A tablet can become a powerful tool for your small business. A tablet’s large screen is ideal for demos, graphs, and images, while the portable design often makes it more convenient than a laptop. If you’re often on the go and need a large screen to share information with employees or clients, a tablet could be the ideal choice for you.
Before investing in a tablet, it is a good idea to look at what features it offers and whether those features are necessary for your business. The best tablets for small businesses should enhance connectivity and portability, deliver the kind of performance you need, and remain affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular tablet for businesses?
The iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) is one of the most popular tablets for businesses. Apple has made some huge strides in its tablets in recent years, making big upgrades to iPadOS, and closing the gap between laptops and tablets. A massive 9,720mAh battery with 18W charging and 128GB/256GB/1TB/2TB storage options are only the start of what makes the top-level iPad Pro one of the best business tablets to grab. Apple’s new M1 processor means it has as much power as a MacBook, and the stunning display and Magic Keyboard mean it’s a serious MacBook challenger in the office.
What are the advantages of business tablets?
Business tablets tend to have faster processing, more generous storage space, and longer runtimes with fast charging. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, 8,000mAh battery with 45W charging, and 128GB and 256GB storage expandable up to 1TB. This extra power means you’re unlikely to be left waiting when you absolutely need a bit of power behind you. Another obvious advantage is portability. If you access a lot of important files on the go, using a business tablet can make your everyday operations much easier.
How do I choose the right tablet for my business?
Look at your primary needs. Do you browse a lot? Then consider devices like the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021) that offer plenty of basic features at an affordable price. You get 32GB of storage with a 1080p Full HD screen at a starting price of $149.99. If you perform a lot of heavy operations like editing long videos, consider tablets with good battery life and at least decent, if not super-fast processing power. The Microsoft Surface Pro X and the Apple iPad Pro can be great options in this category. Identify your must-have features and see which devices in your price range offer great performance in these areas.
Buying Guide
How to Choose a Tablet
When you start shopping for a tablet for yourself and your team, don’t be mesmerized by all the flashy products that are available. You’ll be happier with your purchase and it will serve you better if you set a few parameters before you start looking. Determine what will be the primary use of the device, how much you are willing to spend on each tablet, which operating system syncs well with your other computer systems and smartphones, and which features and specs mean the most to you.
Companies can use tablets for all kinds of operations including payment processing, fieldwork, and media consumption. You may also want to differentiate between executives and employees who need different types of tablets for their differing roles in the company (primary versus supplementary, or even rugged devices, depending on the worksite). Also consider size, battery life, processor, storage, and external ports for accessories.
Tablet features
Businesses will have different uses for tablets. Here are some features to take into account:
Storage: If your business generates a lot of documents, photos, videos, and multimedia assets that you want to keep with you (with or without cloud backup) make sure you buy a tablet that has adequate storage for your needs. Storage is available anywhere from 16GB all the way up to 1TB.
Battery life: Battery capacity can vary quite a bit depending on the size of the device, but you’re generally looking at between 6,000mAh and 8,000mAh, sometimes dipping into the 3,000mAh range for smaller devices. If battery life is important to you, then read some reviews and get an idea of how the capacity translates into hours of real-world usage.
Cameras: Tablet cameras are generally considered more of a convenience than a vital feature. Nonetheless, most tablets come equipped with front and rear cameras that may prove useful depending on your needs. Front-facing cameras are handy for video conferencing and video chats via Skype, FaceTime, and other services. Rear cameras may be useful for scanning documents.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi comes standard for all tablets and most support the fastest Wi-Fi standards available at the time of purchase — the 802.11ac standard, even if your office has an older router.
Processor: Tablet processors vary widely and are sometimes specific to the manufacturer, such as Apple’s iPad A12X chip. You might check out the processor online to see how fast it is and how it compares with others.
Speakers: Tablet speakers are utilitarian as opposed to premium, but subpar audio can seriously mar the tablet experience. Make sure that the sound quality is decent when you check out the reviews of tablets you’re considering, or better still go to a store like Best Buy, which may have a few demo tablets out and listen for yourself. If you play music, get one with speakers on either side for optimal sound separation.
