEX4 screens
GBDev4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: GBDev at free against NEX's free with in-app purchases. GBDev also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (13% vs 0%). NEX's advantage is rating (3.5 vs 3.3). On price, ads, 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. NEX sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and GBDev sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NEX holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GBDev has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of NEX's written reviews are positive against 13% of GBDev's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NEX ships an update every 3 weeks, GBDev every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NEX versus GBDev: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNEXGBDev
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better3.3 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews12.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings218 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size199 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer刚 李Winter Bagley

Customer experience

NEX

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

GBDev

All ratings18 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative38.9%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative62.5%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

NEX

Subscriptions1
  • NEX Premium$1.997 Days
One-time2
  • Lifetime Premium (Discount)$9.99
  • NEX Premium — Lifetime$14.99
1 purchases

GBDev

One-time1
  • GBDev Pro$2.99

Questions

Is NEX free?
NEX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GBDev free?
GBDev is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NEX or GBDev?
NEX is rated higher. NEX averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while GBDev averages 3.3 from 18 ratings.
Do NEX or GBDev have ads?
Neither NEX nor GBDev shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NEX or GBDev?
NEX ships an update every 3 weeks, and GBDev every 4 days. Most recently, NEX was updated on October 11, 2026 and GBDev on October 9, 2026.

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