Comparison

Photometrics vs Blackout Next (Legacy)

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

Head to head
About

Photometrics

Access photometric data for ARRI light fixtures, including discontinued models and electronics ballasts. Features include illuminance, beam angle, luminous distribution graphs, and light properties. Tools for comparison, DMX calculations, and product catalogs are also available.

Highlights
  • Photometric data (illuminance, beam angle)
  • Luminous distribution graphs
  • Light properties (CRI, TM30, TLCI)
  • Metric and Imperial units
  • Camera exposure information
  • Project creation and preset saving
  • Lamphead comparison tool
Features
Read full description

The ARRI Photometric App gives you the ability to quickly reference the photometric characteristics of all of the ARRI light fixtures. It includes data for discontinued lampheads and our portfolio of Electronics Ballasts (EB). In the Tool section you find more useful resources. Data - Photometrics incl illuminance and beam angle and diameter - Luminous Distribution Graph - Light Properties like technical specification and color metrics (CRI, TM30, TLCI) - Metric and Imperial Units - Camera Exposure and Aperture Information - Create projects and save preset fixtures - Bulb Selection Tools - Compare Lampheads - DMX Implementation Tables - DMX Conversion Calculator - CCL Calculator - Product Catalogue

About

Blackout Next (Legacy)

This professional lighting console app offers an intuitive interface for controlling DMX, Art-Net, and sACN lighting systems. It features a vast cloud fixture database, custom fixture creation, and a robust multi-cuelist platform for organizing lighting looks.

Highlights
  • Cloud Fixture Database
  • Custom Fixture Creation
  • Intuitive Fixture Controls
  • Multi-Cuelist Platform
  • Dynamic Effects Engine
  • MIDI Support
Read full description

Blackout is a revolutionary professional Art-Net/sACN DMX Lighting Console app for the iPad. Redefine your lighting with our incredibly intuitive interface and powerful effects engine. Features: - Cloud Fixture Database: Access over 44,000 fixture profiles licensed from Carallon, the leader in fixture profile services. - Create Custom Fixtures: Utilize our Fixture Creation Wizard to design your own profiles, perfectly matching your specific lighting needs. - Fixture Patching Made Simple: Effortlessly categorize and label LED fixtures with a streamlined Patch interface, ideal for batch management. - Intuitive Fixture Controls: Adjust parameters with ease in Fixture Controls and experience our NEW multi-dimensional color picker. - Robust Multi-Cuelist Platform: Organize and save lighting looks within Sequences, complete with customizable fade times, delays, and links. - Presets for Quick Access: Save and recall fixture parameters instantly, streamlining batch changes across multiple fixtures through our Favorites. - Dynamic Effects Engine: Explore limitless creative possibilities with our advanced Effects Engine, featuring intensity chases, color loops, and more. - Macro Functionality: Simplify complex lighting tasks into single-button actions for maximum efficiency. - Enhanced Data Visibility: Experience our reworked UI with new view states for displaying data in various formats, aiding quicker analysis and decision-making. - Advanced MIDI Support (Input & Output): Gain tactile control over your lighting with MIDI compatibility, suitable for both wired and wireless controllers.

Screenshots

Photometrics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Blackout Next (Legacy) at 5.0 against Photometrics's 4.3. Blackout Next (Legacy) also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). Photometrics's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. Blackout Next (Legacy) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Photometrics asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Blackout Next (Legacy) holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 21 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Photometrics's written reviews are positive against 100% of Blackout Next (Legacy)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photometrics ships an update every 5 months, Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Photometrics versus Blackout Next (Legacy): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhotometricsBlackout Next (Legacy)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (7 ratings)5.0 (21 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings721 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB359 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperARRI GroupBlackout Lighting Console Inc.

Customer experience

Photometrics

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Blackout Next (Legacy)

All ratings21 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Photometrics

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Blackout Next (Legacy)

One-time1
  • Basic Plan$799.99

Questions

Is Photometrics free?
Photometrics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Blackout Next (Legacy) free?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photometrics or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Blackout Next (Legacy) is rated higher. Photometrics averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Blackout Next (Legacy) averages 5.0 from 21 ratings.
Do Photometrics or Blackout Next (Legacy) have ads?
Neither Photometrics nor Blackout Next (Legacy) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photometrics or Blackout Next (Legacy)?
Photometrics ships an update every 5 months, and Blackout Next (Legacy) fortnightly. Most recently, Photometrics was updated on November 6, 2026 and Blackout Next (Legacy) on November 4, 2026.

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