Comparison

Optics Simulator vs Sapling Isle

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

Head to head
About

Optics Simulator

Features
Read full description

Optics Simulator turns the equations of clinical optics into live, interactive ray diagrams. Move an object, slide a lens along the optical axis, change diopters, rotate a prism — and watch the geometry, focal points, image position, and magnification update in real time. Each simulator displays its governing equation in textbook serif math, with the current numerical values substituted alongside, so you can connect the picture to the formula. A built-in practice section quizzes the underlying concepts with parameterised diagrams (the answer is hidden in the stem and revealed once you check your work). INCLUDED SIMULATORS • Snell's Law and Total Internal Reflection — refraction at an interface • Vergence and Thin Lenses — draggable object and lens, full three-ray construction • Schematic Eye — cornea + crystalline lens + axial length; lens shape changes with power • Refractive Errors — myopia and hyperopia with a spectacle at adjustable vertex distance • Lens Effectivity — see how moving a lens toward the eye changes effective power • Astigmatism — the Conoid of Sturm with a cross-section explorer • Telescopes — Galilean and Keplerian, both lenses are draggable • Simple Magnifier — at, inside, or beyond the focal length • Mirrors — concave, convex and plano, with C and F marked • Prisms — clinical prism diopters and geometric minimum-deviation REFERENCE • A formula sheet with every equation the app uses, typeset in serif math • Built-in practice problems organised by section DESIGN • Black-and-white interface so the colored rays remain the most prominent thing on screen • Adaptive layout: simulator stays visible alongside the controls in landscape • No accounts, no ads, no tracking, no internet connection required For health-profession students, ophthalmology residents, optometry students, and anyone who would rather see optics work than memorise formulas.

About

Sapling Isle

Features
Read full description

Sapling Isle is a multilingual interactive science lab that connects observable phenomena with advanced scientific concepts on iPhone and iPad. Change variables directly, observe how a system responds, read graphs and measurements, then explore the equations, assumptions, and limits behind the model. Explore nature and the universe • Control a 3D Solar System and observe planetary motion and astronomical time • Follow curved light, an accretion disk, and Einstein rings around a black hole Enter a hands-on physics lab • Explore forces, motion, heat, energy, magnetic fields, light, and atoms • Compare heating, compression, and diffusion in a 3D microscopic world • Investigate orbits, waves, entropy, Boltzmann distributions, quantum tunneling, and double-slit patterns Explore at your own depth • Start with direct manipulation and visual feedback • Continue with multivariable comparisons, measurements, and graphs • Go deeper into equations, approximations, and model boundaries • Choose from 10 interface languages • Adaptive layouts for both iPhone and iPad • No account, advertising, or cross-app tracking • Progress, camera frames, and experiment data are handled primarily on device Pick an island, begin with a phenomenon, and follow the evidence toward deeper models.

Screenshots

Optics Simulator3 screens
Sapling Isle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sapling Isle at Free against Optics Simulator's $1.99. Sapling Isle also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.4). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Sapling Isle is free to download; Optics Simulator costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Optics Simulator versus Sapling Isle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOptics SimulatorSapling Isle
Price$1.99Free — better
Update frequency—Fortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.418.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMy Call Bag LLC大鹏 张

In-app purchases

None

Optics Simulator

No in-app purchases

None

Sapling Isle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Optics Simulator free?
Optics Simulator costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sapling Isle free?
Sapling Isle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Optics Simulator or Sapling Isle have ads?
Neither Optics Simulator nor Sapling Isle shows ads.

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