Comparison

HP16C vs Hz Lab

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

Head to head
About

HP16C

This app faithfully recreates the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator, offering advanced hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, and base conversion. It features RPN, keystroke programming, and modern enhancements like a two-line display and haptic feedback.

Highlights
  • Full RPN calculator
  • Integer arithmetic (HEX, DEC, OCT, BIN)
  • Configurable word size (1-64 bits)
  • Complete bit operations
  • Keystroke programming
  • Two-line display
  • Haptic feedback
Features
Read full description

A faithful recreation of the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator for iPhone, with a few modern upgrades. If you've ever needed to perform hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, or base conversion on your phone and been frustrated by the available options, this is for you. RPN-16C gives you the full power of the original HP 16C in your pocket. WHAT IT DOES - Full RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) calculator - Integer arithmetic in HEX, DEC, OCT, and BIN - Configurable word size from 1 to 64 bits - Unsigned, one's complement, and two's complement modes - Complete bit operations: shift, rotate, rotate through carry, AND, OR, XOR, NOT, mask, bit set/clear/test, count bits, left justify - Float mode with configurable precision (FLOAT 0-9) - Keystroke programming with labels, subroutines, loops, and conditionals - Storage registers with direct and indirect addressing - Programs can be imported from text (long-press the display to paste) ENHANCEMENTS OVER THE ORIGINAL - Two-line display: see both X and Y registers at once. No more guessing what's on the stack. - Wider LCD: displays all 32 bits in binary without scrolling. The original could only show 8 at a time. - Haptic feedback on every key press - State persistence: pick up right where you left off - SHOW function to peek at values in other bases FAIR WARNING This is a quirky calculator. It uses Reverse Polish Notation, has no equals key, and expects you to know what two's complement means. If you're looking for a simple calculator, this is not it. If you've ever wished you could do a bitwise rotate through carry on your phone, welcome home. DESIGNED FOR PROGRAMMERS The key layout matches the physical HP 16C exactly, including the f (gold) and g (blue) shift labels. If you know the original, you already know this one. The original HP 16C Owner's Handbook is freely available on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/hp-16c_handbook

About

Hz Lab

Features
Read full description

Hz Lab puts mosquito tones, speaker water eject and a frequency generator into one simple tool. No ads. No subscription. The paid features are a single one-time purchase. MOSQUITO TONE Nine steps from 8,000Hz to 20,000Hz, playing the moment you tap. Every step is free. Each frequency comes with a rough guide to the age that usually still hears it, which makes it easy to compare with friends and family. HEARING CHECK Tones play from low to high and you answer "I hear it" or "I don't". You get a rough idea of where your hearing tops out. WATER EJECT For when water gets into the speaker. Pulsed low tones around 165Hz move the diaphragm far enough to help push droplets out. A countdown and waveform show you exactly how long is left. FREQUENCY GENERATOR Anything from 20Hz to 20,000Hz, by slider or by typing the number. The full range is free with a sine wave. SOLFEGGIO AND BINAURAL BEATS Solfeggio frequencies from 174Hz to 963Hz, plus binaural beats that play slightly different tones in each ear. HZ LAB PRO (one-time purchase) - Tune in 1Hz steps - Square, triangle and sawtooth waveforms - Strong and quiet water eject courses, with adjustable timing and range - Full control over binaural beats - All nine Solfeggio frequencies - Unlimited presets (the free version keeps three) - Sleep timer and background playback - Hearing check history and per-ear testing Pay once and keep it. Nothing auto-renews. WHAT WE TELL YOU UP FRONT - The iPhone's built-in speaker drops off sharply above about 16,000Hz. Use headphones for high frequencies. The app says the same thing. - Water eject does not guarantee that all water is removed, does not improve water resistance, and does not repair a water-damaged device. - The hearing check and age guidance are informational only, not a substitute for a medical hearing test. PROTECTING YOUR HEARING High tones rarely feel loud but still strain your ears. By default Hz Lab caps the volume above 15,000Hz and while headphones are connected (adjustable in Settings), and playback stops automatically if your headphones are unplugged. PRIVACY No account needed. No personal data is collected at all. No advertising or analytics SDKs. Presets and hearing check results stay on your device.

Screenshots

HP16C4 screens
Hz Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HP16C at none against Hz Lab's 1. HP16C also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Hz Lab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HP16C asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HP16C ships an update weekly, Hz Lab every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
HP16C versus Hz Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHP16CHz Lab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael DoornbosDaishi Sugawara

In-app purchases

None

HP16C

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Hz Lab

One-time1
  • Hz Lab Pro$1.99

Questions

Is HP16C free?
HP16C is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hz Lab free?
Hz Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HP16C or Hz Lab have ads?
Neither HP16C nor Hz Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HP16C or Hz Lab?
HP16C ships an update weekly, and Hz Lab every 2 weeks. Most recently, HP16C was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hz Lab on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons