Shepherd Fusion – MDM For Windows, Mac & More
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Guide to Shepherd MDM
Guide to Shepherd MDM
Shepherd MDM is HardSoft’s proprietary Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, designed specifically for Apple devices and tailored to meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses.
What Is Shepherd MDM?
Shepherd is a cloud-based MDM system that allows businesses to:
- Remotely manage Apple devices (MacBooks, iPads, iPhones)
- Automate device setup and software deployment
- Monitor device usage and enforce security policies
- Support BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) scenarios
It’s built with SMEs in mind, offering a streamlined interface and expert support for macOS, iOS and all other platforms.
Learn more about how to Protect your Digital Flock with Shepherd MDM
Using Shepherd MDM with Apple Business Manager
Shepherd integrates seamlessly with Apple Business Manager (ABM), enabling:
- Automated Device Enrolment (ADE)
- Bulk app distribution via Apple’s Volume Purchase Program
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Managed Apple IDs and device override capabilities
This integration simplifies the deployment and management of Apple hardware across your organisation.
Learn more about Shepherd MDM and Apple Business Manager
Key Features of Shepherd MDM
- Automated Device Enrolment (ADE)
- Real-Time Monitoring & Alerting
- Remote Command Execution
- Live Device Shell & Screen Sharing
- Self-Service App Catalogue
- Dynamic Peer-to-Peer LANCache
- Integrated Remote Control
- Cloud-Based Architecture
- Live Script Execution
- Hardware & Software Inventory Dashboards
These features provide granular control over device usage, enhance cybersecurity, and streamline IT operations.
How to Add Shepherd MDM to Apple Business Manager
To link Shepherd with ABM:
- Download the DDM public key from Shepherd.
- Log into ABM with a Managed Apple ID.
- Navigate to Device Management Settings.
- Add a new DDM server and upload the public key.
- Download the server token and upload it back into Shepherd.
- Assign devices to the DDM server for automatic enrolment.
Shepherd MDM vs Jamf Now
With so many MDM options out there, Shepherd stands out by offering:
- Lower cost than Jamf Fundamentals
- More features tailored to small business needs
- Easier onboarding and expert support
Learn more about how Shepherd compares to other MDM solutions
Cybersecurity and Productivity Benefits
Shepherd DDM enhances:
- Cybersecurity: Prevents data breaches through app restrictions and remote wipe capabilities.
- Productivity: Automates onboarding, software updates, and device configuration.
- Compliance: Ensures devices meet company policies, even in remote work settings.
Learn more about Protecting Your Flock of Business IT Devices with Shepherd MDM
Final Thoughts
Shepherd MDM is a robust, affordable, and user-friendly solution for businesses managing Apple devices. Its seamless integration with Apple Business Manager and rich feature set make it an ideal choice for SMEs looking to enhance security, streamline operations, and future-proof their IT infrastructure.
For more detailed guidance, explore the full blog series linked throughout this guide.
Shepherd for Mobile – MDM For iPhone & iPad
Shepherd For Apple – MDM For Every Apple Device
iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Pixel 11 Pro Fold
iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Pixel 11 Pro Fold
This guide compares the iPhone Duo, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, focusing on the features that matter at work and which model best suits each business role.
Quick Summary
These three foldables all promise the same headline trick: a bigger screen that folds away. However, they’re built on different foundations.
The iPhone Duo runs Apple’s A20 Pro and iOS, the Fold8 runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Android with Samsung’s Galaxy AI layered on top, and the Pixel runs Google’s own Tensor G6 with Gemini Intelligence built in.
That single choice of platform shapes everything that follows: which AI assistant does the heavy lifting and how well it fits alongside the rest of your fleet.
When leased through HardSoft, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts from around £12.77 plus VAT per week, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold from £13.14 plus VAT per week, and the Apple iPhone Duo from £13.17 plus VAT per week.
With only a small difference between the advertised starting prices, platform compatibility and role suitability are likely to matter more than price for many organisations.
At a Glance: iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 vs Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
| Apple iPhone Duo | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 | Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold | ||
| Processor | A20 Pro chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Google Tensor G6 | |
| Dimensions when unfolded(H x W x D) | 4.6-inch x 6.5-inch x 0.2-inch | 4.9-inch x 6.4-inch x 0.2-inch | 6.1-inch x 5.9-inch x 0.2-inch | |
| Dimensions when folded (H x W x D) | 4.6-inch x 3.3-inch x 0.4-inch | 4.9-inch x 3.2-inch x 0.4-inch | 6.1-inch x 3.0-inchx 0.4-inch | |
| Weight | 254g | 201g | 239g | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| Inner Display | 7.6-inch OLED screen | 7.6-inch AMOLED 2Xscreen | 8.0-inch Super Actua Flex screen | |
| Outer Display | 5.4-inch OLED screen | 5.5-inch AMOLED 2X screen | 6.5-inch Super Actua screen | |
| Authentication | Touch ID | Fingerprint and face unlock | Fingerprint and face unlock | |
| AI Capability | Apple Intelligence and Siri AI | Galaxy AI | Gemini | |
| Leasing from (plus VAT per week) | £13.17 | £12.77 | £13.14 | |
iPhone Duo: The First Foldable for Apple-First Teams
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, and for people who want the working space of a smaller iPad without carrying a second device, it’s a genuine two-in-one.
Performance. The A20 Pro pairs a 6-core CPU with a 7-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine, backed by vapour cooling to keep things steady through sustained work. Siri AI can pull information from emails and notes and act inside supported apps (features and languages vary).
