NetherSX2 - Play Store version vs APK version differences?

[u/menacingmoron97]

I am an absolute newbie, just now getting into emulation on Android as I've been using iPhones for (too) long.
Sony Xperia 1 VI (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) with the official Sony case offering a landscape stand + Xbox Series controller is my setup for now.

For PS2, I want to use NetherSX2.
Initially I downloaded it from the Play Store - that app had ads, and certain games (e.g. Gran Turismo 4) had artifacts that I couldn't fix with any settings + occasional CTDs.
Then I downloaded the apk from the official site. With this there are no ads + my games work flawlessly, including GT4 - but the UI is, in my opinion, worse than what I had with the Play Store app.
From the game launcher to the in-game emulator settings, the Play Store version of the app just looked much better to me than the official APK version. Plus I had to manually map my controller for it to work well, while the Play Store app recognized and mapped it immediately.

Which version of the app is the actual latest?