Sakura! vs GBDev
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sakura!
This app allows you to play your favorite PlayStation One games on your iPhone or iPad. It offers extensive customization for controls, graphics, and performance, providing a console-like experience.
- PlayStation One emulation on iOS
- Customizable on-screen controls
- Physical gamepad support
- Extensive graphics and performance tuning
- Support for various game disc formats
- Recursive folder scanning for games
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Sakura is a PlayStation One & PSP emulator frontend built on top of the Beetle PSX and PPSSPP cores for iPhone and iPad. Add your own system BIOS and disc backups & customize your library then play with on-screen controls or a physical gamepad/controller for a console-like experience! • Add your own PS1 BIOS (.bin) file(s) and choose a default in Settings; PSP games boot without one. • Add games under the app’s Documents folder in Files, or use in-app import. Sakura scans folders recursively, including multi-disc setups and M3U playlists. • Supported formats CUE/BIN, CHD, PBP, M3U, ISO/IMG, MDS/MDF, NRG, CDI, ECM, CSO/ZSO • One library for both systems, with a system switch in the library bar that picks which settings you get and which system Boot System starts. CONTROLS • Full touch overlay with layout editor: move, scale, and theme controls to fit your hands. • Digital and DualShock-style modes, with optional per-game auto-switching. • MFi and Bluetooth gamepads with remappable buttons; haptics and rumble where supported. • Analog deadzone, axis scale, and gate compensation on both systems. GRAPHICS & PERFORMANCE • Internal resolution scaling, fit vs fill framing, and multiple texture filtering paths from crisp pixel modes through sharpened upscalers. • FXAA, CAS, optional PGXP-style geometry options, widescreen-related tweaks, color and dither controls, and frame blending where you want a softer or more authentic look. • Libretro Shaders: load your own slang presets, pick a built-in CRT or TV preset, or pull the shared pack from inside the app. • Fast Boot and host-side run speed for slow-mo or fast-forward-style pacing alongside core tuning for CPU, GPU, and disc access. QUALITY OF LIFE • In-game menu for graphics, performance HUD, save slots (when enabled in Settings), controller remapping, and stopping a session. • Optional performance overlay, notification cards, and extensive UI customization: accents, backgrounds, typography, accessibility options, and optional background music including your own tracks. LEGAL Sakura does not include games, a PlayStation or PSP BIOS, firmware, or other copyrighted material you don’t have rights to use. You are responsible for complying with the laws that apply to you. “PlayStation”, “PSP” and related names are trademarks of Sony; this app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sakura! at 90% against GBDev's 13%. Sakura! also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3). GBDev's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On ratings volume, 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
GBDev is free to download; Sakura! costs $0.99 up front. Sakura! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and GBDev sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sakura! holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Sakura!'s written reviews are positive against 13% of GBDev's.
Sakura! ships an update every 2 months, GBDev every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sakura! | GBDev |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (10 ratings) — better | 3.3 (18 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better | 12.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 84 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dylan Mathurin | Winter Bagley |
Customer experience
Sakura!
GBDev
In-app purchases
Sakura!
- Tip 1$$0.99
GBDev
- GBDev Pro$2.99