Memory. Storage starts at 256GB, rising to 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. 256GB is plenty if company files live in the cloud; go for 512GB or more if your people keep large project files offline, or if the phone needs to last a longer lease.
Connectivity. The Duo is eSIM only, which makes activating and managing plans simpler but rules out a physical SIM. USB-C is on board, and Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance via satellite add reassurance for anyone working away from the office.
Display, battery and build. Opened, the 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, this means more room for side-by-side apps and a wider on-screen keyboard. Grade 5 titanium, a protected hinge and a scratch-resistant inner finish add durability, and it’s water resistant too.
The dual-battery system reaches 50% charge in around 20 minutes with a compatible charger, and runs up to 31 hours of video on the inner display or 44 hours on the outer one. It’s worth remembering that the bigger screen costs more battery, so the outer display is the better call when runtime matters more than workspace.
The iPhone Duo can also sit partially folded in Seated Mode, turning one half into a built-in stand for video calls, presentations or watching content hands-free.
Note one trade-off: Touch ID is the only biometric sign-in — there’s no Face ID, so teams expecting it should factor that in.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8: A Lighter Foldable Built for Android Teams
At 201g, the Fold8 is unusually light for a foldable phone. It is built to stay comfortable in someone’s pocket or hand throughout a full working day, not just for the odd meeting.
Performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is built to keep demanding apps and Galaxy AI tools running smoothly, so multitasking and busy workloads don’t cause it to lag.
Memory. 12GB of memory comes as standard, with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options. That’s a generous starting point for a phone and gives it the headroom to stay responsive over a longer lease.
Connectivity. Support for both a physical SIM and eSIM; this is useful for teams who need the flexibility of a physical card as well as digital plans.
Display, battery and build. A 5.5-inch cover screen in a tall 10:16 shape for quick tasks, opening out to a 7.6-inch, 4:3 main display with an anti-reflective finish for working on documents or apps side by side. A dual layer of Flex Titanium reinforces the shock-absorbing layer beneath the folding screen, with an Armor Aluminium frame and Corning Gorilla Glass adding further protection. The battery runs up to 26 hours of video playback.
Security. Business data can be encrypted and stored on-device using Knox Vault and KEEP, and users can choose whether supported Galaxy AI tasks run on the device or in the cloud. That provides extra control when your team handles confidential client, customer or company information.
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold: A Foldable That Thinks Like Google
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the pick for Google-first teams with Gemini and Google’s AI tools built in from the start, with the security credentials to back it up.
Performance. The all-new Google Tensor G6 provides up to 50% more TPU power, with around 20% better efficiency and roughly 15% faster app launching than the previous generation.
Memory. You get 16GB of memory as standard, plus the same choice of storage as the Galaxy Fold8: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB.
Connectivity. Like the iPhone Duo, the Google Fold is eSIM only, with satellite emergency services adding extra reassurance for people travelling or working away from reliable mobile coverage.
Display, battery and build. Open it up and you get an 8-inch Super Actua Flex OLED display. Tabletop mode lets you sit the phone partly folded on a desk, which is useful for hands-free video meetings. The battery is designed to run more than 24 hours of typical use and reaches 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a compatible wired charger.
Security. The Titan M3 security chip helps protect company information against digital attacks, and a built-in VPN adds protection when people connect away from the office. Call screening handles unknown callers before they interrupt the working day, and face unlock gives quick access to the phone.
A Setup Worth Unfolding
For Apple Teams
For anyone leaning into the Apple ecosystem, the new Apple Watch Series 12 keeps notifications, health data and Apple Intelligence insights on the wrist, so your people aren’t unlocking the phone every few minutes. An Apple Pencil rounds it out, turning the unfolded Duo display into something you can actually annotate, sign or sketch on.
For Samsung Teams
Add a wireless keyboard and mouse and your people can work from any desk. Between meetings, a Galaxy Watch keeps calls, alerts and health tracking on the wrist.
For Google Teams
Google’s foldables suit people who spend the day between meetings and the road. A Pixel Watch handles quick replies, reminders and Gemini prompts, so the phone can stay in a pocket, while Pixel Buds give clean audio on calls and live translation when you’re working across languages.
And for the essentials, a USB-C charging cable and power adapter remain the one thing every team keeps asking for.
Managing Phones at Scale with Mobile Device Management
Whichever foldable your team ends up with – or if it’s a mix of all three – managing them at scale is just as important as choosing them. That’s where Shepherd, HardSoft’s own Mobile Device Management (MDM) service, comes in. An MDM service gives your IT team one place to set up devices, install work apps, apply security rules and protect or wipe company data remotely if a phone is lost or stolen.
We have three solutions designed to fit your business:
- For an Apple-only fleet built around the Duo, Shepherd for Mobile covers iPhones and iPads with device enrolment, app deployment and remote security controls built specifically for iOS.
- If your business runs Macs and iPhones together, Shepherd for Apple extends that same management across macOS and iOS from one place.
- For teams using a mixture of the iPhone Duo, Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold,
Shepherd Fusion manages each operating system from a single dashboard, so IT isn’t juggling three different platforms to keep devices secure, updated and compliant.
Whichever foldable ends up in someone’s hand, Shepherd means it’s managed the same way as everything else in your fleet.
