Comparison

DexoPad vs Shortcut Launcher Widget

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DexoPad

Features
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DexoPad is a companion app for the DexoPad hardware dongle — a wireless BLE-to-USB HID bridge that turns your iPhone or iPad into a keyboard, trackpad, and shortcut controller for any computer. The DexoPad dongle (sold separately) plugs into your target computer's USB port and communicates with the app over Bluetooth Low Energy — no drivers, no companion software, no network configuration required. Because the DexoPad dongle presents itself to your computer as a standard USB keyboard and mouse (HID), it works everywhere: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and even at the BIOS/UEFI level before any operating system boots. Type into BIOS setup, navigate boot menus, unlock encrypted drives, or run keyboard-only servers — DexoPad works when nothing else can. Key features: • Full keyboard input with modifier combos: Ctrl+C, Cmd+V, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Win+R, and every F-key (F1–F12) plus arrow, Home/End, PageUp/Down, and Insert/Delete. • Precision touchpad with two-finger scroll, tap-to-click, drag, and left/right/middle mouse buttons. • Multi-OS Unicode input: Type Chinese, Japanese, Korean, emoji, and other Unicode characters into any target OS — DexoPad handles keyboard layout translation for Windows (Alt+Numpad), macOS (Unicode Hex Input), and Linux (Ctrl+Shift+U). • ASCII mode for pre-OS environments: Send raw HID scancodes when no IME is available (BIOS, GRUB, recovery consoles, embedded systems). • Custom shortcut buttons: Save your favorite key combinations as one-tap actions. • Low-latency BLE: Real-time typing and pointer control over Bluetooth. • Multi-device pairing: Manage several DexoPad dongles from one iPhone. Perfect for: • Remote IT support and system administration • Developers working with headless machines and embedded devices • Presenters who need a discrete, wireless remote • Anyone who wants their phone to double as a keyboard/mouse for a nearby computer

About

Shortcut Launcher Widget

Features
Read full description

Shortcut Launcher Widget turns your Home Screen into a highly customizable launchpad for the Shortcuts you already have. There are no other apps on the App Store that offer this kind of layout precision and customization. Powered by the new iOS 27 APIs, tapping a tile runs your shortcut completely in place without any screen flicker or app bouncing. Because you have total control over the layout, you can break past the usual limits. Want to easily fit 3, 4, or even 5 shortcuts on a small widget? You can dial in the perfect grid. Pick up to 64 shortcuts and they become a beautiful grid of named tiles. This app is all about letting you build the exact widget you want. • Four widget sizes, including the new Extra Large full-page widget • 10 built-in color themes, or build your own custom look • Five density presets from edge-to-edge to roomy, or dial in exact margins, spacing, and corner radius yourself • Explicit column control: auto-fit, or pin 1, 2, 3, or more • Three backgrounds: a solid theme color, the system's own material, or your own wallpaper blended in behind the widget • Save multiple board presets and switch between them instantly No accounts. No network access. No analytics. No ads. Nothing to buy. It's a Home Screen tool, not a service.

Screenshots

DexoPad4 screens
Shortcut Launcher Widget3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: DexoPad at 15.1 against Shortcut Launcher Widget's 27.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

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

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
DexoPad versus Shortcut Launcher Widget: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDexoPadShortcut Launcher Widget
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better27.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPalmblock Technology Co., LimitedMatthew Hornung

In-app purchases

None

DexoPad

No in-app purchases

None

Shortcut Launcher Widget

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DexoPad free?
DexoPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shortcut Launcher Widget free?
Shortcut Launcher Widget is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DexoPad or Shortcut Launcher Widget have ads?
Neither DexoPad nor Shortcut Launcher Widget shows ads.

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