best tablet for homework

The best school tablet in 2024: lightweight and versatile picks for the classroom

Our picks for the best school tablet for students of all kinds

• How to choose
• How we test
• ▶ Best overall
• ▶ Best university
• ▶ Best Android

1. Quick list 2. How to choose 3. How we test 4. Top picks ▶ Best overall ▶ Best university ▶ Best Android

The best school tablet will offer you great performance and portability so you can get your work done wherever you are, whether its at home, at the library, or taking notes in class.

For pure portability and price, the Apple iPad Air 5 with M1 chip is our top pick overall, giving students the quality performance they need without breaking the bank, but also not sacrificing style and functionality. Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Apple iPad Pro 12.9 with M2 are great alternatives for university students or creative students who need bigger canvases.

We've tested dozens of tablets over the past decade and change, so we know what the best tablet for students should bring to the table, these are the ones we've even used in our own academic journeys, so we stand behind these picks with our years of experience as reviewers and students ourselves.

The best school tablet: Quick List

The best school tablet overall The 5th-gen iPad Air comes with Apple's M1 chip, making it almost as powerful as a MacBook Air, so it's a perfect balance of performance and portability for school use.

Read more below

The best school tablet for university University students are generally going to have more demanding needs out of their tablet, so the iPad Pro with M2 chip is as good a tablet as you'll find for your needs.

The best Android tablet for school The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is one of the most powerful Android devices on the market, so if you're into the Android ecosystem, this tablet will get you through several school terms.

How to choose the best school tablet for you

When choosing the best school tablet for yourself, you'll want to consider it's power, weight, size, and battery life. If you need to use the tablet throughout your school hours, then you need a powerful CPU and enough RAM to swiftly use different apps without getting stuck. 

Plan to do a lot of notetaking? Check if your tablet ships with a wireless stylus pen. You'll want a high-resolution screen if you need the tablet for an art or graphics class. 

School tablets don't always have the best cameras on them, so if you need to snap excellent-quality images, then you'll want to look at some of the more expensive options on the list. 

Importantly, check how much battery life the device offers, especially in varying conditions. Not everyone will use the tablet the same way, so you'll want to make the right selection based on your work requirements.

How we test the best school tablets

To accurately assess how well these school tablets perform, we compared their tech specs and their real-world performance. 

We looked at their weight, dimensions, OS, CPU, resolution, battery life, and camera quality. We checked if they had stylus compatibility, if they came with a stylus, how much storage they offered, and SD card support. 

We tested their battery life by running different apps on them and seeing how many hours we could get out of them. We also considered their screen size and pricing, among other things.

The best school tablet: Top picks

The best school tablet in 2024 in full:.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best school tablet picks on our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best school tablet overall

1. ipad air 5, m1 (2022).

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The iPad Air with the M1 chip is nearly perfect for a student. The M1 chip is powerful enough to push through late-night study sessions or create presentations for biology. With the advancements of iPadOS 16 , the iPad is becoming more and more capable while still staying a light, simple piece of glass. Adding a keyboard, whether Bluetooth or an Apple Keyboard, unlocks even more productivity power.

Candidly, the iPad route won't give you access to everything like you may be used to with a traditional laptop. However, more and more people are making the switch and finding that with a few simple shortcuts or even just a different app, just about everything can be done from an iPad.

Read our full Apple iPad Air 5 (2022) review .

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The best school tablet for university students

2. ipad pro (m2, 12.9).

The iPad Pro 12.9" is the biggest and baddest iPad available on the market today. This iPad Pro saw an update in 2022 to bump it to an Apple M2 chipset , giving this piece of glass even more power under the display. Additionally, the larger storage sizes allow for an increase in RAM, topping out at 16GB.

The large screen size is perfect for content editing or creation and multitasking. Much like the iPad Air, this iPad has a few keyboard options, giving way to another level of productivity. 

If you want the best of the best iPad, look no further than the M2 12.9" iPad Pro.

Read our full iPad Pro (M2, 12.9) review .

The best Android tablet for school use

3. samsung galaxy tab s8 ultra.

If you're looking for a tablet outside of the Apple Ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the best option right now for school use and beyond. The included S Pen unlocks so much for creative students, as well as those who would prefer to handwrite notes or draw diagrams. These tablets can expand their storage thanks to a micro-SD card slot. 

This tablet packs a good amount of power, while also having an impressive battery life. All in all, if you choose this tablet for your academic endeavors or otherwise, you shouldn't be disappointed, especially if you're deep into the Android ecosystem and you want to have the best compatibility across your devices.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review

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John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 

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Best tablets for students in 2024.

Work hard (or hardly work) with these excellent tablets for school or college

Students today are demanding more and more from their technology. So, a tablet can be a powerful tool for note-taking, attending lectures online, and completing assignments. But with so many tablets on the market, it can be tough to determine which one is right for you.

While the best tablets on the market might prioritize features like a high-resolution display or a powerful processor, students generally need a balance between performance, affordability, and features that enhance the learning experience. Handling multitasking, smoothly running multiple apps, and sustaining great battery life are vital specs. Many students also prefer to take notes electronically, so compatibility with the best note-taking apps is a plus.

Considering all these factors, this list includes the best tablets for students.

OnePlus Pad

Samsung galaxy tab s9+, samsung galaxy tab a9+, lenovo tab p12 pro, onyx boox note air3 c, samsung galaxy tab s9 fe, lenovo chromebook duet 5, apple ipad air (5th generation), xiaomi redmi pad se, remarkable 2, top tablets for students.

An excellent, affordable Android tablet

The OnePlus Pad treads a fine line between affordability and performance, but the result is a reliable Android tablet with strong performance and battery life. It's also got all the accessories you need for typing or note-taking.

• Extensive battery life
• Excellent performance for the price
• Fast charging
• Expensive accessories
• Ugly rear camera

At just shy of $500, the OnePlus Pad is a remarkable achievement for the company's first Android tablet. Students will appreciate the dedicated accessories that turn it into a versatile workstation, while the capable chipset can handle multitasking with ease.

The optional keyboard and stylus accessories increase the overall price to $700, which is unnecessarily expensive, but fortunately, these are often available at discounted bundle rates. You may only need one or the other; either way, you won't be disappointed.

OnePlus Pad review: A new challenger enters the ring

The OnePlus Pad's battery is the most attractive feature for students. Not only can it handle multiple days without a charge, but it'll barely drain the battery on standby and will charge to full in less than two hours. It's perfect if you want a tablet that lives in your bag most of the time.

For students who don't want to compromise on performance

Students prioritizing performance over all else should look no further than the Galaxy Tab S9+. The powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset can handle all your multitasking needs, and the 12.4-inch AMOLED display won't disappoint when it comes to streaming.

• Hardware can handle any app or program
• Large screen makes full use of DeX mode
• Plenty of storage
• Unnecessary for light users

We guarantee you won't be disappointed if you're willing to shell out the $1,000 to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+. If you're looking for a tablet to take you through your entire tenure at college without getting sluggish in your final year, this is the best Android tablet you can buy.

The regular Galaxy Tab S9 is $200 cheaper and doesn't sacrifice performance, but its smaller 11-inch screen isn't ideal for productivity. The Tab S9+'s 12.4-inch display is perfect for Samsung's DeX mode, which turns the Tab S9+ into a PC with a couple of taps.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ review: Goldilocks edition

The Tab S9+ ships with 256 or 512 GB storage, enough to handle all your files and media. Those looking to spend extra might be eyeing up the Tab S9 Ultra , but that tablet really is overkill for all but the most demanding students.

Great for carrying out basic tasks

The Samsung Galaxy A9+ offers excellent value with its 11-inch LCD, stereo speakers, and long battery life. It's more than capable of handling basic tasks. It's ideal for browsing, video calls, listening to music, and getting work done. It also has optional 5G support, making it suitable when you can't connect to Wi-Fi.

• Slim and portable
• Decent overall performance
• Optional 5G
• Not the best for multitasking

The Galaxy Tab A9+ is a well-balanced tablet for students, delivering excellent value for its price. While it doesn't have the stunning AMOLED display Samsung is famous for, its 90Hz LCD screen still offers vibrant colors and decent brightness — perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, and working on assignments.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 695 chip delivers solid everyday performance for essential student apps like PowerPoint, Word, and Google's productivity suite. A massive bonus is the expandable storage, offering up to 1TB of expansion for all your files, documents, and project backups.

Its 7040 mAh battery easily lasts a couple of days on a single charge and offers impressive standby time. For those needing on-the-go connectivity, there's even a 5G model, though it's sadly limited to the 4GB RAM option.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ review: 'Good enough' is still pretty good

Notably, the tablet lacks S Pen support, which might be a deal-breaker for students heavily relying on handwritten notes. Also, we found that the 4GB RAM in the base model can cause performance issues. We highly recommend opting for the 8GB RAM model, which comes at a $50 premium.

More affordable without sacrificing essential features

Like having a computing powerhouse on your class desk, the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro springs to life, its octo-core engine driving a 12.6-inch display. The included Lenovo Precision Pen 3 detaches smoothly to provide tactile input via the Instant Memo app.

• Powerful engine for games and media
• Bright screen with high-resolution display
• Extended battery lifespan
• No headphone jack
• Not the lightest in this lineup

Starving students will need to fill a massive penny jar if they’re to afford the premium price of the Lenovo Tab P12. Less a dedicated note-taking tablet and more a gaming dynamo, a financially comfortable freshman can use it as a part-time entertainment hub, one that’s entirely capable of recording lesson plans thanks to the included detachable stylus.

Rife with accessorizing mojo, the P12 gears up for on-the-go studying. A 2-in-1 keyboard, complete with a built-in trackpad, easily attaches to provide more focused, laptop-like interactions with the super-bright OLED display.

Lenovo Tab P12 Pro review: A window into the future of Android tablets

The Lenovo Tab’s display is larger than the previous year’s model, yet it holds a charge for an entire day. By the way, perfect for studying, or gaming, on a sunny college quad, the 600-nit screen won’t wash out when lessons are being reviewed outside. Similarly, large-windowed classrooms filled with midday sunshine won’t cause an issue.

An excellent alternative with unique capabilities

The Onyx Boox Note Air3 C has a 10.3-inch paper-like color display that's excellent for reading, drawing, and annotating work. It runs Android, so you can take advantage of millions of apps, and it can last for more than a day on a single charge, even with continuous usage.

• Excellent build quality
• Versatile display
• Great battery life
• Colored images aren't the sharpest
• Onyx software doesn't play well with all apps

If you're a student looking to read, draw, annotate, and traditionally consume content, you might be interested in the Onyx Boox Note Air3 C. It features a beautiful 10.3-inch paper-like color display that's covered by glass. It has a pressure-sensitive layer, helping you take advantage of the included pen to write notes.

The tablet weighs less than other similarly sized tablets and is just as compact and portable. It can fit in most backpacks and can last all day on a single charge, even with continuous usage. The reason why you might want to choose this model, instead of a traditional tablet, is because it lets you annotate and take notes on a display that feels a lot like paper. It's also backlit for times when you have no natural light, and the screen is excellent for reading books, comics, handwritten notes, and even research papers.

Onyx Boox Note Air 3C review: Filling the void between tablet and e-reader

You can use the built-in browser to get even more power out of this E Ink tablet, and with the included Google Play Store, you have the option to download any app you want. Streaming favorite songs and even watching videos is also possible, although you might want to limit binge-watching to your phone or laptop, as this device is primarily aimed at binge-readers who require pen input and the ability to use modern apps.

Premium Samsung features for an affordable price

The Fan Edition Galaxy Tab S9 tiptoes between extremes. It’s not a full-fledged S9, complete with a razor-sharp OLED screen, but its LCD is still quite impressive for a budget tablet. Likewise, its processor leans into midrange territory, but that should still satisfy academics who base their mobile buying choices on performance.

• Competitively priced Samsung tablet
• Comes with an S-Pen
• Bright, super-detailed display
• Battery life is still unimpressive
• Occasional choppy graphics

Happily, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE doesn’t feel as if it’s living in the flagship device’s shadow. Students will appreciate the included S-Pen, plus that large, bright screen, which is perfect for lectures in brightly lit spaces, although not as bright as an OLED display. It’s a fair trade-off, given the price difference.

Mostly, students will find the big bang-for-your-buck price too tempting to refuse. The price does go up a little when accessories enter the equation, with the pairing of note-taking keyboard cases adding to the final price. The already significant weight of the budget-priced 521g Samsung tablet will only gain heft when a wireless keyboard is paired.

Tradeoffs aside, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a more than capable touchscreen classroom notetaker and multitasking device that receives a passing grade from us. The inclusion of an S Pen, a feature not emulated by a famous competitor, makes the tablet an appealing option. Better yet, although defined by its Fan Edition label, this Samsung product doesn’t feel as if any shortcuts have been taken, except perhaps with the display.

The perfect laptop and tablet compromise

The Lenovo Duet 5 is the perfect all-in-one for students, offering a large touchscreen and laptop form factor. It's powerful enough to play games, enjoy movies, and complete work tasks. It's portable, lightweight, and has a sharp FHD display. To top it all off, it'll continue receiving software updates until 2029. It's excellent value for those looking for a versatile device that's portable and easy to use.

• Excellent display
• Good performance
• Keyboard and kickstand included
• Stylus not included
• Software limitations

Chromebooks are an excellent way to carry out work in remote places, classrooms, and at home. They're excellent alternatives to Android tablets, iPads, and Windows laptops, costing much less. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 offers the best of both worlds. It'll act as a laptop, thanks to the included kickstand, and transform into a 13.3-inch tablet. The display is sharp and colorful, making it excellent for watching movies, editing, and working.

The Duet 5 can also run Android apps and Linux applications, such as Gimp, making it a portable and versatile productivity workhorse to study and do classwork. While Android and Linux apps work well on this machine, it's important to keep in mind that Windows apps won't run, and some Linux and Android apps can be limited in terms of functionality. Performance-wise, the Duet 5 will be able to cope with most tasks, as long as you don't push anything too demanding that would require additional graphics.

Whether you want to take notes, enjoy movies, listen to music, or games while you're not studying, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 will make for a great companion. It's perfect for students looking for an affordable laptop and tablet, and while it doesn't come with a stylus by default, it can often be found for less than $50 at select retailers.

The best tablet at this price point

Available in 5 trendy colors –we love purple– the 5th generation iPad Air flaunts the inevitable processor upgrade and performance upticks. Other than the under-the-hood upgrades, there hasn’t been a whole lot of physical reworking done to the slim tablet body, not that it needs a facelift, of course.

• Superb touch responsiveness
• Super-bright, super-detailed liquid retina display
• Supports Apple Pencil 2
• Apple Pen 2 is a separate purchase
• No real improvement in battery life

Almost futureproof, those are the two words that come to mind when picking up an iPad Air 5. The amped-up M1 powerhouse processor prepares the tablet for the latest games and apps, but there’s no corresponding upgrade made to the life of the battery. At 10 hours, though, that’s more than enough for an extra-long college curriculum.

For students, aside from the prestige associated with the Apple name, there’s the opportunity to buy an Apple Pen 2 or a keyboard folio; it’s a pity a stylus isn’t included, though. If you do own the Pen, mark up documents, sketch, then break for lunch simply by magnetically attaching it to the iPad.

iPad Air (2022) review: Making $1,000 Android tablets look silly

The iPad Air Gen. 5 is all about class, the premium functionality kind. A few areas still require a little polishing, but the device is so responsive, pixel-perfect, precise, and attractive that such minor concerns can be forgiven. And it’s now more blazing-fast than ever because of the M1 chip.

A powerful tablet with a low price tag

The Redmi Pad SE is an excellent, powerful tablet that doesn't break the bank. It has a large 11-inch display that's sharp and colorful and a chipset that's capable of multitasking and running all of your essential apps. It's portable, lightweight, and can last a full day on a single charge.

• Great performance
• Responsive, bright, and sharp display
• Excellent multitasking features
• Questionable software support
• Speakers aren't great
• No fingerprint scanner

Xiaomi is known for its excellent, affordable tablets. The Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE is a budget tablet, albeit one featuring premium build quality, enough performance to do work and enjoy a bit of entertainment on the side, and all the features you need in a compact and light form factor.

The Redmi Pad SE has an 11-inch LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate. It's fast, responsive, and sharp. It's great for consuming media, viewing images, and researching on the big screen. It's not the brightest panel out there, but it'll be more than adequate for getting work done inside, and even outside in the shade. Speaking of work, the device is capable of handling most productivity apps, and some light, non-demanding games.

Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE tablet review: Budget champion

Thanks to its 8,000mAh battery, the tablet can last a full day on a single charge. While it won't be the fastest to charge back up to 100%, the 18W wired charging is on par with other devices in this price range. If all you need is a tablet that can multitask using a few lightweight office apps, consume media, and browse the web, the Redmi Pad SE is an excellent option.

The versatile tool for students and creatives

Ideal for students who need a physical medium to record their thoughts, the reMarkable 2 provides a paper-like response to your every scribble. It converts written words to cleanly rendered text and integrates with popular cloud storage services. And the slender E Ink device does all of this without gobbling its way through masses of battery power.

• Sports a responsive E Ink display
• Provides two weeks of battery life
• It's ultra-slim and light
• Subscriptions are required for cloud syncing
• A wide bezel on the bottom of the display
• Not waterproof

Focusing on classroom lectures, there’s no time to pore over complex tablet interfaces, which is why the reMarkable 2 and its E Ink display have been built to automatically transform quickly noted words into easy-to-read digital text. Clean and easy to read, there’s no issue reviewing lessons after a student has returned to the dorm.

That same natural writing experience, scribbling words and drawings onto the paper-feel E Ink screen, is responsive and precise, as comfortably performed on the lithe 14-oz form factor.

ReMarkable 2 tablet review: Top-tier writing experience, but that's it

The reMarkable 2 won’t leave students struggling, not with two weeks of battery power in reserve. It features PDF reading and converting and sharing capabilities. There’s even the expected cloud syncing function, too. Students can, therefore, organize and access their work on other devices, although not without signing up for a paid subscription.

The best student-friendly tablets

If you're looking for the best balance of features, performance, and price, then the OnePlus Pad is truly a great choice for most students. Its long battery life, capable hardware, and attractive price point make it an excellent recommendation. Sure, a keyboard or stylus will cost extra, but even after adding those, the OnePlus Pad delivers a cost-effective setup for crushing your student workload.

If you need a tablet capable of handling heavy multitasking and demanding projects, the Galaxy Tab S9+ could be well worth the investment. The price tag might give you pause, but you'll get a gorgeous large display and the hardware to handle almost anything you throw at it.

If the budget is your biggest concern, look no further than our best value champion: the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+. This wallet-friendly tablet is often available for under $200, and still offers enough power for everyday student tasks like research, taking notes, and relaxing with a movie after a long day of study.

Affordable Android tablet built for both work and play

The OnePlus Pad is an impressive first tablet from the company, coming in at a midrange price where it has little competition. You get the power and performance of a top device for half the price, with optional keyboard and stylus accessories to complete the productivity package.

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The 6 best tablets for college in 2024

If you pick the right tablet, there's a good chance it'll last you all four years of college –possibly even into grad school or your first job. However, narrowing down all the options can be a challenge. Not only do you need something reliable and portable, but you'll want it to support all the programs you'll be using on a daily basis. And unless you want to be staring at a muddled screen, it should also come with a vibrant screen and high-quality resolution.

Before starting your search for a tablet for college, you'll want to figure out how you want to use the device. Will you be taking notes on it? Attending classes remotely? And what sort of software do you need it to run? Once you've answered those questions, you'll then have to set a budget, as tablets run the gamut from affordable to ultra-expensive.

To help you on your search, we've pulled together the six best tablets for college. Whether you want an iPad, Surface Pro, or something for handwritten notes like the ReMarkable 2, there's bound to be something that'll get you through your classes. We've also included products that fit a variety of budgets, so you won't have to resort to eating ramen all month to snag a great tablet.

For more great ideas, be sure to check out the best tablets in 2024 , which includes 11 great products from Apple, OnePlus, Amazon, and more.

Apple iPad Air (M1 Chip)

Best overall tablet for college.

• High-performance M1 processor
• Slim and light
• Software suitable for work or play
• Large, colorful, and sharp screen
• Wide array of quality accessories
• Center Stage works well
• 64GB storage isn't enough
• Battery life disappoints

The iPad Air is powerful, portable, and built to the high standards of Apple. Toss in support for all of the most common apps required for college students and a reasonable price tag, and it's hard to beat the iPad Air.

Like most modern Apple products, the iPad Air is designed with a Liquid Retina display with an impressive 2360 x 1640 resolution. That makes it easy to see every detail during remote lectures and is perfect if you're working on creative projects or presentations. It's a bit small at 10.9 inches, but that also makes it ultra-portable.

Powering the tablet is the M1 Chip. It's finally starting to show its age, but it's still plenty powerful for word processing, taking notes, and collaborating with classmates. And if you're interested in gaming, you'll be glad to know it's great for mobile gaming. You'll also find a bunch of additional accessories up for grabs, including the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.

A few components on the iPad Air are customizable, allowing you to add a cellular connection for enhanced online capabilities or pick up a larger 256GB SSD. But if you're using cloud storage or will primarily be working on campus, in your dorm, or in coffee shops with good Wi-Fi reception, there's no need to pick up these expensive add-ons.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Best premium tablet for college.

• New colors look great
• Design and build quality are top notch
• SQ3 is a solid alternative
• Type Cover keyboard is excellent
• High resolution webcam
• No headphone jack
• Upgrades still too expensive
• Limited performance improvements

Searching for a tablet that closely replicates a laptop? Then take a closer look at the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. Not only is it packed with premium hardware, but it's running on Windows 11, giving you a full-fledged laptop experience in a compact footprint.

Inside this version of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is an Intel 12th Gen i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD. It's 13-inch screen supports a 2880 x 1920 resolution and also features a 10MP webcam for easy video conferencing. Coupled with a battery that gets over 15 hours of runtime before needing a recharge, it's easy to see why the Surface Pro 9 is so popular.

Despite all that hardware, the entire thing weighs less than two pounds.

The Surface Pro 9 is great for all types of note takers. Whether you want to use the Surface Slim Pen for handwritten notes or Surface Pro Signature Keyboard for a more traditional typing experience, there's a optional accessory that'll fit your preferences. One of the coolest features is a built-in kickstand, allowing you to prop the tablet up like an easel for a better drawing or writing position. It's a pretty slick-looking tablet too, and when coupled with the Signature Keyboard, you'll get an easy way to protect its screen.

One of the biggest drawbacks to the Surface Pro 9 is its price. This model costs over $1,000, and if you opt for more storage or RAM, that price only grows larger. Still, Microsoft is known for producing reliable, long-lasting hardware, so if you want a tablet that'll get you through all your classes, it might be a smart investment.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

Best budget tablet for college.

• Great price
• Vibrant display with 90Hz refresh rate
• Flexible Android operating system
• Mediocre performance

While we wouldn't recommend picking up an ultra-cheap tablet, you don't need to spend heaps of cash to get a good companion for college. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ proves just that, as it's a great tablet that costs just over $200.

To be clear, this isn't going to give you the same performance as the Surface Pro 9 or iPad Air. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 is good, but it's no match for the M1 Chip. However, it's an impressive inclusion at this price point. And while it's 64GB SSD is a bit small, you can expand its storage up to 1TB with the included microSD card slot.

Students looking for a portable tablet will love its compact 11-inch display, as it gets you a 1920 x 1200 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, allowing you to watch movies or play games without any tearing or lag once you're done with your work.

The Android operating system might be a benefit or drawback, depending on your preferences. It essentially makes this feel closer to a smartphone than it does a laptop, though you'll still have access to thousands of popular apps and software. There's even a cool feature called Multi-Active Windows, allowing you to snap several apps to different parts of the screen, giving you a streamlined way to multitask.

Microsoft Surface Go 3

Best windows tablet for college.

• Excellent build quality
• Superior display for a budget machine
• Great Active Pen support
• Small and light
• Surprisingly good real-world performance
• Can get expensive
• Mediocre battery life
• Keyboard and touchpad are cramped

The Surface Go 3 is a nice middle ground between the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ and Surface Pro 9. Clocking in at $350, it's much more affordable than the Surface Pro 9 while offering a compact form-factor that's perfect for college.

Despite it's great price, this tablet still runs on Windows 11. That should make it easy to jump from working on your tablet to working in your campus' computer lab. It also means you'll get access to software like Microsoft Word and Excel without any fuss. All your apps should run without any issue, as you can equip the Surface Go 3 with up to 8GB RAM and 10th Gen Intel Core i3.

