Whether you run a busy restaurant, a small café, a boutique retail store or a chain supermarket, the POS terminal is the heart of your checkout counter. It handles orders, payments, inventory, staff management and customer data every day. But with so many models on the market, how do you choose the right one? This guide walks through the key decisions: business needs, screen size, single vs dual screen, hardware configuration, operating system and OEM/ODM customization.
Start with your daily workflow. A restaurant needs fast order entry, table management, kitchen display and split-bill functions. A retail store needs inventory tracking, barcode scanning, customer membership and multi-user login. A supermarket may need a large display for customer-facing promotions and self-service checkouts. Write down your top 5 must-have functions before comparing hardware, so you do not overpay for features you will never use.
Screen size affects both usability and counter space. Common sizes are 15.6 inch, 18.5 inch, 21.5 inch and 23.8 inch. A 15.6 inch terminal suits compact counters in cafés and small shops, while 21.5 inch and larger models give operators a comfortable touch area for complex software. Floor-standing models free up counter space and are ideal for supermarkets and self-service areas.
A single-screen POS is the most economical choice for small businesses. A dual screen POS terminal shows the operation screen to the cashier and a second screen to the customer, which can display prices, promotions, ads or digital receipts. Dual screen models are popular in restaurants, shopping malls and any store where customer engagement at checkout matters.
Configuration determines speed and long-term value. For most restaurants and retail stores, an Intel N95 or N97 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD is enough. For heavy software, large menus or multiple peripherals, choose an i3, i5 or i7 processor with 16GB or 32GB RAM. See our guide to choosing the right CPU for your POS terminal for a detailed comparison of N95, N97, i3, i5 and i7.
The operating system decides which software you can run. Windows POS terminals support almost all POS software and are easier to customize for OEM/ODM projects. Android POS terminals are affordable and simple for cloud-based apps. Read our comparison of Windows vs Android POS to decide which platform fits your software and budget.
If you are a distributor, reseller or brand owner, check whether the manufacturer offers OEM/ODM services: custom logo, custom boot logo, customized color, hardware configuration and packaging. A reliable factory with exclusive molds, stable quality control and a 3-year warranty protects your brand investment. Taixun supports Custom Logo & Hardware Customization with flexible MOQ and a lead time of 7-15 days.
Restaurant: 15.6 inch dual screen terminal, N97 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 11, with customer-facing display.
Retail store: 15.6 inch or 18.5 inch single screen terminal, N95 processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 10/11, with cash drawer and scanner.
Supermarket / self-service: 23.8 inch floor-standing self-service terminal with optional dual screen, i5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD.
Taixun designs and manufactures all-in-one POS terminals in Dongguan, China, with exclusive molds, aluminum alloy fanless cases and strict quality control. Every model supports custom logo, hardware configuration and OEM/ODM services. Contact our team with your requirements and we will recommend the right configuration, provide samples and deliver a quotation within 24 hours.
