Summary - Why choose phyphox over other Apps?
phyphox - Offers the most built-in experiments at no cost and best of all, it is free. While other apps also allow students to record and export data, one of the unique features of phyphox is to allow the user remote control from another device.
Androsensor - Outputs raw sensor data. Android only. Not available on iOS.
Physics Toolbox Suite - Less built-in experiments than phyphox. Closest alternative to phyphox.
Arduino Science Journal - Requires teachers to create experiments from sensors. Paid subscription needed.
Sparkvue - Most likely requires the purchase of additional equipment and/or sensors.
Androsensor
Androsensor can display and record raw sensor data. Unlike phyphox, Androsensor does not have a prebuilt data collection mode for specific experiments. phyphox allows the user to customize experiments by utilizing a combination of sensors. In Androsensor, the only output is raw sensor data. For example, phyphox has a built-in Acoustic Stopwatch whereas Androsensor requires the user to look at the sound Intensity vs time graph and manually determine the time between two acoustic events. Androsensor is only offered on Android phones.
Physics Toolbox Suite
Physics Toolbox Suite can record data and has some pre-built experiment data collection modes. There are 31 different data collection modes in phyphox and 24 data collection modes in Physics Toolbox Suite. Most of the science-related data collection modes in Physics Toolbox Suite are also available in phyphox. The modes in Physics Toolbox Suite that are not in phyphox are less useful in a science classroom. For example, Physics Toolbox Suite has a ruler mode, a protractor mode, a battery temperature mode. phyphox data collection modes are designed specifically to be used in a science classroom.
Arduino Science Journal
Arduino Science Journal allows the user to customize experiments using the sensor data from your phone or from external Arduino sensors. While the user can create experiments by specifying the types of data to collect, there are no built-in experiment data collection modes. Furthermore, if the user creates an experiment, to share that experiment with students requires a paid subscription.
Sparkvue
Sparkvue allows the user to create experiments using internal or external sensors. Most of the experiments built in to Sparkvue requires the purchase of one or more external sensors and other pieces of equipment sold by PASCO. In contrast, phyphox offers free solutions using just the built-in sensors. It is worthy to note that PASCO does offer many experiments but at a cost.
Others
There are many other alternatives which do not offer nearly as many features as the apps listed above. An article by Monteiro & Martí (2022, p. 332) compares various apps and is summarized in the following table.
Limitations of phyphox
Phyphox's capability is limited to the available sensors of smartphones. If the user wants to collect a specific set of data that (i.e. Force, Concentration, pH, temperature), then purchasing external purpose-built sensors is the only solution. Also, some manufacturers offer out-of-the-box solutions (i.e. force cart) whereas phyphox, while free, would require some creativity to replicate a similar experiment.
phyphox - Offers the most built-in experiments at no cost and best of all, it is free. While other apps also allow students to record and export data, one of the unique features of phyphox is to allow the user remote control from another device.
Androsensor - Outputs raw sensor data. Android only. Not available on iOS.
Physics Toolbox Suite - Less built-in experiments than phyphox. Closest alternative to phyphox.
Arduino Science Journal - Requires teachers to create experiments from sensors. Paid subscription needed.
Sparkvue - Most likely requires the purchase of additional equipment and/or sensors.
Androsensor
Androsensor can display and record raw sensor data. Unlike phyphox, Androsensor does not have a prebuilt data collection mode for specific experiments. phyphox allows the user to customize experiments by utilizing a combination of sensors. In Androsensor, the only output is raw sensor data. For example, phyphox has a built-in Acoustic Stopwatch whereas Androsensor requires the user to look at the sound Intensity vs time graph and manually determine the time between two acoustic events. Androsensor is only offered on Android phones.
Physics Toolbox Suite
Physics Toolbox Suite can record data and has some pre-built experiment data collection modes. There are 31 different data collection modes in phyphox and 24 data collection modes in Physics Toolbox Suite. Most of the science-related data collection modes in Physics Toolbox Suite are also available in phyphox. The modes in Physics Toolbox Suite that are not in phyphox are less useful in a science classroom. For example, Physics Toolbox Suite has a ruler mode, a protractor mode, a battery temperature mode. phyphox data collection modes are designed specifically to be used in a science classroom.
Arduino Science Journal
Arduino Science Journal allows the user to customize experiments using the sensor data from your phone or from external Arduino sensors. While the user can create experiments by specifying the types of data to collect, there are no built-in experiment data collection modes. Furthermore, if the user creates an experiment, to share that experiment with students requires a paid subscription.
Sparkvue
Sparkvue allows the user to create experiments using internal or external sensors. Most of the experiments built in to Sparkvue requires the purchase of one or more external sensors and other pieces of equipment sold by PASCO. In contrast, phyphox offers free solutions using just the built-in sensors. It is worthy to note that PASCO does offer many experiments but at a cost.
Others
There are many other alternatives which do not offer nearly as many features as the apps listed above. An article by Monteiro & Martí (2022, p. 332) compares various apps and is summarized in the following table.
Limitations of phyphox
Phyphox's capability is limited to the available sensors of smartphones. If the user wants to collect a specific set of data that (i.e. Force, Concentration, pH, temperature), then purchasing external purpose-built sensors is the only solution. Also, some manufacturers offer out-of-the-box solutions (i.e. force cart) whereas phyphox, while free, would require some creativity to replicate a similar experiment.
Source: (Monteiro & Martí, 2022, p. 332)
References
Monteiro, M., & Martí, A. C. (2022). Resource letter MDS-1: Mobile devices and sensors for physics teaching. American Journal of Physics, 90(5), 328-343.
Monteiro, M., & Martí, A. C. (2022). Resource letter MDS-1: Mobile devices and sensors for physics teaching. American Journal of Physics, 90(5), 328-343.