Matching the Foldable to the Role
| Role | Best Fit | Why |
| Admin, operations & reception | Standard iPhone/Android | Calls and email alone rarely justify the additional cost of a foldable phone – save your budget |
| Sales, account management & field teams | Duo or Fold8 | Side-by-side apps for CRM and email, wide keyboard for quotes on the move |
| Apple-first leadership & creatives | Duo | Apple Pencil annotation, Apple Watch and AirPods fit naturally into the same ecosystem |
| Android-first & lightweight carry | Fold8 | 201g keeps it wearable all day; physical SIM support for teams who still need it |
| Google-first & hybrid workers | Pixel 11 Pro Fold | Gemini Intelligence, tabletop mode for hands-free calls, strong on-device security |
| Confidential data & regulated roles | Pixel 11 Pro Fold or Fold8 | Titan M3 plus built-in VPN, or Knox Vault with on-device/cloud AI choice |
| Battery-first, all-day field use | Duo (outer display) or Pixel 11 Pro Fold | 44 hours on the Duo’s outer screen, 24+ hours typical use on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold |
The Leasing Maths
The new foldable phones all carry premium price tags, and none of them come in under £1,000. If you’re considering equipping your team with these, that number adds up fast and eats into your budget quickly. That’s exactly where leasing helps.
Take the iPhone Duo: £1,999 upfront is a serious outlay, but with HardSoft leasing, that shrinks to £13.17 plus VAT per week. And we lease all three foldables, so your business has options depending on how your team actually works.
Why Lease with HardSoft
But with so many leasing companies out there, the question is: why HardSoft?
Here are just a few reasons:
- 40 years of experience, backed by a 4.9 Trustpilot rating from over 1,500 reviews
- A choice of devices and a choice of leasing plans, so you can balance affordability against contract length
- Real, human UK-based support — with multiple plans depending on how much help you need
- Tax-efficient, predictable monthly pricing
- Beyond our MDM service, lifecycle support like Boomerang keeps devices moving smoothly through their working life
Which Product Should You Lease?
There is no universal winner. The best foldable phone for your business is the model that fits your existing technology platform, security policies and everyday workflows.
Choose the iPhone Duo for an Apple-led environment, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 for flexible Android productivity, or the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold for Google Workspace teams seeking deeper Gemini integration. With only a small difference between the advertised starting lease prices, role suitability, security and manageability should carry more weight than price alone.
There is only 40p per week between the cheapest and most expensive phone, or £20.80 across a full year. The comparison is based on the advertised starting configurations and current lease pricing. Prices, configurations and availability may change.
At that level, buying on price alone makes little sense. Match each phone to the team that will get the most from it, even if that means using different models across different departments.
Lease the iPhone Duo from £13.17 plus VAT per week, the Galaxy Z Fold8 from £12.77 plus VAT per week, or the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold from £13.14 plus VAT per week.
Speak to our team and we will help you build the right setup for your business.
FAQs
Foldable phones can be valuable for employees who regularly work across email, CRM platforms, documents, presentations and video meetings while away from a desk. A conventional smartphone may remain more cost-effective for roles focused mainly on calls, messaging and email.
All three devices may provide access to Microsoft 365 applications. The best option will depend on the organisation’s identity platform, security requirements, mobile device management arrangements and existing device ecosystem.
Compatible foldable phones can be managed through supported mobile device management platforms. Available controls may include application deployment, security policies, compliance monitoring, configuration management and remote wiping.
Leasing can reduce upfront expenditure and make device refresh costs more predictable. Businesses should compare the total contract cost, support arrangements, flexibility and end-of-term options rather than evaluating the weekly price alone.
The Business Guide to On-Device AI: How to Cut the Cloud Cord in 2026
Quick Summary
If you’ve spent the last two years watching your team test-drive AI tools, you’ve probably noticed two things: it’s incredibly powerful, and your cloud bills are becoming weirdly expensive.
In 2026, businesses are realising that sending every single prompt to a distant data centre is slow, pricey and a compliance minefield. That’s why the tide is turning toward AI independence — running powerful AI models directly on the laptops and desktops your team uses every day.
This guide pulls together everything you need to know: why businesses are switching, who’s building the best AI hardware right now (Apple, NVIDIA and AMD have all thrown their hats in), and exactly which setup fits your team.
We’ve been kitting out UK businesses for 40 years, so these aren’t generic picks — they’re the machines we actually put on people’s desks.
First, What Does “On-Device AI” Actually Mean?
Let’s clear up the jargon, because three very different things get lumped together.
- Consumer cloud AI is opening a browser to ask ChatGPT or Gemini a quick question. Handy, but a standalone service — not part of your core IT.
- Enterprise cloud AI is the corporate platforms and background automations that rent processing power from distant data centres. This is where the costs live.
- True on-device AI means the actual language models are installed and executed entirely within your physical hardware. If a tool needs an active internet connection to function, it isn’t on-device.
That last one is the game-changer — and it’s finally practical for everyday business machines.
The “Cloud Hangover”: Why Businesses Are Switching
The honeymoon period with cloud-based AI is ending. According to recent market data, a staggering 91% of enterprise IT leaders report significant issues with their cloud AI partnerships — citing data security, cost and disappointing performance. A pivot toward on-device AI tackles three headaches:
- The “experimentation tax.” In the cloud, every time you ask AI to “summarise this report” or “fix this code,” a meter runs. These are inference costs — the price of the AI actually doing the work — and they’re wildly unpredictable as more staff pile in.
- The privacy paradox. To use cloud AI, you send your data to a third party. Even with “enterprise” protections, 76% of organisations worry about data leakage. If you handle proprietary designs or sensitive client info, risk mitigation isn’t enough — you need risk elimination.
- The visibility gap. It’s easy to track a monthly SaaS bill. It’s much harder to see the hidden costs — the hours your technical teams burn on security reviews and compliance paperwork just to get a project over the line.
Local AI also simply feels faster. There’s no internet round trip to a remote data centre, so responses often begin almost immediately.
