Comparison
Lirum Device Info vs the built-in Apple tools.
No invented feature tables and no competitor claims — just what Apple's own tools report, what Lirum adds on top, and how to evaluate any diagnostics app honestly.
Comparison by workflow
| Workflow | What the built-in tools show | What Lirum adds |
|---|---|---|
| Device identity | Settings > General > About lists the model name, model number, and serial number of the device in your hand — one record, resolved to a marketing name. | The Device information browser resolves the hardware model identifier the OS reports to the exact model, SoC, regional variants, and product codes, backed by reference data covering 94 device models and 252 specification fields.
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| Battery health | Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging reports Maximum Capacity and Peak Performance Capability — a summary verdict with no history and no cycle count. | The Battery monitor shows live level and charging state next to CPU, memory, storage, and network; the Thermals tool tracks the heat that ages batteries; Battery diagnostics import (beta) works with the battery data the OS exposes. No app can show the cycle count iOS withholds — Lirum does not pretend otherwise.
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| Live system activity | Settings offers point-in-time snapshots — a storage bar, battery usage graphs for recent days — with no live view of what the system is doing right now. | Live monitors for CPU, memory, storage, thermals, battery, and network, a Process List on Mac, a Timeline view, and home-screen widgets that keep the numbers glanceable.
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| Component checks | iOS has no user-run tests for touch, speakers, microphones, cameras, or sensors. On the Mac, Apple Diagnostics exists but runs pre-boot — outside macOS — and reports reference codes meant for service, not for watching the system while you work. | Hands-on tests run in-app: touchscreen, camera, biometrics, motion sensors, vibration, and display checks, plus microphone and speaker tests (Premium) and the Manual Test Wizard (Premium) for repeatable guided sequences.
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| Network & radios | Settings > Wi-Fi and Cellular show the current connection, carrier, and data usage for the device itself. | A full network toolkit: interface details, cellular bands, Bluetooth, throughput, an internet speed test, ping, traceroute, port scan, and DNS lookup — for troubleshooting, not just status.
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| Reference & comparison | iOS and macOS ship no cross-device spec reference, comparison view, or reporting. | The Apple hardware timeline places the identified model against every other product line, and Premium adds the Comparison Tool, Device Grid, and the Benchmark Compare Devices dashboard for side-by-side work, plus the Report tool for records.
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The built-in columns describe publicly documented behavior of iOS and macOS. On the Lirum side, everything listed comes from the app's own feature matrix — including its limits: where iOS withholds data (battery cycle count, for example), no app on the App Store can read it, and this comparison does not claim otherwise.
How to choose
A neutral checklist for any hardware diagnostics app.
Whoever you end up downloading, these are the questions that separate a serious diagnostics app from a pretty dashboard.
Does it say plainly what the OS does not expose?
iOS does not expose battery cycle count or detailed battery telemetry to apps. An app that implies deeper access than the OS allows is telling you something about its honesty, not its capability.
Does it identify the exact model, not just the name?
Marketing names hide regional variants, storage tiers, and post-repair configurations. The app should read the identifiers the device reports and resolve them to the exact model.
Does it show live data or one-time snapshots?
A snapshot answers "what is it right now"; live monitors answer "what is it doing" — which is what you need to reproduce a fault or watch a fix land.
Does it run the checks you actually need?
Touch, audio, sensors, radios: check that the specific checks your workflow depends on actually exist, and note which ones sit behind a purchase.
Are the free and paid boundaries clear up front?
You should know before downloading what is free and what is paid. A grouped tier matrix is a good sign; vague "pro features" badges are not.
Is it honest about privacy and data handling?
Diagnostics touches device identifiers and system data. Prefer apps that state what leaves the device — and how your data is handled.
Questions & answers
Comparison FAQ
Short answers to the questions this comparison raises most often.
Can any app show my iPhone's battery cycle count?
No. Apple removed battery cycle data from the frameworks available to apps in iOS 10, and the figure now appears only in the system's own analytics and diagnostics data. That constraint applies to every app on the App Store equally. Lirum's Battery monitor shows live level and charging state, and Battery diagnostics import (beta) works with the battery data the OS does expose.
Is Lirum a replacement for Apple Diagnostics on the Mac?
They do different jobs. Apple Diagnostics runs pre-boot, outside macOS, and reports reference codes intended for Apple support or a service provider. Lirum runs in-window, live, with system monitors, network tools, and component tests. Many Mac users keep both: Apple Diagnostics for the service verdict, Lirum for everything before and after it.
Which Lirum tools are free?
The core toolkit is free: device identification, live CPU, memory, storage, battery, and thermal monitors, network utilities, sensor checks, and hands-on component tests. One Premium purchase adds 13 exclusive tools and workflows — Hardware Browser, comparison tools, the Manual Test Wizard, reports, and more.