SkieHow do I protect demo phones and tablets in a retail store?
Put the demo devices in their own group with a short app list, no Play Store, no personal accounts and the settings locked. Skie keeps customers inside the demo apps, blocks factory reset from Settings, and uses geofences and lost mode so you know if a display unit leaves the shop. Any Android 12 or newer device works.
A demo device is picked up by dozens of strangers a day. Some are curious, some are bored, and a few are looking for a free phone. The device needs to be useful for the first group and useless to the last.
In Skie, make a demo group per store. Attach an app list with the apps you want to show, hide the Play Store, and leave the browser off or restricted. Optional switches let you disable the camera, Bluetooth, NFC, SMS and outgoing calls, and lock wallpaper so the display looks the same every morning. Blocked by default: factory reset from Settings, safe mode, developer options, adding users and uninstalling Skie.
Protection against theft is the second half. A geofence around the shop sends a breach alert if a unit crosses the boundary, and lost mode locks the device, shows a contact message and starts a location trail. It also gives you evidence for a police report with IMEI, serial, SIM details and the trail. If someone does wipe it from the recovery menu, Android's Factory Reset Protection asks for the Skie organisation's Google sign-in, which only Skie holds.
One more thing to check: new models need a one-time model review during setup, so add the model before you buy a hundred units. Skie is software and does not sell devices, so use the handsets you already stock.
A practical tip: set a store-hours schedule, with the full demo list during opening and a locked screen overnight.