Comparison

XBOX vs AR

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

Head to head
About

XBOX

Stay connected to friends, games, and gaming devices on the go. Buy games, explore Game Pass, and manage your gaming world from your phone or tablet. Chat with friends, share clips, and track rewards.

Highlights
  • Connect with friends via voice and text chat
  • Explore and manage Game Pass
  • Buy games directly within the app
  • Remotely install games on your console
  • Share game clips and screenshots
  • Track and redeem Xbox Rewards
  • Receive game invite and achievement notifications
Features
Read full description

XBOX keeps you connected to the fun with your friends, games, and supported gaming devices from your phone or tablet while on the go. Buy games you want without leaving the app. Explore Game Pass, queue games to play, set alerts for new games, and more. Keep up with friends and parties with voice and text chat, even if they're on console or PC. Share your wishlist, game clips, and screenshots from your console to favorite gaming & social networks. See game invite notifications and achievements from you and your friends, messages, and more. Track, claim, and redeem your Rewards points. Stay connected to your world of gaming with the XBOX mobile app. - XBOX keeps you connected to the fun with your friends, games, and supported gaming devices from your phone or tablet while on the go. - Share game clips and screenshots from your console to favorite gaming & social networks. - Friends and parties follow you with voice and text chat, even if they're on console or PC. - Install games remotely on your console from your phone. - See game invite notifications, achievements from you and your friends, messages, and more. - Explore Game Pass and get customized recommendations, notifications about new games, queue games to play, and more. - Buy games you want without leaving the app. - Track, claim, and redeem your Rewards points. - The XBOX mobile app is the best way to stay connected to your world of gaming. XBOX APP AGREEMENT The following terms supplement any software license terms that accompany the XBOX App. Please refer to Microsoft's EULA for Terms of Service for Microsoft's gaming applications on iOS. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions: https://support.xbox.com/help/subscriptions-billing/manage-subscriptions/microsoft-software-license-terms-mobile-gaming FEEDBACK If you give feedback about the XBOX App to Microsoft, you give to Microsoft, without charge, the right to use, share and commercialize your feedback in any way and for any purpose. You also give to third parties, without charge, any patent rights needed for their products, technologies and services to use or interface with any specific parts of a Microsoft software or service that includes the feedback. You will not give feedback that is subject to a license that requires Microsoft to license its software or documentation to third parties because we include your feedback in them. These rights survive this agreement.

About

AR

Engage in augmented reality archery battles by connecting a physical AR-Bow accessory. Aim and shoot virtual arrows at on-screen targets and enemies. Enjoy continuous updates with new features and games.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality gameplay
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Virtual archery combat
  • Regular updates
  • Suitable for all ages
Features
Read full description

Experience augmented reality like never before with the Worlds AR-Bow! Connect your AR-Bow via Bluetooth, open the app, and draw the bowstring to release arrows at your enemies! Keep your app up-to-date for new improvements and new games! Fun for all ages

Screenshots

XBOX4 screens
AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: XBOX at Free against AR's $5.99. XBOX also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and ratings volume (1.8M vs 68). AR's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

XBOX is free to download; AR costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

XBOX holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XBOX has 1.8M ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of XBOX's written reviews are positive against 37% of AR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

XBOX ships an update fortnightly, AR every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
XBOX versus AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXBOXAR
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.7 (1.8M ratings) — better2.8 (68 ratings)
Positive reviews51.5% of reviews — better37.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8M — better68
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#40 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.110.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB680 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationShenzhen Geekplay technology Co., Ltd

Customer experience

XBOX

All ratings1,757,547 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews4,410 reviews
Positive51.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative40.7%

AR

All ratings68 ratings
Positive42.6%
Neutral8.8%
Negative48.5%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive37.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative51.9%

Bugs and requests

XBOX

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Captures not uploading or viewable in the app
  • Remote control input lag and inconsistent functionality
  • Messaging conversations disappearing or not loading
  • Repeated sign-in prompts and account access issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to browse and purchase games directly in the app
  • Improve notification system and message delivery
  • Restore achievement tracking and game stats viewing
  • Optimize app performance and stability

AR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

XBOX

No in-app purchases

None

AR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is XBOX free?
XBOX is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AR free?
AR costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, XBOX or AR?
XBOX is rated higher. XBOX averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8M ratings, while AR averages 2.8 from 68 ratings.
Do XBOX or AR have ads?
Neither XBOX nor AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, XBOX or AR?
XBOX ships an update fortnightly, and AR every 5 weeks. Most recently, XBOX was updated on November 13, 2026 and AR on November 2, 2026.

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