Supported hardware
Official
Android 8.0 or later
Minimum 8 GB RAM for smooth, no lag experience
Minimum 64 GB storage
Devices
Off-the-shelf tablets like Samsung and Lenovo
Bespoke or built-to-spec tablets can be supplied on request
Peripherals such as scanners or printers are optional and supported
Power
Keep kiosks plugged in during operating hours
Devices we supply support 8+ hours of battery for power cuts
Network and connectivity
Throughput
Recommended 10 Mbps or higher
Video heavy sites 30 Mbps or higher
Absolute minimum 2 Mbps, not recommended unless unavoidable
4G SIMs are supported where Wi-Fi is unreliable, prioritise stability over peak speed
Wi-Fi and LAN
Use a dedicated SSID or VLAN for kiosks where possible
Disable captive portals on kiosk networks or pre-authorise devices
Allow outbound HTTPS to Merlin Cloud services and our CDN
Ensure DNS is reachable and not filtered for required domains
Time must be accurate, enable automatic date and time
Offline expectation
Devices should be online daily so analytics sync and releases apply promptly
Android OS configuration
Install the Merlin Cloud Package and enable Merlin Cloud Lockdown
Set Merlin Cloud as the default launcher or pinned app
Enable auto start on boot so the app launches after power restore
Keep screen awake during operating hours and set an appropriate screen timeout
Disable or relax battery optimisation for the kiosk app
Schedule OS updates outside customer hours
Set the correct timezone and default locale for the site
Technician tip
To exit Lockdown on a kiosk, tap the screen 7 times in the bottom-right corner
Storage and asset guidance
Keep several GB of free storage so the service worker can cache releases
Compress media before uploading to the CMS
Files over 1 MB increase update time and may fail on poor links
Prefer modern, web-optimised image formats and reasonable video bitrates
Local images are cached by the service worker and update when the app updates
Cache, reload and invalidation behaviour
The experience reloads every 15 minutes when online to fetch the latest code and files
Invalidation also runs:
On idle after 60 seconds when online
When the service worker updates after a new build is deployed
While offline the kiosk continues to serve the last cached release
Analytics and privacy defaults
Interactions are captured locally while offline and uploaded when online
Data is stored in localStorage and removed only after successful insertion into the database
Sessions use UUID v4 to dedupe; the most recent duplicate wins
We do not store sensitive data locally; sensitive inputs are redacted
Default retention on device: up to 30 days and 1,000 sessions
Enterprise options are available on request
Site readiness checklist
Hardware
Android 8.0+, 8 GB RAM, 64 GB storage
Mounting secure and accessible for staff
Power available and device charges correctly
Network
Stable connectivity that meets the throughput guidance
No captive portal or the device is pre-authorised
Firewall allows outbound HTTPS and DNS resolution
Time and timezone auto-set
App
Merlin Cloud Package installed and set as launcher
Lockdown enabled, exit gesture confirmed
Device name and location match your naming convention
Content
Campaign assigned to the device
Assets compressed, single files kept under 1 MB where possible
Preview checked on the device for the correct locale
Health
Heartbeat visible in the dashboard within 30 seconds
Status shows Green
Allow one 15-minute reload cycle to confirm update behaviour
Fallback and resilience
Confirm the branded No internet available splash appears when network is disabled
Restore network and verify analytics upload completes
Go-live steps
Connect device to production network and power
Sign in and link the device to its location in the dashboard
Assign the intended campaign version or the latest release
Verify Last seen and heartbeat history are updating
Trigger a small content change and wait for the next reload to confirm delivery
Use Beep device to locate hardware on site and confirm remote actions work
Ongoing operations
Keep devices online daily
Monitor Device health and act on Yellow or Red alerts
Use Kiosk remote capabilities and actions for day-to-day support
Review large assets regularly and re-compress where needed