Comparison

Quick mental calculation vs ZX81

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

Head to head
About

Quick mental calculation

Features
Read full description

Game to enter within a certain period of time the answer of mental arithmetic calculations will appear on the exam. Many times in a row you can do correct? It is a challenge to the rankings!

About

ZX81

Experience early 1980s home computing with this app dedicated to the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81. It includes a wealth of example software, offering a nostalgic journey into the origins of personal computing.

Highlights
  • Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
  • Timex Sinclair 1000 support
  • Includes example software
  • Focuses on early 1980s computing
  • ROM code included with permission
Features
Read full description

Welcome to a taste of early 1980s home computing. This app focuses on the Sinclair ZX81 experience and is loaded with example software. A streamlined watchOS app is included, offering saved session syncing with the iOS app on the paired iPhone. Background: In 1980 the British company Science of Cambridge (later renamed Sinclair Research) released the Sinclair ZX80 home computer. The computer was developed with another technology company, Nine Tiles, and manufactured in a Timex Corporation factory in Dundee, Scotland. Followed in March 1981 by the even more popular successor, the Sinclair ZX81, both models had a profound impact on home and hobbyist computing in the UK and many other countries. Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research continued their joint venture and released the Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) and 1500 (TS1500) variants of the ZX81 for the US market in July 1982 and July 1983 respectively. Meanwhile, another iconic British home computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, was under development and hit the market in April 1982... but that's another story. Special thanks to Nine Tiles for granting permission to include the ROM code, to which they retain the intellectual property rights after all these years. Additionally, many thanks to all the developers of the loaded ZX81 software who have all granted permission to include their titles in the app. We hope this list of software will continue to grow in future updates.

Screenshots

Quick mental calculation4 screens
ZX814 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: ZX81 at none against Quick mental calculation's shown. ZX81 also leads on device support (4 vs 2). Quick mental calculation's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Quick mental calculation ships an update every 11 days, ZX81 every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Quick mental calculation versus ZX81: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQuick mental calculationZX81
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (92 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—98.4% of reviews
Number of ratings—92 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB86 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperERXKevin Palser

In-app purchases

None

Quick mental calculation

No in-app purchases

None

ZX81

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Quick mental calculation free?
Quick mental calculation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZX81 free?
ZX81 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Quick mental calculation or ZX81 have ads?
Quick mental calculation shows ads; ZX81 does not.
Which is updated more often, Quick mental calculation or ZX81?
Quick mental calculation ships an update every 11 days, and ZX81 every 10 days. Most recently, Quick mental calculation was updated on October 14, 2026 and ZX81 on October 13, 2026.

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