The tiny 10.5-inch display boasts a 1920 x 1280 resolution and is built from Gorilla Glass 3 for added durability. It comes with a built-in kickstand like the premium Surface Pro 9, and it works with accessories like the Surface Pen and Surface Go Type Cover.

The small display might be too compact for some shoppers, but if you love its portability and want a reliable tablet that doesn't break the bank, the Surface Go 3 is a great choice.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5

Best chrome tablet for college.

• Acceptable productivity performance
• Very long battery life
• Excellent display
• Solid build quality
• Display is in the old-school 16:9 aspect ratio
• Limited to Wi-Fi 5
• Kickstand add-on is inconvenient

Prefer ChromeOS over Windows 11 or iPadOS? Then check out the Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5. Not only does it carry a great price tag under $500, but it comes with great specs and even features an included (detachable) keyboard.

The included keyboard is a big selling point, as most other products on this list require you to purchase one – further inflating their price tag. But with the Duet 5, it's ready to work as either a 2-in-1 laptop or tablet. It's powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, which is great for classwork and daily tasks but falls a bit short for when used for anything demanding like gaming for video editing. All of this is packed into a slim chassis that weighs four pounds and is less than half an inch thick.

Other notable features include a 13.3-inch OLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, rear and front-facing cameras, and up to 15 hours of battery life. ChromeOS is known for being an intuitive and streamlined operating system, and if you're already using Google Docs, Gmail, and Drive, there's a lot to be said for picking up a Chromebook.

ReMarkable 2

Best tablet for taking handwritten notes in college.

• Thin and portable design
• Enjoyable writing experience
• Distraction free operating system
• No additional apps

The ReMarkable 2 is wildly different from anything else on this list. Instead of giving you access to hundreds of apps, the ReMarkable 2 aims to make the process of taking digital notes better than ever. So if you're looking for a way to replace all your spiral notebooks, it's a tablet worth considering.

Along with the 10.3-inch tablet, you'll get the Marker Plus – a stylus with a built-in eraser designed specifically for the ReMarkable 2. Using the stylus is about as close to writing on paper as you can get, as the ReMarkable 2 display features a textured surface to help simulate traditional paper.

Aside from simulating a "normal" writing experience, it gets you cool digital tricks like the option to convert your handwritten notes to typed notes, take notes directly on PDFs, and the ability to quickly import files from Microsoft Office. Better yet, you can quickly undo your last action, copy and paste content, resize and move content, and set up layers for enhanced note taking.

The biggest drawback to the ReMarkable 2 is that it doesn’t have a marketplace where you can download other apps or software. That means it won't be replacing a dedicated laptop, but it will serve as a distraction free replacement for your notebooks and pencils.

How we chose the best tablets for college

There are plenty of great tablets available in 2024, but not all of them are great for college students. From portability and pricing to available accessories and supported software, here's a look at how we narrowed down all the options to just the six best.

Portable and durable

Since you'll probably be bringing your tablet with you to all your lectures, group meetings, and study sessions, it needs to be portable. Most tablets are portable by design, be we specifically looked for ones that are durable and from reputable companies – ensuring you don't have to worry about it getting damaged during your commute. And even if you're taking online classes, you'll still want to get out to the library or coffee shop to break up your day, making this important for all types of students.

Premium display

Whether you're reading through notes, watching a lecture, or putting the finishing touches on a presentation, you're going to be staring at your screen a lot. Because of this, you won't want something with a poor resolution. Not only are bad screens frustrating, but they can lead to headaches and eye strain during prolonged use. Thankfully, there's no shortage of tablets with brilliant displays. We also searched for a variety of sizes, so if you want a large display or something ultra-portable, you'll find a tablet for you on this list.

Plenty of optional accessories

People use tablets in all sorts of ways. Some like to use a stylus to take notes directly on the screen, others like to use a keyboard to type their notes, while many prefer a combination of the two. But in order to do all that, you'll need accessories. Most tablets listed above can be equipped with a stylus or keyboard to improve your experience, though note these typically aren't bundled in with the tablet and come as an added expense. Still, having the option to customize your tablet is never a bad thing, and when it comes to accessories, it's better to have more options than not enough.

Access to important software

Not all classes use the same software. If you're an accounting or science major, you might be diving into Excel. But if you're an art major, you might need access to a variety of creative software with demanding hardware requirements. Whatever the case may be, you'll want to ensure your tablet's operating system supports the software you'll be using for your classes. Windows, iPadOS, and ChromeOS are all good options, with the majority of popular software available across all three platforms. If you're worried about a certain app or program, be sure to check for support before making a purchase.

Reliable hardware

You probably won't need the most premium hardware on the market, but it's always a good idea to get enough processing power to get you through the day without any slowdown. Waiting for programs to load or experiencing lag in the middle of work is incredibly frustrating, so having a decent processor, a good amount of RAM, and plenty of storage space are all beneficial. And if you'll be attending classes virtually or meeting with classmates remotely, a webcam is a necessity.

College is expense – and it's only getting pricier as the years go by. With that in mind, we tried to find products that fit a variety of budgets. Some cost just a few hundred dollars, while others soar above $1,000. You can typically find a great tablet for college for around $400, but if you want something fancier (or can forgo a few niceties), there's a lot of wiggle room with pricing.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

Editors' Recommendations

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Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites beyond Digital Trends, including The Wall Street Journal , Metacritic , GameSpot , and Slickdeals . He holds a degree in Biology and previously worked as a Medical Editor.

When not playing video games, he can be found running, reading, or checking out the latest series on Netflix.

There's an overwhelming number of laptop deals out there, so no matter what you're looking for, it's going to be tough to narrow down your choices. If you need a companion device for your regular tasks for work or school, we recommend the Asus Vivobook 14, which you can currently get from Best Buy for only $230 following a $200 discount on its original price of $430. There's no telling when this offer expires though, so you need to make the purchase right now if you want to pocket the savings.

Why you should buy the Asus Vivobook 14 laptop For a dependable everyday device, you can't go wrong with the Asus Vivobook 14. It's powered by the 12th-generation Intel Core i3 processor and Intel Iris Xe Graphics, plus 8GB of RAM that's usually found in entry-level laptops, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. It won't challenge the performance of the best laptops, but the Asus Vivobook 14 will be more than enough for simple tasks such as browsing the internet, typing documents, and making presentations.

Just 10 years ago or so, the idea of taking a laptop to class was just starting to become normal, with teachers and professors being 50/50 on whether they should be allowed. Nowadays, everything has gone digital, and having a good laptop for studies is important. Luckily, you don't have to spring for the best laptop on the market, and if you're not a heavy user, then you can go for the best budget laptops instead. Either way, be sure to check out our laptop buying guide, as well as some of our other roundups, like these laptop deals and Chromebook deals.

Below, you'll find some of the cheaper options of HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, Acer laptop deals, and Lenovo laptop deals. HP Laptop 14 -- $212, was $269

While having one of the best laptops on the market can be fun, for a lot of folks, that tends to be overkill, especially if you're trying to shop on a budget. One thing you can consider is going for refurbished laptops; not only are they way cheaper than the specs you get, but a lot of the time, they also tend to come with guarantees from the brand. On top of that, you help the environment and reduce e-waste, so there are a lot of benefits to buying refurbished and a few downsides, especially given the guarantees that are provided.

To that end, there are really great refurbished laptop sales that you can check out as part of Best Buy laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, HP laptop deals and Lenovo laptop deals. Alternatively, if you're in the Apple ecosystem, take a look at these refurbished MacBook deals, or if you still want to go for something new, you could consider checking out these laptop deals instead. Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113 Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Best tablets for students 2024: work and play on the go

Looking for a new tablet for school or college? Here are the best tablets in 2024.

Best tablets for students

Are tablets best for students.

Are you a student looking for a great tablet? We’ve got you covered — whether it's an iPad or an Android device — and across all price ranges and screen sizes.

Tablets slot nicely in between your smartphone and your laptop, offering a larger canvas for apps and creative projects than the former without the added bulk of the latter. They’re slim, can be connected to a keyboard and mouse, and often have an excellent battery life. They're often just as powerful as a laptop, too; in fact, some of the iPads on this list have the same processors as you'd find in the best MacBooks for students .

Whether you’re looking for something to boost your productivity levels, scribble down notes, or just enjoy watching TV and movies — or even play some games after a long day — we’ve rounded up our picks for the best tablets for students right here. If your heart is set on an Apple device, also check out our rundown of the best iPads for students . 

1. iPad Air M1

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The iPad Air M1 makes the argument that anyone thinking about spending considerably more on an iPad Pro may not need to after all.

The recently overhauled, slimline tablet offers a 10.9-inch display that has a 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution and a 12 MP camera on each side. Most importantly, it features Apple’s M1 chip, also found in some MacBook models, meaning it has impressive battery life and more power than you’d ever really need in a tablet.

Add in Apple Pencil support and the ability to connect it to the Apple Magic Keyboard (sold separately) and you’ve got a very solid tablet option that’ll handle notetaking, content creation, and video calls with ease.

The only real issue is the 64 GB storage at the low end, which can be increased up to 256 GB for $150 more.

2. iPad Mini (2021)

Apple left the iPad Mini untouched for years, but the 2021 redesign was worth the delay. Overhauling the outer design to more closely match the iPad Pro, it now offers an 8.3-inch screen with thin bezels that means it remains impressively compact – you can fit it in a back pocket of a pair of jeans, for example.

The iPad Mini has an impressive battery life, so if you snap the Apple Pencil onto the side you’ll be able to enjoy hours of taking notes, drawing diagrams, or creating arty masterpieces. It’s also got a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, so it’s nice and secure.

This mini marvel also packs two 12 MP cameras, but is too small for the Magic Keyboard – so you’ll need to connect a Bluetooth one (although that’s going to be considerably cheaper). It also doesn’t have an M1 chip, so features like Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 won’t run, but at this screen size, it’s unlikely to be a major issue.

3. iPad Pro M2

The iPad Pro is widely considered Apple’s best tablet. It’s currently the only iPad with an M2 chip and it offers a crystal-clear, contrast-rich display that only gets better when it’s bumped up to the 12.9-inch model.

Its physical design has barely changed since 2018, but we’d argue it’s still the best-looking iPad out there (albeit lacking in color options) — but the real pull is in that M2 chip’s power. It’s much faster than the CPUs fitted into many of the best laptops for stude nts . 

The only thing preventing it from taking the top spot on our list is its price tag, which makes it pricier than a MacBook Air if you opt for the large version. And that’s before you consider the (thankfully optional) keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

Samsung has been the de facto Android tablet manufacturer for a little while, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ shows just why that is. The 12.4-inch AMOLED screen is bright and beautiful, and it includes the S Pen stylus, too.

The Qualcomm chipset is powerful, but Samsung has also added a huge 10,090mAh battery to ensure it can go for hours and hours while also offering quick charging when it’s out of juice. There’s also a microSD card, so you can add up to 1 TB of storage relatively cheaply, too.

Add to that an ultra-wide camera capable of 4K recording and access to the Play Store for downloading apps for work and play, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ could be the perfect tablet for you.

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

While many tablets can feel like you need to compromise or cut corners somewhere to make them work for you, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is very much a laptop first and a tablet second – but that makes it incredibly capable.

In laptop mode, it’s a powerful 13-inch computer with a tactile keyboard and touch screen, as well as having support for a stylus (sold separately). As a tablet, it still runs Windows 11 so you’ll has access to the Microsoft Store, and becomes a great media consumption device, too.

If you’re looking for more than a tablet, you’ve found it, but it can cost over $1,000. Thankfully it’s regularly discounted, and we’ve seen as much as $300 off in recent weeks.

6. iPad (Tenth Gen)

The iPad (10th Gen) is an excellent tablet, albeit one in a curious position as far as pricing goes. It’s considerably more expensive than its predecessor so perhaps not a great option for those looking to save a few bucks — for that, it's worth considering the iPad (9th Gen) as it's likely available for much less now.

This newer model is certainly worthy of a spot on our list thanks to its overhauled design, which drops the home button in favor of thinner bezels. It’s a sharp-looking tablet, and also the only iPad at the time of writing with the FaceTime camera on the landscape edge.

The A14 Bionic Chip is hardly new, but it's one of the best mobile chips out there and remains plenty powerful for the majority of apps and games in the App Store.

7. Amazon Fire 10 HD

The most affordable tablet on this list, the Amazon Fire 10 HD is a solid option for anyone hooked into the retail giant’s ecosystem already thanks to Alexa support right out of the box.

The latest version keeps much of what worked so well before, but adds to it with a speed boost thanks to extra RAM. It’s still not the fastest tablet around, and starts with just 32 GB of storage, but at least the latter can be upgraded with additional microSD storage.

The biggest issue is that Amazon’s own brand of OS doesn’t feature Google apps, so if you’ve come to rely on Drive, Docs, Sheets, and the like, you’re out of luck. Plus, you have to spend an extra $15/£10 to get the lockscreen without ads.

8. Microsoft Surface Go 2

Not to be confused with the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, this tablet hybrid is akin to the Surface Pro’s little brother. Offering a 10.5-inch touchscreen on a tablet that weighs just 1.2 lbs, it’s a solid option thanks to its faster processor and ten-hour battery life.

While the keyboard cover isn’t included, it does offer a great typing experience, and you can expand the storage, too. That flexibility, coupled with the versatility of Windows 11, can ensure that the Surface Go 2 is just as capable as a tablet or as a laptop.

This is a complex question as there’s absolutely no denying that tablets have come an incredibly long way in the last few years. Previously seen as an awkward “halfway house” between phones and computers, advances in both hardware and software have been keenly felt in almost every effort over the last couple of years.

On the hardware front, more efficient processors mean a sizeable increase in battery life, while screen technology like OLED and AMOLED are brighter, more legible canvases to work on. Then there are more advanced styluses, which, while not mandatory, can be ideal in the right workflow – digital artwork, for example.

Tablet operating systems also continue to improve, with an increased emphasis on input/output, be that through additional options for connecting peripherals like card readers and docking stations, or full external display support.

So, tablets are closer than ever to being laptop replacements, but can they truly be considered as such? It’s a tough call, because so many apps and systems are so entrenched in Windows/macOS that professional apps don’t seem likely to make the jump anytime soon. As an example, Microsoft’s own Access application for database management, and Apple’s Final Cut Pro aren’t available on Windows or Apple tablets respectively.

Tablets also have some way to go when it comes to file management, although the emergence of systems like Google Drive, Dropbox, and similar cloud platforms have mitigated that somewhat.

It essentially comes down to the type of work you’re likely to be doing on a tablet on any given day.

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Lloyd Coombes freelance tech and fitness writer for Live Science. He's an expert in all things Apple as well as in computer and gaming tech, with previous works published on TopTenReviews, Space.com, Dexerto and TechRadar. You'll find him regularly testing the latest MacBook or iPhone, but he spends most of his time writing about video games as Editor in Chief at GGRecon.com. He also covers board games and virtual reality, just to round out the nerdy pursuits.

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The best tablets for students

Our experienced tablet testers pick the best tablets for students. Which is the best tablet for students?

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Best portable
• 3. Best for creatives
• 4. Best Windows
• 5. Best Android
• 6. Another Windows
• 7. Cheap 2-in-1
• 8. Affordable Android
• 9. Best budget
• 10. Affordable Windows
• 11. Best basic
• 12. Budget alternative
• 13. High-spec
• How to choose
• How we test

Jump to the quick list↴ 1. Best overall : Apple iPad Air 2. Best portable : iPad Mini 3. Best for creatives : iPad Pro 4. Best Windows : Surface Pro 9 5. Best Android : Galaxy S8 Ultra 6. Another Windows : Surface Pro 8 7. Best 2-in-1 : HP x2 11 8. Budget Android : Galaxy S6 Lite 9. Best budget : Amazon Fire HD 8 10. Budget Windows : Surface Go 3 11. Best basic : IdeaPad Duet 12. Other options How to choose How we test FAQs

If you're starting back at school or looking to upgrade your old kit, the best tablets for students make for fantastic and versatile machines. Gone are the days when bulky, heavy laptops need to be lugged into every lecture and class; now, tablets are available with a variety of tools and software to make them just as good for note-taking, creative work, and organisation. 

To help you choose the best tablet for your learning needs, we've assessed everything from the power, versatility, size and resolution specs to the available apps, any accessories that enhance the experience as well as the build quality to come up with a list of tablets that suit a variety of needs. We've weighed up the pros and cons, explaining why each of the devices below made the cut.; 

As well as our own reviews, we've also considered customer reviews to determine which of these tablets most deserve your attention, but we've also got a more specific guide to the best budget drawing tablets , and the best iPad alternatives if you're ready to whittle down your options further. You may also find refurbished versions of the tablets on my list below; before buying those read our guide to buying refurbished tech .

The best tablets for students: Quick List

Below, we've summarised our top picks for when you want some quick insight, but you can scroll down, click the 'read more' text or find 'jump to' links at the side of this page to read our full thoughts.

This slim, powerful, and lightweight tablet comes with Apple's own M1 chip, making it immensely capable - especially when it comes to creative software. The screen is sharp and vibrant, while the front camera and USB-C have been improved from the previous devices. Read more below

With Apple Pencil 2 compatibility and a processor boost, this powerful and compact little iPad is a great option if you care more about portability than screen size. The brightness is even, the color accuracy is impressive, and we love the new USB-C port. Read more below

If you need size and power as a creative student, the best option is easily the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021). It's powerful and can handle even the most demanding visual design tasks with almost MacBook-level power. Read more below

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a powerful tablet that, like iPad Pro, can be turned into a decent desktop computer by clicking in a cover/keyboard hybrid. Whichever model you choose – we advise the Intel builds, this is a quality tablet, with a fantastic screen and light and tactile build. Read more below

If Android tablets are more your speed, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra offers plenty of power at a reasonable price. It's a spacious slate, making it great for note-taking or sketching, and has some pretty powerful configurations too. Read more below

If the Surface Pro 9 is a little out of your price range, the Surface Pro 8 is the next best bet, allowing you to run desktop apps without issue. It's got a gorgeous screen and powerful processor. There are several configurations, so you can opt for lower RAM and storage space to save cash. Read more below

The best tablet for students overall

01. Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022)

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

We were already big fans of the 2020 iPad Air , and we had rated it as the best tablet for students since it came out. Now the new Apple iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) has stolen its predecessor's crown by adding a level of power that comes very close to making it an iPad Pro . It's a powerful, slim and lightweight tablet, now with Apple's own M1 chip, which is the main upgrade over the previous model.

When we reviewed it, we found that this processor upgrade makes the new iPad Air capable of handling almost any task asked of it, including leading art apps such as Procreate and the best video editing software. Considering that it's cheaper than an iPad Pro, for us this makes it the best tablet for students overall. 

We found the screen to be sharp and vibrant, while the front camera and USB-C have been improved from the previous devices (there's also now the option of 5G connectivity. Meanwhile, the revamped iPadOS has introduced desktop workflows, including multiple work windows that can make it faster to work. See our full Apple iPad Air (5th Gen) review for more details.

• Back to the top ⤴

The best portable tablet for students

02. iPad Mini (6th Gen, 2021)

Ever since it received Apple Pencil support the iPad Mini has been a firm favourite of ours, and the September 2021 update made it an even better option, adding Apple Pencil 2 compatibility. It also got a processor boost that makes it a pretty powerful compact little device.

This iteration uses a reworked version of the A15 Bionic chip for powerful processing, and while some users may feel frustrated by only 4GB of RAM, realistically this should be enough for the tasks you'd want to do on a screen this small. We found the compact size and lightweight (less than 300g) make the tablet perfect for use on the go, for example on transport.

There's a very welcome USB-C port, which opens up a lot of possibilities. For example, when we reviewed the tablet, we used it with a USB DAC to listen to Apple's Lossless Hi-Res music, and with a USB mic to record a voiceover. The display is a little larger than that of the last iPad Mini, even though the overall body is smaller, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. We found the brightness to be very even, making it pleasant to use for long periods, and we were very impressed with the colour accuracy. While you're still paying a fairly premium Apple price, we reckon the iPad Mini 2021 offers solid value for money. 

See our full iPad mini 6 review for more details.

The best tablet for creative students

03. iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)

The big appeal of the iPad Mini is its portability, but if your area of study needs power (and you have a bigger budget), we recommend the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) as the best student tablet for those on creative courses. As Apple's most powerful tablet, it doesn't come with a very student-friendly price, but you get a device that can handle even the most demanding visual design tasks with almost MacBook -level power. Pair it with a keyboard and mouse, and it could could even use it as a super portable laptop.

The HDR display is the best we've seen on a tablet, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2048 x 2732. Its peak brightness is 1,600 nits, and with better control of local dimming, it's more pleasant to look at for long periods. We found darker areas to have more nuance and depth to them, making for a better and more accurate image that's excellent for photo and video editing.

Of course, we hesitate to recommend this as the best tablet for students because of the price, and we'd say it's only worth splashing out on if you really need the specs you need to run power-hungry editing apps. In that department, it shouldn't disappoint. 

See our full iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) review for more details.

The best Windows tablet for students

04. Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface pro 9 is a powerful tablet that, like iPad Pro, can be turned into a decent desktop computer by clicking in a cover/keyboard hybrid. The thing to watch here is the build – the Intel i5 and i7 models are excellent high-end machines while the 5G SQ3 model is built for battery life, and so lacks some power to run complex software.

For the money, I'd opt for the Intel i5 model that can run full software such as Photoshop with ease and can be paired with the excellent Surface Pro stylus and keyboard for a complete package. Our Surface Pro 9 review found that if you're looking to replace your laptop with a powerful and adaptable tablet (that's also a laptop), and are wedded to Windows, then Surface Pro 9 is an excellent option.

If you're looking for a decent web-browsing, cloud-based tablet for online classes and writing, then the 5G model is good (though there are cheaper tablets on this list that can do this as well).

Whichever model you choose – again, opt for the Intel builds – the Surface Pro 9 is a quality tablet, with a fantastic screen and light and tactile build. A nice feature is this newer Surface Pro can use the keyboard and stylus of the Surface Pro 8, saving you money if upgrading. 

The best Android tablet for students

05. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

If you prefer an Android tablet and need plenty of power, the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra delivers that, and for a very reasonable price given its specs. You get a very big screen for a tablet – 14.6 in, which dwarves the largest iPad Pro. This makes it a good choice for those looking to take notes or sketch using the S Pen stylus, which refreshingly comes included as standard, making this even better value for a premium tablet. 

You can take the specs up to pretty powerful configurations too, with up to 16GB in RAM and 512GB storage. Of course, the size makes this heavier than many of the options on our list of the best tablets for students, and not so conveniently portable. But we loved the slim, sleek design when we reviewed the tablet, and found the punchy screen fantastic for watching media and even editing photos. If you don't need the specs of the Ultra version, you might consider the cheaper standard Tab S8.

Note that there have been availability issues in the US due to high demand, but the Samsung store does now have stock available. There are also imported options available on Amazon. See our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review for more details.

Another Windows tablet for students

06. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

If you choose an iPad or Android tablet then you'll probably be able to find all the apps you need in their respective stores. However, if your coursework requires the use of full desktop software rather than mobile versions, a Microsoft Surface Pro could be the best student tablet for you. The Surface Pro is a Windows PC in tablet form, which means you can use desktop software such as full-fat Adobe Photoshop and other Creative Cloud packages, without having to worry about them not having all the features you might need.

The Surface Go 3 below is a lot more affordable, making it a good student choice for general use, but if you need a tablet that really runs desktop apps without having to pause for breath every now and then, the Surface Pro could be your new best friend. When we reviewed it, we found the improvements over the older Surface Pro 7 to be much more notable, both in terms of design and performance. 

The Surface Pro 8 is designed to showcase Windows 11 and it does that with aplomb thanks to a gorgeous screen and powerful processor. Pair it with a Type Cover, and you have an experience that can stand up to a laptop while being thinner and lighter Battery life is great as well. There are several configurations, so you can opt for lower RAM and storage space to save cash. This is always going to be a pricey tablet for students, but it's a good time to grab this 2021 device because it's starting to get regular discounts now that the Surface Pro 9 is coming out.

See our full Surface Pro 8 review for more details.

The best 2-in-1 tablet for students

07. HP Chromebook x2 11

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a smart little Chromebook that offers the best of both worlds; it's a tablet for note-taking, web-browsing, video streaming and digital art but can turn into a decent laptop for writing and productive work when its neat keyboard is clicked in place.

