Take a trip to paradise and escape everyday demands in Sonus Island
Price: Free
Version: 1.0.1
Size: 550 MB
Developer: Wild Ventures
Platform: iPhone and iPad
Update! A few years have passed, so let’s take a trip back to Sonus Island and see how the app has changed since our last visit.
So what’s new? Despite receiving a bump up to version 2.0, little has changed in Sonus Island over the past few years. The app got optimization for the iPhone X-series handsets and has received a steady supply of bug fixes, but that’s all. It’s a shame, because the developer could have expanded on Sonus Island by adding new sounds, new locations – heck, even a new island! Instead, you get the same bunch of locations as before, making the $4/£4 in-app purchase a little harder to recommend. That said, the content in Sonus hasn’t suddenly gone bad – it’s a shame there’s nothing new, but the core experience is still good even after all these years.
Revised rating: Sonus Island is still a nice app, but there are plenty of alternatives in the App Store that offer a lot more for a similar price. For that reason, we’ve knocked a star off our original rating. ★★★
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Our original review, written in August 2017, is presented in its entirety below.
There are plenty of meditation apps on the App Store, but Sonus Island is one of the most intriguing. Instead of presenting a fairly sterile list of relaxing “white noise” sounds for its users to listen to, Sonus Island offers a rich, vivid virtual island for iPhone and iPad owners to explore. At every corner of this strange but soothing isle, there’s something different to appreciate.
The locations available to visit in Sonus Island – for a price.
Altogether there are seven locations available in Sonus Island and each one features a different 3D noise pattern. The idea, of course, is that you can plug in earphones, close your eyes, and be transported off into a more relaxed state of mind with the tap of a button. There’s virtual scenery on offer, too, and this can enhance the experience nicely.
You can access timers and breathing exercises for individual locations.
One location is available free of charge, but for a $2.99 (£2.99) in-app purchase users can unlock the whole island – that is, a further six additional locations and sound patterns. These range from Lunar Beach, which allows users to fall asleep under the night sky, to Silva Forest and many more. Once you’ve made the full purchase, you really do get the sense that you’re travelling around Sonus Island and this is a great take on the meditation app genre.
The breathing exercise uses familiar circles to help users control the breaths they are taking.
But that’s not all. Sonus Island also includes a built-in timer, which is particularly useful if you’re using the app to help fall asleep, and a breathing exercise. For those looking to take their relaxation to the next level, a series of “guided tours” will talk users through three-minute, ten-minute, or open-ended meditations across Ora Beach, Lunar Beach, or Silva Forest. These really do help users zen out – if you’re someone who hasn’t tried meditation before, this is a great place to start.
Guided meditation allows users to take their relaxation to the next level.
The bottom line is that Sonus Island is a fantastic relaxation app. It offers a fresh take on a genre which can sometimes feel stagnant. It’s the perfect place to start if you haven’t tried relaxation or meditaiton apps before, but at the same time, there’s a lot to offer more experienced users. And with a small one-off fee being all that separates you from exploring all of Sonus Island, it’s definitely worth taking the plunge and going all-in.
If you’re looking to zen out, a trip to Sonus Island should be at the top of your list. And best of all, it doesn’t matter if your passport has expired.