10 Smart Features to Build Into New Chrome OS Tablets in 2017

Google wants to bring Chrome OS to tablets and hybrid notebooks, believing its low-footprint operating system can be as popular on tablets as it is on Chromebook models.

Any Chrome OS tablet designed to appeal to corporate and education customers needs to run on the full operating system. Too often, tablets ship with mobile-friendly operating systems that don’t deliver enough power for corporate users. Offering a full Chrome OS experience that can match existing Chromebooks would make the tablet an easier sell in the enterprise.

Big screens seem like a necessity for any device that would attract corporate attention. Business users care most about productivity, and big screens typically allow for more productivity, thanks to features such as side-to-side apps. The most successful Chrome OS tablets will be those with big displays.

In addition to screen technology, Chrome OS vendors should consider customers’ desire for plenty of processing power. Chrome OS tablets designed to attract corporate customers need to be powerful enough to handle sophisticated enterprise applications. Offering high-end Qualcomm or Intel chips should be a goal for Google and its partners.

Google and its vendor partners should anticipate corporate customers typically will use their Chrome OS tablets while traveling. The devices should be built with portability in mind and offer thin profiles. It also would be nice if the tablets were lightweight, so they would be easier to lug around.

Microsoft, Apple and Amazon are performing well in the tablet market by offering different versions to different customers. Those who want big devices with the most power can get that. Those who prefer portability over everything else can get that, too. Choice matters—and Chrome OS tablet vendors can’t forget that.

Stylus support has proven popular in the enterprise. In some cases, a stylus can be used to handle customer payments and in others, it’s a handy way for salespeople to get clients to sign contracts. Apple and Microsoft have acknowledged that trend with their Pencil and Surface Pen, respectively. Google’s hardware partners should follow suit with a stylus of their own.

As noted, Sheth believes detachables also could deliver Chrome OS. Detachables are tablets that can connect to a keyboard and be used as a notebook during certain circumstances. There already are two-in-one Chromebook hybrids on the market, but adding detachables expands the Chrome OS ecosystem and gives corporate customers the choice they so desire.

Quick-charging is a critical feature for corporate users who need to get their work done even when they don’t have easy access to a wall outlet during the day. Realizing that, Chrome OS tablet makers should consider seriously including quick-charging technology into their devices. The ability to boost battery life by 30 percent to 50 percent in just a few minutes would be a big selling point for corporate customers.

Both the enterprise and education markets care deeply about security. Chrome OS tablet makers would do well to bundle hardware encryption and other security features into their devices. Offering better security than competitors could mean the difference between attracting corporate customers and being passed over.

Amazon is one of the more popular tablet makers in the world right now because of its exceedingly low prices on tablets. And some industry analysts have said Apple and Microsoft could sell more tablets if their prices weren’t so high. Chrome OS tablet makers should learn those lessons and offer tablets that are much cheaper than those from Apple and Microsoft. Such a move could help them earn market share rather quickly.