M2DX vs PocketTone
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
M2DX
Create music with a powerful 6-operator FM synthesizer. Explore hand-crafted presets or import classic DX7 banks. Use the on-screen keyboard or connect MIDI controllers for a versatile music-making experience.
- 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesis
- On-screen keyboard with velocity control
- DX7-format .syx bank import
- 6-stage FX chain
- AUv3 plug-in support
- Native MIDI 2.0 support
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M2DX is a 6-operator, 32-algorithm FM synthesizer for iPhone, built from the ground up in pure Swift 6. Open it and play immediately — tap the built-in on-screen keyboard and start making sound with M2DX's own hand-crafted presets. No external hardware or MIDI controller is required. The FM engine is a bit-exact port of the open-source Dexed / msfa DSP, verified sample-for-sample against the reference. It is also compatible with the classic DX7 patch format: bring your own DX7-format .syx banks and play them alongside M2DX's originals. KEY FEATURES - Built-in on-screen keyboard with velocity and octave control — play standalone, no hardware needed - 6-operator, 32-algorithm DX7-style FM synthesis - M2DX's own original FM presets, plus DX7-format .syx bank import (bring your own) - A 6-stage FX chain: EQ, Drive, Chorus, Reverb, Stereo, Maximizer - Low-latency audio with AVAudioSourceNode direct rendering - AUv3 plug-in — use M2DX as an Audio Unit (AUv3) in compatible hosts OPTIONAL MIDI (not required to use the app) - Connect any MIDI controller over Bluetooth or USB if you have one - Native MIDI 2.0 — UMP with 16-bit velocity and 32-bit controllers - MIDI-CI Property Exchange — patch names appear on compatible controllers (for example, KORG KeyStage) - MIDI Learn for hands-on control MIDI 2.0 done natively, classic FM done faithfully. The FM engine is built on Dexed / msfa (Apache License 2.0). M2DX is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Yamaha Corporation. DX7 and Yamaha are trademarks of Yamaha Corporation. iOS 18 or later.
PocketTone
This app recreates the experience of a hand-drawn, retro pocket synthesizer. It features a vintage LCD display, slide switches, and chunky buttons, allowing users to play various retro voices, program custom sounds, and jam along to built-in rhythms. Users can also record and share their musical creations.
- Five retro voices (Piano, Flute, Violin, Fantasy, Guitar)
- Program custom synth voices
- Ten built-in rhythms
- Sound shaping controls (octave, volume, balance)
- Tape-style Delay and lo-fi Crush effects
- Record and share audio
- Melody memory (Auto-Play, One-Key play)
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PocketTone is a hand-drawn, retro pocket synthesizer you can play anywhere. Tap the keys and a tiny lo-fi synth comes to life — complete with a green LCD, slide switches and chunky buttons, all lovingly hand-drawn. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Play five retro voices — Piano, Flute, Violin, Fantasy and Guitar. • Program your own voice the way the original did it — an eight-digit code typed on the calculator keys: waveform, envelope, vibrato, tremolo. • Jam over ten built-in rhythms — March, Rock, Bossa, Samba and more. • Shape the sound with octave, volume and a melody/rhythm balance. • Add tape-style Delay and lo-fi Crush effects. • Record what you play and share the audio with anyone. • Use the melody memory — Auto-Play, One-Key play and a built-in demo tune. • Flip to calculator mode… then play the keypad as a melody. The classic pocket-toy party trick, faithfully recreated. POCKETTONE PRO A single one-time purchase unlocks everything: all voices, all rhythms, recording & sharing, the melody memory, and the effects. No subscription — yours forever. Made as a love letter to the pocket musical toys of the 80s.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: M2DX at 4.0 against PocketTone's 2.0. M2DX also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (25% vs 0%). 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
Both are free to download. M2DX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PocketTone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
M2DX holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of M2DX's written reviews are positive against 0% of PocketTone's.
M2DX ships an update every 2 days, PocketTone every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | M2DX | PocketTone |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hakaru Hirose | Chih Han Lin |
Customer experience
M2DX
PocketTone
In-app purchases
M2DX
- M2DX Pro Unlock$9.99
PocketTone
- PocketTone Pro$3.99