In my HP Chromebook x2 11 review , I found this tablet to be incredibly versatile. We were just as happy to use it on the go as a tablet or on a desk as a laptop; its 2K QLED screen and cloud-focused setup proved excellent for gaming and video streaming. Any student with an Xbox Game Pass account will find this useful between writing tasks and classes.

Of course, this is a Chrome OS device so that comes with the caveat that it runs apps via the Google Play Store rather than full software like the comparable Surface Go from Microsoft. However, Google's own suite of apps – Sheets, Docs, etc – are excellent substitutes for Word and Excel. Also, everything saves and exists in the cloud so you can access your work anywhere you have an internet connection.

For more, take a look at our guide to the best Chromebooks available now.

The best affordable Android tablet for students

08. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

We've already recommended the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra above as the best tablet for students looking for a premium Android device with a reasonable price tag. But if you don't need those specs (or you don't want such a large tablet), you could save money by going for an older, more budget Galaxy Tab. 

The Galaxy Tab 6 Lite has long been superseded, but you can still pick it up online, and often at a very tempting price. It still provides respectable performance and build quality, and again, it comes with the S-Pen included. While it can't compete with some of the more advanced styluses out there, it's fine for note-taking and doodles.

The best budget tablet for students

09. Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)

If you don't have a lot of money to spend on a tablet, don't despair. While you're never going to get iPad Pro-level performance out of a cheap tablet for students, if you opt for the very reasonably-priced Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) you should at least be pleasantly surprised by what it can do. Despite its low-end price it still packs some decent features, and it's a significant upgrade from its predecessor.

If you shop on Amazon a lot and you have a Prime membership, you'll find a lot to like with this tablet, and it'll run plenty of apps that can help you with your studies and can be used for word processing and spreadsheets. It's also a good performer when it comes to entertainment. There's Amazon Prime, of course, along with Netflix and Disney Plus, and they all run well and look good on the 8-inch screen. If you want a tablet but don't want to spend much, then this is a great budget choice. 

Note that with Amazon Fire tablets, the number refers to the size of the tablet (as opposed to Samsung, Microsoft and Apple tablets in which the number refers to the  generation). If you need a larger tablet, there's the Fire HD 10, but we like this 8in version for its compact size.

The best affordable Windows tablet for students

10. Microsoft Surface Go 3

The Surface Pro 8 above is the best Windows tablet for students overall, if you have the money to splash and if you need that much power. But if you'll only be using your tablet for taking notes and writing up essays, it's really much more than you need. In that case, you might be better opting for the Surface Go 3.

The Surface Go 3 is not going to be able to cope with heavy creative apps and image rendering like its Pro cousin mat, but it is the most affordable Surface tablet, and it offers a stylish, lightweight design and low price. Invest in the Type Cover, and you can protect the screen and turn the Surface Go 3 into a great little Windows laptop for writing up essays.

The Surface Pro 3 offers a newer processor and slightly better performance over its predecessor, although its display is slightly dimmer and battery life isn't great, so you might also consider the older model if you spot a good deal. See our full Surface Go 3 review for more details.

The best basic tablet for students

11. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1

A Chromebook may not be your first choice when looking for the best tablets for students. Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons why you might opt for one. With Google Chrome as your OS, you get speed and ease of use, as well as Google's own security, cloud storage and free connected apps. And the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 is a fine option; not only does it come at a great price, it's absolutely perfect for things like research, writing and organisational tasks, and it's ideal for video conferencing too.

The downside to using a Chrome OS is the tablet lacks the power of an Apple or Windows device, and won't run desktop or intensive software. That aside, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 10.1 performs most tasks, and many desktop apps have mobile editions that can prove just as useful and are often far cheaper.

The Lenovo Duet is a well-designed tablet. It's a little chunky compared to Apple devices but that also means it's a sturdy device. The fact it comes packaged with a keyboard and stand is a bonus, and only serves to reinforce the value-for-money this budget tablet offers.

The best budget alternative tablet for students

12. Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab

If you're short on budget, the Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is an interesting little tablet that's well worth a look. Compared to many of the tablets listed above it's a little short on power, but it has a great-looking screen and decent built-in speakers, and it has Google Assist built in. As a result, what you have here is a well-priced and functional tablet for any student who doesn't have money to burn.

The design of the Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is unique. One end has a bulky, rounded cylinder that tapers away to form a smooth and curved design. This ensures it a natural typing position and can be stood upright at an angle for viewing – it's a perfect device for written work and video calls (and great for films).

Made from aluminium and covered with a soft-touch acrylic finish, the Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is a light and agile tablet. This device has a lot going for it, but it's also light on power and uses an older version of Android, which can limit its app use. That said, if you're writing and organising, researching and browsing the web, or taking on video calls and remote lectures, it's actually very handy; a good backup tablet.

The best high-spec tablet for students

13. Huawei Matepad 11

The Huawei MatePad 11 is a high-spec tablet that is comparable to the Apple iPad. It is a light tablet with a superb and vibrant 120Hz display, a rarity in tablets at this size and  budget (£449). The screen, its size and the excellent stylus make this a wonderful tablet for digital art.

There's an overall quality to the Huawei MatePad 11 that impresses, and in fact is a good alternative to Apple and Android, particularly as it comes in a 256GB edition. So what's the catch? Well, Huawei is a Chinese company and so has been banned from access to the Google Store. Huawei has its own versions of all of the apps you'd need for everyday tasks, including a word editor, PDF reader and excel-like document app. 

In use, my Huawei MatePad 11 review revealed there's a neat APK direct download solution workaround, which means you can actually download all of the apps you'd usually use, including Netflix, but it's a little scrappy and not as easy as using Google Store. Also, you're missing out on some great art apps. If you can manage without some apps and need an everyday tablet for work and play, for less, then the Huawei MatePad 11 is a good option.

How to choose the best tablet for students

Which option is the best student tablet for you will depend on your requirements. We'd suggest considering size and weight: you'll want a tablet that can easily fit into your bag. Even with the largest tablets, like the 14in Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, they're still lighter and more portable than a laptop, but one of the reasons we rate the iPad mini so highly is that it offers good specs but also a very convenient size.

Some students will need high-level specs, especially those on creative courses who need to edit images or video. This is why we've included several of the most premium tablets around on our list. Unfortunately, these don't have such student-friendly prices, but you may be able to get an Apple student discount .

Otherwise, if you're studying a course that doesn't entail use of more demanding creative software, then you may be just fine with a cheaper tablet like an older Galaxy Tab S or the 2020 iPad Air, or the super economical Amazon Fire.

How we tested the best tablets for students

We review many tablets hands on at Creative Bloq, both drawing tablets and general-use devices. For our buying guides, we only include tablets that we have awarded three stars and above. We spend time with each tablet to test its usability, design, performance and portability, as well as assess the screen in terms of brightness, clarity and overall quality of the colours.

We test tablets under a mix of conditions, both in the home and on the go. As well as running benchmark tests, we use each tablet for our own projects and daily work tasks to test how well it copes with a real workflow. To test battery life we use the tablet on full charge and let it run down, and make a note of how long the battery lasts. 

You can read our full process for all products in our How we test and review guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tablet be used for online classes.

Yes, modern tablets are designed to be used for streaming video and video calls. Whether it's the latest Apple or a Chromebook you'll find new tablets are excellent for taking online classes. You will, however, need a stand so make sure you cost this in; Apple and Microsoft sell these separately while Chromebooks tend to come with them.

Is a laptop or tablet best for college?

Laptops tend to be better workhorses and come with the extra protection of a folding case to keep the screen safe and clean. However, tablets released in the 12 months, such as Apple iPad Air (5th Gen) or Microsoft Surface Pro 8, offer the best of both worlds – power and the portability of a tablet. To explore laptop options, see our pick of the best student laptops .

Is a tablet good for college?

We'd say so, the portability of a tablet, and ideally one with a touchscreen, stylus and keyboard, is a good option for daily classes and campus jostling. If you're looking to take notes, record audio and write a tablet is great. As a companion to a laptop, a Chromebook tablet is a good option as they're cheap and save to cloud storage / Google Drive.

How much do the best student tablets cost?

Of course, when choosing the best student tablet, price is a factor. Some students will require high-end specs that are inevitably expensive, especially those on creative courses that involve the use of graphically demanding software that requires a powerful chip and lots of RAM for a smooth experience. Such students will probably want to go for options like the iPad Pro or Surface Pro, which can even replace a laptop in some cases.

However, students on courses that don't require visual design software won't need that level of power and will be fine with a much more affordable tablet. In our pick of the best student tablets above, we've been sure to include some more economical options for those on a budget or who don't need the highest-end specs for their study.

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Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creativebloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and leading video game title Official PlayStation Magazine. In his early career he wrote for music and film magazines including Uncut and SFX. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on AI, digital art and video game art and tech, and more to Creative Bloq, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5. He's also a keen Cricut user and laser cutter fan, and is currently crafting on Glowforge and xTools M1.

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Best tablet for students 2024

You can use a tablet for practically anything.

At a glance

Best overall, best apple tablet, best cheap tablet, best chromebook, best amazon tablet, best e ink tablet, how to choose.

1. At a glance 2. Best overall 3. Best Apple tablet 4. Best cheap tablet 5. Best value 6. Best Chromebook 7. Best Amazon tablet 8 . Best E Ink tablet 9. How to choose

If you're looking for a stellar student tablet, you've come to the right place. We understand that when it comes to buying a school-friendly device, you want something that's powerful enough to last all day, yet durable and lightweight enough to carry in a backpack. Something that's equally handy for scribbling notes in class and streaming movies after class, with enough power to be productive, but at a low enough price that you can afford it.

Luckily, there are plenty of options out there, and we've gathered them all below. Our favorite overall pick, and arugably one of the best Andrid tablets , is the Galaxy Tab S9, which has the S Pen included, a powerful SoC with up to 12GB of RAM, and a beautiful AMOLED 120Hz display. But of course, every student is different, so keep reading to see all of the best options under the sun.

• Tablet deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Dell

The Galaxy Tab S9 is a well-balanced tablet with a fast SoC, a large screen, and ample battery life. It even has an 120Hz display that works well with the included S Pen.

Read more below.  

We don't cover Apple products often, but the iPad Air (2022) is simply too good to not mention. Expect a lightweight device that'll easily fit in a backpack, plus great performance and battery life.

Read more below.

If you want a reliable tablet that won't break the bank, the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus boasts great battery life, expandable storage to 1TB, and a portable lightweight construction.

Boasting a compact 10.4-inch display, the Tab S6 Lite works great for students on the go, while the max 12 hours of battery life should easily last beyond a full school day. 

Chromebooks are a great choice for students of all ages, and the IdeaPad Duet 3 is one of the best, coming complete with all-day battery life and an approachable price. 

The 2023 version of the Fire HD 10 is impressive with a sharp display, solid battery life, and an incredible price. If you've got a laptop for the heavy lifting, this is an excellent companion tablet.

Load the next product ↓

Best E Ink tablet  

The Note Air 3 is one of the best E Ink tablets for taking notes, drawing, and reading. Battery life is solid, the stylus is included, and there's an alternate model with a color display too. 

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones for students , so it's no surprise that it also makes some of the best tablets. The Tab S9 series is the top of the range for Samsung meaning these tablets have excellent AMOLED displays with 120Hz support, a powerful SoC, and an up-to-date build of Android 14 available for download. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC powering this tablet is one of the best mobile chips you can get with an octa-core CPU and enough power for gaming. That all means that it should breeze through schoolwork for the next few years so you can stay focused.

When it comes to storage, the base model comes with 128GB with an upgrade to 256GB available. The 128GB model comes with 8GB of RAM while the 256GB model gets 12GB to work with. If you plan to use the Galaxy Tab S9 as your primary device, the extra RAM with the 256GB model is a sensible upgrade. If you've also got a laptop for your heavier workloads, though, the 8GB version should be fine. Regardless of the version you choose, you can upgrade the storage down the line thanks to a microSD card slot.

Samsung bundles its excellent S Pen with this tablet so you're ready to take notes right out of the box. Besides that, the S Pen can be useful for navigating spreadsheets, large documents, or even just old text-heavy websites that weren't designed with touch in mind.

2. Apple iPad Air (2022)

Despite our site focusing on all things Android, our laudatory iPad Air 2022 review shows that we're not afraid to acknowledge when Apple knocks it out of the park. While not as large as the iPad Pro, the iPad Air (2022) offers impressive performance for demanding creativity apps at about half the price compared to the iPad Pro.

It has a lightweight, thin-bezel design with five metallic color finishes, Touch ID built into the power button, and two powerful speakers. Its 2360x1640 LCD only hits 60Hz (compared to 120Hz on the Tab S9), but it hits 500 nits of brightness with anti-reflective coating, perfect for use in direct sunlight or for late-night binges. 

Its Apple M1 chipset which is also found in the excellent iPad Pro and MacBook Air , delivers incredible performance that surpass the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 found in the best Android tablets. You can even add cellular data if your school's Wi-Fi network isn't reliable.

Add in iPadOS — better optimized in general than Android tablet apps — and USB-C charging, and the iPad Air 2022 has very few downsides. You'll have to pay a good chunk for extra storage since the 64GB base variant really isn't enough. And as is the case with many Apple products, its battery life is only so-so, with about an eight-hour average just out of the box in our tests. Still, it's great for students and non-students alike.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus

Many of the perks that make the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus our best cheap Android tablet pick also applies to why students will love it. It has a hefty 7,040mAh battery that'll never die on you in class, plus USB-C charging, so it can quickly jump back up to full capacity.

It has quad speakers that'll make movie nights a blast and drive your roommate nuts. At just under a pound (480g) with a 11-inch display, it's lightweight enough for its size to make holding it while reading textbooks easy. 

We're huge fans of the design. Most budget tablets like the Fire HD 10 and base iPad have thick, uneven bezels, while the Galaxy Tab A9 Plus looks more uniform and attractive, particularly thanks to its aluminum finish. And alongside the USB-C port, we also think students will appreciate the headphone jack and 1TB-capable microSD card slot.

Its Snapdragon 695 SoC and up to 8GB of RAM should ensure better performance compared to the Tab A8 before it. You even get a 5G cellular variant through all the major US carriers. Its 1920x1200 display, while not as vivid as Samsung's other AMOLED panels, does give you a slight upgrade over regular 1080p displays. The A9 Plus also has a 90Hz refresh rate, so scrolling and general use should feel smoother.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

With the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite , the company opted to replace the S5e that previously had been one of our favorite value tablets. With this new tablet, you'll get a familiar, lightweight, sleek design, along with the solid specs you would expect from a Samsung tablet .

Samsung has equipped the S6 Lite with 12 hours of battery life, along with a microSD card slot, making it a perfect tablet for storing classwork or media files. The company also unveiled an updated S Pen, which sports a new design, a finer tip, and improved latency than the S Pen found with the standard Galaxy Tab S6. All of this makes for an impressive Android tablet, packed with loads of features and more to do almost anything for you.

With a 10.4-inch screen and just 4GB of memory, it's a more compact model that'll work great for scratching out notes and streaming Netflix, but isn't built for laptop-level efficiency. But as it sells for less than half the price of the Tab S9+, it's a much better choice for students planning to do most of their work on a laptop anyway. There's no point in overpaying for features that most students won't need.

Considering that the Tab S6 Lite is aimed at the value market, some corners had to be cut. Going back to media consumption, Samsung included two AKG-tuned speakers instead of the four. Plus, the microSD card slot can only use up to a 512GB card, while other tablets offer support up to 1TB.

5. Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3

2-in-1 Chromebooks like the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 work well for parents or students looking for a tablet designed with a detachable keyboard in mind, letting it double as your laptop once you're back to your room or dorm. The Duet is one of the best Chromebook tablets for students by far thanks to its epic battery life, included productivity accessories, bright display, and very reasonable price.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 sports a 10.9-inch display with 400 nits of brightness, enough that it'll remain visible in direct sunlight. It has a 7,000mAh battery that could last you several days on casual use, or about 10–12 hours with constant use. It doesn't have the most power with its 4GB of RAM and 64GB of base storage, but Chromebooks like the Duet 3 are designed to handle most Chrome OS apps without using much power.

You'll slot on the attachable keyboard and type notes during class, then pull it off and enjoy relaxing with your favorite media apps. Because ChromeOS is fully designed for both touchscreens and laptops, it'll work well in either context. 

Unlike many of our other picks, it lacks a microSD card slot, so you'll have to make do with just 64GB-128GB of storage. That should be plenty if your notes, homework, or creative projects can be stored in the cloud.

If you want affordable, portable power for your school laptop, you can also check out the best student Chromebooks .

6. Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)

If you just need a basic tablet to help with note-taking, research, or just to relax with a movie after studying, the Fire HD 10 is a solid choice. This 2023 revision has a reasonably powerful SoC with an octa-core CPU from Mediatek paired with 3GB of RAM that should be plenty for most tasks outside of gaming. It all looks nice and sharp on the 10.1-inch IPS display running at 1920x1200, a comfortable 16:10 resolution.

This tablet comes with 32GB or 64GB of storage for files and apps, which isn't much, so it's a good idea to grab one of the best microSD cards for Android right away. Even with the price of a 128GB or 256GB microSD card factored in, the Fire HD 10 is still a phenomenal value. If you opt to download a few videos to watch on the bus or just want a large display for your favorite pictures, the extra space will be well worth it.

Amazon has loaded this tablet with Fire OS 8 running atop Android 11, so it's not the most up-to-date Android tablet in the world, but still new enough to run the vast majority of apps. Speaking of apps, out of the box, you're stuck using the Amazon App Store, but if you want Google services, those apps can be sideloaded .

If you want to make this tablet your go-to device to bring to class, you can grab a pressure-sensitive stylus to take notes in handwriting, or a keyboard if you prefer typing.

7. Onyx Boox Note Air 3

If you're looking for a robust device specially for note taking, it's hard to beat the battery life and notebook-like feel of an E Ink device. The new Onyx Boox Note Air 3 is the latest E Ink Android tablet, complete with the Play Store so you can use all your favorite apps too.

The metal build makes the device feel premium and sturdy, while the massive E Ink Carta 1200 display worked beautifully in the two months we used it for, both, for reading and sketching. There are a couple of shortcomings regarding the drawing part, like a slight delay when creating strokes, and you can't duplicate a layer or copy large drawings. The Note Air 3 ships with a protective case and the Pen Plus, which can attach to the tablet after you're done with it.

While Onyx has its own built-in  note-taking application , the fact that this is powered by Android 12 and has the Play Store pre-installed means that you can download any drawing app of your liking. For those that need a color display, there's a Note Air 3 C model for $100 more, which comes with a Kaleido 3 color ePaper screen. This color-version of the Note Air 3 displays only mellow hues, since it is still E Ink after all. However, it's going to be much easier on the eyes, letting you spend hours on your assignments withouth the risk of eye fatigue. 

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How to pick the best tablet for students

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

It's easy to see why the tablet market is dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung. These are the most reliable options on the market, are more durable than others, and pack the most features compared to the competition. But if you're trying to figure out what the best student tablet is, there are a few things to take into consideration.

Any of these tablets are capable of running video calling apps or services, so that's not really much of a concern. But if you need to do any presentations, you'll be better suited for something like the iPad Air or the Galaxy Tab S9 thanks to the superior camera quality for video calls and high-quality displays. Apple and Samsung have also included features that ensure you remain in the center of the frame, at all times, thanks to built-in software capabilities.

Another deciding factor when picking a tablet is what you actually plan on using it for. Do you need stylus support where Samsung's S Pen and the Chromebook Duet 3's USI compatibility come in handy? Or would you prefer to type out your notes, essentially turning your tablet into a laptop? 

Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 3 is the only option on this list that includes a keyboard cover in the box, however, there are some first-party and third-party case options available for the others. 

When it comes to battery life, there isn't a single option on this list for the best student tablets that won't last at least eight hours. And the Tab S9 is arguably above the rest, as you'll be able to get up to 15 hours on a single charge unless you start messing around and are watching YouTube or Netflix instead of studying. If you need the tablet strictly for studies and homework alone, getting something like the Onyx Boox Note Air 3 with its week-long battery life would be a game-changer. 

There are some other features that might entice you to one tablet or another. For example, many of the best Samsung tablets include DeX mode, which gets rid of the basic Android interface in favor of a desktop-like one. This includes using apps in different windows, as opposed to relying on multitasking gestures. 

Bottom line

There are quite a few different Android tablets to pick from, especially if you're a student. Of course, use-cases are different for everyone, but our favorite Android tablet is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for almost every situation. 

It has plenty of power for multitasking and getting some work done, but best of all, Samsung includes an S Pen in the box, allowing you to take notes wherever along with using the S Pen's features.

You can take advantage of the new Samsung DeX Mode for more of a desktop-like experience when you pick up Samsung's Keyboard Cover. Since the processor is 5G-enabled, the tablet can take advantage of the fastest network speeds. Going from class to class and not needing to rely on spotty Wi-Fi can be a real game-changer.

If you're looking for more options, check out our list of the best Android tablets for kids to shop for the younger students in your life, or our choices for the best Android tablets overall.

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Best Tablets For Students

Get the very best tablets for students to use in class, for remote learning and beyond

The best tablets for students are fantastic for getting that ideal combination of portability and power, all with a decent screen and plenty of app functionality.

Thanks to built-in cameras and audio, tablets are great both for in-class use but also for video calls and remote learning. The fact that these can be a lot more affordable than laptops is just a bonus.

A few areas you may want to think about before taking the tablet-based plunge: How big does your screen need to be versus how portable do you want this tablet? Is all day battery a must or is processing power the key? Will you need your tablet to work with a stylus pen? Can the operating system work well with your school's setup? If it's parents buying, do you need to put restrictions on the tablet?

It's a lot of points to consider so we've taken the rest of the work out of it for you by laying out the best tablets for students right now.

• Best Laptops for Teachers
• Best 3D Printers for Remote Learning

1. Apple iPad (2020): The best tablets for students top pick

Apple iPad (2020)

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Apple iPad (2020) is the best tablet you can buy as a student, both for remote learning and for classroom use. Fortunately, this tablet's uses go even beyond that, making it a great investment, even if it is one of the more expensive and not newest of tablet options out there.

This is an iOS device so it has more apps than any other platform. That makes this capable as a school device that could even replace a laptop if paired with a keyboard case. The dual microphones and front-facing 1.2MP camera make it a very capable video classroom unit, ideal for remote learning. 

Of course, multitasking also plays into this, if you want a document open while in a video class, for example – all of which is possible thanks to the power of that A12 Bionic processor and spacious 10.2-inch high resolution 2,160 x 1,620 Retina display.

The battery can last a full day on a charge, so this is great for use in the classroom too. 

2. Samsung Tab S7 Plus: Best PC replacement tablet

Samsung Tab S7 Plus

The Samsung Tab S7 Plus is a tablet that students who want a PC replacement, while staying mobile, should consider. While it's primarily a touchscreen device, with a superb 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen that boasts HDR10+ and 120Hz, this can also be paired with a keyboard, mouse, and screen thanks to its DeX smarts.

Consequently, you can output to a TV or monitor and use the tablet like a PC computer. It is still an Android-based device though, so you get access to all the apps you could want from the operating system. 

For remote learning, the camera offers 8MP quality with HDR to adjust for any lighting, making it ideal even when moving from room to room – possible thanks to that 14-hour battery life. The S Pen Stylus is also a great addition for annotating and beyond. The keyboard case, which is a useful addition, is charged as an extra accessory. That said, this will pair with any Bluetooth keyboard, so that may not be a factor in your decision. 

3. Amazon Fire 7: Best affordable tablet

Amazon Fire 7

The Amazon Fire 7 is a tablet designed for those on a budget who don't mind a simple tablet that covers the basics. The 7-inch screen isn't the highest resolution at 1,024 x 600, nor is the front-facing camera at 2MP. That said, both will do the job for video classroom work.

The Amazon Fire OS works on an Android base so there are lots of apps are available. Battery life spans just a few hours, however, the build quality is solid, so even when thrown in into a bag with a charger it should survive, although a protective case is always a good idea.

This device offers excellent parental controls, making it a good option for anyone giving this tablet to a younger student who, perhaps, needs limits on usage.

4. HP Chromebook X2: Best Chromebook tablet

HP Chromebook X2

The HP Chromebook X2 is, just as the name suggests, everything you could want from a Chromebook, while taking on the form of a portable tablet. As such, it is ideal for both remote learning at home and in the classroom. 

This is a superb device for anyone hoping to integrate with Google systems, such as G Suite for Education, which many schools use. This is a fast and powerful option that also looks great thanks to its 12.3-inch display with high 2,400 x 1,600 resolution and 403 nits of brightness.

