KORG Gadget 3 vs Mini Synthesizer for iPhone
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
KORG Gadget 3
Create music with a comprehensive suite of over 40 virtual instruments and effects. This powerful yet intuitive ecosystem allows you to quickly turn your musical ideas into finished tracks, offering a vast sound library and flexible workflow for various genres.
- Over 40 virtual instruments and drum machines
- New Santa Ana (Guitar) and Sydney (Sampler) gadgets
- 5 new insert effects (IFX)
- Intuitive user interface and workflow
- Genre select system for songwriting
- AUv3 support for iOS integration
- Extensive sound library with 6,000+ programs
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More Powerful Than Ever, Quickly Turn Your Ideas Into Music KORG Gadget 3 - A Complete, Seamlessly Integrated Music Production Ecosystem KORG Gadget has received numerous awards from around the world: • Apple: "App Store Best of 2014" in Japan • #1 in the Top Paid Music iPad App category* • TECH AWARD 2015 "Best Music Production App" • MusicTech's "Gear of the Year: Best App" Gold Award • “Musikmesse international press award 2016” Mobile Music App * USA, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and much more! KORG Gadget is the ideal all-in-one music production software and plug-in suite featuring over 40* small synthesizers/drum machines (“gadgets”), which can be freely combined to create music driven by a powerful yet intuitive user interface. The range of products includes the award-winning iOS version, a Mac version that includes all functions and plug-ins, and a plug-in version that can be used with your favorite DAW on Mac/PC. Now in its third generation, more powerful than ever, the workflow is now more intuitive and easier to use than ever before and there are plenty of new features and new gadgets. KORG Gadget 3 offers an expanded variety of even more features to quickly turn your ideas into music, including two new gadgets, five insert effects (IFX), a new genre select system, and AUv3 support. In addition, the user interface has been brushed up to make the Gadget Browser, IFX page, and Play page even more intuitive. KORG Gadget 3 is the perfect tool to quickly turn your ideas into music. What's New in KORG Gadget 3 • Gadget Instrument Collection with a total over 6,000 sound programs • New gadgets: Santa Ana* (Guitar) and Sydney* (Sampler) • Improved user interface, making the workflow more intuitive than ever • A genre select function that allows you to create songs from your favorite patterns • 5 new IFX including an 8-Band EQ, Transient Shaper, Stereo Image, Auto Pumper, Pitch Shifter • The Play page: easy arpeggiator use and chord entry • A whole new sound browser that lets you select gadgets by the timbre you want • AUv3 support on iOS, allowing gadgets to be used in other music apps like Garageband, Logic Pro • A huge collection of over 40* gadget instruments Overwhelming sound. Immersive, intuitive and powerful user interface. Unprecedented and innovative quality. KORG Gadget 3 is a collection of over 40* gadget instruments, including compact synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and audio and MIDI utilities. It has sophisticated parameters that make it easy for you to get to the sound they want, so you can create your own sounds instantly. The new Sound Browser allows you to get to your favorite sounds in the quickest time possible. It is perfectly suited for dance music as well as rock, pop, jazz, and other music sounds and genres. • Get your songwriting ideas with Genre Select The new "Genre Select" feature allows you to select your favorite genre and sound, and then start songwriting by freely combining patterns. 5 x 5 pads are all assigned with phrases created by gadgets, so you can start songwriting by freely combining your favorite patterns. You can start creating a song from a project in which each track's gadgets and scenes have been developed. Choose from the standard genre packs and enjoy a different approach to music production. • Tons of sounds readily available with the New Browser To make it easier than ever to find the desired gadget instrument, we have revised the Gadget Browser and added various functions. New features include displaying gadgets by instrument category, a Favourites function that allows you to group your favorite gadgets, and a search function that allows you to freely search for sounds in each gadget. Using the program search function, it is now possible to quickly and easily preview and search for the sound you wanted from a vast array of sounds. * Some gadgets are available as in-app purchases (IAP) or by purchasing other KORG apps. More info at korg.com
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone
This app digitally recreates a classic analog synthesizer, offering vintage sound effects and modern updates. It features intuitive controls for pitch, filters, and delay, allowing for extensive sound customization. Ideal for musicians and enthusiasts seeking authentic analog tones.
