[Pokémon GO] Brook ARmate Auto Catch Review: Can Niantic Stop iOS GPS Spoofing?

This post is part of the Coupang Partners and AliExpress affiliate programs. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

 

I recently came back to Pokémon GO and decided to try Brook’s latest product, released around June 2025.

To be honest, this device feels dangerously close to a game hack.
When connected to an iPhone or iPad, it allows you to roam within a 15 km radius — while sitting at home👿
 
Bluetooth-based GPS spoofing devices for Apple products have existed before.
However, this one is widely available, polished, and easy to use. That alone makes it a serious threat to the AR gaming ecosystem.

It reminded me of early 2016, when many players left Pokémon GO due to rampant location spoofing.

 

 

(Brook Pocket ARmate) https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c2wG0hOL

Brook Pocket Auto Catch Armate Pokemon Go Ios Smart Roming, Game AR Mate

 

Pros

• Supports GPS location spoofing on Apple devices — potentially disruptive to the AR gaming ecosystem
• USB-C charging with a large-capacity capacitor battery
• Clean and minimal design

Cons

• No GPS spoofing support on Android devices
• Only one Pokémon GO account can be connected (does not support multi-account setups like some other auto-catch devices — e.g., 1 phone with 2 accounts or 2 phones with 2 accounts)
• Uses only regular Poké Balls (no support for Great Balls or Ultra Balls like modified Pokémon GO Plus+ versions)

 
 
 
 

Details

 

ZEROPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

USB C to C cable, carrying strap, product warranty card.

About the size of an AirPod case.
 

This is a very modest design for a Brook.
Available while charging.

The button protrudes slightly,
so that when you press it like a stamp, the button presses down.
 
 

Built-in strap slot

 
 
 
 

⚠️Warning! Your account may be suspended.

 

Test with Apple iPad

 

The firmware version of the iPad used is iPadOS 18.6.2.

It appears that something has changed since iOS 26.01.
Brook is providing guidance on additional settings.

 

Although it’s an older version of iPadOS, I decided to apply the settings in advance.
Since Wi-Fi could potentially affect location accuracy, I’ll be turning it off and testing using LTE/5G only.

 

 

Firmware Update

After that, download the app and press the button on the device once to pair it.

 

Pokemon GO Plus & Brook ARMate-D3

Now, this iPad uses the “spoofed” location data received via Bluetooth as its actual device location.

Because it relies on a method Apple has left open — manipulating location at the system level — it does not require rooting or jailbreaking the iOS device.

 

 

As a result, AR apps like Pokémon GO or Monster Hunter Now simply trust the location data provided by the operating system..

 

From the perspective of AR game developers, the challenge is how 'effectively' they can detect and filter abnormal movement patterns.

At the moment, detection systems mainly focus on obvious cases, such as long-distance teleports and clearly unrealistic travel behavior.

 

 

https://www.brookaccessory.com/faq/ARmate/

However, the app includes a feature designed to prevent unrealistic instant teleports.

It also claims to incorporate “Smart Roaming” technology that mimics real human movement patterns.

 

 

 

 

For Android users?

 

40g

For Android users, though, it’s essentially just an expensive single-device/single-account auto-catcher.

Location movement is not supported on Android devices.

 

Route Creation

You can create custom routes and set them to loop repeatedly.

However, if you only move in perfectly straight lines like this, could it eventually be flagged by anti-cheat AI?

 

Curved Route Navigation

Alternatively, you can generate routes that follow actual roads, similar to a navigation system.

When the device reaches a waypoint, it pauses for the preset duration, then continues moving gradually point by point.

 

Movement speed is adjustable as well, allowing for faster, vehicle-like travel if desired.

 

 

 

 

15km Radius

 

The device claims you can move up to 15 km from your actual physical location.

Using Yongsan Station as a reference point, that radius would cover almost the entirety of Seoul.

 

In practice, that means you could access nearly every major event hotspot within the city.

 

 

 

 

PoGoPlus On

The Pokémon GO Plus response speed is on par with other existing auto-catch devices.

However, detailed configuration through the Brook Pocket Center app is not supported. (automatic Bluetooth pairing is available)

 

When tested on a test account, it easily caught around 500 Pokémon per day.

You can even use Daily Adventure Incense while sitting at home.

 

Using Raid Passes, taking over Gyms, participating in Power Spot battles, exchanging Route Gifts, collecting Zygarde Cells, and hatching Eggs — all of these functions work without issue.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

While testing this device, I felt a strong sense of disillusionment.

 

Pokémon GO is a game designed to bring people outside — to gather, explore, and share real-world experiences.

That’s where its value lies. Yet with this device, there’s no real need to step outside anymore.

 

It truly blurs the line between AR gaming and traditional MMORPGs.

To those who continue to invest their time and effort playing the game the way it was meant to be played — you have my respect.

 

 

@brookpocket

Brook is reportedly preparing its next product — a location-spoofing device equipped with a physical joystick.

I once thought Pokémon GO had already turned into a game where you move using a virtual directional pad.

Now, it seems an actual joystick is becoming reality.

 

 

(Saudi-Backed Company Acquires Niantic for $3.5 Billion) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz61yxv6evjo

Saudi Investment Fund pays $3.5bn to capture Pokémon Go

 

Niantic’s game division was acquired by a Saudi-backed gaming company in March 2025, and coincidentally, this product launched in the second half of the same year.

 

In the past, Niantic blocked access from older Android devices that were capable of location spoofing.

However, this time the challenge appears much broader, as it potentially affects the entire Apple iOS ecosystem — making it far more difficult to contain.

 

Will server-side AI be able to analyze suspicious movement logs and reliably identify spoofing behavior?

It will be interesting to see what kind of countermeasures Niantic decides to implement.

 

 

 

Ban iOS..?

(Brook Pocket ARmate) https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c2wG0hOL

Brook Pocket Auto Catch Armate Pokemon Go Ios Smart Roming, Game AR Mate

 

 

 

 

Related Links

 

(Brook Auto Catch Light Review – Pokémon GO Plus with 1 Phone, 2 Accounts Support) https://blog.naver.com/rhyshan/223230674872

[포켓몬고] 오토캐치 라이트 개봉기 #포고플 #1폰2계정

https://youtu.be/FRaEsqGVnjo?si=ldERliRJU830xNs7

 

https://www.brookaccessory.com/products/armate/index.html

ARmate - Brook Gaming

https://www.brookaccessory.com/faq/ARmate/

FAQ - Brook Gaming

 

Battery up to 26h, 580mAh

 

#포켓몬고 #PokémonGO #브룩 #BrookDesign #ARmate #오토캐치 #포고플 #PokemonGOPlus #포고플플 #아이에스티몰 #아이에스티솔루션 #인그레스 #Ingress #무게실측 #나이언틱 #Niantic #스코플리 #Scopely #사비게임즈 #SavvyGamesGroup #게임인수 #게임사업부매각 #게임업계이슈 #AR게임생태계 #탈옥폰 #루팅폰 #소프트밴 #커널안티치트 #산책향로 #캠프파이어 #칼로스의길
#fakegps #pokemongospoofing #armate #pokemongo #ingress #niantic #jailbreak #shundo #ipogo #itoolsbt #virtualgoplus #banwindows #ipad #ios #cheaters #roadtokalos
 
This post is part of the Coupang Partners and AliExpress affiliate programs. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.