The Privacy Advantage
At HardSoft, we talk a lot about architectural privacy. It sounds technical, but it’s dead simple: data that never leaves your computer cannot be leaked.
Run AI locally and your customer data, codebases and internal research stay behind your firewall. You can pull the internet cable out of the wall and everything still works — because all the capability and data is on your machine. No 20-page Data Processing Agreement required, because the data isn’t going anywhere.
In regulated sectors like healthcare, finance and law, where data sovereignty is a legal requirement rather than a nice-to-have, that’s enormous.
Understanding the “10 Billion Rule”
“Surely my laptop isn’t powerful enough to run a ‘real’ AI?” In 2024, you’d have been right. In 2026, you’re likely wrong.
One of the biggest myths is that you need a massive, trillion-parameter cloud model for everyday tasks. In reality, 57% of the AI tasks businesses run rely on lightweight models with fewer than 10 billion parameters — the ones handling routine data formatting, file indexing and document summaries.
Here’s the catch: most companies are still renting cloud space to run these lightweight models, racking up needless API bills. You’re paying for the big daddy but getting a (more than capable) minnow to do the work.
A 10-billion-parameter model doesn’t need a data centre. It only needs around 12GB of memory to run well, because modern AI formats shrink big models so they run locally without a noticeable drop in quality (it’s called quantisation, if you’re curious). Most high-end business laptops today handle this with ease.
Jargon alert — “parameters.” Think of these as the brain cells of an AI. The headline-grabbing models have trillions, but an AI with 10 billion cells is more than smart enough for conversational AI, complex summarisation and even advanced coding assistance.
The Contenders: Apple vs NVIDIA vs AMD
The best news for business? This is no longer a one-horse race. In just eight short months the market has completely transformed, and there’s now an AI-ready machine tailored to every role in your company.
Apple: the unified memory long game
It’s a common misconception that Apple jumped on the AI bandwagon. In fact, the company started baking “neural engines” — parts dedicated purely to AI — into its chips back in 2017. Every lesson learned went into the M-series processors that power today’s MacBooks, where the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine all work together.
Apple’s secret weapon is Unified Memory Architecture (UMA). In a traditional PC, the processor and the graphics card have separate pools of memory, and shuttling data between them creates a bottleneck. Apple gave the whole chip one massive, shared, high-speed reservoir instead. That’s why a 128GB MacBook Pro can run a 70-billion-parameter model with ease — no cloud required. Need to go bigger? The Mac Studio, with up to 512GB of unified memory, chews through models over 100 billion parameters right at your desk.
This isn’t “toy model” territory, either. Forward-thinking firms are now running massive open-weight models locally with output quality practically indistinguishable from top-tier cloud models — at zero per-token cost and with absolute privacy.
The Mac mini as a 24/7 “AI agent hub”
One of the most interesting trends of 2026 is the humble Mac mini as an “AI agent hub” — a small, quiet, low-power machine running background AI 24/7, organising files and monitoring data while you sleep. Under the latest macOS you can even daisy-chain several together into a private AI supercomputer in the corner of the office. For some firms, moving routine tasks off the cloud and onto local minis has cut total cost of ownership by more than 50%.
Bonus: Apple’s Private Cloud Compute handles the occasional oversized task on secure Apple Silicon servers without retaining your data afterwards — and it’s included natively in Apple Intelligence, no extra token fees.
NVIDIA: raw power and universal compatibility
NVIDIA took the early crown by dropping powerful discrete GPUs straight into Windows workstations, letting businesses stop paying per-token cloud fees and start running models in-house. And it isn’t backing down.
Interestingly, 56% of organisations using Macs for local AI also deploy NVIDIA hardware — they’re not switching teams, they’re building hybrid fleets to get the best of both.
NVIDIA’s real trump card is compatibility: because most of the world’s AI software is built for its tech, technical teams prefer it for heavy-duty projects. It’s also pushed into mobile with the RTX Spark platform, powering AI-ready Windows laptops like the Surface Laptop Ultra.
For serious local AI teams, dedicated systems like the HP ZGX Nano and Lenovo ThinkStation PGX run models up to 200B+.
AMD: the efficiency enablers
The biggest surprise of 2026 has been the rapid rise of AMD. Rather than chase the biggest, most power-hungry chip, AMD built a brilliant middle ground: significantly more AI performance than a standard office laptop, but without the heat, noise and eye-watering energy bills of a top-tier rig.
Its new Halo chip lineup launches at roughly 20% cheaper than competing NVIDIA options — which makes AMD-powered devices ideal for wide-scale company rollouts, not just a treat for the developers.
It lets whole teams effortlessly run the 57% of everyday AI tasks that don’t need a massive, expensive tech stack.
Cloud vs Local: Where Do Your Tools Actually Run?
To build a smart hardware strategy, you need to know which tools need the internet and which run entirely offline.
AI Tool / Platform | Deployment Type | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Top-end commercial models (e.g. GPT-4o, Gemini Pro, Claude) | Cloud only | Too large for standard business hardware. They need data centres, so your data must leave your network. |
| Corporate assistants (e.g. Microsoft Copilot, Google Workspace AI) | Hybrid / cloud | Integrated into your apps, but the heavy processing and data retrieval still happen on external servers. |
| Open-weight models (e.g. Llama, Phi-4, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek) | 100% local | The full model files sit on your hardware and process data entirely offline, behind your firewall, with total privacy. |
The 2026 rule of thumb: use cloud platforms for massive, creative or web-scale research where data sensitivity isn’t a barrier. For routine automation, private company data and 24/7 background agents, run open-weight models locally on your leased hardware to kill subscription costs and guarantee privacy.
