Top 4 Tablets for Small Businesses (From Budget to Bougie)
The name’s Salty, and if you’re still writing invoices on napkins or tapping away on your phone like it’s 2010, it’s time to upgrade. Tablets aren’t just for scrolling through cat memes (although, let’s be honest, they excel at that). For small business owners, the right tablet can be your mobile office, digital planner, sketchpad, and point-of-sale system all in one sleek, shiny rectangle.
Here’s my top 4 tablet picks for small business use, ranked by price—lowest to highest, so you know exactly what you’re paying for… and what you’re not.
💸 1. Amazon Fire HD 10 – The Budget-Friendly Backup Plan
Best For: Bare-bones business tasks, POS, email, and reading contracts you’ll probably ignore.
Price Range: ~$110–$150
This one’s for folks who want function without frills. Is it flashy? No. Will it get the job done? Mostly. If you’re just using it for scheduling, invoices, and some light browsing, this budget tablet delivers more than you’d expect.
✅ Pros:
Cheap and reliable
Alexa hands-free support
Works well with basic apps like Square, Gmail, and Docs
🚫 Cons:
Not Google Play native (you’ll have to sideload apps)
Slower than your barista during rush hour
Plastic build screams “entry-level”
💼 2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – The Middleweight Champ
Best For: Note-taking, drawing, presentations, and multitasking
Price Range: ~$250–$300
This one’s for small business owners who want versatility without diving into Apple pricing. Comes with the S Pen, which means no extra spend just to scribble down your bad ideas.
✅ Pros:
Includes stylus (score!)
Solid performance for multitasking
Samsung DeX support = desktop-like use
🚫 Cons:
Not as powerful as its big siblings
Storage is meh unless you upgrade
Still Android… so if you’re an Apple cultist, keep scrolling
🧠 3. Apple iPad (10th Gen) – The Goldilocks Option 4. iPad Pro 13-Inch(M4)-For Bosses Who Want Power and Vibes
Best For: Everyday business users, content creators, sales pros
Price Range: ~$350–$450
This one’s for the “I’m not fancy, but I like things that work” crew. A step above basic, without being ridiculous. It handles emails, graphics, videos, POS, Canva designs, and pitch decks like a champ—and still fits in your bag without a meltdown.
✅ Pros:
Fast A14 Bionic chip
Compatible with Apple Pencil (Gen 1)
Great resale value (hello, upgrade later)
🚫 Cons:
Stylus and keyboard sold separately (of course 🙄)
iPadOS still limits some pro features
4. iPad Pro 13-Inch(M4)-For Bosses Who Want Power and Vibes
Best For: Power users, designers, mobile video editors, CEOs who hate limitations
Price Range: ~$1,200+ (and that’s before accessories 🙄)
Apple said, “Let’s make it lighter, faster, and prettier,” and somehow made it worth the hype. The new iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4) is thinner than your patience during tax season and powered by the same chip that’s basically running a spaceship. If you want a tablet that acts like a laptop but still fits in your tote—this is it.
✅ Pros:
-
Insanely fast M4 chip
-
Ultra-thin and lightweight
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OLED display = your graphics never looked better
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Pairs with Magic Keyboard + Apple Pencil Pro (if you’re made of money)
🚫 Cons:
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Stylus + keyboard cost extra (of course)
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Only worth it if you actually use its power
-
You might baby it like a newborn
🐾 Final Swipe from Salty:
Let’s be real— whether you’re bootstrapping your business or rolling in revenue, there’s a tablet here that’ll make your work life smoother, sassier, and far more portable. From cheap and cheerful to premium and powerful, these four picks cover all the bases without wasting your budget on useless bells and whistles.
Still working from your phone? I’m not mad… I’m just disappointed.