The Best Tablets for Small Businesses in 2021
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.
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 sub-par 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 Tab S7
Although you could go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 with its 10.5-inch super AMOLED screen and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, we prefer the Galaxy Tab S7 as a workhorse. With its larger 11-inch screen — LCD rather than Super AMOLED — it’s ideal for attaching Samsung’s keyboard cover and getting some serious work done, even if its screen isn’t as great as the Tab S6 for media streaming. Boasting the same flagship processor as its predecessor and a 2560 x 1600 resolution, the comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage, as well as an included S Pen for taking and editing notes for work. The Tab S7 is also 5G enabled — great for video calls or working on the go — with an 8,000mAh battery and 45W fast charging.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet detachable tablet offers 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and a MediaTek Helio P60T processor for an incredible price. We love the tablet’s distinctive look with its dual-tone Ice Blue and Iron Grey design and fabric texture — but it’s not all about looks. The features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera, and a 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel display.
Battery life is around 10 hours, so it should get you through an average day, it’s fast to boot up in around eight seconds, and the detachable keyboard is comfortable to type on. If we had a criticism, it’s that no pen is included, but you can pick up a USI pen from Lenovo for around $40. If you’re looking for something that can operate as a laptop or tablet, this is a good choice, but it’s ideally suited for businesses working primarily off of Google Services. Pick one up right now and you’ll get a free 12-month Google One membership which gives you 100GB of storage.
Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet review.
Apple iPad Pro
Even if you’re not a Mac user, the Apple iPad Pro is the best tablet available, especially since the M1 update with Apple’s own speedy processor. Apple’s lineup offers a sweet selection of iPads, including the two iPad Pro models at 12.9 and 11 inches. The 11-inch model is our pick, with its Liquid Retina IPS screen and 2388 x 1668 pixel resolution Besides being ideal for watching videos, iOS multitasking features, and battery life of up to 10 hours, its productivity apps make the iPad Pro an ideal business companion, and with iPadOS 13.4 installed, this iPad Pro comes closer than ever before to becoming a laptop alternative.
Both models have comparable specs and are available with storage of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The 11-inch model weighs 471 grams and features Apple’s M1 and 8-core graphics processor — making it more powerful than most laptops. There’s a dual camera on the back — a 12MP main sensor and a 10MP wide-angle lens.
You also get Smart HDR, 4K video recording at up to 60 fps, five microphones, and a lidar sensor for measuring distances — and there’s a 7-megapixel TrueDepth front camera with Face Unlock too. The offers Wi‑Fi (802.11ax Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.0, 5G, Face ID, and Apple Pay. You can also opt for a cellular connection. Apple’s companion hardware, available separately, includes the Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil, AirPods, and more.
Read our full iPad Pro (2021) review.
Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro
The MediaPad M5 Pro is Huawei’s challenge to the iPad. It has a gorgeous 10.8-inch, 2560 x 1600 curved-edge 2.5D glass display. Its 82% screen-to-body ratio features a wide view, augmented by a curved metal body that offers an elegant, attractive, and simple industrial design. It has a proprietary Kirin 960 series octa-core chipset and stable Wi-Fi network connectivity with quad stereo speakers tuned and certified by Harman Kardon for an excellent audio and video experience with headphones.
The 13MP rear camera combined with the 8-megapixel front camera offers all the photographic capabilities you need for most tablets. It packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage and even includes an M Pen. Its 7,500mAh battery and power-saving technology allow for 11 hours of 1080P video viewing. With the built-in Quick Charge, the Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro takes about 2.9 hours to fully charge the device. It also features Smart UI EMUI 8.0 (Android 8.0) and advanced fingerprint recognition.
Read our full Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro review.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Even though Microsoft’s Surface Pro 7 two-in-one computer tablet is not radically different from its predecessor, our previous favorite, the Surface Pro 6, there’s plenty of overall improvement in the newer model to recommend it as a great business tablet. It offers everything you need for workplace versatility — both in the office or while traveling. The Surface Pro 7 features the new Intel 10th-generation Ice Lake processor with three options, starting with the dual-core Core i3-1005G1. The screen is crisp and color accurate at 2736 x 1824 resolution on a 12.3-inch screen — with equal pixel density as the iPad Pro, making it a great display for video watching as well as working.
With this model, Microsoft has swapped its mini-DisplayPort for USB-C. Because few monitors include mini-DisplayPort anymore, this USB-C could require fewer dongles and cables since the new port handles power delivery, video output, and data transfer simultaneously.
While the bezels may be too large for some users, they include components like the Windows Hello IR camera, the 1080p webcam, and a pair of 1.6-watt stereo speakers. The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 comes in seven main configurations, including the Intel 4 i3 with 4GB RAM, three Intel Core i5 models with 8GB and 16GB RAM, and storage from 128GB to 256GB, and the Intel Core i7 models with 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of storage. Prices range from $729 to $2300. It comes in Black and Platinum.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2021)
Some small companies use their tablets for almost everything, and even substitute them for laptops when on the road or working at home, but others will have fewer needs and more limited budgets. The Amazon Fire HD 10 serves nicely with a 10.1-inch LCD at 224 pixels per inch. With it, you can see any document, video, or image at a wide viewing angle — bright but without glare. It’s an Android tablet, but it runs Amazon’s tweaked version, called Fire OS, so it doesn’t have full access to the Google Play Store, limiting the number of third-party apps and games available. The Fire HD 10 comes packed with 32GB or 64GB of storage and you can expand the storage with a separate MicroSD card. The Fire HD 10 features a 2MP rear-facing camera for shooting photos or 720p video and a 2MP front-facing VGA camera that works fine for Skype conference calls.
With up to 12 hours of mixed-use battery life, the Amazon Fire HD 10 gives you more flexibility and is compatible with Alexa for quick access to information, your calendar, and your smart office. Show Mode delivers a hands-free Alexa experience with a home screen that’s optimized for visibility across the room, in addition to Alexa calling and messaging. The Amazon Fire HD 10 is an economy purchase, but it does lock you into Amazon’s limited app store and it lacks high-end processing power.
Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 review.
Apple iPad (2020)
While the iPad Pro can make for an excellent, powerful tablet that serves as a laptop replacement when needed, it may be too bulky and expensive for many users. Those who want a more portable tablet option while sticking to a stricter budget should consider the standard iPad.
This 2020 model still offers plenty of performance with its Apple A12 Bionic chip, and the 10.2-inch is easy to handle while still providing an excellent display. Storage options are a little low at either 32GB or 128GB, but that’s less of a concern in many workplaces where cloud storage and other options are readily available.
The iPad 2020 model also offers an 8MP back camera, a high-capacity battery that can last throughout the day, and up to 500 nits of brightness for working in sunny conditions. There are some minor compromises — this iPad still includes the circular Touch ID/Home button that Apple has largely discarded on all other devices — but it’s still very good at what it does.
Read our full iPad (2020) review.
Editors’ Recommendations