Jargon alert — “open-weight model.” Standard cloud AI keeps its system locked away behind an internet wall. An open-weight model hands you the finished, fully trained settings so you can run it 100% offline with total privacy.
Match the Hardware to Your Team
The smartest businesses right now aren’t just buying “faster computers” — they’re building targeted technology portfolios. Think of the switch you made to Netflix: you didn’t rip the aerial off the roof, you kept the BBC and ITV too.
Here, the cloud is Netflix and your local machines are the trusty aerial. Whatever your team size, the goal is identical: absolute privacy, predictable costs and flawless performance.
Business Type | Recommended Hardware | Why It Works | Cloud Use? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agile team of 10 — creative, marketing, consulting | MacBook Air (24GB) | Runs lightweight sub-15B models locally; perfect balance of portability and capability | Rare — only for occasional heavy workloads |
| Tech-heavy team of 20 — developers, data, sensitive client work | MacBook Pro M-series (128GB) | 128GB unified memory loads 70B–122B models natively for offline code review and deep logic | Optional — for deployment and huge datasets |
| Professional services firm of 50 — legal, finance, recruitment | Standard laptops + Mac mini “agent hubs” | Minis run 24/7 indexing behind your firewall; can cut cloud costs by 50%+ | Yes — for deep analysis across large archives |
| Scaling team of 100+ — everyone needs AI | AMD-powered Windows laptops + NVIDIA workstations | AMD = efficient everyday AI; NVIDIA = heavy technical workloads, without breaking the budget | Yes — for high-volume spikes and multi-department tasks |
| Enterprise of 500+ — global, complex automation | Mac Studio clusters (1TB+ pooled memory) | Sovereign, high-memory local processing for sensitive R&D | Definitely — for ultra-massive, multi-layered workloads |
The strategy today is never about buying the most expensive machine available — it’s about matching the right tool to the job. For raw memory capacity, the Mac Studio and MacBook Pro are hard to beat. For specialist engineering, NVIDIA workstations offer industry-standard software support. For a mobile workforce, AMD ultra-portables and Copilot+ Windows laptops deliver local AI speed with all-day battery.
Don’t see your setup? Talk to our AI leasing experts
Your On-Device AI FAQs
Is on-device AI really as good as the cloud? For what most businesses do day-to-day, yes — and it’s often faster, because you’re not waiting on a busy cloud server to respond.
Does “on-device” mean we can’t use the cloud at all? Not at all. The future is hybrid. Modern operating systems are smart enough to process everyday tasks locally for free, then tap secure cloud infrastructure only when you need the extra muscle. You get local privacy and infinite cloud scale.
Isn’t the upfront hardware cost too high? You’re trading a never-ending monthly bill for a fixed cost you can manage. Buying outright is a big CapEx hit, though — which is exactly why leasing is so popular (more below).
What about data security? This is the single biggest win. What never leaves your computer cannot be leaked to third-party servers. No complex data agreements, no exposure.
So the future is hybrid? That’s where we’d put our money. On-device AI brings speed, security and savings; cloud AI is your super-sub for when things get heavy.
Leasing AI Supercomputers With HardSoft
Here’s the honest bit: the hardware that makes on-device AI possible isn’t cheap to buy outright. A capable AI workstation runs anywhere from £2,000 to £7,000+, and buying a fleet of them is a serious capital hit. That’s why the shift to local AI and the shift to leasing go hand in hand — you swap unpredictable cloud fees for one fixed, predictable monthly cost.
Thousands of UK businesses already lease their workplace devices from HardSoft. For a single all-in monthly payment, we supply fully AI-ready tech, pre-configured to your exact specs and backed by Apple- and Microsoft-certified support. You can bundle in insurance, lifecycle logistics, security software and MDM — all on one agreement, with one point of support.
Build Your AI-Ready Fleet with HardSoft
We’ve spent 40 years helping businesses get the right tech at the right time — from global brands like LG and Levi’s to hundreds of fast-growing smaller firms. It’s IT leasing, reinvented.
Whether you’re kitting out a creative team of ten or building a private AI supercomputer cluster, the question is no longer if your business should run AI locally — it’s where. Explore the full range of NVIDIA-powered supercomputers, Copilot+ PCs and Apple Intelligence machines ready to lease today, and cut the cloud cord for good.
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Compared for Business: Book6 vs Book6 Pro vs Book6 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Compared for Business: Book6 vs Book6 Pro vs Book6 Ultra
This guide compares the three Intel-powered Galaxy Book6 models — the Book6, Book6 Pro and Book6 Ultra — and helps you work out which one is right for your team.
Quick Summary
Samsung has become one of the most interesting Windows laptop brands for business, and the Galaxy Book6 range highlights why.
All three models share a processor generation but differ in screen, ports and headroom: the standard Book6 pairs an IPS panel with 16GB of RAM you can’t upgrade after purchase, the Pro doubles that ceiling to 32GB and adds Wi-Fi 7 and single-cable Thunderbolt 4 docking, and the Ultra adds an RTX GPU for teams requiring dedicated graphics (video, design and 3D work.)
Our pick: the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro 14” is the right device for most business teams. Enjoy a 1,000-nit AMOLED touchscreen and 30-hour battery at 1.24kg — leasing from £10.53 per week with a free dock!
What All Three Galaxy Book6 Models Share
Every Galaxy Book6 runs Intel’s latest Core Ultra (Series 3) “Panther Lake” silicon, with an NPU fast enough to qualify all three as Copilot+ PCs — 49 TOPS on the Book6, 50 TOPS on the Pro and Ultra.