The leather-texture keyboard with trackpad and HP Active Pen stylus accessory are all great extras that come included with the setup. As does impressive built-in B&O Play sound and a 4.9-megapixel front-facing camera plus built-in microphones – all ideal for video lesson clarity. 

This device is heavier than some tablets, but lighter than many laptops, which it can replace. The 12-hour battery life might explain the weight to some extent but then you won't need to carry a charger so that works out well.

5. Lenovo Smart Tab M8: Best for battery life

Lenovo Smart Tab M8

The Lenovo Smart Tab M8 is a tablet that works well at home, angling in its charging dock stand for video calls. It is also ideal for use in school due to its impressive 18-hour battery life.

Thanks to an efficient quad-core MediaTek processor that is paired with 2GB of RAM, it provides enough power for basic tasks. Combined with the 8-inch,1,280 x 800 and 350 nits brightness display, it may not be a full laptop replacement but should keep you mobile.

The Android operating system offers plenty of apps and free updates that should keep this tablet's value long after the initial price has been paid.

6. Microsoft Surface Go 2: Best Windows tablet

Microsoft Surface Go 2

The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is a tablet but one that doubles as a Windows 10 PC thanks to the full operating system and the option of a keyboard case attachment. There is plenty of processing power due to the Intel Core m3 processor and 8GB of RAM that allows for multi-tasking, video lessons, and more, all at the same time. 

The display offers a Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution that, combined with the 5MP and 1080p Skype HD front-facing camera, offers a very clear video classroom experience. Battery life is good for a full day, and expect plenty of updates from Microsoft to keep the software secure and up-to-date long into the future.

7. Apple iPad Pro: Best premium tablet

Apple iPad Pro

The Apple iPad Pro is a really expensive option, which is a given at this top-end price. But you get what you pay for here with all the power of a laptop crammed into a svelte, strong, and super portable design. The screen is stunning, the cameras are excellent, and the power is zippy no matter which of the many, many excellent apps you're using.

With a great keyboard, superb stylus pen option and lots of other accessories available, this is a centerpiece that can be built around. Aside from the price it's tough to find any downsides to this tablet. If your school doesn't support Apple though, this may not be the best option for you, even if that iPad name is calling to you.

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Luke Edwards is a freelance writer and editor with more than two decades of experience covering tech, science, and health. He writes for many publications covering health tech, software and apps, digital teaching tools, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and much more.

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The 8 Best Tablets for College in 2022

Keep your textbooks, notes and favorite games easily accessible in one ultra-portable device.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

The best tablets are lightweight and can easily handle textbooks, note-taking, lab work and down-time entertainment. But shopping for a great tablet can be a headache, with every company giving you multiple models to choose from. That’s why we’ve collected the best of the best for college students to take to school this fall. Read on for our top recommendations, plus essentials to consider before shopping.

Looking for more must-have devices, gadgets, gear and accessories for school? Check out our stories on the best Apple Watch charging stands , the best wireless headphones , and the best college laptops .

Best Tablets for College

Best overall

Apple ipad (2021).

Apple iPad Air

Best Android

Samsung galaxy tab s8.

Budget Android

Samsung galaxy tab a8.

Most affordable

Amazon fire hd 10.

Best Windows

Microsoft surface pro 8.

Windows on-the-go

Microsoft surface go 3.

For digital artist

Apple ipad pro 12.9-inch, what to consider.

The best tablets have a lot in common: a high-resolution screen, great software, long battery life and room to customize. Below are a few major points to keep in mind when picking your ideal tablet.

Operating System

Unlike computers, tablets run a wide variety of different operating systems. With any new tablet, it's best to match the software as closely as possible to your existing devices. Students using Windows and Android will be best served by a tablet running the same operating system. Similarly, anyone with a MacBook will find excellent cross-connectivity using an iPad.

Most tablets are sold with different amounts of storage built-in. Students working with larger files, such as photos and videos, may want to consider purchasing a tablet with at least 128GB of storage. Users working mostly online will be fine with the average 64GB models.

Accessories

Accessories like an attachable keyboard or digital stylus can transform your tablet experience. If you plan on using such accessories, make sure your tablet of choice is compatible.

How We Selected

Many of these recommendations come from hundreds of hours of in-house use. For the products we couldn’t test ourselves, we perform intensive research, reviewing content from expert sources like Wirecutter , CNET , Tom’s Guide , DigitalTrends , and others, as well as thousands of consumer reviews from online storefronts like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. As for the products themselves, we evaluated them on performance, design, build quality, and price. Also, every tablet we cover has an average customer rating of 4 stars or more.

• Display Size: 10.2 inches
• Display Resolution: 2160 x 1620 pixels
• Storage: 64GB, 256GB
• Weight: 17.6oz

At this point, the iPad is almost synonymous with the tablet. Apple dominates the tablet market in the United States with their high-quality, easy-to-use tablets. That quality and accessibility make 2021’s iPad our top tablet pick.

The iPad’s software experience is second to none, with intuitive menus, apps, file sharing and more. While this is Apple’s most affordable iPad, it still has great build quality and a plethora of compatible accessories. We only wish there were a 128GB storage option.

• Display Size: 10.9 inches
• Display Resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels
• Weight: 16oz

For Apple fans with a bigger budget, 2022’s iPad Air is one of the best all-around tablets on the market. This iPad is more modern than past models, with super slim bezels, USB-C connectivity, better color contrast and an excellent front and rear camera.

But the best addition has to be Apple’s M1 chip. Compared to iPads of the past, this M1-powered iPad Air delivers superior performance in apps, games and everything in-between. If your budget is over $500, this is one of the best all-purpose Apple tablets you can get.

• Display Size: 11 inches
• Display Resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB

Samsung makes some of the best Android smartphones, so it's no surprise that their Android tablets are also critically-acclaimed. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is one of their more premium options, with a large screen, excellent resolution, huge storage, and fast speeds. It even has a micro-SD card slot, meaning you can add additional storage later on.

Students can easily sync their Windows or Android devices with the Tab S8. And unlike most tablets on this list, the Tab S8 comes with 128GB of storage by default. It also comes with the S Pen stylus included, making complex notes and basic art tasks that much easier.

• Display Size: 10.5 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels
• Storage: 64GB
• Weight: 17.9oz

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a similar experience to more premium Samsung tablets for a fraction of the cost. For less than $250, you still get a fast tablet that can tackle reading, writing and entertainment with ease.

The Tab A8 feels great to handle, thanks to a largely metal build and uniform design. While it may not have the standout features of higher-end tablets, it does feature a rare microSD card slot. This means that you can easily add hundreds of gigabytes of additional storage for less than $50.

• Display Size: 10.1 inches
• Display Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Storage: 32GB
• Weight: 16.4oz

If budget is your top concern and you already have a laptop for more complex tasks, consider Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet. While we wouldn’t recommend it for note taking or complex assignments, it is optimized nicely for books and entertainment, especially Amazon apps like Kindle and Prime video.

The Fire HD 10 tablet may not have the build quality or specs to match other tablets on this list, but at $150, it doesn’t need to. Especially if you have time to kill between classes, this tablet is great for reading and entertainment.

• Display Size: 13 inches
• Display Resolution: 2880 x 1920 pixels
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
• Weight: 31.3oz

If you want your tablet to act more like a computer-replacement than a mobile device, the Surface series is for you. The Pro 8 is one of the most premium Surface models available. Paired with the right accessories, it can replace your laptop for most classes.

A two-in-one at heart, the Pro 8 feels more like a traditional laptop than any other tablet on this list. Powered by Windows 11, it can access more apps, websites and file types than most tablets. Games in particular look amazing on its high resolution, high refresh rate screen. Extra additions like a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and two USB-C ports only add to this tablet’s versatility.

• Storage: 64GB, 128GB
• Weight: 18.8oz

One of the main advantages tablets have over laptops is portability. Microsoft’s Surface Go 3 features that attribute while offering a laptop-like experience. Running Windows 11 allows you to access apps and software normally available only on full-sized laptops.

The Surface Go 3 may not be as powerful as the Surface Pro 8, but it still offers a versatile and enjoyable tablet experience for students. While it has a great operating system, webcam and battery, speed is its achilles heel.

• Display Size: 12.9 inches
• Display Resolution: 2732 x 2048 pixels
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Weight: 24oz

Art students working digitally have different computing needs than most. For many, a specialized drawing tablet is the preferred tool for bringing your art workstation with you. Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro aims to change that, offering incredible drawing capabilities alongside powerhouse performance. The standout spec for artists is the incredible display, which features stunning image quality and a high refresh rate.

Be aware that the cheapest 12.9-inch iPad Pro still costs over $1,000, and doesn’t come with an Apple Pencil stylus. Still, it's more affordable than buying a high-quality drawing tablet and regular computing tablet separately.

Harry Rabinowitz is a writer, editor, and columnist covering the latest and greatest products in the gaming industry. He also works to tell educational and entertaining stories about tech, entertainment, home goods, and more. When he’s not learning or writing something new, he’s probably heading to the library for a new graphic novel to read.

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The best tablets for college students in 2023

By Fiona Tapp

Posted on Mar 14, 2023 5:01 PM EDT

12 minute read

Best overall

iPad Air M1

Best laptop replacement.

Microsoft Surface 9 Pro

Best budget.

Fire Tablet 10

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Tablets made for college students offer the power and usability of a laptop with the versatility and portability of a much smaller device. Whether you’re researching topics, typing up essays, making presentations, or using design tools, choosing the right tablet for college can make all the difference. These devices excel when taking notes, reading textbooks, and staying organized. However, with so many options available on the market, it can be a daunting task. We’ve scoured the internet to make our list, considering factors such as battery life, screen size, processing power, and price. Whether you’re a freshman, a senior, or a parent shopping for your college-aged child, our comprehensive guide will help you make an informed decision when selecting the best tablets for college students. 

• Best overall: Apple M1 iPad Air
• Best splurge: Apple M4 iPad Pro

Best lightweight: iPad Mini (6th Generation)  

• Best Android: Google Pixel Tablet
• Best laptop replacement: Microsoft Surface 9 Pro  
• Best budget: Amazon Fire 10 HD

How we picked the best tablets for college students

Tablets truly lend themselves to college work. They’re easy to carry around, offer tons of battery life, typically cost less the high-powered laptops, and they pull double duty as content consumption devices. In our quest for the perfect tablet for college students, we surveyed the entire tablet market from major manufacturers. There are tons of cheap and less-reliable options out there, but for a device that’s going to be so crucial to work and recreation, we want to recommend something durable and reliable.

We relied on a mixture of research, personal experience, spec comparisons, user reviews, and editorial opinions to come up with a list of devices that offer a solid mix of price and performance. We also gave extra credit to devices that work with a wide variety of accessories, so they’re easier to customize to a student’s own personal requirements.

The best tablets for college students: Reviews & Recommendations

The iPad may seem like the obvious choice here (and it is for a number of users), but needs vary and so do devices. Here are some options to consider before you plunk down that college cash.

Apple iPad Air M1

Why it made the cut: With their iPad, Apple has cornered the tablet market for good reason. The iPad Air M1 is simply a great piece of tech. Slimline, powerful, and equipped with a powerful camera, this is our top-rated choice.

• Display Size: 10.9-inch
• Storage: 64GB/256GB
• CPU: Apple M1
• Lightweight
• Great design

With the additional choice of a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (sold separately), the iPad Air M1 is capable of handling almost any academic task. Apple Pencil allows you to mark up documents, draw, or take notes, which are then translated from your handwriting into typed notes ready to share or save to the cloud. The Magic Keyboard has a trackpad and responsive keyboard to take your tablet to the next level and make typing comfortable even during those seemingly endless classes.

Thanks to its M1 chip, it’s a performance powerhouse with speeds up to 60 percent faster than previous generation models. The liquid retina display and 8-core GPU provide crisp images and fast graphics across video calls, gaming, content creation, and design apps. An impressive 12-megapixel camera includes an automatic pan feature to keep you in shot no matter how fast you move around. The back camera is perfect for scanning documents and shooting videos. It comes in five colors and boasts long-lasting battery life.

Particularly power-hungry students could step up to the iPad Pro to get even more processing oomph and an upgraded screen. While the upgrades are nice, they’re likely only necessary for students who want to do a ton of media creation or other resource-intensive activities. Apple recently introduced the M2 iPad Pro, but the M1 is still plenty powerful for a student’s needs while costing significantly less.

• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• CPU: Apple M4
• OLED Display
• Up to 2TB of storage (for a price)
• More powerful than Apple’s laptops

Best lightweight

Apple ipad mini.

Why it made the cut: Small but perfectly formed, this handheld tablet features an edge-to-edge screen and vivid colors. Ideally suited for note-taking with the optional Apple Pencil that magnetically attaches to the side of the screen.

• Display Size: 8.3″
• CPU: Apple A15 Bionic
• Touch ID-enabled
• Very compact and portable size
• Sharp display
• No headphone jack

If you’re feeling the weight of your backpack digging into your shoulders, the 6th Generation iPad Mini may help lighten your load. It weighs just .65 pounds—roughly half the weight of the iPad Pro—yet it’s perfectly capable of replacing traditional notebooks. In our experience, text, photos, and videos look sharp 8.3-inch high resolution “retina” display, which comes in handy if you’re reading digital textbooks. Depending on their format, you can mark up those books using the Apple Pencil, a low-latency stylus that’s perfect for note taking.

The iPad Mini’s greatest strength is that it’s small enough to carry around in a small bag (or even jacket pocket!) but is still powerful enough to run the tens of thousands of apps in Apple’s App Store. Your scholastic software of choice is likely available, and we couldn’t find a single piece of software—even newer games—that felt like it pushed the iPad Mini to its limits. One of the benefits of using iPadOS alongside other apple devices is that your data—notes, photos, videos—will automatically sync to any of your other Apple devices. This is especially helpful if you’re using the iPad Mini to take notes in class, but want to review or edit them on a MacBook later on. Similarly, any work you get done on your Mac will be accessible on the iPad Mini, which is easier to take to the library or a coffee shop. Apple doesn’t offer its Magic Keyboard with this size iPad, but third-party accessory makers have picked up the slack by offering alternatives .

When the school day is over, the iPad Mini becomes the ultimate ultra-portable media consumption device. Graphic novels and videos look especially vivid on the tablet’s screen, but it’s also a credible e-reader. Similarly, its 12 MP front-facing camera works just fine for video calls with friends and family, while the 12 MP rear-facing camera will take solid-looking photos and 4K video. The iPad Mini is available in two storage configurations: 64GB and 256GB, the former is ideal for the student who streams everything, while the model with more storage is for those who want to lean more heavily on the iPad Mini as a primary device. It’s available in four elegant muted colors including space gray, pink, light purple, or starlight, a champagne tone.

Best Android

Google pixel tablet.

Why it made the cut: Fast speeds, impressive battery life, and a large screen make the Google Pixel Tablet a great choice for students who prefer Android products. 

• Display Size: 11
• Storage: 128GB/256GB
• Weight: 17.44 ounces
• Minimalist design
• Large storage included in the base model
• Long battery life

Google has expanded its Pixel branding from phones to a tablet for the first time, and students who prefer Android over iOS—or rely heavily on Google’s digital services to get work done—should take notice. There are two primary reasons for choosing the Pixel Tablet over its competition: It starts at 128GB of storage, which is plenty for getting work done with plenty of room to spare for games and recreational apps, and it runs a clean version of Android free from bloatware that comes preinstalled on other tablets. Google also took the time to build the Pixel Tablet’s with enough power that it shouldn’t struggle with any software you throw at it.

It runs on Google’s custom-designed Tensor G2 chip, which was designed with AI processes and productivity in mind, and has a high-resolution 11-inch display, so text and media will look good. Google says you can get up to 12 hours of battery life out of the Pixel Tablet—this is dependant on the software you run and brightness settings—which is more than enough time for note taking during class and late-night study sessions. Eight megapixel cameras on the front and rear of the tablet are suitble for amatuer photography and video calls when you’re out of class.

Google’s services—Google Docs in particular—have become a core part of many student’s lives. You can access all of your documents from on-device apps or the web, and all of your data syncs in real time. Similarly, Google Photos and Google Drive can hold more personal data, and keep it safe even if something happens to your tablet. It’s impressive that Google fit all of this functionality, which can be expanded using an external keyboard into a device that weighs just over a pound. Any student who wants the flexibility of Android in a compact package shouldn’t hesitate in picking one up.

Best laptop replacement: Microsoft Surface 9 Pro

Best for windows.

Why it made the cut: A true replacement for even the top laptops for college , this powerful and versatile tablet offers excellent gameplay and graphics with a high-resolution display for a premium experience. 

• Display Size: 13”
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
• Weight: 31.3 ounces
• Preloaded with Windows 11 
• 1080p webcam
• Excellent performance
• Very expensive

This incredibly capable and powerful tablet can easily replace a laptop and make an excellent investment for academic use. The responsive and comfortable keyboard allows for extended typing and note-taking during lectures. A stylus is available for a separate purchase and it comes equipped with Windows 11. Although it is one of the more expensive tablets reviewed, it really offers the most bang for your buck and is regularly on sale for discounts of at least a couple of hundred dollars of the list price. 

The battery can last an incredible 15.5 hours, more than enough for class use and homework after hours. The versatile edge-to-edge touchscreen and adjustable built-in kickstand ensure you get the perfect angle for media viewing or video calls. The two USB-C ports allow you to transfer documents, dock to monitors, or connect and charge various devices and accessories, so you’re ready for any task.

Amazon Fire 10 HD

Why it made the cut: This budget-friendly option makes a great educational addition if you already have a more powerful laptop for most of your school work.

• Display Size: 10.1″
• Storage: 32GB/64GB
• Weight: 15.29 ounces
• Affordable 
• Compatible with Alexa
• Good battery life
• Not compatible with Google apps

Perfect for loading up books, and after-class entertainment, this affordable tablet is more than worth the modest investment of less than $150. The battery life of up to 13 hours works well for a day of learning, followed by surfing the web or watching your favorite shows. 

This tablet doesn’t support Google products so you’ll need to switch over from G drive and docs to the Microsoft Office suite of products if applicable. Compatible with Alexa straight out of the box, it can also be used as an organizer and personal assistant. Optional extras include Bluetooth keyboards and standing cases to improve functionality and ease of use. 

This tablet is definitely not the most powerful or responsive around, but at this very low price point, it makes an excellent option for cash-strapped students. It can also work as a solid secondary device for consuming content and reading (textbooks or anything else) to save wear and tear as well as battery life on a main device.

What to consider before buying the best tablets for college students

There are many factors to consider when deciding which tablet is right for students. Below are the factors we considered most important when writing this guide.

Screen size

A tablet’s screen size dictates its portability, which is why we consider this to be the most important decision you’ll make when deciding which one best fits your needs. Larger-screen tablets are heavier, but you’ll have a more expansive digital workspace. Smaller-screen tablets, which are typically thinner and lighter, are easier to slip into a backpack without weighing you down.

All of our tablet recommendations come in at least two storage configurations, with many of them being non-upgradable once you’ve made your purchase. A tablet can last four or five years, and your needs may change within that time—especially after graduation—so make sure you get a model with enough space for your needs. If you mostly stick with streaming your media and using cloud services to get your work done, it’s possible to pick up a tablet with 64GB of space without running into trouble. If you like to sync videos to your tablet for offline viewing, or want to use the machine for video, photo, or audio editing, it’s worth paying extra to get a more specced up model.

Assess your needs

When you’re selecting any of our top tablet picks , you’ll want to make sure your tablet works well with all the apps and platforms you regularly use. For example, if you prefer a particular data management, file storage, or design program, you’ll want to make sure your new tablet is compatible. The way you intend to use your tablet will also dictate which model you opt for. For example, you’ll want to consider whether you need a keyboard if you intend to play games or stream movies, and your preferred screen size for optimum viewing comfort.

Price 

Students are often on a budget, so the cost of your new tablet is an important consideration. Luckily, there are lots of choices for top tablets under $500 . However, that doesn’t always mean the cheapest option is the best. Consider how you’ll use your new piece of hardware and how long you want it to keep working to make sure you plan ahead and buy the best model to meet your needs and price point.

Depending on features and storage size, a tablet for a college student will cost between $135-$1,350.

It really depends on how you’ll be using your tablet. If you intend it as an addition to a laptop, a keyboard may not be essential. However, if it’s your only way of taking notes and completing coursework, a keyboard may be a must-have feature. 

Whether you choose Windows, Android, or Apple iOS products, most tablets come preloaded with their associated operating system. 

The touchscreen on tablets allows you to swipe, enlarge and control what you see on the screen with your hands. However, a stylus or pencil can give you more control and opens a world of design and artistic possibilities. They can also be very useful for photo editing, especially very fine and small details.

Final thoughts on the best tablets for college students

• Best lightweight: iPad Mini (6th Generation)  

Balance your needs as a student with price concerns, and make sure your tablet pick is lightweight and easy to transport from your dorm to the classroom and back again. Tablets can be an excellent choice for college students, especially as many of our top picks are powerful devices capable of research, data management, and content creation to help you meet all your academic targets. 

Why trust us

Popular Science  started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

• Electronics

The Best Tablets

By Wirecutter Staff

After hundreds of hours of research and testing over the past seven years, we think Apple’s 10th-generation iPad  is the best all-around tablet, with all the performance and features most people need for watching video, browsing the internet, and staying on top of email and social media feeds. But we also have recommendations for people who want an Android tablet, a basic ebook reader, or a more powerful tablet for gaming, for handling design and creative tasks, or for replacing a laptop computer.

The research

The best all-around tablet: apple ipad (10th generation), an upgrade for multitaskers and creatives: apple ipad pro (m4), the best android tablet: google pixel tablet, a budget tablet for media: amazon fire hd 8, the best ebook reader: amazon kindle, the best drawing tablet: huion inspiroy 2 m.

Apple iPad (10th generation)

The best tablet for most people.

The cheapest iPad Apple sells has a large screen, fast performance, a USB-C port, and plenty of color options to suit the needs of most people.

Buying Options

Who this is for: You want a great all-around tablet that can handle pretty much any task.

Why we like it: The 10th-gen iPad is the best tablet for most people. Thanks to great hardware, an easy-to-use operating system, and a huge library of quality apps, even if you normally use Android on your phone or Windows on your computer. iOS also receives frequent updates—including prompt security updates—which isn’t something you can say of many Android tablets.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The 10th-gen iPad offers 64 GB or 256 GB of storage, which is either too little or too much for most people. Also, the 10th-gen iPad only supports the 1st-gen and USB-C Apple Pencil, with only the latter being able to connect to the iPad magnetically. Neither stylus offers pressure sensitivity, which determines how dark your mark is based on how hard you press. Digital illustrators might need a more expensive iPad.

For more on the 10th-generation iPad and how it compares to other iPad models, read our full guide to Apple’s iPad lineup .

Apple iPad Pro (M4)

For pro-level performance and a vibrant oled screen.

The M4 iPad Pro has Apple’s fastest processor, a fantastic OLED display, and is compatible with the newest Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard case.

Who this is for: You want the best possible performance for making digital art, taking notes or using productivity apps on the go, or viewing and editing photos and videos.

Why we like it: For serious creative work or as a second device for taking notes and quick office tasks, the iPad Pro is the best option. It has a slim, uniform bezel that wraps around the entire screen, making it feel equally natural whether you use it in landscape or portrait orientation—a design choice that makes it stand out from competitors. Its new OLED display gets bright enough to use in direct sunlight, and has fantastic contrast compared to previous iPads. Artists and diligent note-takers who buy the new Apple Pencil Pro will also appreciate its “squeeze” feature, where you can lightly squeeze the barrel of the Pencil Pro to pull up a helpful menu of different brushes and tool options. This means you can swap different brushes or colors without moving your hand, which makes the Pencil Pro feel more natural to use.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Apple advertises the iPad Pro as a replacement for a traditional PC, but whether it can serve that purpose depends on what you do, how you work, and what apps you use. In general, iPad Pro keyboard cases and covers aren’t as nice as standalone Bluetooth keyboards or the keyboards on the best laptops. But drawing and photo-editing apps are well suited to touchscreen and Apple Pencil controls, and they benefit from the iPad Pro’s large, color-accurate screen.

For more on the iPad Pro, read our full guide to pro tablets .

Google Pixel Tablet

Best android tablet for most people.

Google’s tablet has a vivid screen and great processor that’s ideal for viewing content, gaming, and browsing the web. The bundled charging dock transforms it into a smart-home hub and is worth the $100 upgrade over the standalone tablet.

