Comparison

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) vs True Note

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

Head to head
About

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter)

Measure rotational speeds of objects using your phone's flashlight, laser, or magnetic sensor. Detect precise RPMs with adjustable flicker frequencies and a wide measurement range. Ideal for analyzing fan speeds, engine RPMs, and more.

Highlights
  • Strobe tachometer function
  • Laser tachometer mode
  • Magnetic tachometer mode
  • Adjustable flicker frequency
  • RPM and Hz display
  • High precision measurement
Read full description

STROBE TACHOMETER When the flicker frequency of light coincides with the speed of any object, such as a fan, the rotating fan may appear to be stationary. Changing the frequency of the flicker of light may help detect the rotation speed. You may easily use the flicker frequency control buttons to quickly assign the flicker frequency with an accuracy of 0.0001 Hz (0.01 RPM): • Up to 1000 Hz (60 000 RPM) for a connected flashlight (see the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iq6Xiums05o). • Up to 100 Hz (6000 RPM) for the iPhone flashlight. IF THE SPEED IS MORE THAN UPPER LIMIT, YOU MAY STILL DETERMINE THE SPEED BY FIRST MAKING MEASUREMENTS WITH A LOWER FLICKER FREQUENCY AND THEN MAKING A SIMPLE CALCULATION (AS EXPLAINED IN THE APPENDIX). To change the frequency, you should simply press and hold the button. In the app settings, you can adjust the speed at which the flash rate changes when you press and hold the button. The flicker frequency can be displayed either in Hz or RPM. The image you see will be sharper in lower external light. After a long period of usage, in case of overheating, the iPhone flashlight turns off automatically. LASER TACHOMETER • Measurement range from 0.3 Hz (18 RPM) to 1000 Hz (60 000 RPM). • Step 0.01-0.0001 Hz (1-0.01 RPM). • Update time 1 sec. • 5 mW laser power required. MAGNETIC TACHOMETER This tachometer operates by measuring the magnetic field from a spinning magnet. The magnetic field is measured by the iPhone's magnetometer. The magnetic tachometer is best suited for measuring low rotation speeds (from 6 revolutions per minute). It can also be used for measuring medium rotation speeds (up to 2,700 RPM), but at such speeds there is a risk of spontaneous tearing away of the magnet and strong vibration due to center-of-gravity shift. • Measurement range from 0.1 Hz (6 RPM) to 45 Hz (2,700 RPM). • Step 0.2-2 %. • Update time 2-5 sec.

About

True Note

Check your record player's speed accuracy using your phone's LED light and a printable strobe disc. Ensure your turntable is playing at the correct RPM for optimal audio quality. Useful for calibration and pre-purchase checks.

Highlights
  • Turntable speed testing
  • Strobe disc calibration
  • Adjustable speed check
  • Portable for on-the-go use
  • Accurate RPM verification
Features
Read full description

Use True Note to test a record player to see if it's playing at the correct speed. Here's how: 1. Download the True Note app and open it 2. Print and cut out the included turntable strobe disc 3. Place the strobe disc on your record player and start it at the 33 1/3 RPM speed 4. Tap "START" in the True Note app and shine the flashing LED light from your iOS device onto the strobe disc If your record player is playing at the correct speed, you should be able to make out the individual lines on the strobe disc - and they should appear to remain in the same position (not drifting in one direction). Many record players have an adjustable speed and can be calibrated with the help of True Note. Perhaps you're shopping for a used record player? The True Note strobe disc is small enough that you can fold it in half to keep in your wallet or iPhone case - ready to use when you're at a thrift store or garage sale and want to make sure the turntable you're considering buying works properly.

Screenshots

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter)4 screens
True Note2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) at 4.3 against True Note's 3.6. Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (83 vs 16). True Note's advantage is iOS requirement (10.2 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and True Note sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) has 83 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 69% and 68% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) ships an update every 4 months, True Note every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) versus True Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrobe tachometer (RPM meter)True Note
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (83 ratings) — better3.6 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews — better68.4% of reviews
Number of ratings83 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.610.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDmitriy KharutskiyJames Rhoades

Customer experience

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter)

All ratings83 ratings
Positive83.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews100 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral6.0%
Negative25.0%

True Note

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative31.3%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral15.8%
Negative15.8%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter)

One-time2
  • Full version of the stroboscopic tachometer$2.99
  • Laser Tachometer and Magnetic$2.99
4 purchases

True Note

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Huge Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) free?
Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is True Note free?
True Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) or True Note?
Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) is rated higher. Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) averages 4.3 out of 5 from 83 ratings, while True Note averages 3.6 from 16 ratings.
Do Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) or True Note have ads?
Neither Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) nor True Note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) or True Note?
Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) ships an update every 4 months, and True Note every 10 months. Most recently, Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) was updated on September 9, 2026 and True Note on September 23, 2026.

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