- Faithful digital re-creation of a cult-classic analog synthesizer
- Vintage synth sounds with modern updates
- Intuitive controls with 12 sliders and 9 switches
- Extensive sound shaping for pitch, filters, and delay
- 25 presets and unlimited user preset storage
- Audiobus capabilities
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Electro-Harmonix, a pioneer since 1968 in the field of sound effects pedals for musicians, has produced an app which is a faithful digital re-creation of their circa 1980 analog cult-classic, The MINI-SYNTHESIZER. Available for iPad and iPhone (IOS version 15.0 or later), the EHX MINI-SYNTHESIZER accurately delivers all the vintage synth sounds of the original plus modern updates. EHX President and Founder, Mike Matthews stated: “Fans of vintage synths will appreciate the apps ability to recreate the original’s warm analog sounds and deep funky bass, but because it’s so affordable ($2.99 for phone, $4.99 for tablet) and user-friendly, parents, educators and non-musicians will love it, too.” The MINI-SYNTHESIZER app comes with 25 presets and the ability to store an almost unlimited number of user presets programs. Audiobus capabilities are also included. Intuitive, flexible and powerful control are provided by the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s 12 sliders and nine switches. Here’s a breakdown of the user interface: OSC Section - PITCH slider lets the player raise or lower the pitch of the note by +/- 1 octave - SUB-OCTAVE slider introduces a note one octave below what’s being played for extra bottom - OCTAVE UP switch causes the note being played to jump up one octave. - TUNE knob lets the player tune the MINI-SYNTHESIZER to other instruments and sound sources over a +/- 50 cents range. FILTERS Section - PHASE RATE slider adjusts the speed of the phase shifter - FILTER START sets the start frequency of the filter sweep - FILTER STOP sets the stop frequency of the filter sweep - SWEEP RATE controls the speed of the filter sweep - PHASE switch turns the effect on/off - 2X FILTER switch changes how the audio passes through the filters (either in parallel or in series) - Q switch sets the amount of resonance on the filter sweep - RETRIGGER switch turns the filter retrigger on/off DELAY Section - TIME slider adjusts the delay time up to two seconds - FEEDBACK controls the number of echo repeats - BLEND adjusts the mix of the original signal and the echo repeats - DELAY switch turns the effect on/off - TIME label can be tapped for tap tempo REVERB Section - AMOUNT slider adjusts the reverb effect level - BLEND slider controls the mix of the wet and dry signals - REVERB switch turns reverb on/off - REVERB>DELAY switch lets the user place either Delay or Reverb first in the effects chain for a variety of cool sound effects. MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS - VOL (Volume) slider adjusts the MINI-SYNTHESIZER’s overall sound output level - POLY/MONO switch toggles between polyphonic (four notes can be played simultaneously) or monophonic (only one note can be played at a time) modes - PRESETS pop-down menu displays the presets available and allows the user to instantly select one - HORIZONTAL slider lets the player adjust the keyboards sounding range over an expansive eight-octave range. - RIBBON Interface lets the player perform portamento (glide up or down to pitch), vibrato and other expressive playing. The easy-to-use Electro-Harmonix MINI-SYNTHESIZER App is loaded with great sounds and features and is sure to appeal to serious musicians and non-musicians alike. LIMITATIONS - InterApp Audio experiences periodic crashes and graphics issues. - The MINI SYNTH runs at 48 kHz sample rate; using the MINI SYNTH in an environment with 44.1 kHz sample rate (such as Garageband for iOS) may cause aliasing. - Presets saved in the standalone app cannot be accessed when using the MINI SYNTH as an AudioUnit, and vice versa. DOWNLOADING iPHONE VERSION ON iPAD - The iPhone version is not meant to perform optimally on the iPad. Be aware that if you download the iPhone version on the iPad you are more prone to glitches and crashes than having the iPad version on the iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mini Synthesizer for iPhone at $2.99 against KORG Gadget 3's $39.99. Mini Synthesizer for iPhone also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11). KORG Gadget 3's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (76% vs 36%). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
KORG Gadget 3 costs $39.99 and Mini Synthesizer for iPhone $2.99 up front. KORG Gadget 3 sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Mini Synthesizer for iPhone asks for nothing beyond the download.
KORG Gadget 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KORG Gadget 3 has 2.9K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of KORG Gadget 3's written reviews are positive against 36% of Mini Synthesizer for iPhone's.
KORG Gadget 3 ships an update monthly, Mini Synthesizer for iPhone every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | KORG Gadget 3 | Mini Synthesizer for iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better | 2.6 (18 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.8% of reviews — better | 35.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 18 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #125 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.9 GB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | KORG INC. | Electro-Harmonix |
Customer experience
KORG Gadget 3
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone
Bugs and requests
KORG Gadget 3
Reported bugs
4 issues- Playback issues with latest update
- Imported samples limited to 5 seconds
- Bilbao sampler crashes when importing WAV files
- Gadget instruments not showing up in AUv3 lists
Requested features
8 requests- Add more acoustic drum and bass sounds
- Implement MIDI out functionality
- Allow customizable scales and tunings
- Add a proper sampler with more advanced features
- Improve copy/paste and track management capabilities
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- Implement a linear song mode for non-grid-based compositions
- Add more effects like halftime, sample degrader, etc.
- Allow using AUv3 effects within Gadget
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
KORG Gadget 3
- Bilbao$9.99
- Abu Dhabi$9.99
- Madrid$14.99
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- Gladstone$14.99
- Kamata$14.99
- Lisbon$14.99
- Vancouver$14.99
- Stockholm$14.99
- Otorii$14.99
- Santa Ana$14.99
- Ebina$14.99
Mini Synthesizer for iPhone
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is KORG Gadget 3 free?
Is Mini Synthesizer for iPhone free?
Which has better reviews, KORG Gadget 3 or Mini Synthesizer for iPhone?
Do KORG Gadget 3 or Mini Synthesizer for iPhone have ads?
Which is updated more often, KORG Gadget 3 or Mini Synthesizer for iPhone?
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