On-device AI features run locally rather than sending your data off to the cloud. If your team handles sensitive information, that’s reassuring.
They also share the same dependable basics: a solid aluminium body, a comfortable full-size keyboard, a sharp webcam for video calls, and a fingerprint reader to log in. Plus, multi control lets you work across your phone and tablet from one keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy Book6: The Everyday Workhorse
Best for: admin, reception, field staff — anyone living in Outlook, Teams and a browser.
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 325 or Ultra 7 355, with 16GB RAM, a 512GB or 1TB SSD and Intel integrated graphics.
Display: a 14″ or 16″ anti-glare display that’s bright and easy on the eyes in an office. It’s a standard LCD, though — not the richer, more colourful AMOLED screen you get on the Pro.
Ports: 2× USB-C, 2× USB-A, HDMI, microSD, combo jack, Kensington slot and Gigabit Ethernet — one up on the Pro. That RJ45 is worth having for fixed-desk staff or sites with patchy Wi-Fi. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E, not Wi-Fi 7.
Battery: 24 hours on Samsung’s video playback test. At 14.9mm and 1.74kg, it’s the chunkiest of the three despite being the least powerful.
Trackpad: a mechanical clickpad rather than the Pro’s haptic pad — stiffer near the top edge, less consistent across the surface.
The catch: 16GB is the ceiling, and memory can’t be upgraded after purchase.
Lease from £11.04 per week for the 14″ or £11.80 per week for the 16″.
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro: The Business Pick
Best for: almost everyone. Managers, consultants, developers, sales, finance, hybrid workers.
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H or Ultra X7 358H with Intel Arc graphics, 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5X RAM and a fast PCIe SSD. Samsung quotes 60% more CPU and 70% more GPU power than the last generation — enough for large datasets, heavy multitasking and light video work, without paying workstation prices.
Display: A 14″ or 16″ AMOLED touchscreen — the same bright, punchy screen technology Samsung puts in its top phones. It’s sharp, colourful and glare-resistant, so it stays clear and readable on a train, in a sunny meeting room, or out at a client’s office.
Battery: 30 hours on Samsung’s video playback test. It’s light too — the 16″ is 11.9mm and 1.59kg, the 14″ 11.6mm and 1.24kg.
Cooling & trackpad: it runs cooler and quieter than the standard Book6, so the fan stays quiet on calls, and the trackpad is the smooth, pressure-sensitive kind that clicks evenly wherever you press.
Ports: 2× Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, a card reader and a combo jack, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. HDMI 2.1 drives 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz, so one cable handles most meeting-room displays without an adapter — and Thunderbolt 4 carries displays, data, network and power to a dock over a single connection.
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro: 14-inch or 16-inch?
Both share the same processors, RAM options, AMOLED resolution and ports — so the choice is about how your people work.
Pick the 14″ for anyone on the move. At 1.24kg it’s the lighter travel machine, its battery stretches furthest, it’s cheaper to lease — and it comes with the free i-tec dock, so it turns into a full desk setup the moment it’s back at base.
Pick the 16″ for desk-based staff who value screen space. The larger panel suits spreadsheets, side-by-side windows and long document work, and it steps up to quad speakers (the 14″ runs dual) for clearer conference calls.
Lease from £10.53 per week for the 14″ or £14.56 per week for the 16″.
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: The Specialist
Best for: video editors, 3D and CAD users, data scientists, developers compiling large builds.
Processor & graphics: everything the Pro has, plus a powerful dedicated NVIDIA graphics card — the sort video editors and 3D designers rely on — with 32GB of memory and a 1TB drive as standard, on a 16″ AMOLED screen.
Cooling & charging: beefed-up cooling to handle the extra power, better speakers, and the fastest charging in the range — around 65% in half an hour.
Ports: the same as the Pro, with one addition — a full-size SD card slot that photographers and videographers will use every day.
Weight: still slim, but heavier at 1.89kg because of that RTX GPU. An Intel Arc variant drops that to 1.79kg.
The catch: unless your team genuinely edits 4K video, renders 3D or runs heavy AI work, that expensive graphics card mostly sits there unused. Ideal for a handful of specialists; overkill for a whole team.
At a Glance
| Galaxy Book6 | Galaxy Book6 Pro | Galaxy Book6 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Core Ultra 5 325 / Ultra 7 355 | Core Ultra 7 356H / X7 358H | Core Ultra 7 356H / X7 358H |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | NVIDIA RTX 5060 / 5070 (8GB) |
| Display | 14″/16″ IPS FHD+ anti-glare | 14″/16″ AMOLED 2X touch, WQXGA+ | 16″ AMOLED 2X touch, WQXGA+ |
| Refresh rate | Up to 120Hz | Adaptive 30–120Hz | Adaptive 30–120Hz |
| Memory | 16GB | 16GB / 32GB | 32GB |
| Storage | 512GB / 1TB SSD | 512GB / 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| NPU | 49 TOPS | 50 TOPS | 50 TOPS |
| Ports | 2× USB-C, 2× USB-A, HDMI, microSD, Ethernet, combo jack, lock slot | 2× Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, card reader, combo jack | 2× Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, full-size SD (UHS-II), combo jack |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 |
| Battery | Up to 24 hrs | Up to 30 hrs | Up to 30 hrs |
| Weight (16″) | 1.74kg | 1.59kg | 1.89kg |
| Best for | Everyday productivity | Professional teams | Creative & technical specialists |
| Leasing from | £11.04/week | £10.53/week | £25.51/week |
Why Lease Rather Than Buy?