Who this is for: You’re already invested in or partial to Google’s version of Android, and you want an affordable tablet with a good display, excellent performance, and useful smart-home controls.

Why we like it: The Google Pixel Tablet has a bright and vivid 11-inch display and is powerful enough to handle high-end gaming along with multitasking and split-screen apps. It offers our favorite Google features, like hands-free Google Assistant, voice typing, live translation, multi-profile support, and more. The 5,000 mAh battery lasted 12 hours in our testing. The included dock (which is bundled with the tablet for $100 more than the standalone version, but we recommend the bundle) boosts the bass and enables Hub mode, which transforms the Pixel Tablet into a smart-home hub that allows you to control smart-home devices such as smart lights, video doorbells, security cameras, and thermostats.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you want a tablet that supports a stylus, your options for the Pixel Tablet are limited; the Lenovo USI Pen 2 and Penoval USI 2.0 styluses are among the few that are compatible. Those who want a tablet for drawing or writing may want to seek out a different option.

Visit our full guide to the best Android tablets to read more about the Pixel Tablet and other Android tablets we’ve tested.

Budget pick

Amazon Fire HD 8 (12th generation)

A cheap tablet for streaming media.

The Fire HD 8 has a smaller, lower-resolution screen than the Galaxy Tab S8, but it’s a great cheap tablet for reading or watching video, especially if you get that content from Amazon’s store.

Who this is for: You want the cheapest tablet that’s good for reading and watching video, with access to a big library of video, ebooks, and music.

Why we like it: The Amazon Fire HD 8 (12th generation) costs less than $100 and is an excellent value. It lets you stream video from Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and other popular services, and you can also read your Kindle ebooks. It offers built-in support for the Alexa voice assistant used by Amazon’s popular Echo devices, which makes ordering products and media from Amazon easier. In addition, Amazon Prime members get access to a selection of no-extra-cost movies, TV shows, and ebooks (though Amazon’s apps for iOS and other Android tablets all work similarly).

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Fire HD 8 is slower and has a lower-resolution screen than any of our other picks, so text isn’t as crisp—the Kindle Paperwhite is better for reading ebooks—and its performance is optimized for watching videos and reading rather than getting work done. It’s also limited to Amazon’s Android app store, which has a smaller selection of games and apps than the regular Google Play store (which in turn lags behind Apple’s App Store when it comes to great tablet apps). Although it’s possible to install the Google Play store on the Fire HD 8 , doing so requires a workaround, and we don’t recommend it. Unlike our other tablet picks, which offer a solid selection of apps and productivity tools, the Fire HD 8 is best used only as a media-consumption device.

To find out how the Fire HD 8 stacks up against other Android tablets, see our guide to the best Android tablets .

Amazon Kindle (2022)

The best e-reader for most people.

Amazon’s most affordable Kindle is also its most portable, with a 6-inch screen that has finally been upgraded with a higher pixel density for sharper text and support for USB-C charging. Access to Amazon’s huge ebook library makes the Kindle the best dedicated device for reading.

Who this is for: You don’t care about apps or browsing—you just want to read books.

Why we like it: The cheapest Kindle is also the best one. Its 6-inch E Ink screen offers 300 pixels per inch, which makes text sharp and easy to read, and the portable size makes it convenient for toting it wherever you go—it even fits in a small purse. Amazon finally switched from Micro-USB to USB-C charging for the entry-level Kindle, meaning you don’t need to hunt down a special cable to juice it up. It lasts weeks on a charge, so it’s better than an iPad or Android tablet for reading. And the Kindle comes with 16 GB of storage, which is plenty of room for your library of ebooks.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The entry-level Kindle isn’t waterproof, so if you plan to read by the pool or in the bathtub, you might want to splurge for the pricier Kindle Paperwhite.

If you’re interested in Amazon’s more expensive Kindles or non-Amazon options, read our full guide to ebook readers .

Huion Inspiroy 2 M

The best drawing tablet for most people.

Offering a smooth drawing experience and plenty of space and hotkeys, the Huion Inspiroy 2 M is a great drawing tablet for all but the most demanding professionals.

Who this is for: If you’re an artist, a drawing tablet is a good way to create images in Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Celsys Clip Studio Paint Pro. Drawing tablets are also excellent tools for working with 3D modeling programs and other situations where using a stylus makes sense.

Why we like it: The 12-by-7-inch Huion Inspiroy 2 M offers a lot of space to sketch on, and drawing on it is comfortable (but it doesn’t take up too much space on a desk). The included wireless stylus provides excellent tracking with no perceivable latency, is comfortable to hold for extended periods, and has two function buttons. The Inspiroy 2 M also has plenty of hotkeys for you to program as you like, along with a dial and a pen holder with replacement nibs.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Its design and construction are solid, but it’s still just a slab of (mostly) plastic. It also lacks wireless support.

There are great drawing tablets for almost every use case and budget, and you can find more information in our full guide to drawing tablets .

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Further reading

Getting Work Done on an iPad

by Haley Perry

You can do a surprising amount of work on an iPad with the right gear. These are the best accessories for turning your iPad into a mobile work space.

The Best Drawing Tablets

by Arthur Gies

Drawing tablets are nearly indispensable for creating art on a PC or laptop, and models such as the Huion Inspiroy 2 M are great for beginners and veteran artists alike.

The Best Tablet for Kids

by Ryan Whitwam and Andrew Cunningham

The best tablet for your kid is the old one you aren’t using anymore. If you’re buying new, Apple’s 9th-generation iPad has the best app selection.

The Best Android Tablets

by Roderick Scott and Ryan Whitwam

Good Android tablets are few and far between, but if you don’t want an iPad, Google's Pixel Tablet is your best bet.

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

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When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

The best note-taking tablets: Expert tested

Tablets can do so many different things, but one of their go-to uses these days is for taking notes. These devices make it easier than ever for students or professionals to jot down everything they need while being portable and even powerful enough to replace a heftier laptop. 

Tablets run the gamut in terms of everything they can do (and all the prices they show up at), so even if you're looking for a tablet to take notes in classes or meetings, it's important to consider what else you might want to use your tablet for. For students, you might get a tablet for school instead of a laptop, while professionals might carry one for commuting purposes since they are much more portable. There are tablets on the market that fit both of those scenarios. 

Also: The best tablets you can buy

What is the best note-taking tablet you can buy right now?

ZDNET went hands-on with the following tablets, with our pick for the best note-taking tablet overall being the iPad Air , thanks to its lightweight build and compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil. But we also included tablets from Microsoft, Amazon, and more to take digital notes on.

The best note-taking tablets of 2024

Apple ipad air (5th generation), best note-taking tablet overall.

• Fully customizable with color, storage, and access
• Fast speed with Apple's M1 chip
• Retina display
• Only compatible with iOS
• Camera cannot be used with other apps

Even Android fans will like Apple's iPad Air. The lightweight tablet can do everything -- including taking notes. Compatible with the Apple Pencil (second generation), the iPad Air makes it easy to take notes in class or meetings and watch seminars virtually if needed. Apple's products are largely customizable, and this is no different: you can opt for one of five colors and get more or less storage depending on what you need. 

In addition, you can also equip your iPad to use cellular data if Wi-Fi doesn't feel sufficient for classes or commuting. For students or professionals who might need to use their tablets while on the go often, a cellular data plan ensures you can always get online to access. 

Review:  iPad Air (2022): So good I almost regret buying my iPad Pro

ZDNET contributor, Jason Cipriani, went hands-on with the iPad Air and was impressed by its 2-in-1 compatibility thanks to the Apple Keyboard and Apple Pencil additions. "It's as powerful as the iPad Pro, but costs hundreds of dollars less -- even when you max out the storage -- with a display that's on par with the 11-inch iPad Pro," he wrote. 

Overall, 98% of Best Buy customers who bought the iPad Air would recommend it to others and gave it an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.

iPad Air  (5th generation)  tech specs: Display : 10.9-inch Retina display |  Processor : Apple Silicon M1 |  Storage : 64GB or 256GB |  Biometrics : Touch ID |  Colors : Space gray, starlight, pink, purple, blue |  Cameras : 12MP rear, 4K video. 12MP Ultra Wide camera |  Weight : 1.02 pounds |  Dimensions : 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches |  Connections : USB-C port |  Battery life:  10 hours

Microsoft Surface Go 3

Best lightweight note-taking tablet.

• Fully customizable
• Lightweight
• Stylus and keyboard sold separately
• Customizations can get pricey

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is a lightweight tablet that you'll hardly even notice it in your bag. It's just over a pound, and even if you add a keyboard to it, it still doesn't take up too much space. The Surface Go 3 has a hefty battery life that can last you through a full day and also charges quickly if you need it in a hurry.

Review:   Microsoft Surface Go 3: A portable and versatile 2-in-1, but battery life disappoints

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 also has a facial recognition camera to add a layer of security and runs a Windows operating system. It's also compatible with the Surface pen, should you want to use a stylus while taking notes. It also has a crisp 1920x1280 resolution for joining Zoom calls or simply watching Netflix. 

Contributing writer Mary Branscombe tested the Microsoft Surface Go 3 when it first debuted back in 2021 and called out that it's "a real PC that can run standard Windows workloads -- just in a tiny, light and slim package." "Like the previous models, the Surface Go 3 shines as a portable device: it's perfect for working on an airplane tray table or a crowded train, and for throwing in a backpack or the kitbag in the back of a vehicle," she wrote.

In addition, you can customize your machine with different storage options and processors to boost it up if you want it to run faster or have more space. Just keep in mind that the more you customize, the higher the price tag. 

One  Reddit user  praised the Surface Go 3, saying, "No issues running a bunch of Edge tabs, Excel, Word, and PP docs all at the same time," adding, "Even media consumption is way easier on the Go 3."

Microsoft Surface Go 3 tech specs: Display : 10.5-inch PixelSense Display |  Processor : Intel Pentium Gold or Intel Core i3 |  Storage : 64GB or 256GB |  Memory : 4GB or 8GB |  Biometrics : Windows Hello face sign-in |  Colors : Platinum |  Cameras : 8MP rear, 1080p video. 5MP front facing camera |  Weight : 1.07 pounds |  Dimensions : 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches |  Connections : 1 x USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 x Surface Connect Port, microSD card reader |  Battery life:  11 hours

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Best note-taking tablet for reading.

• Impressive battery life
• Included pen for handwritten notes
• Compatible with Microsoft Word
• Premium Pen upgrade will cost you more
• Does not support note-taking on magazines or newspapers

The Kindle Scribe is perhaps the perfect example of part e-reader, part tablet. It has the same functions you've come to know and love in a Kindle, like a 300 ppi glare-free screen, weeks of battery life, and adjustable warm light. It's also compatible with Amazon's Basic or Premium Pen, so you can take handwritten notes or underline important quotations within the book you're reading. 

Your notes are automatically organized in one place for every book so that you can browse, review, and export them via email. The Kindle Scribe also comes with preset templates to help you create notebooks, journals, and lists, and you can create sticky notes in Microsoft Word and other compatible Word documents. 

Review:  Amazon Kindle Scribe: 7 months later, it's so close to perfect

The Kindle Scribe comes with the Basic pen, but verified Amazon customers say it's best to opt for the $30 premium pen so you get more advanced features like a dedicated eraser and the shortcut button.

ZDNET contributor, Matthew Miller, called this 2-in-1 tablet "close to perfect" in his hands-on review. "A key function is how I can quickly and easily erase my handwritten notes by 'brushing' the eraser portion of the  $59 Premium Pen . It's an optional accessory for the Scribe, but one that I highly recommend picking up if you want the full note-taking experience," Miller advises. 

Kindle Scribe  tech specs: Display:  10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display |  Storage:  16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB |  Weight:  0.96 pounds |  Dimensions:  7.7 x 9.0 x .22 inches |  Battery life:  Up to 12 weeks (at 30 minutes per day)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

Best note-taking tablet for android users.

• Stunning display
• S Pen in box
• Many of the same features as the pricier S9 Ultra and S9+
• Missing apps

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is part of Samsung's latest tablet series released this year. The Tab S9 comes with 8GB or 12GB of memory and starts at 128GB of storage which can be expanded by up to 1TB thanks to microSD card support. Inside the Tab S9 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. 

The 11-inch LCD display is compact enough to make the tablet portable. But most importantly, included in the box with the S9 is an S Pen that you can use to write or draw in your favorite apps, just like you can with the Samsung Galaxy Note lineup.

Review:  Samsung Galaxy Tab S9

Miller also tested this base Tab S9 model, saying it was an enjoyable experience, including the new and improved S Pen that has an IP68 waterproof rating and a 2.9ms latency. "Samsung clearly beats Apple by including the S Pen with the tablet, and I love using the Samsung Notes app that includes support for syncing flawlessly with OneNote. It's hard to beat a Samsung tablet when it comes to taking notes, and I stand by that," he wrote. 

Reddit users also note that the Samsung Notes app is "heaven" for note-taking.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 t ech specs: Display : 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2560 x 1600 display |  Processor:  Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |  Storage:  128GB or 256GB (expandable with microSD) |  Memory:  8GB or 12GB |  Colors:  Graphite or Beige |  Cameras:  Front: 12MP UW, Rear: 13MP |  Weight:  1.10 pounds |  Dimensions : 10.01 x 6.53 x 0.23 inches |  Connectivity:  USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 |  Battery life:  8,400mAh

Amazon Fire Max 11

Best budget note-taking tablet.

• Affordably priced, especially when bundled
• Solid battery life
• New, modernized design
• Performance is just alright
• Important productivity apps are missing

With a starting price of $245, the Fire Max 11 brings an 11-inch display, 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage with support for 1TB of microSD card storage. If you're looking for a tablet for work and play, the Fire Max 11 Productivity Bundle costs $370, but comes with a keyboard with touchpad, case, and a stylus that has 4,096 levels of pressure.

Review:  Amazon Fire Max 11: Easily the best Fire tablet yet

Cipriani also went hands-on with the Amazon Fire Max 11 and said that it is "easily the best Fire Tablet Amazon has made yet."

"You can use the pen to write in the search field of the Silk Browser or the search bar on the Fire Max 11's main screen," he wrote. "The handwriting recognition is pretty good, converting my horrible handwriting to text with impressive accuracy." Plus, it has an impressive battery life of up to 14 hours. 

Overall, 94% of Best Buy customers would recommend this tablet to others, giving it an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Amazon Fire Max 11 specs: Display : 11-inch, 2000 x 1200, 410 nits brightness, 213 ppi |  Processor : MediaTek MT8188J, 2.2Ghz Octacore processor |  Storage : 64GB or 128GB |  Memory:  4GB |  Colors : Gray |  Cameras : 8MP rear and 8MP front-facing camera |  Weight : 490 grams |  Dimensions : 259.1 x 163.7 x 7.50 millimeters |  Connections : 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port |  Battery life:  14 hours

What is the best note-taking tablet?

The best note-taking tablet is the iPad Air based on price, ratings, display, features, and more. It's also super lightweight, making it the perfect choice to carry anywhere.

 *Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

Which note-taking tablet is right for you?

Choosing a tablet really comes down to what you want to use it for and what you want to spend. Basic tablets tend to be cheaper, so if you don't plan to use them for much other than taking notes, you can look at spending a little less and getting something like an Amazon Fire Tablet. 

However, if you want a tablet you can use for school and and for everyday things like streaming, photo editing, and more, something like an iPad might be a better choice.

Factors to consider when choosing the best note-taking tablet

Before you buy a note-taking tablet, you'll want to consider the following:

• Display:  A tablet's experience is largely based on its display, so pay attention to tablets with HD resolutions and even paper-like displays. 
• Stylus compatibility:  Most people use a stylus when taking notes on a tablet, so consider tablets that either come with a stylus right out of the box or have the option to buy one from the maker separately. It's important to note most universal styluses will also work with these tablets. 
• Size:  Tablets that you will mainly use for note-taking purposes will have different requirements than tablets you need to replace a laptop with. Smaller size tablets are best for note-taking purposes and are lightweight and portable.
• Price:  Tablets will vary in price from $150 all the way up to $1,000 or more, depending on storage capacity, display quality, processors, and more. 

How we test tablets

In choosing these tablets for note-taking, we considered tablets we have used hands-on and reviewed at ZDNET. We do extensive hands-on testing of tablets, including ease using them for work and entertainment, and paying attention to specs like display, battery life, and overall experience while using the tablet.

For products we recommend, we write a product spotlight review that we update periodically with new features and pricing information.

Do I need a stylus for a note-taking tablet?

Using a stylus is totally up to you, but it can definitely help with functionality. Some tablets come with a stylus, while others will have them sold separately. If you're looking at this from a cost perspective, consider the fact that the stylus will often be an added expense, but you may find it worth it for ease of use, especially if you're the type that likes the feeling of writing out your notes rather than typing them.

What are the best note-taking apps?

The best note-taking apps let you digitize your notes and to-dos while keeping them all in one place or syncing them to a cloud. Our favorites are Notability, Evernote, GoodNotes 5, and even Apple's free Notes app is a worthy choice.

Does the Apple Pencil convert handwriting to text?

Yes--the Apple Pencil can convert your hand-written notes into text for better legibility. Here's how: 

In the Notes or Freeform apps, tap to show the tool palette.

In the tool palette, tap the Handwriting tool (to the left of the pen).

Write with Apple Pencil, and Scribble automatically converts your handwriting into typed text.

Other note-taking tablets we've tested:

If none of the above caught your eye or don't seem quite like what you're looking for, there are some similar models at different price points that will also serve you well in taking notes at school or at work.

ZDNET Recommends

The best tablets for students: expert tested, the best tablets you can buy: expert tested, the best cheap tablets for under $400: expert tested.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then   View saved stories .

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The Best Tablets for Work and Play

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Best for Most People Apple iPad (2021, 9th Gen) Read more

A More Modern iPad Apple iPad (2022, 10th Gen) Read more

Best Android Tablet OnePlus Pad Read more

Best Tablet Under $200 Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) Read more

The best tablet can be a portable TV screen around the house and a way to get some light work done away from your desk. They're not essential but are nice to have around. With a wealth of apps for drawing, painting, and making music, they’re also a great outlet for creative impulses.

The iPad’s ease of use and best-in-breed software make it the obvious choice for most people, but if you don’t want an iPad, other options exist. Android tablets are making a comeback recently as Google refocused its efforts on improving the tablet experience. Amazon’s Fire tablets are also an affordable way to watch movies and browse the web, as long as you don’t mind their limitations. There are even great E Ink slates for jotting down notes or sketching. These are our favorites of the many we have tested.

Be sure to check out our other buying guides , including the Best iPads , Best Digital Notebooks and Pens , Best Drawing Apps , Best iPad Accessories , and Best Amazon Fire Tablets .

Updated November 2023: We’ve added the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE series, ReMarkable 2, TCL NxtPaper 11, and Wacom One 13 Touch.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com , full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best for Most People

It's surprisingly hard to find another tablet that performs as smoothly as Apple's iPad. The ninth-generation model ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) uses the same A13 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 11 , which outclasses similarly priced slates. Sure, it looks like an iPad from six years ago, with thick borders around the screen and a classic home button (with Touch ID), but maybe that's what you want. It's the only iPad with this design anymore, and the only one that comes with an audio jack.

The best addition to the 2021 model is the 12-megapixel selfie camera with support for Center Stage. The camera will ensure you're always visible in the frame, handy if you're cooking and FaceTiming with Mom. You also get Apple's class-leading ecosystem of tablet-optimized apps, which truly make this a slate capable of entertainment and work. The latter is especially true if you hook up Apple's Smart Keyboard (or a third-party alternative ). It supports the first-gen Apple Pencil too, but this is the only iPad with a larger air gap between the glass and screen. There's a discernible space between your fingertip and the actual pixels, which makes using the iPad for sketching a little less natural than its siblings.

A More Modern iPad

Apple finally introduced a nicer entry-level iPad in 2022. The 10th-gen iPad ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) mimics the rest of Apple's slates with a uniform, slim bezel around the slightly larger 10.9-inch LCD screen. There's also no home button—instead, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is embedded into the power button at the top—and no headphone jack. It does have a USB-C port, which means you can use the same cable as your MacBook to recharge it. There's also 5G support on the cellular model. The 12-MP selfie camera now sits at the center when you hold the tablet horizontally—no need to awkwardly look to the side during video calls.

Unfortunately, the price has jumped up, which is why Apple continues to sell the 9th-gen model. There's also only first-gen Apple Pencil support , and the air gap between the screen and glass remains, so it's not the best iPad for sketching. It supports the Magic Keyboard Folio and the Smart Folio case , but we recommend you go with a third-party keyboard to save some cash.

Best Android Tablet

If you're eyeing a tablet that can replace your laptop every now and then—one that still works great as an entertainment slate, and is not an iPad—take a look at the OnePlus Pad ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). It's the first-ever tablet from the phone maker and it runs Android 13 out of the box, so there are a lot of improvements in making the Android experience on a tablet really great. Multitasking is notably efficient here, aided by the company's accessories: a Magnetic Keyboard case and a stylus. It was the first time I felt comfortable working for long stretches of time on an Android tablet. (OnePlus occasionally has a sale bundle that includes the keyboard or stylus with your tablet purchase for free on its own storefront.)

The 11.61-inch LCD 144-Hz display is sharp, fluid, and colorful, the battery has excellent standby time and can get through close to a full workday, and performance is pretty smooth. It'll get three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. It's a shame there's no microSD slot, headphone jack, or biometric authentication.

Best Tablet Under $200

Amazon's Fire tablets aren't for everyone. They really push Amazon Prime services and apps, but they're great for leisurely tasks, like playing games and watching movies. There's no Google Play Store (though there's a workaround ), and not every Android app is readily available. Still, for $140, it's hard to beat the 2023 Fire HD 10, which is our favorite Fire Tablet . The update over the 2021 model is largely just a processor bump, making it slightly faster. It has enough power for most tasks, even some light work if you pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard (there's a keyboard bundle !). There's a USB-C port, so you can charge it with the same cable as your laptop or phone, and it has hands-free Alexa support, meaning it can double as an Echo Show .

Note that Amazon steeply discounts its Fire tablets on Prime Day , Black Friday, and for shopping holidays like back-to-school season, so try to avoid paying full price. That's why it might be worth looking at the Fire Max 11 , which is a faster, better quality tablet, but has far too high of an MSRP. When it dips to $150 or less, it's worth it.

Brenda Stolyar

Aarian Marshall

Best Upgrade

If you want to do some work on your tablet, get Apple's iPad Air ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends) . Thanks to the M1 processor, it's the most powerful tablet for the money. You can play demanding games, edit batches of RAW photos, render 3D designs, and so much more. Apple's recent strides in iPadOS make it easier to multitask than ever too. This slate delivers slim bezels around the 10.9-inch screen and USB-C for charging, and it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil ( Amazon ), which magnetically attaches to the top and recharges wirelessly. That also makes this one of the best tablets for sketching, as the laminated display offers a more natural drawing experience. There's no Face ID, but Touch ID is integrated into the power button.

★ The ultimate iPad: The 12.9-inch 2022 iPad Pro ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) is much more expensive at $1,049 , but it's more feature-rich. The large screen makes it even better for drawing. It has Mini-LED backlighting technology , which outputs a brighter display with better contrast, and improved performance with the M2 chip. You also get a 120-Hz screen refresh rate , two extra speakers, 5G, Face ID, and a lidar sensor, among other perks.

Best Tablet and Smart Display Combo

Google's Pixel Tablet ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) is part tablet, part smart display. This 11-inch slate is like a big Pixel phone , with a sharp LCD screen, good speakers, and slick software. It's powerful too, thanks to the Tensor G2 software inside. However, it comes with a hub, so when you're done using it as a tablet, you can magnetically dock it to automatically start recharging. This hub doubles as a speaker, and since the Pixel Tablet is the first to support Chromecast, you can cast music or shows to it from your phone or laptop and get beefier sound out of the system. When you're not using it, you can have the display show a clock or friends and family from your Google Photos library like a digital picture frame .

The best part is multi-user support. The Pixel Tablet supports up to eight profiles, so every member of the family can switch to their own personalized profile, and it's securely locked via fingerprint. On another note, I highly recommend getting the official Pixel Tablet Case ($79) , as it adds a much-needed kickstand and it doesn't interrupt the hub attachment point. I also tested a Speck case that has a decent kickstand and is a little cheaper .

