Introduction: In the dynamic world of point-of-sale (POS) systems, choosing the right hardware is crucial for a seamless and efficient operation. Clover, a leading POS software provider, offers a range of devices tailored for various industries, ensuring a tailored merchant experience. In this detailed guide, we explore the diverse Clover devices available in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Latin America, focusing on their specifications, features, and compatibility.

Clover Compatible Hardware Device Overview:

Clover’s POS software operates on custom hardware designed to enhance the merchant experience. The Clover App Market allows developers to publish apps, creating a versatile ecosystem. Notably, Clover devices are not Google Play certified and do not come with Google Play Services, ensuring a secure and optimized environment.

Clover Compatible Hardware Devices and Supported Regions:

The following table outlines the Clover devices, their Clover-hardened Android versions, and the regions where they are available:

Clover Device Clover-hardened Android Version US CA UK/IE DE/AT/NL AR
Station Solo AOSP 10.0 (API Level 29, Q) ✔
Station Solo (Intl) AOSP 10.0 (API Level 29, Q) ✔ ✔
Station Duo 2 AOSP 10.0 (API Level 29, Q) ✔ ✔
Station Duo (Prev. Pro) AOSP 8.1.0 (API Level 27) ✔ ✔ ✔
Station 2018 AOSP 7.0.0 (API Level 25) ✔
Station AOSP 4.2.2 (API Level 17) ✔ ✔
Mini 3 AOSP 10.0 (API Level 29) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Clover Station Solo:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android (AOSP) 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE connectivity
    • 14.0″ tiltable display with 1920×1080 resolution
    • 5 MP camera for barcode scanning
    • Fingerprint reader, EMV chip card reader, MSR reader

Clover Station Solo (International):

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android (AOSP) 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE connectivity
    • 14.0″ tiltable display with 1920×1080 resolution
    • 5 MP camera for barcode scanning
    • Fingerprint reader, MSR reader

Clover Station Duo 2:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android (AOSP) 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 14.0″ IPS FHD display (Merchant-facing)
    • 8.0″ IPS HD display (Customer-facing)
    • Dual cameras with advanced Zebra scanning software
    • Fingerprint reader, EMV chip card reader, NFC reader

Clover Station Duo (Previously Station Pro):

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android (AOSP) 8.1.0, upgradable to 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 14.0″ and 7.0″ displays with various features
    • Dual cameras for barcode scanning
    • Fingerprint reader, EMV chip card reader, NFC reader

Clover Station 2018:

  • Specifications:
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core CPU
    • 3-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • Android (AOSP) 7.0.0
    • 14″ tablet with a 1920×1080 display
    • EMV chip card and MSR readers
    • Rotating between merchant-facing and customer-facing positions
    • Fingerprint reader, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

Clover Station:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android (AOSP) 4.2.2
    • Quad-core Tegra 3 SoC
    • 1-GB RAM, 8-GB Flash
    • 11.6″ display, rotating between positions
    • Rear camera for barcode scanning
    • Hub with USB ports, RJ12 cash drawer port

Clover Mini 3:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 8″ display with 1280×800 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • Front-facing camera for barcode scanning
    • Internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Mini 2:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android 8.1.0, upgradable to 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 7″ display with 1280×800 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • Front-facing camera for barcode scanning
    • Internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Mini 1:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android 4.4
    • Tegra 4 quad-core CPU
    • 2-GB RAM, 8-GB Flash
    • 7″ display with 1280×800 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • Front-facing camera for barcode scanning
    • Internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Flex 3:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android 10
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 5.99″ display with 720×1440 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • 5MP camera for barcode scanning
    • Internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Flex 2:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover-hardened Android 8.1.0, upgradable to 10.0
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor
    • 2-GB RAM, 16-GB Flash
    • 5″ display with 720×1280 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • Fingerprint reader, internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Flex:

  • Specifications:
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core CPU
    • 1-GB RAM, 8-GB Flash
    • Clover’s hardened Android 5.1.1
    • 5″ display with 720×1280 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • On-screen PIN entry, built-in camera for barcode scanning
    • Internal thermal receipt printer

Clover Mobile:

  • Specifications:
    • Clover’s hardened Android 4.4
    • Tegra 4 quad-core CPU
    • 2-GB RAM, 8-GB Flash
    • 7″ display with 1280×800 resolution
    • EMV chip card reader, NFC reader, MSR reader
    • Trigger-activated barcode scanner
    • Front-facing camera, optional charging dock
    • Optional Bluetooth thermal receipt printer

Printers:

Merchants can use various printers with Clover devices, including Clover Station Duo Printer, Clover Mini Internal Printer, Clover Flex Internal Printer, and more, each with specific paper widths and lengths.

