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You don’t have to be an experienced tech shopper to buy the right tablet to support your business needs. Whether you need a powerful PC tablet with a detachable keyboard or a rugged, waterproof device with a high-resolution screen, this guide will help you make informed buying decisions. 

Follow these five steps to choose the best tablet for the job at hand.

The best way to narrow your tablet options is to identify a clear use case. Hold off on the purchase if you’re unsure exactly how you and your employees will use the tablets you’re buying.

Did you know?: There are many ways to use an iPad for business, including as a POS tool and to work with Microsoft’s Office mobile apps, QuickBooks, Slack, and Trello.

When budgeting for your business, your tablet use cases can determine how much to allocate to these devices. Tablets intended as primary devices – particularly rugged tablets – will cost much more than supplementary devices intended for checking emails on the go. 

Here are three general tablet use categories so you can set an estimated budget.

Tip: You need to secure all your devices from hackers, including your tablets. Install antivirus software, use strong passwords, and protect your network with a firewall.

App usage, cost, familiarity and preference should drive your operating system choice. If you have an IT department or outside tech consultant, ask their opinion before shopping. If you’re on your own in the tech department, this operating system guide should provide some clarity.

There are four primary tablet operating systems to consider.

FYI: A BYOD (bring your own device) policy lets employees use personal devices, such as tablets, for company work. If you have a BYOD policy, you should set clear security and usage protocols.

Many business tablet buyers find technical specs confusing. But you don’t have to know what every spec means. Once you get to this step, you’ve likely narrowed your tablet choice to a few devices, so focus on the specs you care about most. 

Here are the specs most likely to impact daily business use:

Tip: Visit our reviews of the best POS systems to find the right solution for your business. We recommend reading our full review of Epos Now, a POS system that works with iPads and Android tablets.

After working through the steps in our tablet buying guide, you’ll be able to make a decision before visiting a store or entering your payment info online. When you shop based on your needs, utility and budget, you avoid overpaying for bells and whistles you don’t need and underpaying for an inferior device.

Shayna Waltower contributed to the writing and research in this article.