Buying a fleet of Galaxy Book6 Pros outright is a five-figure capital hit before you’ve even configured a single device. Leasing turns that into a predictable weekly operating cost with no upfront outlay, and lease payments are typically fully tax-deductible — unlike a purchase, where you’re working through capital allowances.
It also solves the awkward question of what to do with ageing kit. Buy it, and it’s yours to deal with for years. Lease it, and there’s a clean way out at the end:
- Flexi-Lease — our most popular option. Switch devices, cancel, or own the kit for £1 at the end of term (from just 12 months).
- Pure Rental — around 30% cheaper. Switch, cancel, or return and refresh onto new hardware at expiry (after 3 or 5 years).
- Devices for Teams — our most flexible option for 50+ users, ideal for fast-growing teams with headcount changes.
Every lease includes lifetime Silver Support with a loan device if one fails, plus Gold and Platinum plans for faster response. Add SafeGuard Protection, Microsoft 365 Business Premium from £5.55/week, Shepherd MDM, Boomerang for device lifecycle management, or carbon offsetting from £1.15/week — and earn Rewards points throughout.
The Verdict
For most UK businesses, the Galaxy Book6 Pro is the right device. Professional performance, an outstanding display, Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7, all-day battery and Windows 11 Pro security — in a machine light enough that people can work on the go. With the free dock on the 14″, it’s a complete desk-and-travel setup for £10.53 a week per user.
Ready to talk numbers? Build your lease solution online, or get in touch — we’ll spec a fleet around how your team works.
Apple MacBook Pro
Elevate Your Business with the MacBook Pro
Designed for professionals who need serious performance, the Apple MacBook Pro range features 14-inch M5 and M5 Pro models alongside the powerful AI Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M5 Max, 128GB RAM and 4TB SSD storage. With Apple Intelligence support, a Liquid Retina XDR display, all-day battery life and enterprise-grade security, MacBook Pro is built for demanding creative, analytical and technical workloads. Pair with Shepherd MDM for simplified deployment, management and security across your Apple devices.
- High‑performance M5 power built for demanding business workflows
IT Leasing Reinvented – Bespoke IT leasing with inclusive Support
-
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5Memory 16GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £10.64See product -
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5Memory 24GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £11.71See product -
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5Memory 32GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £12.77See product -
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5 PROMemory 24GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £13.30See product -
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5 PROMemory 24GBStorage 2TBPrice per week £17.03See product -
MacBook Pro 16″
Chip M5 PROMemory 24GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £15.96See product -
MacBook Pro 16″
Chip M5 PROMemory 48GBStorage 1TBPrice per week £19.16See product -
MacBook Pro 14″
Chip M5 MAXMemory 36GBStorage 2TBPrice per week £21.82See product -
MacBook Pro 16″
Chip M5 MAXMemory 36GBStorage 2TBPrice per week £23.42See product -
MacBook Pro 16″
Chip M5 MAXMemory 48GBStorage 2TBPrice per week £26.61See product -
AI Apple MacBook Pro 16″ – M5 Max, 128GB RAM, 4TB SSD
Chip M5 MAXMemory 128GBStorage 4TBPrice per week £43.90See product
A Single Source. No Middle Man.
Cancellation Option. Peace of Mind.
As Flexible as you need. Solutions to Suit.
Support Plans. Warranty, Support & Loan Device.
Loyalty Rewards Programme.
IT Leasing Reinvented
Choose your Solution. Bespoke IT leasing with inclusive Support Plans
- Switch IT – change to alternative devices at 12 months
- End IT – cancel after 12 months
- Own IT – at the end for £1
- Lifetime Support
- Earn Rewards Points
4 Easy Steps
- Switch IT – change to alternative devices at 24 months
- End IT – cancel after 24 months
- Return IT – refresh at expiry
- Lifetime Support
- Earn Rewards Points
Explore More Apple Devices
See what our Customers say about us…
Apple MacBook Pro FAQs
Is an Apple MacBook Pro worth buying?
Yes, for users who need serious processing power for tasks like video editing and software development, the MacBook Pro’s faster chips, brighter display and longer battery life justify the higher price. Casual or everyday users may find a MacBook Air or MacBook Neo more cost-effective.
Do Older MacBook Pro Models Still Offer Good Value?
Older MacBook Pro models (M1-M3) still perform well for everyday business tasks and can offer excellent value, especially refurbished. However, buyers should check remaining software update support and battery health before making a purchase.
Why is an Apple MacBook Air cheaper than a MacBook Pro?
The Air is built for everyday portability: light, silent, no fan, because typical use never generates enough heat to need one. The Pro exists for sustained heavy workloads like video rendering or compiling, where active cooling, stronger chips, and better displays let it keep performing under pressure instead of throttling.
What is the lifespan of an Apple MacBook Pro?
A MacBook Pro typically lasts 5-7 years with regular use, supported by Apple’s long-term software updates. Battery health and storage needs are usually the first factors to prompt an upgrade rather than outright failure.
Who is the Apple MacBook Pro Best Suited For?
The MacBook Pro suits professionals with demanding workloads – developers, designers, video editors and data analysts – who need sustained high performance. It’s less necessary for users whose day-to-day work is primarily focused on administrative tasks.
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How IT Leasing Works: Costs, Benefits & Use Cases
How IT Leasing Works: Costs, Benefits & Use Cases
Computer leasing offers businesses a flexible, cost-effective way to access the latest technology without the upfront expense of purchasing hardware outright.
What Is Computer Leasing?
