Retrospecs vs Pixel Camera!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retrospecs
Transform your photos and videos into retro pixel art. Emulate the look of classic computers and consoles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Customize your output with various graphics engines, color palettes, and fonts.
- Pixelate images and video clips
- Emulate 40+ classic computer/console systems
- Create custom graphics modes
- Variety of color palettes and fonts
- Supports Commodore 64, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, and more
Read full descriptionHide full description
A retro computing / pixel art camera app. Retrospecs lets you convert images and video clips so they appear as they would on a wide variety of home computers and consoles from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Simply take a picture (or select one from your photo library) and you can display it as it would appear on over forty systems including the Commodore 64, IBM PC (DOS, CGA, EGA and VGA), Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, Sega Mega Drive, Nintendo Game Boy and even the original 1984 model Apple Macintosh. If that's not enough you can also create your own custom modes based around four different graphics engines and a wide variety of color palettes and character fonts. (The free version only contains a limited number of systems/dither modes and the custom editors, video clip processing and animation options aren't available.) All trademarks are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners.
Pixel Camera!
Easily create unique pixelated-style photos with a few taps. Select from professionally designed filters like sketch, cartoon, and dots to transform ordinary scenes into stunning pixel art. Share your creations instantly on social media or via email.
- Single tap pixelated photo effects
- Professionally designed camera filters
- 8 unique effects including Pixellate, Sketch, Cartoon, Dots
- Share photos to social media
- Save photos to device library
- Print photos
Read full descriptionHide full description
*** Enjoy taking AMAZING pixel photos!*** Don't you post a unique photos to your blogs or SNS? You can easily take a pixelated-style photo in just a few taps! Only you have to do is selecting a filter and take a shoot. If you take a photo of your ordinary familiar scenery, it becomes the stunning pixel image. The app also include other unique filters such as cartoon, Sketch, Dots, Emboss etc. Of course, you can share photos on Facebook, Twitter or other SNS. And also you can send photos to your friends by email. How to use: Step1. Select a filter Step2. Take a shot Step3. Save or share! Features: -> Easy-to-use single tap effects -> Professionally designed camera filters -> 8 amazing effects/filters: Pixellate, Sketch, Cartoon, Dots, Halftone, Crosshatch, Swirl and Emboss -> Share photos to Twitter, Facebook or other SNS -> Save photos to Photo Library -> Print photos
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Retrospecs at 94% against Pixel Camera!'s 0%. Retrospecs also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 54 months). Pixel Camera!'s advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Retrospecs sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Pixel Camera! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Retrospecs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrospecs has 364 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Retrospecs's written reviews are positive against 0% of Pixel Camera!'s.
Retrospecs ships an update every 2 months, Pixel Camera! every 54 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retrospecs | Pixel Camera! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (364 ratings) — better | 2.5 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 94.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 364 — better | 28 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 54 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | John Parker | Quantis,Inc. |
Customer experience
Retrospecs
Pixel Camera!
Bugs and requests
Retrospecs
Reported bugs
3 issues- Animation option not working properly
- Video import and saving issues
- Occasional image loading failures
Requested features
5 requests- Add more retro systems (e.g. NES, TI-99/4A)
- Improve video encoding capabilities
- Allow adjusting dithering levels
- Add support for transparent PNGs
- Implement batch processing and export options
Pixel Camera!
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Retrospecs
- Small tip$0.99
- Medium tip$1.99
- Unlock everything$1.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Big tip$4.99
- The king of tips$9.99
Pixel Camera!
- Remove Ads$5.99