Best Digital Notebook

I've been using the ReMarkable 2 for more than a year as a digital notebook, and it's hard to imagine life without it. Writing with the stylus feels closer to paper and pen than any other digital notebook I've tried (we've tested others here ). You can choose between the Marker and the Marker Plus. The latter has an eraser at the other end, but I don't think it's worth the higher cost. The company has done a (sorry not sorry for the pun!) remarkable job of keeping the software updated while adding more organizational features. You can add tags and make folders or notebooks, and the slate does a decent job of converting handwriting to text. You can send files to your email in a few different formats too. You don't need to subscribe to Connect ($3 per month) , but it gives you unlimited cloud storage and the ability to access and make notes on desktop and mobile.

What really upped the game with the ReMarkable 2 for me was the new Type Folio Keyboard Cover ($199) . This handy accessory magnetically sticks to the tablet and adds a tiny keyboard! It connects via pogo pins, so you never have to recharge it. The keyboard takes some getting used to, as the layout is cramped, but I love using it to write when I absolutely need to get away from all the distractions from Slack, email, and other messaging apps. Best of all is the ReMarkable's long-lasting battery—I plug it in once a week if not less.

Best Tablet Under $100

The 2022 Fire HD 8 ( 6/10, WIRED Review ) doesn't add much over the 2020 model outside of a slightly faster processor and thinner design. For the money, you get decent performance, a USB-C charging port, stereo sound, and hands-free access to Alexa—all of this in a travel-friendly 8-inch size. The screen isn't as nice as the Fire HD 10, and it can be a little tough to see images and text clearly if you're outside, but this is the best tablet you can get for around $100. There's officially no Google Play Store, but there's a workaround that nets you access to more apps.

Paying the extra $20 for the Fire HD 8 Plus is wise, as you get extra RAM (which helps when you're scrolling the web or juggling multiple apps) and wireless charging, so you can recharge it on almost any charging pad. You can also use an official wireless charging dock , which props up the tablet and turns it into an Echo Show while it's juicing up. Either way, consider picking up Amazon's magnetic cover to hold the tablet steady when you're bingeing TV shows.

★ An alternative: Amazon also refreshed the Fire HD 7 ($60) in 2022 to offer better performance and USB-C connectivity. You only get 16 gigs of storage (though there's a MicroSD card slot), and the screen is still tiny (7 inches), but if that's what you want, it's a fine option.

A Cheaper Android Tablet

Lenovo's Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is all you need if you want a lag-free Android tablet. The MediaTek 1300T processor inside did an excellent job juggling various apps and games, even when spending a few workdays in Lenovo's Productivity Mode, which kicks in when you connect a Bluetooth keyboard. The interface switches to a laptop-like environment with resizable app windows. It's not quite as nice to use as the OnePlus Pad for work though. I tested the version with six gigabytes of RAM—the 4-GB model is cheaper but will likely feel more sluggish. I strongly recommend using Lenovo's Keyboard and kickstand if you plan to get some work done as it connects via pogo pins and doesn't require any power or Bluetooth fiddling (though it's frequently out of stock). You can doodle if you get Lenovo's Precision Pen 3 , and I found it fairly responsive.

The 11-inch OLED (!) display is a nice size to carry around, and the screen is sharp and colorful, joined by a quad-speaker system that sounds robust. There's a microSD card slot to expand the 128 GB of built-in storage if you need it, but there's no headphone jack, so you'll have to listen in with Bluetooth earbuds (or use a dongle ). Other downsides? There's no biometric authentication, the cameras aren't much to write home about, and while I got nearly seven hours on a single charge, this tablet devours battery life in standby mode so turn it off if you're not using it. Lenovo is also promising three years of security updates and two OS updates for this slate, which means since it's running Android 12, it won't get anything past Android 14. That's better than what the company has promised before, but still not as good as the competition, and it doesn't help that Lenovo is really slow to roll these updates out.

Best Kids Tablet

When you're giving a tablet to a kid, you want something durable and cheap so that it's unlikely to break and, if does, a replacement won't be too costly. Amazon offers kid-friendly versions of all its Fire tablets, and the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition sits in the sweet spot of having a kid-friendly size and a wallet-friendly price. It's the exact same as the Fire HD 8 above, but the extra money you spend adds a bulky case to protect the tablet and a two-year worry-free damage plan. That means if your kid breaks it, you can return it and Amazon will send you a replacement for free. You also get a year of Amazon's Kids+ service , which provides access to kid-friendly books , movies, games, and apps, all with parental controls. It's $8 per month after the first year ($5 for Prime members).

There's also the larger Fire HD 10 Kids Edition, which comes in two variants: one for kids aged 3 to 7 , and a Kids Pro Edition for kids aged 6 to 12. Both are pricier and might be too big for younger children to comfortably use. Check out our Best Kids Tablets guide for more ideas.

Luxe Android Tablets

Samsung's Tab S9 series ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) consists of three tablets: the Tab S9 ($800) , Tab S9+ ($1,000) , and Tab S9 Ultra ($1,200) . They're all insanely expensive, but you get some of the best hardware in Android, from superbright 120-Hz screens and IP68 water resistance to an included S Pen stylus and flagship performance. Samsung offers some of the longest support outside of Apple, with a promise of four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

These slates are capable at work and play, thanks to multitasking improvements and an improved DeX desktop mode. But I think the Tab S9 is the weakest of the lot in terms of value. You can get a very close experience with tablets like the OnePlus Pad and Pixel Tablet for far less (or even Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 FE ). Instead, if you really like the look of these Samsung tablets, stick with the Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra. There aren't a lot of large-screen Android slates, and these do the job exceptionally well. Just remember that Samsung's Book Cover keyboard attachment is yet another expensive purchase.

A Great Drawing Tablet

Want a tablet strictly for drawing? Get the Wacom One 13 Touch ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). WIRED's resident artist and product reviewer Jaina Grey has been using an iPad to draw for years, and yet the Wacom's silky smooth touchscreen drew her in. It's easy to set up—just plug the USB-C cable into your PC—and start sketching with your preferred drawing app ; the stylus doesn't need recharging. The downside is that it needs to be tethered to another device, so you can't just bring it wherever you want, as you would an iPad.

Best Portable Tablet

Want something a little bigger than your phone, but still pocketable and easy to travel with? The 8.3-inch iPad Mini ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) should be up your alley. You get a compact tablet with a refreshed iPad Pro-like design. It has the A15 Bionic processor, the same that powers the iPhone 13 range , and Touch ID embedded inside the power button. It also features Center Stage in the camera, like the aforementioned iPads, and USB-C for charging. It's unbelievably small and cute, and you can attach the second-gen Apple Pencil to it for on-the-go sketching.

Best Laptop/Tablet Hybrid

Who says tablets need to run operating systems originally designed for smartphones? Microsoft's Surface line employs Windows, making it a suitable choice for heavy, desktop-grade workflows. The Surface Pro 9 doesn't add much over its predecessor—it has a faster processor—but it remains powerful, with a large 13-inch screen and a 120-Hz refresh rate . The best part is the built-in kickstand, which lets you plop it down on almost any surface. It's not as polished as an iPad in tablet mode, but Windows 11 has larger touch targets that make it easier to use. Our main gripe? Battery life is not as great as Microsoft promises. 

The Surface Go 3 suffers from similar battery woes, but it's a cheaper option. It's not as powerful, so it's better suited for simpler tasks like writing emails, browsing the web, and watching Netflix.

We recommend the Surface Pro 9 with the Intel Core i5 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256-GB SSD for most people.

Best for Seniors

If you have a family member who has a hard time with technology and you want to maintain easy contact with them, the GrandPad ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is your best bet. It's a yearly subscription, so it's expensive, but you're getting LTE connectivity out of the box, so the device is always connected to the internet—no need to set up Wi-Fi. The slate itself has outdated specs (it's an Acer 8-inch tablet), but there's a large, optimized interface, speakers tuned to help those hard of hearing, ad-free music streaming and radio stations, unlimited photo and video storage, and games like Solitaire. If the device is ever damaged or lost, the company will send a replacement.

The GrandPad excels at one-to-one video calls, and it's portable, meaning they can take it with them and still receive your calls. It sits on a wireless charging cradle too, so your loved one won't have to fuss with cables.

Get a Folding Phone Instead

OK, hear me out. If all you're really after is a slightly larger screen to catch up on shows and movies at bedtime, then instead of getting another device you need to deal with, why not upgrade your phone to a folding smartphone? The whole idea behind these kinds of folding devices is to offer a larger screen than ever before in a smaller package. The Pixel Fold ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) opens up to be a 7.6-inch slate—not a massive difference from the 8.3-inch iPad Mini! Not all apps take advantage of the larger screen size, but this is something that's improving over time. Best of all, you can easily hop into a split-screen mode to run two apps simultaneously side by side. Read our Best Folding Phones guide for more options.

Honorable Mentions

We test tons of tablets every year. Here are a few others we like, just not as much as our picks above.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus for $600 : The Galaxy Tab S9 FE is the “ Fan Edition ” version of the flagship Tab S9 series, which essentially means it makes some sacrifices for a more palatable price. It comes in a Plus and standard variant —I tested the former—and both include a stylus. It performed much better than the older Tab S7 FE tablet I tested, with not many stutters. The 12.4-inch LCD screen is vast and a rarity to find at this price in the world of Android tablets, but it's a bit tricky to comfortably hold, especially when you're browsing apps in bed. I still prefer the OnePlus Pad and Pixel Tablet over it, especially at this price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series for $500+ : Whether it's the Tab S8 , Tab S8+ , or Tab S8 Ultra , it's always smart to buy 2022's flagship tablets when they go on sale. (Make sure you don't pay MSRP!) They're not that different from the new Tab S9 series, except the smallest slate is stuck with an LCD panel here instead of AMOLED, and there is no IP68 water resistance rating. You still get a stylus that magnetically sticks to the back of the tablet, Samsung's DeX mode to get some work done, and long software support.

Nokia T20 Android Tablet for $145 : I nearly gave the Nokia T20 our top Android tablet spot above. It's pretty great. What brought it down was … my time with the Lenovo P11, which performed better and had a nicer screen—all for not much more money. Still, the T20 will run most apps and games, it has a decent 10.3-inch screen that's not too big and not too small, and there's a headphone jack. The speakers and screen are just OK. HMD Global, which makes Nokia hardware, promises two OS upgrades and three years of security updates (it was only recently updated to Android 13, so the rollouts are slow).

Nokia T10 Android Tablet for $130 : I think the Nokia T20 is the better option, but the T10 is a smaller 8-inch slate if you want something more pocketable. The screen resolution is lackluster, and the performance isn't super snappy, but it's decent enough for reading or catching up on a show before bed. The company promises two OS upgrades and three years of security updates.

TCL Tab Pro 5G Android Tablet for $400 : Unless you really want 5G connectivity and are prepared to sign up for a monthly data-only plan with Verizon, I think Lenovo's P11 Pro (2nd Gen) is the better buy. This TCL has a solid 2K LCD screen, but it's not as contrasty and colorful as our top Android pick. Its speakers are nice, as is performance—it ran all the usual apps just fine. However, the 10-inch screen size isn't large enough to make some apps split into two columns when in a vertical orientation (not the case on the P11 Pro). At least you get a fingerprint scanner.

Avoid These Tablets

TCL Nxtpaper 11 Tablet for $290 : This TCL tablet has dipped on sale as low as $161, so try to avoid paying more than $200 for it. It has a matte paper-like 11-inch screen, which is easy on the eyes, much like an E Ink screen on an ebook reader. It's totally fine to use for browsing your favorite apps and even watching movies and shows, though performance is pretty choppy across the board. But it will only get two security updates, with zero promises to get Android 14. That's pretty pathetic.

Lenovo Tab Extreme for $950 : This is a really expensive, premium-feeling tablet. It's fantastic … until you start using it. My unit was riddled with bugs (apps kept force-closing) not to mention that Lenovo's Android interface made some weird design decisions that affected my workflow. Unlike every other new Android tablet, you can't open a second Chrome tab in split-screen mode to have two Chrome tabs side by side. When I took it to an in-person meeting to type up notes, my palm kept touching the trackpad on the keyboard case and moved my cursor around. It was frustrating. It's also weirdly difficult to buy right now. It's just not worth the hassle.

Amazon Fire 11 Max for $230 : If you are OK with a tablet that shoves Amazon content in your face, and nothing else, then the Fire 11 Max is a fine buy. However, Amazon has a Productivity Bundle that adds a keyboard case for $330, and this is where the Max starts losing value. You can do so much more with many of the tablets above. It's only worth it if you can find it at a steep discount, like during Black Friday.

Great Tablet Accessories

Tablets often don't come with kickstands or enough ports, so it's a good idea to snag a few accessories to enhance your experience. These are some of our favorite tablet accessories, many of which you can also find in our Best iPad Accessories guide .

Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for $45 : This is my favorite tablet stand, so much so that I've taken it with me on trips. It packs down relatively well, and it is very stable—there's no wobbling around here. You can also adjust the angle quite a bit. It can handle huge sizes too—it worked perfectly with my 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Twelve South Compass Pro Stand for $50 : This is made for iPads, but I've had no trouble using it for plenty of other tablets. It's more travel-friendly than the Satechi above and fairly stable, but when I lift the tablet off, the back leg tends to change positions. You can angle it pretty low for sketching or keep it upright for watching movies. Unlike the Satechi, it's not a great option for keeping the tablet upright on a mattress.

Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60 : This works with iPads and other tablets just fine. You can either plug it in and keep it flush with the edge of a slate or use the included cord to keep it extended. You get a USB-C port you can use for pass-through charging, a USB-A, an HDMI, and a headphone jack.

Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $26 : I've used this on my bed frame to hold up various tablets for more than a year. The gooseneck requires a bit of finagling to get to the right position, and if you're constantly tapping the tablet, it will jiggle around. But it's a great hands-free way to watch movies. You can affix the clamp to any surface, like a desk or kitchen counter.

Twelve South HoverBar Duo Mount/Stand for $80 : You can use this as a stand or as an arm mount, and Twelve South makes it really easy to switch between the two. That means you can easily affix your tablet to your bedside arm mount, and then put it on the stand in your home office in the morning. Both are sturdy, and the arm mount is decently adjustable. Best of all, it doesn't wiggle around as much as the Lamicall above when you tap the screen.

Keychron K3 Pro Mechanical Bluetooth Keyboard for $100 : If you want to use a third-party Bluetooth keyboard with your tablet, a cheap one ( like this Logitech ) will do the job perfectly. But if you're a mechanical keyboard snob like me, this Keychron is an upgrade that's pretty easy to tote around. You can connect it to multiple devices and switch between them quickly; the keys light up in different, configurable colors; and best of all, it delivers the clickety-clackety experience you want with a mechanical keyboard. It needs to be recharged every three to four days, but you can also use it plugged in.

Anker Nano 3 30-Watt Charging Adapter for $20 : Most tablets charge at around 18 watts, so this 30-watt charger from Anker is more than capable. The plugs fold up, and it's pretty compact. If your tablet does support faster charging, then I recommend Satechi's 108-watt three-port USB-C charger ($75) . This will let you charge your phone, tablet, and laptop all off the same plug.

Einova Ultra Fast Power Bank for $47 : This power bank is slim enough to store next to a tablet in your bag, and it has enough capacity (20,000 mAh) to recharge an 11-inch tablet twice. You can fast-charge with the USB-C port and use the two USB-A ports to recharge other devices.

Scott Gilbertson

Eric Ravenscraft

Medea Giordano

Adrienne So

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December 17, 2023

By Beth McCarter

11 Best Tablets for Homeschooling: a Homeschool Dad’s Take

Do you have a friend who's thinking about homeschool too? Share this with them. ❤️

Looking for reviews of the best tablet for homeschooling?

Adam McCarter, certified STEM teacher and homeschool dad , will be sharing his expertise in this article. He says, “Technology plays a major part in today’s educational scene. I’ve taught remote engineering courses using just an iPad, so the functionality is really limitless”.

Our family uses tablets throughout our homeschool day for a wide range of educational purposes like spelling and math apps, dyslexia intervention, science videos, online homeschool hang outs, and live classes on Outschool.

That’s why I’ve invested a significant amount of time to researching the absolute best tablet for homeschooling, and I highly recommend the 5th generation Apple iPad Air for home educators and students.

#1 Best Tablet for Homeschooling

There’s a tablet for every budget. .. Check out this table with an honest summary of our top 4 recommended tablets for homeschoolers.

1. Apple iPad Air (5th gen)

The Apple iPad Air (5th Generation) is a notable tool for homeschooling families, providing a range of features that can effectively replace the need for a laptop, especially when combined with a keyboard case.

Its compact design is suitable for mobile learning, though most users have expressed concerns about its durability and recommend protective casing. There have been mixed reviews about the battery life, and some users have noted issues with overheating during certain games.

Overall, its performance and user-friendly experience make it a great option for educational use.

➡️ Price check the 5th gen Apple iPad Air on Amazon here

2. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th gen)

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) has a high rating from over 1,000 user reviews. On the positive side, users upgrading from older models have praised the improved XDR display, noting its enhanced brightness and HDR content.

The larger screen size is greatly appreciated, especially for design tasks and playing building games like Minecraft. The device’s speakers maintain Apple’s reputation for quality, and the seamless experience with the Apple Pencil is highlighted. However, some users have raised concerns about battery life and overheating issues.

For homeschoolers, while the display and performance might be appealing for multimedia and educational apps, the potential battery and overheating issues could be a concern.

See the iPad Pro on Amazon when you click here

Tablet for Homeschooling with Pen

Homeschoolers can benefit from using a stylus or Apple Pencil in various ways. Here’s a list of reasons:

Note-taking : A stylus allows students to take handwritten notes on tablets or other touch devices. Handwriting can help with memory retention.

Digital Art : Homeschoolers interested in art can use the Apple Pencil or other styluses to draw, sketch, and paint directly on their tablets.

Interactive Learning : Many educational apps are designed to be interactive, and a stylus can enhance the experience, especially for younger students who might find it easier than using their fingers.

Math Problems : Working out math problems by hand can be essential for understanding. A stylus allows students to write out problems and solve them directly on a tablet.

Annotating Texts : Students can highlight, underline, and make notes directly on digital texts, PDFs, or e-books.

Improved Handwriting : Writing with a stylus can help students practice and improve their handwriting skills.

Interactive Assignments : Some assignments might require students to draw diagrams, fill in blanks, or interact with the content in a way that’s easier with a stylus.

Tactile Learning : For tactile learners, physically writing or drawing can be more effective than typing or tapping.

Accessibility : For students with certain disabilities, a stylus can be an essential tool that allows them to interact with digital content more easily.

Precision : A stylus offers more precision than a finger, especially for detailed tasks like creating intricate designs or diagrams.

Science Projects : For projects that require sketches, such as biology diagrams or physics concepts, a stylus can be invaluable.

Language Learning : When learning languages with different scripts (like Chinese, Arabic, or Japanese), a stylus can help students practice writing characters.

Interactive Quizzes : Some educational apps offer quizzes where students can draw their answers or interact with the content using a stylus.

More reasons why a tablet with a pen is a great investment for homeschoolers:

Mind Mapping : Students can use a stylus to create digital mind maps, helping them organize their thoughts or study for exams.

Protecting Screens : Using a stylus can reduce the amount of direct touch interaction with the screen, potentially keeping it cleaner and free from smudges.

Musical Notation : For students learning music, a stylus can be used to write musical notes or annotate existing scores.

3D Modeling : Some apps allow for 3D modeling or design, and a stylus can provide the precision needed for these tasks.

Coding & Design : For older homeschoolers interested in coding or design, a stylus can be used for wireframing or sketching out ideas.

Engagement : Simply having a new tool to interact with can increase a student’s engagement and interest in their studies.

Flexibility : With a stylus, students can easily switch between writing, drawing, and interacting with apps, offering a flexible learning experience.

3. Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 has garnered positive feedback from users for homeschooling purposes.

Its optimal functionality when paired with a detachable keyboard and large screen size make it a versatile choice for online learning. The device boasts an impressive camera quality, ensuring clear visuals during virtual meetings, and the inclusion of a writable pen enhances interactive learning experiences.

However, some users have also reported reliability issues with the camera, necessitating frequent restarts before video meetings.

Overall, its features, combined with Windows 11, make it a compelling option for homeschoolers, though it’s essential to consider the potential need for accessory purchases and occasional technical hiccups.

➡️ Click here to see the Microsoft Surface Pro 9

Affordable Homeschool Tablet

Although the highest rated tablets generally run $500-1000 USD, the Microsoft Surface Go is the best of the more affordable tablets and can be bought for less than $400.

Remember, if you don’t have a ton of room in the budget, even an affordable tablet can enhance the homeschooling experience. Here are a couple of ways your family would benefit from your investment in a tablet:

Adaptive Learning : Some apps adjust the content based on the student’s performance, ensuring personalized learning experiences.

Language Learning : Tablets support a plethora of language learning apps that offer lessons, quizzes, and interactive exercises for various languages.

Accessibility Features : For students with special needs, tablets come with features like voice-over, screen readers, and magnification to make learning more accessible.

Instant Feedback : Many educational apps provide instant feedback, helping students understand their mistakes and improve in real-time.

Portability : Tablets are lightweight and portable, allowing students to learn on the go, whether it’s in a park, during travel, or any other setting.

Environmentally Friendly : Using tablets can reduce paper waste. My kids love to draw on the Procreate app (Apple app store, $9.99) with my Apple pen and it saves us tons of money on drawing supplies. Plus we don’t have to clean up afterwards!

4. Microsoft Surface Go

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 – 10.5″ Touchscreen is an affordable option for homeschoolers on a budget. Users appreciate its form factor, excellent touchscreen, and compatibility with Windows, making it intuitive for those familiar with the OS. It’s been highlighted as a cost-effective option when paired with a docking station, keyboard, and external monitors.

However, concerns arise with the device’s internal storage, with the maximum being 128 GB, which some find limiting, especially when considering the OS and pre-installed apps. The device’s compatibility with Google browser software and apps like eM Client is a plus for many.

On the downside, issues with the device’s battery life, fragility of the screen, and limited port options have been noted. For homeschoolers, while the Surface Go 3 offers portability and ease of use, considerations around storage and durability might be essential.

See the affordable Microsoft Surface Go on Amazon here

Samsung Tablet for Homeschooling

You might choose a Samsung tablet over an Apple iPad for the following reasons:

Price and Value : Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, for instance, is priced to undercut Apple’s offering, providing a larger screen size at a lower cost. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra starts at $899.99 for the 128GB version, while the Apple iPad Pro 12.9 2021 starts at $1099.

Storage Flexibility : Unlike iPads, many Samsung tablets, such as the Galaxy Tab S8+, come with a microSD card slot, allowing users to easily expand storage. This offers a tangible advantage for those who require more storage without relying solely on cloud solutions.

Included Stylus : Samsung tablets that support the S-Pen stylus include it in the box, whereas Apple users need to purchase the Apple Pencil separately, adding to the overall cost.

In summary, while iPads might offer a smoother and more polished experience, Samsung tablets provide more freedom, customizability, and better value for the money, making them a compelling choice for many users.

5. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

The SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 presents itself as a practical choice for homeschooling families on a budget. Its seamless connectivity with Samsung phones ensures that parents can easily sync educational resources and apps. The tablet’s storage is commendable and can be expanded with a micro SD card, allowing for a vast library of educational materials, videos, and apps. Its 10.5″ screen offers a clear view, making it suitable for reading and watching educational content.

However, its weight might be a concern for younger students during prolonged use. The device’s lack of automatic brightness adjustment might require manual tweaking during different times of the day, ensuring optimal visibility for lessons. Setting up child profiles can be a bit tricky, but once done, it can provide a controlled environment for students.

With Android 11 and access to the Google Play Store, homeschooling parents have a plethora of educational apps at their fingertips. It’s advisable to opt for the 4GB RAM variant to ensure smoother multitasking during lessons. In summary, the Galaxy Tab A8 is a valuable tool for homeschooling families, offering a blend of affordability and functionality, making digital learning accessible and efficient.

Why Use a Tablet For Kids Homeschooling?

There are many reasons you might use a tablet for kids while homeschooling.

Interactive Learning : Tablets support a variety of educational apps that offer interactive lessons in subjects like math, science, and languages.

E-Books and Reading : Tablets can store a vast number of e-books, making it easier for students to access textbooks, literature, and other reading materials without the bulk of physical books.

Virtual Classrooms : With video conferencing apps, students can attend virtual classes, participate in group discussions, or get one-on-one tutoring.

Art and Creativity : Drawing and graphic design apps allow students to express their creativity and can be especially useful for art lessons.

Note-taking : With stylus support, tablets can be used for handwritten notes, which can be organized, stored, and even converted to text.