Computer leasing is a financial arrangement where businesses rent IT equipment — such as laptops, desktops, servers, and accessories — for a fixed period. Instead of buying devices outright, companies pay a regular fee (weekly or monthly) and benefit from:
- Access to the latest hardware
- Built-in support and warranty
- Optional upgrades or ownership at the end of the term
- Predictable budgeting and tax efficiencies
Learn more about the Benefits of Computer Leasing for Your Business
Key Benefits of Leasing
- Cash Flow Friendly: Avoid large capital outlays and spread costs over time.
- Tax Efficient: Lease payments may be deductible as operating expenses.
- Scalable: Easily add or swap devices as your team grows or needs change.
- Support Included: Many leasing plans include technical support and warranty.
- Flexible End-of-Term Options: Choose to return, upgrade, or purchase devices.
Myth-Busting Computer Leasing
Some businesses hesitate to lease due to misconceptions. Here are a few myths debunked:
- “Leasing is too time-consuming”: Most providers offer streamlined onboarding and device setup.
- “I’ll be stuck with outdated hardware”: Leasing plans often include upgrade options or refresh cycles.
- “Leasing is more expensive than buying”: When factoring in support, warranty, and flexibility, leasing can be more cost-effective.
Tailoring Your Leasing Solution
HardSoft offers customisable leasing plans to suit different business models:
- Choose device types (Mac, PC, tablets, smartphones)
- Select support levels and insurance options
- Add services like pre-deployment, MDM, or lifecycle management
- Opt for Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) bundles for simplified IT provisioning
Reusing and Refreshing Devices
Leasing also supports sustainability and IT lifecycle management. With services like HardSoft’s Boomerang, businesses can:
- Reclaim and repurpose devices from ex-staff
- Reduce e-waste and improve ROI
- Maintain device hygiene and security
Avoiding Pitfalls and Hidden Fees
When choosing a leasing provider, it’s important to understand the terms:
- Annual Service Fees: Some providers charge for account maintenance — HardSoft does not.
- Admin Fees: These can vary; always ask if they’re negotiable or waived.
- Insurance Requirements: Ensure devices are covered for damage, loss, or theft.
Learn more about The Pitfalls and Hidden Costs of Leasing
Final Thoughts
Computer leasing is a smart, scalable solution for modern businesses. It offers financial flexibility, access to cutting-edge tech, and built-in support — all while reducing risk and improving operational efficiency. Whether you’re looking to equip a remote team, refresh your IT infrastructure, or manage device lifecycles, leasing can be tailored to meet your needs.
Apple Business Manager: Simplifying Deployment, Security & Control
Apple Business Manager: Simplifying Deployment, Security & Control
Apple Business Manager (ABM) is a free, web-based portal designed to help organisations deploy and manage Apple devices at scale.
What Is Apple Business Manager?
Apple Business Manager (ABM) is a free, web-based portal designed to help organisations deploy and manage Apple devices at scale.
Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise, ABM simplifies device enrolment, app distribution, and policy enforcement — especially when paired with a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
ABM provides IT administrators with a centralised platform to:
- Enrol Apple devices into management systems
- Configure settings and security policies
- Distribute apps and content
- Manage Apple IDs for employees
It integrates with Apple’s Device Enrolment Program (DEP) and Volume Purchase Program (VPP), streamlining workflows for organisations using macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
Creating an Apple Business Manager Account
To get started, your organisation must
- Have a valid DUNS number.
- Register with Apple using a business Apple ID.
- Verify your organisation via a phone call from Apple.
- Set up a Managed Apple ID and retrieve your Organisation ID.
- Add your reseller using Reseller ID.
Once verified, you can begin enrolling devices and linking them to your MDM server.
Learn more about Creating an Apple Business Manager Account
Do You Need Mobile Device Management (MDM) with ABM?
Technically, ABM can function without an MDM. However, using ABM without an MDM like Shepherd or Jamf limits functionality:
- Manual device setup via Apple Configurator 2
- No remote locking, wiping, or policy enforcement
- No automatic app deployment
Pairing ABM with an MDM unlocks full automation, security, and scalability.
Explore the blog: Do you need an MDM with Apple Business Manager?
How to Link ABM with an MDM
Choose an MDM solution (e.g. Shepherd, Jamf).
In ABM, go to Settings > MDM Servers > Add MDM Server.
Upload the public key from your MDM.
Assign devices to the MDM server.
Configure automatic enrolment profiles in your MDM.
This ensures devices are managed from the moment they’re activated.
Distributing Apps with ABM
ABM supports bulk app purchasing and deployment via the Volume Purchase Program (VPP).
You can:
- Assign apps to users or devices
- Reclaim and reassign licences
- Push updates remotely
This streamlines app management across departments and roles.
Learn more about How To Distribute Apps with Apple Business Manager
Business Benefits of ABM
Security: Remotely lock or wipe lost/stolen devices.
Efficiency: Automate device setup and app deployment.
Scalability: Easily manage growing Apple fleets.
Compliance: Enforce security and privacy policies.
BYOD Support: Manage employee-owned devices securely.
Learn more about the Benefits of Apple Business Manager
Common Use Cases
New Device Rollouts: Seamless setup for new hires.
Remote Work: Manage devices without physical access.
Device Refresh Cycles: Prepare for upgrades with minimal disruption.
BYOD Management: Secure employee-owned devices.
Final Thoughts
Apple Business Manager is a powerful tool for any organisation using Apple hardware. While it can operate independently, pairing it with an MDM solution like Shepherd or Jamf unlocks its full potential. From device enrolment to app deployment, ABM simplifies IT workflows and enhances security.
For more detailed guidance, explore the full blog series linked throughout this guide.