Today, business tablets are a core component of the IT infrastructure of many organizations. From service industries that use them to show menus to customers or complete speedy checkouts to business organizations that use them for data analysis, tablets can be beneficial for any role at any level. This guide will help you find the right one for your organization.

With so many options available in today's tablet-centric world, it is hard to determine the best tablet for business or the best tablet for work purposes. While you might not think of a tablet as an essential tool for your business needs, tablets offer a huge range of productivity applications and can basically perform any function of a traditional laptop computer without the weight and bulk.

Tablet Models and Brands

Much like computers and cell phones, tablet companies will vary from one to the next, and each of those companies have a fleet of different tablet models available. Before you can consider what the best tablet is for your business needs, you first need to understand what company and model will meet your needs.

Below is a sampling of some of the most popular companies and tablet models. There is also a table at the end of this post that breaks down three of the more popular brands and models even further.

Apple iPad Tablets

Apple iPad Tablets: Apple has a few variations of their famous iPad tablets, similar to their Macbook and iPhone product lines. The classic Apple iPad is what most people associate with the tech giant, but there's also the iPad Air (which features a lighter weight), the iPad Mini (a smaller but still highly functional tablet) and most recently their iPad Pro, which has processing power similar to most laptops.

Most models have had a refresh recently, with the Apple iPad Pro getting a slew of new features in the 2020 update. Sizes typically range from 7.9-inch screens (for the iPad Mini) to 12.9-inch screens (for the iPad Pro).

Microsoft Surface Tablets

Microsoft Surface Tablets: The Surface line of products from Microsoft offers a range of specs based on a user's needs. The Surface Go, for example, is a more basic offering with an affordable price tag. The Surface Laptop, Surface Book and Surface Pro all offer additional features or more impressive specs.

The hardware behind the machine matters because the Windows OS in the Microsoft Surface products can give users access to a greater range of desktop applications with a tablet experience. Designers may want something to handle their resource-intense applications, while a social media manager may only need something that can handle a browser and basic apps. Microsoft offers stylus and keyboard case products, transforming the Windows tablet into a laptop or 2-in-1 experience. The biggest benefit to the Microsoft Surface tablets is versatility.

Samsung Galaxy Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tablets: Samsung offers a range of tablets to meet a variety of business needs. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S and Galaxy Tab A tablets run on an operating system originally designed for a smartphone. Galaxy Tabs leverage Android tablet OS, which is commonly found on their smartphone fleet — just like iOS is for Apple devices. However, there are key differences between iOS and Android tablet experiences, ultimately boiling down to what kind of customized experience you're looking for.

Samsung offers a range of different products to suit different tablet uses. Business tablet users will be especially interested in expandable memory options with SD cards and an operating system that allows greater customization. Unlike iOS, Android tablets allow users to customize things such as home screen layouts, on-screen keyboards and more in ways that Apple products limit. The Tab S also includes an S-Pen stylus.

Common Business Use Cases for Tablets

Entering the enterprise world from personal use is a natural progression for tablets. Used for personal, educational and now workplace applications, tablets have come a long way from their original designs and specifications. While the tablet vs. laptop debate will continue to rage for eternity, tablets do have a place in the business world. Here are several advantages to using tablets in the enterprise.

Low Cost: It costs a lot of money to deploy laptop or desktop computers to hundreds or thousands of employees in an organization. Tablets offer a low cost per unit, especially for a volume purchase, that makes them more appealing to IT departments and organizations looking to provide the same functionality at a lower price point.
Restricting Access: Major businesses have restrictions on what employees can do and what programs can be accessed via company computers. These locked-down systems are even easier to implement on tablets, where employees can have a set of capabilities and applications that they can access, specific websites they can go to and nothing more.

Best Tablets for Business Use

There are a lot of tablet devices out in the world, but that doesn't mean they are all suited to business purposes. The first thing to look for is a tablet that has a larger screen, has more-than-adequate storage space and can run the applications necessary for you to complete your work.

In the end, the choice of a tablet as a business device is yours and yours alone. There are options that will enable easier access to the applications you need when you need them. Another device to help you accomplish tasks faster and easier is always a good thing.