How To Choose the Right Tablet for Small Business Owners

Are you a small business owner looking to find the perfect tablet to meet your needs?

If you need a tablet for customer-facing tasks or self-service kiosks, such as those found in cafés, restaurants, retail stores, or reception desks, then this guide will help you pick out the right tablet for you.

Entry-Level Tablets for Small Businesses

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

Starting at around $219, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is a great low-cost option for small businesses. 

The A9+ has an 11-inch screen which makes it ideal for viewing spreadsheets and presentations.  It has decent colour and resolution, and although It’s not OLED, the LCD is vibrant enough for customer-facing use, such as visitor sign-ins, enrolling in loyalty programs, and browsing catalogues.

The battery life is average, so you’ll probably want to keep it plugged in if you’re using it for a stationary self-service kiosk. 

• Overall Verdict: Affordable and reliable for basic business tasks.

Apple iPad 10th Gen

The 10th Gen iPad is pricier than the A9+ at around $349, but it offers better performance and a slick, user-friendly interface.

The A14 Bionic chip in the 10th Gen is faster, so it handles apps and multitasking without breaking a sweat. If you’re using other Apple devices, it all works together nicely and syncs automatically through Apple’s ecosystem.

The display is 10.9 inches and high resolution beating the Tab A9+ hands down when it comes to clarity. But, fair warning, it doesn’t have an anti-reflective coating, so bright lighting might cause a problem.

• Overall Verdict: Great for user-friendly design, high-res screen, and integration within Apple’s ecosystem, but comes at a higher price point than the Tab A9+.

Microsoft Surface Go

If you need to run Windows-based software, then the Surface Go is ideal as it runs the full Windows OS. It also doubles as a laptop with a detachable keyboard and other accessories. 

It’s a lightweight, portable option for flexible setups, but it’s a bit pricier than the Samsung or Apple options, starting at around the $579 mark. 

• Overall Verdict: Useful if you need to run Windows-based software.

Mid-Range Tablets for Growing Businesses

Samsung Galaxy S Range

Samsung S Range tablets, such as the Galaxy Tab S8 or S9, offer AMOLED displays which are ideal for displaying product images or videos to customers. The Tab S9 has a 120Hz refresh rate, making it very smooth for scrolling or transitions. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip makes the S9 fast and great for multi-tasking.

The Galaxy S range tablets are built well, with aluminum bodies, but they’re not exactly rugged. You might want to invest in sturdy cases or mounts for protection, especially if you’re using them for customer-facing tasks.

• Overall Verdict: Ideal for high-quality visuals and multitasking capabilities.

Apple iPad Air

The iPad Air is a powerful option with the M2 chip, a big step up in performance from the A14 in the 10th Gen iPad. It’s great for multitasking and can handle more demanding apps, so it’s perfect if you’re running multiple tools or programs at once.

The display is 11 inches with a 2,360 by 1,640-pixel resolution which makes it bright, sharp, and has True Tone for better colour balance. It’s not OLED like Samsung’s S Range tablets, but it’s fully laminated, which makes it less reflective. It’s a lot more professional-looking than the slightly basic 10th Gen screen.

• Overall Verdict: Versatile mid-range tablet with excellent performance and a high-quality display.

Microsoft Surface Pro

The Surface Pro is worth considering if you’re looking for a hybrid device that bridges the gap between a tablet and a laptop. It’s great for multitasking and works well for Windows-based tasks. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip is efficient and powerful enough to handle most business needs.

The Pro 11 has an optional 2.8K OLED display with fantastic colours and brightness. It’s perfect for visual displays and for client-facing tasks, as the screen leaves a good impression. The starting price is $999, which is fair for the amount of power and high-quality screen.

• Overall Verdict: Powerful hybrid device with smart display, perfect for multitasking and Windows-based tasks.

High-End Tablets for Power Users

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra stands out for its high-quality and massive 14.6-inch AMOLED display which is vibrant, sharp, and colourful.

It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is one of the fastest mobile chipsets, making it ideal for resource-heavy apps.  The tablet is pretty expensive, starting at around $1,200, but you get a stunning display and a lot of processing power for your money.

• Overall Verdict: Exceptional AMOLED display, ideal for resource-heavy apps and premium visuals.

Apple iPad Pro

The iPad Pro is a premium tablet for small businesses, with the very fast M2 chip that handles demanding tasks with ease. The iPad pro is available with an 11-inch or 13-inch screen and boasts an Ultra Retina XDR OLED display with Apple’s "Tandem OLED" setup, combining two OLED layers for enhanced brightness and colours.

The base model starts at $999, but offers good long-term value as it has Apple’s excellent software support.

• Overall Verdict: Top-tier tablet with high performance and display quality.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a 2-in-1 device, with the aesthetics and convenience of a tablet combined with the power of a laptop. It handles resource-heavy applications very well as it has an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 processor inside. 

The Surface Pro 9 has a 13-inch PixelSense touch display with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio which has great colour accuracy and brightness. You can also switch the refresh rate to 120Hz for a smoother experience.

• Overall Verdict: Powerful tablet/laptop for demanding applications with a high-quality display.

How To Choose a Tablet for Your Small Business

Tablets are a great investment, but you’ve got to pick the right one. Here are a few pointers to help you choose the tablet that fits your business needs.

• Durability:  If your tablets are going to be handled by a lot of people or used in busy environments, you’ll want something rugged or with a good protective case. Look for build quality and see if the manufacturer offers any extended warranties.

• Software Compatibility: Check if the apps you need are available on the platform you're considering. For example, if you’re leaning towards Apple, you’d need to confirm those apps are on iOS. Same goes for Android and Windows. If you’re deep into Google Workspace or Office 365, most tablets will integrate well, but the experience might differ.

• Battery Life: Battery life is important for mobile work. Aim for at least 10 hours, but check reviews to see how they perform in real-world scenarios. Some tablets, like the iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, are well known for excellent battery life.

• Accessories: Accessories can really enhance usability. Look for devices that have official keyboard attachments or styluses if you need precision input. Good cases are also key for protection. Apple and Samsung have excellent options, and Microsoft’s Surface lineup has detachable keyboards, which are perfect if you want to switch between tablet and laptop modes.

Don’t forget that if you’re using your tablet for customer-facing tasks or self-service kiosks, then you’ll need a sturdy, yet stylish tablet or iPad stand. Check out our range today.