 

Using other non-proprietary Clover Compatible Hardware:

While Clover offers a comprehensive range of proprietary hardware designed for optimal compatibility with their POS software, it’s worth noting that their system is versatile enough to integrate with other non-proprietary common POS hardware and peripherals. This flexibility enables businesses to explore a variety of options based on their specific needs and budget constraints. Many well-known brands and models of printers, scanners, and other peripherals can seamlessly integrate with Clover POS software. Popular choices include printers from Star Micronics and Epson, barcode scanners from Symbol and Honeywell, and cash drawers from APG and MMF. Additionally, receipt printers such as the Star Micronics TSP100 and Epson TM-T20II are known for their compatibility with Clover systems. It’s advisable for businesses to check Clover’s official compatibility list and guidelines to ensure a smooth integration process with third-party hardware, providing them with the freedom to choose the setup that best suits their operational requirements.

Clover Compatible Hardware Sunset for Clover Legacy Devices: An Important Update for Merchants

In a recent announcement, Clover has outlined its plan to discontinue support for several legacy devices, including Station 1, Flex 3G, Mobile 1, and Mini 1. This move is part of Clover’s commitment to ensuring a streamlined and secure experience for users. Beginning on August 31, 2022, Clover will initiate a phased-out approach to software updates for these legacy devices, with Maintenance Mode in effect until August 30, 2023.

Impacted Devices:

  • Clover Station 1 – C100 (Wifi)
  • Clover Mobile 1 – C200 (Wifi), C201 (3G)
  • Clover Mini 1 – C300 (Wifi), C301 (3G)
  • Clover Flex 3G – C401

It’s crucial to note that newer devices such as Station 2018, Station Duo, Flex 1, Flex 2, and Mini 2 will not be affected by this transition and will continue to receive updates from Clover Sport.

What Merchants Can Expect: Until August 31, 2022:

  • Support for critical functionality
  • Continued customer support
  • Bug fixes and security updates
  • No access to new features

After August 31, 2023:

  • No further Clover Sport software updates
  • Basic customer support

Critical Functionality Defined: Critical functionality, in the context of Clover Sport POS products, encompasses core components such as:

  • Uptime: Ensuring users can log in on the device
  • Menu Publishing: Updating menus seamlessly
  • Ordering & Payment Workflows: Enabling order placement and payment capture
  • Fulfillment Workflows: Printing orders and sending to Kitchen Display Systems
  • Receipts Generation/Printing: Generating and printing receipts

Identifying Your Clover Compatible Hardware: Merchants can find their device’s model and serial numbers using the provided instructions. Serial numbers for Clover Station 1, Flex 3G, Clover Mini 1, and Clover Mobile 1 are located at specific points on the devices, as illustrated in the accompanying images.

As businesses adapt to this hardware sunset, it is advisable to transition to newer Clover devices to ensure ongoing access to updates and features. Clover remains dedicated to providing a robust POS experience, and this strategic decision aims to align with evolving technology standards. Merchants are encouraged to check their device’s model and serial numbers to determine if their hardware is affected by this transition.

 

Storage Guidelines for Clover Devices

 

Ensure optimal performance and maximize the lifespan of your Clover device by adhering to the storage guidelines tailored for each device model.

Conclusion

 

Choosing the right Clover POS hardware is essential for businesses aiming to optimize their point-of-sale operations. This comprehensive guide provides detailed insights into the specifications and features of various Clover devices, ensuring merchants make informed decisions for their specific industry needs. Whether you run a salon, retail store, restaurant, or any other business, Clover’s diverse hardware options offer tailored solutions for a seamless POS experience.