6. Apple iPad Mini (6th gen)

The Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) is a compact and versatile device that can be particularly useful for homeschooling families. Many users appreciate its portability, making it easy to carry around, and its compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2, which offers a seamless writing and drawing experience.

There are some concerns about the device’s “jelly scrolling” effect in portrait mode, which some find distracting. Additionally, the absence of a headphone jack and a perceived decrease in screen brightness compared to previous models are noted drawbacks.

Overall, the iPad Mini 6 is still highly recommended for those who prioritize portability and pencil support.

7. Apple iPad (9th gen)

The Apple iPad (9th Generation) offers a blend of portability and functionality, making it a valuable tool for homeschooling. Its touchscreen is particularly beneficial for interactive educational apps.

Potential users should consider opting for higher storage due to the plethora of educational resources available. Some users have reported some performance issues during gameplay and frequent recharging needs.

Overall, it’s a promising device for homeschoolers, but it’s essential to weigh its benefits against potential limitations.

Cheapest Tablet for Homeschooling

If you’re searching for the most affordable tablet to enhance your homeschooling program, you really have two options.

✔️ Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus (2nd Gen) ✔️ Amazon Fire Tablet 11

Both of these tablets, while they don’t measure up to the iPad Air , iPad Pro, or Microsoft Surface Pro, are decent options for homeschooling.

Based on my experience teaching both in the classroom and at home, I would choose the Lenovo Tab over the Amazon Fire Tablet because it has way more functions and doesn’t have the heavy ad interface that frustrates most Fire users.

I highly recommend the 5th gen iPad Air for homeschoolers of all ages.

8. Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus (2nd gen)

The Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus (2nd Gen) offers a unique “kids mode” feature, which is initially appealing for homeschooling parents aiming to limit their children’s access to specific apps.

However, users have reported that the mode often malfunctions, failing to restrict access as intended. Additionally, there have been issues with OS updates affecting widget functionality and occasional unexpected power losses.

While the tablet provides value for its price, homeschooling parents might encounter challenges with its reliability and the effectiveness of its child safety features.

What tablet is best for homeschooling?

The 5th generation iPad Air is an excellent choice for homeschoolers because:

Performance : Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, the iPad Air offers fast and smooth performance, ensuring that educational apps and tools run seamlessly, enhancing the learning experience.

Versatility : With support for the Apple Pencil and a vast ecosystem of educational apps available on the App Store, the iPad Air provides a range of interactive learning opportunities, from note-taking to art projects.

User-Friendly Interface : Apple’s intuitive iOS ensures that students of all ages can easily navigate and utilize the device, making the learning process straightforward and engaging.

This combination of features makes the 5th generation iPad Air a top choice for homeschooling needs.

The 5th gen iPad Air is the best tablet for homeschooling ➡️ click here to check the price.

9. Samsung Galaxy S7

The SAMSUNG Galaxy S7 FE offers a variety of features that can be beneficial for homeschooling families. Users have praised its performance, especially for drawing and retro gaming, with the tablet’s large screen size and responsiveness being standout features. The DEX mode, which provides a desktop-like experience, is also highlighted as a major advantage.

However, there are concerns about storage limitations, with a strong recommendation to opt for the 256GB version over the 64GB. Some users have also reported issues with battery drainage and the device’s overall reliability, suggesting that while it has many strengths, it may not be as seamless as other tablets in its price range.

10. Lenovo Yoga Book

The Lenovo Yoga Book – FHD 10.1″ Android Tablet is a versatile device tailored for homeschooling needs. Its strengths lie in its impressive performance, vibrant screen, and long battery life, making it ideal for various educational tasks like note-taking, web browsing, and even sketching. The innovative halo keyboard is a standout feature, offering a unique typing experience.

However, homeschooling parents might be concerned about the screen’s susceptibility to scratches, especially when used for its primary note-taking function. Some design choices, such as the limited compatibility of the stylus with the touchscreen, might also pose challenges.

In summary, the Lenovo Yoga Book offers a plethora of features beneficial for homeschooling, although it does come with certain design and durability considerations.

Do tablets make homeschooling more effective?

Tablets most certainly make homeschooling more effective. Here are a couple of benefits that a tablet would bring to the table.

Multimedia Projects : Tablets can be used to create presentations, videos, and other multimedia projects for assignments.

Research : With internet access, students can use tablets for research, accessing online libraries, articles, and educational websites.

Educational Games : There are numerous educational games available that make learning fun and engaging.

Virtual Field Trips : Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps can provide virtual field trip experiences, allowing students to explore places and concepts in an immersive way.

Lab Simulations : For science subjects, there are apps that simulate lab experiments, allowing students to understand complex concepts without the need for physical lab equipment.

Organization and Scheduling : Homeschoolers can use calendar and organization apps to keep track of assignments, tests, and study schedules.

11. Amazon Fire Tablet 11

Our family gifted two Amazon tablets to our kids when they were in pre-k. Although they worked alright for games – the software felt very clunky especially compared to Apple’s iOS and the tablets definitely weren’t powerful enough to use for anything besides a few educational apps.

The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet has received varied feedback. Many users commend its performance, especially when compared to older Fire models, noting its fast UI, quick app loading, and efficient memory use. The tablet’s software, while improved from previous versions, still has some limitations, particularly with certain updates that restrict customization and the addition of Google services.

The tablet case and keyboard are generally appreciated, though some users have pointed out issues with the trackpad’s sensitivity. The screen quality is satisfactory for its price point, and the battery life is notably commendable.

However, some users have expressed concerns about the device’s software, particularly the pervasive ads and perceived “spyware.” The tablet’s compatibility with various apps, including Google services and other third-party applications, is a highlight for many.

For homeschoolers, the Fire Max 11 offers a cost-effective alternative to pricier tablets, but potential buyers should be aware of its software limitations and ad-heavy interface.

Buying Guide For the Best Homeschooling Tablet

If you’re considering purchasing a tablet for homeschooling, here are some essential features to look for:

Performance and Processor : A fast and efficient processor ensures that educational apps and software run smoothly. Look for a tablet with a recent-generation processor.

Screen Size and Resolution : A larger screen (around 10 inches or more) with a good resolution is ideal for reading, watching educational videos, and interacting with educational apps.

Battery Life : A long battery life (at least a couple hours) is essential to ensure uninterrupted learning sessions, especially if you have multiple kids.

What features should I look for when buying a tablet for homeschooling?

Storage : Depending on the number of apps, books, and other educational materials you plan to store, consider a tablet with at least 32GB of storage. More storage (64GB or 128GB) would be even better, especially if the tablet will be used for multiple subjects or students.

Operating System : Ensure the tablet’s OS supports a wide range of educational apps. Both iOS (Apple) and Android have extensive app ecosystems.

Stylus Support : A stylus can be beneficial for note-taking, drawing, and other interactive activities. We love using our Apple pen with the drawing app, Procreate.

Camera Quality : A decent front-facing camera is essential for video calls or virtual classroom sessions. A rear camera can be useful for capturing images for projects or assignments.

Durability : Since accidents can happen, especially with children, consider a tablet that’s robust or get a durable case to protect it.

Connectivity : Wi-Fi is a must, but also consider if you need cellular connectivity for learning on the go. Additionally, check for Bluetooth support for connecting external devices.

What to consider when choosing a tablet for homeschooling

Keyboard Compatibility : If the student will be doing a lot of typing, consider a tablet that can connect to an external keyboard. Price : While it’s essential to get a tablet with the necessary features, it’s also crucial to consider your budget. There are many good tablets at various price points, so find one that offers the best value for your needs.

Multitasking Capabilities : The ability to split the screen or run apps in the background can be beneficial for older students juggling multiple tasks.

Best iPad for Homeschool

➡️ As a certified teacher and homeschool parent, I recommend checking out the 5th gen Apple iPad Air because it has the most functions for home education.

Can you homeschool on a tablet?

Yes, you can definitely homeschool on a multipurpose tablet. I’ve even taught advanced STEM classes entirely using an iPad. It really is functional enough for pretty much anything you want to do as an educator.

What is the best technology for homeschooling?

It’s arguable that a tablet is the best technology for homeschooling; many tablets have just as many functions as a laptop or desktop computer and are much more portable. Plus, you can get a really sturdy case for a tablet to make it much more durable than a traditional computer.

I really like the 5th gen iPad Air for homeschooling, check prices on Amazon here.

Can I use an iPad for homeschooling?

Yes, you most certainly can use an iPad for homeschooling. We use the X iPad to homeschool our two children, and when I taught in public schools, each student used an iPad for homework and online classes. As a teacher I was given an iPad to teach my online classes and didn’t ever feel the need for a laptop.

In Conclusion: Best Tablets for Homeschooling

For homeschoolers navigating the digital learning landscape, the decision between iPads, Samsung tablets, and Microsoft tablets is pivotal.

Apple’s iPads, especially the Pro and Air models, are recognized for their smooth operation and potent M1 chips, making them suitable for a range of educational apps and interactive tasks.

On the other hand, Samsung tablets offer affordability, expandable storage, and the added benefit of the S-Pen stylus, enhancing note-taking and creative endeavors.

Meanwhile, Microsoft tablets, particularly the Surface line, bring the advantage of a full Windows operating system, allowing for a more computer-like experience with access to a broader range of software and multitasking capabilities.

In summary, while iPads might be ideal for a polished, app-centric educational journey, Samsung provides flexibility and value, and Microsoft bridges the gap between tablets and traditional computing, ensuring homeschoolers have diverse options to cater to their unique needs.

Welcome! I'm Beth, your homeschool education consultant. I'm a 2nd generation homeschooler and certified teacher. I help parents smoothly transition from public school to homeschooling.

I proudly serve families from ALL walks of life. My 1-on-1 services are inclusive and non-discriminatory.

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The Best Tablets for 2024

Whether you're looking for an amazon, android, or apple slate, here's what to consider, along with recommendations for the top tablets we've tested..

Apple iPad (2022)

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+

Apple iPad Air 11 M2 Chip 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2024 Release, Space Gray)

Apple iPad Pro (2024)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

Apple iPad mini (2021)

Amazon Fire Max 11

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022)

Google Pixel Tablet

There are countless tablets on the market, but which one is right for you? Whether you're eyeing an iPad or one of the many Android models available, we detail the key factors you need to consider when shopping, along with some of the top-rated tablets we've tested.

Keep in mind that Windows slates are different beasts entirely. If that's what you're looking for, head on over to our picks for the  best Windows tablets , as well as the best 2-in-1s

You Can Trust Our Reviews

Deeper dive: our top tested picks, why we picked it.

You can't go wrong with Apple's entry-level iPad. Thanks to a price drop in 2024, it costs significantly less than the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, but still offers a 10.9-inch display that's sufficiently large for multitasking and productivity. It runs the latest version of Apple's tablet OS and works with tons of accessories.

Who It's For

This is the best iPad for most people. It performs well, has plenty of features, and gets you into the Apple ecosystem for a relatively affordable price.

• Appealing iPad Pro-like design
• High-quality cameras
• Good speakers
• Fast performance
• No traditional Touch ID button

With a 10.1-inch, 1,920-by-1,200-pixel screen, a good-enough MediaTek processor, 3GB of RAM, and more than 10 hours of battery life, the Fire HD 10 is the most well-rounded Amazon tablet you can get. We're also fans of the device's modern design, microSD card slot for up to 1TB of extra space, and decent speakers. And it remains as exceptional a value as ever, with a price under $150.

If you want to watch movies and shows on the go without worrying about battery life or paying a lot, the Fire HD 10 is your best bet.

• Good build quality
• Decent display
• Alexa Echo Show mode
• Limited app selection
• Amazon-focused content

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ offers a lot of great features for a reasonable price, including an Exynos 1380 processor, a 12.4-inch screen with a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution, and excellent battery life. It uses top-notch materials and sports an IP68 rating that protects it from dust and water. It also includes Samsung's excellent productivity and multitasking software. We like that Samsung promises four Android OS updates and five years of security patches for the device, too.

Look no further if you want an excellent Android tablet that doesn't cost too much and is durable enough to use in your backyard or near a pool.

• Good performance
• Long battery life
• High-quality, waterproof build
• Includes S Pen stylus
• Occasional performance stutters
• Finicky fingerprint sensor

The iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, comes with a pro-level M2 processor, shifts the front-facing camera to the center for better video calls, and includes support for the latest Apple Pencil Pro. It offers more storage options than older Air models, is available with 5G, and comes in several different colors.

People who need more power than the entry-level iPad but don't need the professional-level power of the iPad Pro will find the iPad Air to be the perfect happy medium.

• Powerful performance
• Nice screen
• Excellent cameras for a tablet
• Plenty of connectivity options
• Supports Apple Pencil Pro
• Pricey accessories
• iPadOS could be smoother

The iPad Pro is a seriously powerful machine for creators and professionals who need a tablet that works hard. With the latest M4 processor, an OLED display, a flexible Thunderbolt port, less weight and better battery life than the previous model, and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, it's a phenomenal slate for professionals.

Those who need the most performance from a tablet (and can afford it) should consider the iPad Pro, which runs circles around much of the competition.

• Premium design
• Brilliant OLED display
• Unparalleled performance
• Flexible connectivity options
• Top cameras for a tablet
• iPadOS can be clunky

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is our favorite low-cost Android tablet because it doesn't have any glaring flaws. Most aspects, including the refined design, 11-inch screen, reliable hardware, and helpful software enhancements are better than expected for the price. Moreover, a microSD card slot helps you get around the limiting 64GB of standard storage, while the face unlock option mitigates the lack of a fingerprint sensor. If you need 5G connectivity for travel, you can add a cellular radio for $50 more.

If you want unfettered access to the Google Play Store and the full Android experience on the cheap, the Galaxy Tab A9+ is a capable choice. It's fast enough for most tasks and can handle all your entertainment needs.

• Large screen
• Expandable storage
• Software aids productivity
• No fingerprint sensor
• Low base storage

The 8.3-inch iPad mini might not get as much attention as its larger siblings, but it's sized just right if you value portability. Importantly, it doesn't give up any of the power, connectivity, or accessory support that makes iPads so popular.

The iPad mini is ideal for anyone who wants the feature and performance of a larger iPad in as small a package as possible.

• Excellent performance
• Works with second-generation Apple Pencil
• No multi-user option in iPadOS
• Pricier than previous model

Amazon finally ventures out of the ultra-cheap tablet segment with the Fire Max 11. It performed well in our benchmark tests and feels snappy to use in real-world scenarios. The 11-inch, 2,000-by-1,200-pixel display is plenty large and sharp enough for enjoying movies and large-format reading material, while the build quality is a step up over other offerings in the company's lineup.

If you like the simplicity of Amazon's Fire OS platform or want the largest screen for the price, the Fire Max 11 is the way to go.

• Big, vibrant display
• Stepped-up design
• Respectable performance
• Amazon ecosystem access
• No clear path to future OS versions

With its 14-inch, 2,960-by-1,848-pixel screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is ideal for getting work done, watching movies, playing games, and running multiple apps. It performed well in testing thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 12GB of RAM. Additionally, the tablet sports a durable IP68 rating, ships with the excellent S Pen stylus, and includes a microSD card slot. Samsung's productivity-focused tools make it a near laptop replacement.

If you want the biggest Android tablet for entertainment and cost isn't a concern, the Tab S9 Ultra is the one to get. Its giant screen and multitasking software make it a viable tool for getting work done. Just keep in mind that if you plan to travel or commute with your tablet, the 12.4-inch, 5G-capable Galaxy Tab S9+ is a better choice with comparable specs.

• Gorgeous screen
• Tight Samsung integration
• Good productivity software
• IP68 rating
• S Pen stylus included
• Size makes it awkward to handle
• Android on tablets is still limiting

The Amazon Fire HD 8 has a bright screen with a decent 1,280-by-720-pixel resolution. It's a more reasonable platform for medium consumption than the smaller Fire Tablet 7, while still offering as much battery life. It comes in under $100, too.

You should enjoy the Fire HD 8 if you want a budget-friendly device with a larger screen than your phone. It doesn't compete with high-end iPads or Android tablets on performance metrics, but it's more than fast enough for casual use.

• Vibrant screen
• Good battery life
• Lightweight
• Sluggish performance
• $10 more than the previous model

The Pixel Tablet provides a pure Android experience and feels snappy for everyday use. Its 10.95-inch, 2,560-by-1,600-pixel screen is enjoyable for media playback too, especially thanks to its 24-bit color support. The slate sounds good by itself, but the included speaker dock (which doubles as a charging stand and turns the device into a smart display) takes things up a notch with fuller, richer sound.

If you're committed to Google's version of Android, the Pixel Tablet is easy to recommend. It doesn't perform quite as well as some competitors or last as long per charge, but its audio chops are sure to attract music lovers and the smart display functionality can be a home-helping bonus.

• Solid Android tablet
• Flawless audio hand-off
• Good sound from Speaker Dock
• Speaker Dock has limited functionality
• Hub Mode could do more

Buying Guide: The Best Tablets for 2024

Is android, fire os, or ipados better.

Broadly, Android tablets make great media players,  ebook readers , and kids' devices (if you want a tablet specifically for children, check out  the best kids' tablets ) but they rarely compete with iPads when it comes to versatility and performance.

The greatest strengths of Apple's iPadOS are twofold: iPadOS is intuitive and the numerous apps that you can buy right on your tablet work fairly uniformly. The downside of iPadOS is that it can't handle multiple users per device and transferring files between apps is still awkward. iPads mostly remain a supplement to, not a full replacement for, MacBooks . iPads also support the best selection of accessories, including four different Apple Pencils .

Google's  Android OS lets you choose from a wider range of hardware manufacturers. That means you get maximum customization, a top-notch notification system, fast and smooth web browsing, and seamless integration with Google applications such as Gmail, Google Maps, and Meet for video chats. Android also includes support for multiple user profiles, so you can share your tablet with a friend or family member. (Apple's Family Sharing works the other way around, giving multiple people access to shared data and services.) Some Android tablets ship with older versions of the OS and seldom get updates, but Google and Samsung outline upgrade policies for their devices to give you peace of mind.

Amazon's Fire OS is a branch of Android with a distinct interface and set of default apps from Amazon. It's a simple gateway to Amazon content and for streaming videos from various services. We find it easier to use than standard Android if most of what you do is browse the web and access your Amazon library. It's less flexible, though, and doesn't support as many apps.

Which Tablet Has the Best Apps?

What's a tablet without quality apps? If you want third-party apps that work with a touch-screen interface, nothing beats the iPad's massive library of programs and games. The App Store is well-curated and offers a deep selection. Apple is your best bet if a wide range of compelling apps that look good and work well on your tablet is your main priority. For more,  see the best iPad apps and the best Apple Arcade Games .

Android has made great strides in app selection, but it's still not home to as many as Apple offers. It's tough to say exactly how many tablet-optimized Android apps are available, but it's far fewer than on the iPad. You can use Android phone apps of course, which look decent on a 7-inch tablet, but less so on a 9- or 10-inch device. Check out the best Android apps  for our top picks.

Amazon tablets don't have access to the Google Play Store, so they work with considerably fewer apps. Plenty of people have hacked the Play Store onto Amazon tablets, but that violates both Amazon's and Google's terms of service and isn't a reliable solution. With these tablets, you should likely stick with the subset of apps that Amazon considers appropriate.

What Size Tablet Do You Need?

This consideration is a bit obvious, but size—both screen real estate and storage capacity—is important to consider. First things first: When you hear a term such as "10-inch tablet," this refers to the size of the screen, measured diagonally, and not the size of the tablet itself.

We consider 7- and 8-inch tablets as small-screen devices and 9-inch tablets as the start of the large-screen category. Apple's iPads, Amazon's Fire tablets, and Samsung's slates all come in small- and large-screen versions. And more than ever, big phones blur the distinction between what is and isn't a tablet. Folding phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 or OnePlus Open can easily do double duty as tablets if you're willing to pay a hefty premium.

Screen resolution is important, too, especially for reading and web surfing. A sharp, bright display is key. If you're in the market for a 10-inch tablet, look for a display with a resolution of at least 1,280 by 800 pixels.

The low weight of a tablet is one definite advantage it has over a  laptop —but with large-screen tablets typically weighing around a pound, they're not nearly as light as smartphones. Holding one in your hand likely won't be comfortable after a while. Setting one flat in your lap, rather than propping it up on a stand, can also be a little awkward. And few tablets fit in your pocket (unless you're wearing a very large jacket).

Cloud (off-device) storage is an option for many tablets (Amazon Cloud Storage for Fire tablets, iCloud Drive for iPads, Google One for Android tablets), but when it comes to onboard storage, more is always better. All those apps; your local music, photo, and video libraries; and system updates can take up a lot of space. Some Android tablets feature a microSD slot for additional storage, but it's worth noting some apps won't work from those external cards. 

Should You Buy a Wi-Fi-Only or Cellular Tablet?

Some tablets can connect only over Wi-Fi, but others can take advantage of always-on cellular service from a wireless provider. Unless you constantly use your tablet in an area without Wi-Fi or are a frequent traveler, you're probably better off using your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot and saving the extra money you would spend on a 4G or 5G tablet. You can also buy a  dedicated mobile hotspot , which won't kill your phone's battery life. Some even double as backup batteries  to charge your tablet.  

The Top Tablets (for Now)

The tablets here represent the best options from Amazon, Android, and Apple across a variety of price levels. That said, plenty of other great tablets exist that might be better for you. For the latest lab-tested reviews, check out our  tablet product guide . And if you're looking for a good deal, head over to our roundup of the  best cheap tablets  we've tested.

More Inside PCMag.com

• The Best Cheap Tablets for 2024
• The Best Tablets for Kids in 2024
• What's the Best iPad to Buy in 2024?
• The Best Android Tablets for 2024
• The Best Gaming Tablets for 2024

About Iyaz Akhtar

I’m one of PCMag’s mobile analysts. That means I check out phones, hotspots, and mobile networks. Technology has been my passion and hobby since I was a child. I’ve covered tech professionally for over 15 years at outlets including The Apple Blog, This Week in Tech, and CNET.

More From Iyaz Akhtar

• The Best Android Phones for 2024
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Best tablets for kids in 2024

These are the best tablets for kids, based on our research and testing

• Best for older kids
• Best for young kids
• Best Android
• How to choose
• How we test

1. The list in brief 2. Best for older kids 3. Best for young kids 4. Best value 5. Best iPad for kids 6. Best Android tablet for kids 7. Battery life chart 8. How to choose 9. How we test

We think the best tablets for kids are durable, affordable and versatile. 

Finding the right one for your needs can be tricky because every kid is different, but in general, we recommend you look for a tablet with decent screen quality, excellent battery life, good parental controls, and solid durability (accidents happen!) at a reasonable price.

To help you decide which tablet is right for you, we test all of the top devices in our lab and in the real world. I personally review some myself every year, and I help oversee a team of experts who review the rest. 

In general, we've found that Amazon tablets are great for kids and anyone on a tight budget. If you can afford to pay a bit more, iPads are excellent tablets for students and creative kids. In fact, we have a best iPads for kids guide that will help you choose between them. And if your kid wants an Android tablet, Samsung's slates typically offer features that are competitive with iPads yet cost less.

Without further ado, these are the best tablets for kids we recommend right now, based on key factors like battery life, build quality and parental controls!

The quick list

Here's a brief overview of the tablets on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever slate catches your eye.

The best tablet for older kids

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is one of two kid-friendly versions of the Fire HD 10, and we recommend it because it's durable, specifically designed for kids ages 6-12 and comes with a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription and comprehensive 2-year warranty.

Read more below

The best tablet for younger kids

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is effectively a version of the Fire HD 10 that's tailored for kid-friendly use — specifically, kids ages 3-7. Like the Pro version you get a great well-made tablet with a 2-year warranty, a year of Amazon Kids+ included and a colorful kid-friendly case for added protection.

The best value

If you're looking for a cheap slate you can give to a child that won't break the bank, the $60 Amazon Fire 7 tablet is a great choice. It's a decent Fire tablet with none of the kiddy trimmings or extra frills of the first two slates on this list, but it's still governed by Amazon's FireOS—which has great parental controls.

The best iPad for kids

The 2021 Apple iPad is our top recommendation if you want a cheap iPad for kids because it's cheaper than the latest iPads yet offers nearly all the same features. Every other iPad is more expensive yet offers nothing extra in the way of kid-friendly features, so get this one if you can and save some cash.

The best cheap Android tablet

Samsung's Galaxy Tab A7 offers a sweet mix of price and performance. At $229 it's cheaper than an iPad yet delivers competitive performance and better battery life. It's not the cheapest or newest tablet Android tablet you can buy, which is why it's great for kids.