Stylus: Styluses and tablets go together and certain tablets have styluses that are made especially for them to take advantage of their hardware and software features. If you need one, get a stylus that’s custom-designed for your tablet. Many support multiple pen types that let you switch between thick pen strokes and thin ones with the click of a button.
Expandable memory: Some tablets include SD card slots, a handy feature that lets you add storage space as needed.
LTE connection: When you’re out in the field, you may not want to use available Wi-Fi for online communications. LTE connectivity can get you online anywhere. You’ll need to add your tablet to your mobile data subscription plan from a wireless provider to get everything up and running.
Once you’ve got a shortlist of requirements, feel free to go crazy evaluating various models that meet the needs of your company. Here are a few we recommend and check out our list of the best tablets on the market today.
Samsung Galaxy Tablet
Best Overall
Here
This tablet is designed with a minimized bezel, which allows you more room to view your favorite content in a slim and comfortable form.
Sold in two different colors (black or silver)
Pros:
- Premium metallic finish and lightweight design make it easy to use this tablet anywhere
- 8-inch display immerses you in content, while the dual speakers deliver high-quality surround sound
Cons:
- Can sometimes be slow to respond to touch commands
The battery allows for up to 13 hours of usage on a single charge, so you’ll have plenty of time to work, shop, or play.
Amazon Fire 7 Tablet
Best Cameras
2MP Front and Rear Facing Cameras
Each camera offers 720p HD recording capabilities, making this tablet a great choice for making video calls or participating in Zoom meetings.
Sold in two different storage capacities (16gb or 32gb) and two different colors (black or twilight blue). Can be purchased with or without a power adapter.
Pros:
- Designed with a fast 1.3 GHz quad-core processor
- Display is 7 inches wide
Cons:
- Battery only lasts for seven hours
Each Fire tablet is engineered and tested by Amazon to provide fast processing and the ability to complete tasks, enjoy movies on the go, and browse recipes, in addition to several other tasks.
Vastking KingPad Tablet
Best Hardware
Features Upgraded Octa-Core T610 CPU
The display shows images and videos in beautiful 1920 by 1200 Full HD, and the narrow bezels create a more vibrant viewing experience
Pros:
- Eye comfort mode allows for a more eye-friendly viewing experience even in low light environments
- Facial recognition with security enhancement features allows you to unlock your screen without needing to remember a password
Cons:
- Can only be charged with the cord that it comes with
This tablet comes fully equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, enabling it to support all of your favorite accessories.
Apple iPad Air
Best Value Tablet
High-Performance Tablet at a Fraction of the Price
As a refurbished product, this tablet has been tested to look and work like new. It has gone through a thorough cleaning process and includes all necessary packaging and accessories.
Pros:
- Features 9.7 retina display with 2048 by 1536 resolution
- Capable of 1080p video recording thanks to 5mp iSight Camera
Cons:
- Packaging and accessories may be generic
The hard drive holds up to 16gb, and the device offers 1gb of internal RAM.
Lenovo Tablet
Best Battery
Up to 5000 mAh Battery Capacity
With this tablet, you’ll be able to work or play all day without needing to stop and recharge. It is stunning, stylish, and made to make your day easier and better.
Pros:
- Equipped with a quad-core 2.0 GHz processor
- Features an 82% panel-to-body ratio
Cons:
- Screen rotation can be unpredictable
The screen is 8 inches wide and displays images in full HD with a 1280 by 800 resolution.
Pritom Android Tablet
Best Memory
Up to 32gb of Storage Space
If 32gb isn’t enough, this tablet can also be paired with a microSD card to hold even more files, images, and videos. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to purchase this card separately.
Pros:
- Comes equipped with 2gb of RAM and an energy-saving quad-core processor
- Designed to be slim, lightweight, and easy to carry
Cons:
- Battery life is only six hours long
This tablet is equipped with a front-facing 2.0 MP camera along with an 8.0 MP rear camera to allow you to capture high-quality images in addition to making video calls.
