iPad vs. Android tablet vs. ePaper
iPad and Android tablet alternative for meeting room displays
A tablet at every door needs power, a locked enclosure and device management. TRMNL ePaper displays run for months on a battery and do one job: show who has the room. Booking runs on both, so you can mix them.
The short answer
Pick the screen that fits the door.
ePaper is built to show room availability. A tablet is a general-purpose computer that you lock down to do the same job.
iPad: larger color display
- Larger, sharper color screen: 11 inches, 2360 × 1640
- More powerful hardware and a more versatile platform
- Needs constant power, a locked wall enclosure and kiosk lockdown
Best for: Rooms that need color, a richer interface or touch interaction.
Android tablet: the middle-priced tablet
- 11-inch color screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate (Galaxy Tab A11+)
- Lower list price than the iPad
- Still needs mains power, a locked mount and kiosk lockdown
- No months-long battery life, and not as simple to install as ePaper
Best for: Deployments that need a color tablet and can meet its installation needs.
ePaper: built for room availability
- Very low power use: 3–6 months between charges at typical refresh rates
- Mounts where there is no outlet or cable
- No kiosk lockdown or mobile device management (MDM) enrollment
- Reads like paper from any angle, and does not glow
- Smaller, grayscale screen: 7.5 inches on TRMNL OG
- Slower refresh than an LCD: about 2 seconds to redraw
Best for: Room names, availability and the day's meetings at the door.
Side by side
iPad, Android tablet and ePaper compared.
Tablet facts from Apple's and Samsung's public sites, last checked October 12th, 2026.
| Feature | iPadiPad 11-inch (A16) | GalaxyGalaxy Tab A11+ | TRMNLTRMNL OG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 11-inch LCD, 2360 × 1640, color | 11-inch LCD, 1920 × 1200, color | 7.5-inch ePaper, 800 × 480, 4 grays |
| Refresh | 60 Hz | 90 Hz | About 2 seconds per redraw |
| Power | Mains power, always on | Mains power, always on | Battery, 3–6 months a charge, USB-C |
| Wall mounting | Locking enclosure, plus a power cable or PoE | Locking enclosure, plus a power cable or PoE | Hook recess, no cable to the door |
| Kiosk lockdown | Guided Access, or Single App Mode on a supervised iPad | App pinning, or dedicated device mode through an MDM | Not needed: runs only TRMNL firmware |
| Device management | Supervised enrollment through Apple Business or another MDM | Android Enterprise enrollment through an MDM | TRMNL dashboard |
| Booking updates | Within a minute, in the browser | Within a minute, in the browser | Redrawn every 5 minutes, shown at the device's refresh rate |
| Walk-up booking | QR code, any phone | QR code, any phone | QR code, any phone |
| List price | $449 | $300 | $139 |
Any screen
Already have tablets? Use them too.
Booking runs on TRMNL ePaper displays, and in the browser on tablets and TVs. Mix them to fit each door. A room on several screens is billed once.
-
1
TRMNL ePaper display
Battery powered devices mounted anywhere. One-time purchase, supports 1,000+ types of content (weather, KPIs, etc) without a subscription to Booking.
-
2
Existing tablet, TV or LCD
Open the room or collection at its own private URL in a browser. It needs no login or app, and refreshes itself.
-
3
One hallway overview
Show a collection of rooms on a shared display: up to 9 resources in a grid, or 10 in a list.
ePaper & Tablet Cost Comparison
Total cost is more than the device price.
Installation can cost more than the hardware price difference. Booking costs the same on every screen, so this compares only what goes on the wall.
Tablets
Budget for a locking enclosure, a power adapter or Power over Ethernet (PoE), and maybe an electrician to put an outlet near the door.
Management
Tablets need supervised MDM enrollment to run reliably as dedicated room displays. Each one is enrolled, locked to one page and kept up to date.
ePaper
Attach the display to the wall. Recharge it over USB-C a few times a year.
Hardware & installation: estimated cost
| Rooms | iPadiPad 11-inch (A16) | GalaxyGalaxy Tab A11+ | TRMNLTRMNL OG |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
$2,720
$2,245 tablets + $475 enclosures |
$2,095
$1,500 tablets + $595 enclosures |
$695 No power work → save $1,400 vs. Galaxy |
|
10 |
$5,440
$4,490 tablets + $950 enclosures |
$4,190
$3,000 tablets + $1,190 enclosures |
$1,190 No power work → save $3,000 vs. Galaxy |
|
20 |
$10,880
$8,980 tablets + $1,900 enclosures |
$8,380
$6,000 tablets + $2,380 enclosures |
$2,380 No power work → save $6,000 vs. Galaxy |
- Tablets: the tablet at list price and a locking wall enclosure ($95 for the iPad and $119 for the Galaxy), at a door that already has an outlet.
- With new outlets: an electrician adds an outlet at each door, up to $350 each (a typical US range). New wiring costs more.
- TRMNL: a TRMNL OG for each room ($139 each, or $119 from 10 with team volume pricing). It hangs from its hook recess and runs on battery.
- Not included: PoE adapters (from $69), MDM licenses, IT time to enroll and lock down each tablet, tax and shipping. The Booking subscription is the same on all three.
Bottom line
Choose by the door, not the device.
Booking runs on every screen on this page, so the choice comes down to what each door needs.
Choose an iPad or Android tablet if
The larger color screen or richer interaction is worth the power, mounting and device management it needs.
Choose ePaper if
You want to show room availability reliably, with little wiring, upkeep or deployment work.
Already own tablets?
Use them with Booking: open the room's URL in the browser. Add ePaper displays at doors with no outlet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the tablets I already have?
Yes. Open any room or collection at its own private URL in the tablet's browser. It needs no login or app, and refreshes itself. To keep the page on screen, use Guided Access on an iPad or app pinning on Android.
How long does the battery last on a TRMNL display?
3 to 6 months per charge at typical refresh rates. Faster refresh uses more battery, so a display next to a busy room can stay plugged in over USB-C.
How quickly does a new booking show on the screen?
In a browser, within a minute. On ePaper, we redraw each room every five minutes, and the device shows it at its own refresh rate.
Can people book a room at the display?
Anyone who scans the QR code on the screen can book from their phone, with no TRMNL account or app. It works the same on ePaper and on tablets. The booking goes straight into your calendar.
Do TRMNL displays need MDM?
No. A TRMNL runs only TRMNL firmware. It pulls its screen from our server and cannot be accessed remotely. You manage it from the TRMNL dashboard.
Does a room cost more on several screens?
No. Booking is $8 a month, or $80 a year, for each bookable resource. A room on an ePaper display and on a tablet counts once.
Try Booking on your busiest room.
Create a free virtual device, connect one calendar and test the room display before you buy hardware. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial.
We sell TRMNL. Tablet facts and US list prices on this page come from Apple's and Samsung's public sites, checked on October 12th, 2026. Enclosure prices are Compulocks list prices. Installation costs are estimates, and vary by building and region. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. Galaxy Tab is a trademark of Samsung. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. TRMNL is not affiliated with Apple, Samsung or Google.
