Comparison

i vs Miniscope

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

Head to head
About

i

Transform your smartphone into a powerful magnification tool. Observe and record microscopic details with your phone's camera and a macro lens. Measure objects with a scale bar and add notes to your digital micrographs.

Highlights
  • Professional magnification tool
  • Record digital micrographs
  • Optical magnification
  • Up to 10x digital zoom
  • Scale bar for measurement
  • Add notes and remarks
  • Direct photo sharing
Features
Read full description

Use this app to work with smartphone microscopes or any phone macro-lens as an professional magnification tool to observe tiny objects and record digital micrographs with your Phone. Features: Capture of photos with tiny objects as you do with sophisticated optical microscope Optical magnification ratio depending on your smartphone microscope Up to 10x digital magnification in App Scale bar for objects measurement which can be toggled on/off Automatic recording of shooting date and time Allow you to add notes and remarks to your picture Direct sharing of photos with email, message. Attach smartphone microscope to your Phone and convert it into a convenient portable microscope. Capture and save micrographs. Zoom in on photos and tag pictures with comments. Access your photos from your i-Seeing app, email them to your computer and colleagues. More detail at: www.mobile-scope.com

About

Miniscope

Features
Read full description

This application is only applicable to devices with Type-C ports. Miniscope is the official companion app for the Centauri Optics Miniscope microscope. View live microscopic images, zoom in on details, and capture high‑quality photos or videos directly to your device. Full Description Miniscope app by Centauri Optics Miniscope app is the dedicated viewing app for the Centauri Optics Miniscope series of microscopes, transforming your iPad into a high‑resolution digital microscope interface. Connect your Miniscope via USB‑C and start exploring the microscopic world instantly, no complicated setup required. Key Features: Live Video Feed – View real‑time images from your Miniscope with smooth, high‑resolution streaming. Zoom Function – Pinch to zoom or use on‑screen controls to examine fine details in your samples. Image and Video Capture – Take high‑quality still images or record full‑motion videos directly from the live feed. Time‑Lapse Recording – Document slow processes like crystal formation, microorganism movement, or plant cell changes. Simple Storage and Sharing – Save files directly to your device for easy access in reports, presentations, or archives. Plug‑and‑Play Simplicity – Just connect via USB‑C to start observing immediately. Ideal For: Classroom demonstrations and hands‑on STEM learning Student projects and science experiments Hobbyists exploring plant, water, or material samples Fieldwork and mobile microscopy setups The Miniscope app makes digital microscopy simple, portable, and precise, giving you a clear window into the hidden world.

Screenshots

i3 screens
Miniscope3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Miniscope at every 2 months against i's every 14 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

i ships an update every 14 months, Miniscope every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
i versus Miniscope: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMiniscope
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (35 ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB20 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperShanghai Qingying Electronic Technology LLCCentauri Optics Limited

In-app purchases

None

i

No in-app purchases

None

Miniscope

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is i free?
i is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Miniscope free?
Miniscope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do i or Miniscope have ads?
Neither i nor Miniscope shows ads.
Which is updated more often, i or Miniscope?
i ships an update every 14 months, and Miniscope every 2 months. Most recently, i was updated on September 18, 2026 and Miniscope on September 17, 2026.

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