# SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile vs Xema KE

The clearest difference is rating: Xema KE at 5.0 against SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile's 3.0. Xema KE also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Xema KE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on July 4, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile | Xema KE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sm-keyboard-by-socket-mobile/id1361781925/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xema-ke/id1497257827/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 40 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Socket Mobile Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684485192) | [Xema, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496561954) |

## What reviewers say

### SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sm-keyboard-by-socket-mobile/id1361781925)

This app allows you to scan various barcode types directly into any application on your device. Utilize your phone's camera or a dedicated Socket Mobile reader for seamless data capture wherever you can type.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes into any app, Use phone camera for scanning, Support for Socket Mobile readers, Reads various barcode types, Data capture anywhere you can type

**In-app purchases:** none


### Xema KE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xema-ke/id1497257827)

This app transforms scanned barcode or QR code data into keyboard input. It seamlessly emulates keystrokes wherever your cursor is active, streamlining data entry.

**Highlights:** Scans barcode and QR code data, Emulates keyboard strokes, Inputs data directly to cursor location, Streamlines data entry

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile free?

SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Xema KE free?

Xema KE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile or Xema KE?

Xema KE is rated higher. SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile averages 3.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Xema KE averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile or Xema KE have ads?

Neither SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile nor Xema KE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile or Xema KE?

SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and Xema KE every 3 months. Most recently, SM Keyboard by Socket Mobile was updated on July 4, 2026 and Xema KE on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*