Compare Camera and Hardware Scanners

Mobile camera vs. Hardware barcode scanning

Both camera and hardware scanners offer benefits that appeal to different users and businesses. It's important to understand how each works in varying environments and real-life situations.

Real scenarios, real testing, real results

The guide below compares and analyzes the testing results of these Socket Mobile scanners:

C820 - Free, basic camera-based scanning solution
C860 - Industry's best damaged-barcode reader utilizing enhanced camera scanning
S700 - Entry-level Bluetooth hardware scanner for 1D barcodes
S740 - Universal 1D/2D Bluetooth hardware scanner

Performance results by industry

Retail

Scenario	Lighting condition	Lux
Shopkeeper	Good lighting condition	Ambient daylight 10,000-25,000

Test Barcodes	Printed Size	Onscreen Size
Onscreen Size	1 cm x 3 cm	N/A

	C820	C860	S700	S740
Maximum decode distance Printed UPC-A	12 in	+2 ft	15 in	19 in
Minimum decode distance Printed UPC-A	5 in	6 in	2 in	2 in
Decode time Printed UPC-A	3 min 17 sec	1 min 35 sec	44 sec	37 sec

Note: Scanned 5 different items in rotation 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Commercial services

Scenario
Lighting condition
Lux
Fire inspection
Fair lighting condition
Overcast
1,000
Test Barcodes
Printed Size
Onscreen Size
Code 39 (smoke detector)
2 cm x 6 cm
N/A

C820

C860

S700

S740

Maximum distance
Code 39
18 in
+2 ft
+2 ft
+2 ft
Decode time
Code 39
1 min
10 sec
24 sec
25 sec
21 sec
Note: Scanned both printed and onscreen 1D or 2D barcode in rotation 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Scenario	Lighting condition	Lux
Event management	Poor lighting condition	Sunset/Sunrise 400

Test Barcodes	Printed Size	Onscreen Size
Code 128	2 cm x 5 cm	2 cm x 5 cm
QR Code	1 cm x 1 cm	2 cm x 2 cm

	C820	C860	S700	S740
Decode time Mixture of printed and onscreen Code 128	1 min 58 sec	1 min 55 sec	48 sec	34 sec
Decode time Mixture of printed and onscreen QR Code	1 min 46 sec	1 min 48 sec	Not supported	31 sec

Note: Scanned both printed and onscreen 1D or 2D barcode in rotation 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Scenario	Lighting condition	Lux
Event management	Fair lighting condition	Overcast 1,000

Test Barcodes	Printed Size	Onscreen Size
Code 128	2 cm x 5 cm	2 cm x 5 cm
QR Code	1 cm x 1 cm	2 cm x 2 cm

	C820	C860	S700	S740
Decode time Mixture of printed and onscreen Code 128	1 min 57 sec	1 min 45 sec	46 sec	37 sec
Decode time Mixture of printed and onscreen QR Code	1 min 38 sec	1 min 41 sec	Not supported	30 sec

Note: Scanned both printed and onscreen 1D or 2D barcode in rotation 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Transport & logistics

Scenario	Lighting condition	Lux
Delivery	Bad lighting condition	Sunset/Sunrise 400

Test Barcodes	Printed Size	Onscreen Size
Code 128	2 cm x 6 cm	1.5 cm x 5 cm
Data Matrix	1.5 cm x 1.5 cm	2 cm x 2 cm

	C820	C860	S700	S740
Maximum decode distance Printed Code 128	12 in	+2 ft	18 in	+2 ft
Minimum decode distance Printed Code 128	5 in	6 in	3 in	3 in
Maximum decode distance Printed Data Matrix	18 in	+2 ft	N/A	+2 ft
Minimum decode distance Printed Data Matrix	5 in	6 in	N/A	3 in

Note: Scanned printed 1D/2D barcodes 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Scenario	Lighting condition	Lux
Delivery	Good lighting condition	Ambient daylight 10,000 - 25,000

Test Barcodes	Printed Size	Onscreen Size
Code 128	2 cm x 6 cm	1.5 cm x 5 cm
Data Matrix	1.5 cm x 1.5 cm	2 cm x 2 cm

	C820	C860	S700	S740
Decode time Printed Code 128	1 min 26 sec	28 sec	26 sec	25 sec
Decode time Printed Data Matrix	1 min 18 sec	25 sec	Not supported	23 sec

Note: Scanned printed barcode 50 times into iOS Stock Count.

Working with damaged barcodes? The SocketCam C860 is the industry leader for reading difficult-to-scan codes.

The future of your business

Understanding how these scanners perform in different industry scenarios will help you determine which type of scanner will perform best in your working conditions and meet your data capture needs.

Learn more about:

SocketCam

C820

C860

SocketScan

S700

S740

All our data readers