The witching hour is approaching, and the last thing you need is a horror show at your haunt’s entrance. Scary-long lines and ghastly, outdated equipment can create a truly terrifying first impression. But a smooth-running box office helps you summon higher sales, keep your victims… uh, guests… happy, and ensures your team of ghouls isn’t stressed out.
That’s where a modern, tablet-based box office can work some serious black magic.
After more than 10 years in the haunt industry, we know what works in the dead of night. That’s why we’re unearthing our top 5 picks for budget-friendly tablets, perfect for running your in-person sales with HauntPay’s app: Passage Manager. These tablets are all possessed with compatibility for our app (available for iOS and Android) and are powerful enough to handle ticket, merch, and concession sales with supernatural ease.
Disclaimer: Prices are approximate and can change faster than a werewolf on a full moon. They vary based on the retailer and the configuration you choose. These links aren’t cursed with affiliate magic; we just wanted to make it easy for you to dig up more details.
1. Apple iPad (10th Generation) – The Overlord
- Price: Starts around $269
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Display Size: 10.9 inches
The Apple iPad is the undisputed overlord of the tablet underworld for a reason. It’s unnervingly reliable, devilishly user-friendly, and offers a smooth, professional experience. The 10th generation iPad is a fantastic value, with a large, bright screen that makes selling tickets and navigating your unholy horde of guests a dark breeze.
Why it’s great for your box office: The iPad’s long battery life will last through the witching hour and beyond. Its powerful processor ensures the Passage Manager app runs flawlessly, and the intuitive interface means you can summon your new staff and train them in minutes.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ – The Android Beast
- Price: Starts around $159.99
- Operating System: Android
- Display Size: 11 inches
For those who prefer the Android crypt, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is our top contender. It offers a large, vibrant display and zippy performance for a price that won’t make you scream. Samsung is known for its quality hardware, and this tablet is an absolute beast that can handle the demands of a busy haunt.
Why it’s great for your box office: The Galaxy Tab A9+ provides a fantastic big-screen experience without costing a ransom. It’s a reliable and powerful tool for managing sales and checking in souls.
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite – The Impish Pick
- Price: Starts around $99 – $135
- Operating System: Android
- Display Size: 8.7 inches
If you need a smaller, more portable phantom for your operations, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a wicked choice. Its compact size is perfect for walk-up sales or for your roaming ghouls who need to be mobile. Don’t let its small size fool you; this tablet is more than capable of running the Passage Manager app and handling your monstrous sales needs.
Why it’s great for your box office: The A7 Lite is the perfect choice for haunts where space is tight or when you need a POS solution that can follow you to the grave. It’s also one of the most affordable options on our list, making it a great choice for haunts on a skeleton-crew budget.
4. Lenovo Tab M11 – The High-Value Phantom
- Price: Starts around $119.99
- Operating System: Android
- Display Size: 11 inches
If you’re looking for the most boo for your buck, the Lenovo Tab M11 is a killer choice. It offers a large, bright 11-inch screen and performance that punches like a zombie rising from the grave, making it a powerful tool for your box office crypt at a frighteningly attractive price.
Why it’s great for your box office: The Tab M11 haunts that sweet spot, offering a screen size comparable to more expensive tablets but at a lower cost. It’s a reliable and impressive workhorse that proves you don’t need to sell your soul to get a great experience.
5. The Wandering Phantom: iPad mini (Refurbished)
- Price: Starts around $379 (Refurbished)
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Display Size: 8.3-inches
The iPad mini is monstrously powerful for its size. Its phantom-like weight and compact design make it the easiest tablet to carry while stalking your grounds all night. If your roaming ghouls need to move through crowds of victims to sell merch or scan souls away from the main crypt, the iPad mini is the perfect weapon for the job.
But this power comes with a price that could make a vampire pale, normally starting around $499 for a new unit. Its smaller screen might also be less ideal for your main, stationary sales terminal.
Summoning a Certified Refurbished iPad mini from Apple is a devious trick to slash the price, often saving you $100 or more. These reanimated devices are brought back from the dead with a brand new battery, a new outer shell, and Apple’s full one-year warranty, making them practically indistinguishable from a brand new one that just rolled off the slab.
How to Choose the Right Spellbook for Your Haunt
- Budget: How many souls are you willing to spend? Our list has options for every budget.
- Operating System: Do you prefer the sinister simplicity of iPad OS or the frightening flexibility of Android?
- Screen Size: Consider where you’ll be using the tablet. A larger screen is great for a fixed crypt, while a smaller screen is more portable for roaming the grounds.
No matter which tablet you choose, we’re here to help you run a terrifyingly smooth and successful box office. Need some help getting started? Or have questions about your in-person sales? Schedule a call with our team of crypt keepers (aka our support team). We’ve got your back!
For more information about the dark arts of the Passage Manager app, check out our help docs.