The best tablets for kids you can buy today

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

1. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2021) is the best tablet for kids overall. It's effectively the same, hardware-wise, as the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet : it has the same octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and vivacious 1,900 x 1,200 display. The big difference is that it's designed specifically for use by older kids ages 6-12, so it comes with a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, a colorful kickstand case, and a comprehensive, no-questions-asked 2-year warranty that covers accidental damage. 

If you're in the market for a kid-friendly tablet, few competitors can match what the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers for $199, particularly with that generous extended warranty. Sure, it has all the same weaknesses as every Fire tablet — most notably, no access to the Google Play Store — but if you're planning to give this to a kid anyway, that's less of an issue. Amazon also sells a variant aimed at younger kids, the Fire HD 10 Kids, with the same $199 price tag.

Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro (2021) review .

2. Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is effectively a version of the Fire HD 10 that's tailored for kid-friendly use — specifically, kids ages three to seven. The Fire HD 10 Kids is a great tablet for kids because it sports a bright display, a durable kid-friendly design, and excellent battery life. Plus, the detailed built-in parental controls give you a lot of control over what a child does on the device, with little risk of them going astray.

Sure, the lack of Google Play Store apps limits what you can do with this tablet, but that's hardly a problem if you're planning to give it to your 5-year-old so they can have something on which to watch videos. If you want a durable, affordable tablet tailored to young children, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids is a great choice.

Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids review .

3. Amazon Fire 7

If you're looking for a great sub-$100 slate you can give to a child, the $50 Amazon Fire 7 tablet is a great choice. It delivers pretty good performance thanks to its snappy quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, which helps a child navigate apps and browse the web faster than you'd expect from a tablet this cheap.

Just don't expect any frills that come with more expensive tablets. The Fire 7 tablet’s sub-HD screen is not sharp enough for anyone used to an iPad , and its lock screen is filled with ads unless you pay extra. Still, it's a great pick for kids looking for a media consumption device. Plus, Amazon tablets have some of the most comprehensive parental controls of any tablet on the market, and they work just as well on the Fire 7 as they do on the Fire HD 10 Kids tablets higher on this list.

Read our full Amazon Fire 7 review .

4. Apple iPad 2021

The 2021 Apple iPad is a solid all-around tablet that runs just about any app from Apple's App Store with ease, and we recommend parents looking for a cheap iPad to give a child purchase the 2021 model because it's the last iPad Apple sold at a starting price of $329, before jacking the price up over $100 with the $449 2022 model. 

Admittedly, the newer iPads have faster chips inside a sleeker design with thinner bezels and no headphone jack, but the newer design and speedier processer doesn't change much about the moment-to-moment experience of using the tablet. If you want to give a kid an iPad the base 10.2-inch model is the cheapest option you have, and it's a great tablet thanks to its beautiful display, speedy performance and good battery life.

Read our full Apple iPad 10.2-inch review .

The best Android tablet for kids

5. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

If you want to give a kid an Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab A7 is a great choice because it's a decent iPad competitor that costs nearly $100 less. It's a great tablet to give an older kid, and it's also great to share among a family because Android lets you set up multiple profiles and set parental controls on a per-profile basis, ensuring you can filter and control what kids of content your kid(s) can access.

Plus it's got endurance to spare, lasting 13 hours and 13 minutes on the Tom's Guide battery test. Oh, and it's also got an iPad Pro feature that Apple makes you pay a lot for: facial recognition to unlock the device. And just like Apple's pricier tablets, the Galaxy Tab A7 charges over USB-C, so you shouldn't have too much trouble replacing lost or damaged charging cables. And while it's not as fast as the iPad and its screen isn't as bright, neither is a serious problem at this price — especially when Samsung gives you true Android with the Google Play app store, and not the watered-down Amazon Fire tablet experience.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 review .

How to choose the best tablet for kids

Still not sure which tablet is right for the kid(s) in question? Here are some important things to consider, things we also consider when choosing which tablets to add to this list from the many we review every year.

Screen size: Tablets come in a variety of screen sizes ranging from 7 to 10 inches. If you expect your kid to be watching a lot of videos, they'll want the biggest, nicest screen possible, so consider the Fire HD 10, the iPad, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7. But if you just want a tablet a kid can use to browse the web and read ebooks, a smaller display, like those on the Fire 7 or Fire HD 8, will be more than enough for your needs.

Battery life: Every tablet we recommend on this list lasts at least 8 hours or more in our battery tests, so you can count on good battery life. But if you want something that can really go the distance, look for tablets that last 12 hours or more in our testing, like Samsung's Galaxy Tab A7 or Amazon's Fire 10 Kids tablets.

Budget: You can spend anywhere between $50-$800 on a tablet for kids, or more if you splurge on extras like a stylus or keyboard cover. Generally we recommend you not give a child something more expensive than you're willing to pay to replace when they break it. So the older and more trustworthy they are, the more you may be able to justify spending. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is great for older kids since you can often find it on sale for under $200, and the 2021 iPad costs under $400 new if you can find it, though the more expensive newer models (which start at $449) are also faster. 

Younger kids might be better served by the $200 Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids or HD 10 Kids Pro tablets, since they come with kid-friendly extras like durable cases and 2-year warranties. If your budget is in the $50-$100 range, the $50 Fire HD 7 or the ~$100 Fire HD 8 are good, no-frills Amazon Fire tablets that offer decent performance and Amazon's in-depth parental controls.

Age: How old is the person you're buying this tablet for? Obviously if it's for you and your family, buy whatever you like, but if you're getting a tablet for a specific child, there are a variety of kid-friendly options depending on their age. For those ages 3-7, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids offers decent performance, great parental controls, and a colorful drop-resistant case. The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers effectively the same benefits for the same price, but it's aimed at older kids in the 6-12 range. And if the person you're buying for is older than that, they should be well-served by the standard Amazon Fire HD 10, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, or the basic iPad.

How we tested these tablets

First, we run as many benchmarks as that tablet will allow, to see how fast they are in ways that can be compared directly against competitors. We say "will allow" as some tablets, like Amazon's Fire slates, have trouble with side-loaded Android apps. We then use colorimeters and light meters to measure how colorful and bright these tablets’ screens can get. After that, we put them through our in-house battery test, which times how long it takes — while surfing the web with brightness at 150 nits — to drain a tablet of a charge.

After that, we do the same things you do — browse the web, watch YouTube , play games, compose emails — and then a lot more. We also try and write some (or all) of our tablet reviews on the tablets we're testing, especially if there's a keyboard attachment available.

Alex Wawro is a lifelong journalist who's spent over a decade covering tech, games and entertainment. He oversees the computing department at Tom's Guide, which includes managing laptop coverage and reviewing many himself every year.

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice. 

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We Picked The Best Android Tablets That Offer Impressive Functionality

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Many people love a tablet for watching streaming services, playing games or reading. Those are all fine uses, but tablets have so much more to offer. The key benefit to using tablets is they are larger, offer more screen real estate and have a bigger battery than even the best and newest smartphones. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra as the best Android tablet overall, for example, because it’s large, thin and light and facilitates easy multitasking even with a split screen.

The best Android tablets are a more convenient alternative to your laptop.

But no tablet fits all. If you want something cheaper than an iPad, more versatile than a Kindle or that’s a productivity powerhouse, an Android tablet ticks all the boxes. They might take up more room in your bag than your pocket rectangle, but the best Android tablets are worth it, and they are still less bulky than a laptop.

• Best Android Tablet Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
• Best Android Laptop For Productivity: Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Gen 2
• Best Android Tablet For Reading: Boox Mini C E-Paper Tablet
• Best Budget Android Tablet: Amazon Fire HD 10
• Best Android Tablet For Smart Homes: Google Pixel Tablet
• Best Android Tablet For Kids: Amazon Fire 8 Kids Tablet

Best Android Tablet Overall

The best tablet you can buy, samsung galaxy tab s9 ultra.

Display size: 14.6 inches | Resolution: 1848 x 2960 | Storage: 256GB to 1TB | Battery: 11,200mAh | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Accessories: S Pen stylus

• Power processor
• Gorgeous display
• Keyboard not included

Samsung has been in the tablet game for a long time, but are recently pushing the envelope. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is the very best of everything you can get in a tablet. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a ton of onboard RAM and storage and a battery that goes forever. Plus, it’s extremely thin and light, weighing in at just over 1.5 pounds.

I did an extensive, deep-dive hands-on review of this tablet for Forbes Vetted in 2023 . I found that it makes multitasking a cinch and that the cohesive Samsung ecosystem makes giving up multiple screens just a bit easier. Many tablets don’t take advantage of their screen real estate, but this 14.6-inch display does not get wasted. Samsung DeX gives you a Windows-like interface, allowing you to open multiple windows, resize them, move them around, cascade them—even gives you a taskbar across the bottom for smooth multitasking.

If DeX isn’t your cup of tea, you can still use a full Android interface with split-screen, floating windows and Samsung’s OneUI launcher. This is going to work much better when you’re not using a keyboard, which doesn’t come in the box. That’s Samsung’s Achilles’ heel: It wants to be a productivity tablet, but it doesn’t automatically include all of the tools you need to do it.

Best Android Laptop For Productivity

Solid tablet designed by the kings of productivity, lenovo tab p11 pro gen 2.

Display size: 11.5 inches | Resolution: 1536 x 2560 | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 7,700mAh | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Accessories: Keyboard case and Pen sold separately

• Great size for portability
• Nice multitasking interface
• Keyboard and stylus not included
• Midrange processor

Lenovo is the king of business laptops , and its expertise in building productivity machines extends into the tablet space as well. The Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2 is the latest in the lineup of productivity tablets, and it brings a lot to the table.

I’ve personally tested the Lenovo P11 Pro Gen 2. It’s very quick and smooth and provides good value for the money. The software doesn’t give you quite the flexibility as Samsung DeX, but you get a nice widescreen layout with a taskbar across the bottom showing your open apps. The widescreen gives you ample room to work with two Android apps side-by-side, while the taskbar makes it easy to switch between other apps if you need to. The software isn’t perfect though, because, true to form, Lenovo ships the tablet with a few extra apps that you didn’t ask for. I’d like to see the keyboard and stylus included, but it’s nice that you can bundle them.

The processor is a MediaTek Helio G99, which is not the most powerful processor on the market, but it’s good enough for most applications. A productivity tablet isn’t necessarily geared toward high-power tasks, but is great to bang out some emails, do some research and write an article for Forbes Vetted, for example (I wrote this article entirely on the P11 Pro with the keyboard cover).

Best Android Tablet For Reading

Great for books and comics, boox mini c e-paper tablet.

Display size: 7.8 inches | Resolution: 1872x1404 | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Weight: 264 grams | Accessories: Included stylus

• Long battery life
• Android allows third-party apps
• E Ink has a low refresh rate

If you want something that’s specifically for reading, it needs to be super light, extremely portable and last a long time on a charge. If you’re thinking that sounds like an e-reader, you’re right, but what if you want color? Boox has been working in the color E Ink space for a long time, and the Boox Tab Mini C reader is great for book illustrations to comic books.

The fact that the tablet runs on Android means you can run any app on it that you want. The E Ink screen is not terribly responsive, so it’s not the best for watching videos—but you can absolutely read anything, black-and-white or color, which is a bonus. You can even adjust the response rate higher or lower, which is another plus, but don’t expect anything approaching what you’d get with a normal tablet screen.

What the reviews say: People who bought this tablet love the color capability, long battery life and app compatibility of the Android operating system. Some customers feel less favorably about the sharpness of the colors, noting that they’re a little more pale than they expected.

Best Budget Android Tablet

Amazon's great content-consumption tablet, amazon fire hd 10.

Display size: 10.1 inches | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Storage : 32GB, but can upgrade to 64GB | Battery: Up to 13 hours | Weight: 15.3 ounces | Accessories: None

• Inexpensive
• Limited app ecosystem
• Underpowered for anything beyond content consumption

When it comes to straight-up content consumption, Amazon’s Fire tablets are still the best game in town. Among those tablets, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is the best you can buy. That’s not to say it’s great—far from it. You need to know going in that if you’re buying an Amazon tablet, you’re buying a streaming machine, and that’s the end of the list.

Amazon Fire tablets run on Amazon’s Fire OS, which is built on Android. But, Google services are nowhere to be found on the tablet, and that ties both hands and even a leg behind its back. The Amazon Appstore is, to put it as absolutely politely as possible, a wasteland of half-baked and forgotten apps, along with some streaming apps and a few games. The good news is that the apps that you want to use are the ones that work well. It doesn’t take a lot of power to watch Disney+ on a 10-inch HD screen. Additionally, the price is right on these tablets and they are built tough. Try not to drop one down a flight of stairs, but if you do, it has a decent chance of survival.

What the writers say: Forbes contributor Scott Kramer reviewed the HD 10 Plus : “The Fire HD 10 Plus feels nice and light. Call me crazy, but I actually prefer its plastic backing over that of pricier tablets. In my experience, it can take small drops without any issues. But you can buy the optional origami-like kickstand case for $40 , which gives it a more premium feel with better protection.”

Best Android Tablet For Smart Homes

A tablet that doubles as a smart hub, google pixel tablet.

Display size: 11 inches | Resolution: 1600 x 2560 | Storage: 128GB, but can upgrade to 256GB | Battery: 7,020mAh | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Accessories: Speaker stand included 

• Lovely Google interface
• Docking station converts tablet into hub
• A little underpowered
• Expensive for what it is

Google has taken a few runs at tablet-making in the past, but its latest effort is by far one of the best. Usually, when a tablet isn’t actively in use, it’s sitting on a table or in your bag like a brick. But the Pixel Tablet magnetically attaches to the base—which also has a built-in speaker. And when docked, it functions like a Google Home Hub so you can ask it questions, control your smartphone and more. It’s got a fingerprint sensor, which is not only useful for unlocking the tablet but also for loading individual user profiles in a family environment.

I really like what Google is trying to do here, although I’m not a fan of the Tensor G2 processor, which is a little underpowered by today’s standards. But for content consumption, the tablet is really solid and I really like the dock. And if you want a kitchen control center, this is a good pickup.

Google normally ships the tablet with the dock, but you can also buy each separately if you need one but not the other. It’s a little on the expensive side at more than $400, especially when you can get a Google Home Hub (with an admittedly much smaller screen) for much less.

Best Android Tablet For Kids

Not indestructible, but close, amazon fire 8 kids tablet.

Display size: 8 inches | Resolution: 1,280 x 800 | Storage: 32GB, can upgrade to 64GB | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Weight: 1.1 pound | Accessories: Sturdy, “kid-proof” case included

• 2-year “worry-free” warranty
• Included case
• Very underpowered
• Paying extra for just the bumper case

If you have little kids, tablets are an effective way to keep them entertained and learning. But, like most kids, they can be a tad… irresponsible… when it comes to properly using and taking care of electronics. To that end, Amazon introduced the Kids line of Fire tablets. These tablets are essentially normal Fire Tablets with a thick, soft bumper case on them that protects them from drops, falls and spills.

Amazon Fire tablets are generally durable, and the bumper case adds to that protection, but the tablet also ships with a full two-year no-questions-asked guarantee that if anything happens to the tablet, Amazon will send you another one. It’s a little extra peace of mind should anything happen to your kiddo’s tablet.

The Amazon Fire 8 Kids tablet also comes with a trial for enhanced parental controls that allow you to control your child’s screen time and even disable other functionality until certain learning goals have been met. Screen time is generally not a great thing for kids to have, but if you can make sure they’re getting sufficient learning time before binging Blue’s Clues , that makes it a little better.

What the reviews say: The Amazon Fire 8 Kids averages 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. People who have bought the tablet like it for educational content, but they generally agree that it’s underpowered and has a limited app ecosystem. They also like the bumper case, saying that it keeps the tablet safe from accidental damage.

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The best sneakers for women, reviewed by our editors, why trust forbes vetted.

At Forbes Vetted, we’re proud of our extensive library of tech guides and recommendations. In particular, we have an ever-growing section of content specifically about computer and tablets .

• This guide was written by Adam Doud, who has over a decade of experience writing about consumer technology with a particular focus on mobile phones and cellular technology. He’s tested most smartphones on the market over the past several years, including the Google Pixel 8 Pro .
• All picks in this guide were approved by Rebecca Isaacs , Forbes Vetted’s tech editor, a consumer technology expert who has years of experience writing about and covering all the latest gadgets.
• Many of the picks in this roundup were personally tested by Doud. For those that weren’t, we leaned on the expertise of colleagues and sorted through online reviews.
• The tech world moves fast, and we make every effort to keep up. This story was last updated in June 2024, and will continue to be refreshed to stay current and accurate.

How We Chose The Best Android Tablets

To select the best Android tablets, we combined hands-on testing insights with those of other knowledgeable contributors. We also took into consideration consumer reviews.

• For many of the products in this list, Doud had personal experience with the devices and tested and evaluated them himself.
• In some cases, Doud included impressions from other colleagues well-versed in consumer tech and tablets.
• Once we narrowed down the contenders, we went to popular shopping sites like Amazon and Best Buy and picked those that had garnered the best review scores from real customers.
• We evaluated each tablet based on such attributes as resolution, storage, battery life and any included accessories.

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Best Tablets for Note Taking in 2024

Ever found yourself in a meeting or class, rushing to write down notes and wishing you had a better tool? Modern tablets designed for reading and note-taking are game-changers for students, professionals, and anyone in between. These devices can replace your notebooks and transform how you manage tasks in both your personal and professional life. Explore this guide to discover the best tablets for note-taking, making sure you find a device that meets all your needs.

While you're finding the perfect tablet for note-taking, why not enhance your entire workspace? A comprehensive setup often includes a responsive keyboard that can keep pace with your thoughts. Consider exploring the best RGB gaming keyboards , ideal for those who value both aesthetics and functionality in their tech setups.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+

Microsoft surface go 3, samsung galaxy tab s7 fe, samsung galaxy tab s6 lite, apple ipad pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), samsung galaxy tab a8, best tablets for photo editing in 2024.

Explore the best tablets for photo editing with our guide, designed to improve your digital artistry and simplify your creative process.

Game Rant's Best Tablets for Note Taking

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ features a 12.4-inch sAMOLED display with a resolution of 2800 x 1752 pixels and 128 GB of memory storage. It supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster connectivity and includes an ultra-wide camera capable of recording 4K video, as well as an S Pen for user input.

Brand SAMSUNG

CPU Snapdragon

Memory 128 GB

Operating System Android

Display type 2800 x 1752 Pixels

Size 12.4 Inches

Weight 1.27 pounds

Model/s: Galaxy Tab S8+

• High-resolution 12.4-inch sAMOLED display
• 128 GB of memory and Snapdragon CPU
• Included S Pen increases productivity
• Some users find it heavy
• Mixed reviews on battery life

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is considered the best overall tablet for note taking. It boasts a large 12.4-inch vivid display and offers exceptional performance. The tablet's sAMOLED screen and 2800 x 1752 pixels resolution are perfect for those who demand clarity and color accuracy for their notes. Additionally, the included S Pen provides a natural writing experience that closely mimics pen on paper, making it a top pick for students and professionals.

While the Galaxy Tab S8+ excels in performance and display quality, it does have some drawbacks. Some have concerns over its weight and battery life. However, these minor issues do not significantly detract from its overall value. It remains a powerful tool for note taking, with speedy Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and ample storage for all apps and files. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+ is considered the best overall tablet for note taking for those who prioritize functionality and quality.

The Microsoft Surface Go is a 10.51-inch 2-in-1 device with a 1920x1280 resolution, equipped with an 8 GB memory and 128 GB storage. It runs on Windows 11 Home in S mode, supports multiple connectivity options including USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0, and offers up to 10 hours of battery life.

Brand Microsoft

Storage 128 GB

Memory 8 GB

Operating System Windows 11 Home

Battery 10 Hours

Ports USB-C port

Display type 1920x1280 Pixels

Size 10.51 Inches

Connectivity WiFi, Bluetooth

Headphone jack Yes

• Portable 2-in-1 design ideal for mobile productivity
• High-resolution 10.51-inch display for clear note-taking
• Up to 10 hours of battery life, supporting long work sessions
• Varying customer experiences with performance consistency
• Runs on Windows 11 Home, may lack some advanced features

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is the best work tablet for note-taking due to its compact and versatile design. This makes it perfect for professionals on the go. Its 10.51-inch high-resolution screen captures detailed notes and diagrams during meetings or lectures. Additionally, its various connectivity options ensure you always stay in the loop, no matter where work takes you.

While the Surface Go 3 excels in many aspects, it's important to consider the mixed reviews regarding its performance. However, its benefits, such as long battery life and high-resolution display, highlight why it's considered the best for note-taking tasks. The flexibility and portability of the Surface Go 3 make it the best work tablet for note-taking for anyone looking to boost their productivity.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE features a 12.4-inch screen with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and 64 GB of memory storage capacity. This tablet is powered by the Qualcomm SM7225 Octa-Core processor and comes with an S Pen, providing a smooth and responsive experience for various tasks.

Memory 64 GB

Display type 2560 x 1600 Pixels

Model/s: Galaxy Tab S7 FE

• Large 12.4-inch high-resolution display
• Impressive performance with speedy processing
• Extended battery life for all-day use
• Sound quality does not impress everyone
• May be bulky for users seeking portability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is the best Android tablet for note-taking. Its large, vibrant 12.4-inch display is perfect for easy drawing and writing. The tablet's 2560 x 1600 resolution makes sures that every detail is sharp and clear, making it an ideal choice for both students and professionals.

This Samsung Tab impresses with its top-tier performance and display quality. However, there are some concerns about its sound quality, and the tablet is somewhat bulky. Nonetheless, its large screen size and long battery life compensate for these minor drawbacks, reinforcing why it's the best Android tablet for note-taking.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is made to be taken everywhere and blend in seamlessly with anyone's style. With a 10.4-inch display that 2000 x 1200 makes this tablet perfect for consuming content and getting some work done. Plus the S-pen is included making the Tab S6 a great option for digital notes.

Display type 2000 x 1200 Pixels

Size 10.4 Inches

Model/s: Tab S6 Lite Refresh

• Includes S-Pen for precise note-taking and drawing
• 10.4-inch display with 2000 x 1200 resolution for clear visuals
• Lightweight design increases portability
• Limited to mid-range processing power
• No cellular connectivity option in base model

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is hailed as the best mid-range tablet for note-taking, delivering functionality without breaking the bank. With its S-Pen and spacious screen, it's ideally suited for both students and professionals requiring a reliable tool for extensive note-taking and creative tasks. Moreover, its slim design adds to its aesthetic appeal and ensures it fits perfectly in any carry-on.

While the tablet excels in many areas, it does have some limitations, such as its mid-range processor, which might struggle with highly intensive applications. However, considering its price point and the features it offers, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite continues to impress with its overall performance and usability, solidifying its position as the best mid-range tablet for note-taking.

Although the iPad Pro isn't a traditional drawing tablet, ithas largely been favored by the art community ever since the release of Procreate. Procreate is a great program for 2D design, art, and animation. One thing that sets the iPad Pro apart from the other options on this list is the ultimate ease of use and portability, making drawing anywhere possible.

Active Area 12.9inch display

Resolution 2732 x 2048p

Compatability iPadOS

Brand Apple

Tilt 90 Degrees (Apple Pencil)

• Stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
• Apple Pencil support with advanced tilt functionality
• Powerful performance suitable for professional use
• High price point may not suit all budgets

The Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Generation) emerges as the best high-end alternative for note-taking. With its expansive, vibrant display and seamless integration with the Apple Pencil, it has become the go-to choice for professionals seeking precision and adaptability in their workflows.

While the iPad Pro impresses with its features, it's important to note a few considerations. Battery life may vary depending on usage intensity, and the premium price may be too much for some. However, for those who prioritize top-tier performance and quality, this tablet delivers excellence, solidifying its position as the best high-end alternative for note-taking.

The Galaxy Tab A8 from Samsung is a budget friendly offering that is powered by an octa-core processor and is backed by a massive battery which lends to great battery life. The display is sharp and sufficiently bright. There is no fast charging, but it supports 15W wired charging.

Brand Samsung

Storage 32GB

CPU Octa-core

Operating System Android 11, compatible with Android 13

Battery 7040 mAh

Display type 1920 x 1200 Pixels

Size 10.5 Inches

Model/s: Galaxy Tab A8

• Large 10.5-inch display with high resolution
• Long-lasting 7040 mAh battery
• Compatible with the latest Android 13
• Mixed reviews on screen quality
• Performance may lag under heavy usage

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 stands out as the best budget tablet for note-taking, offering an excellent blend of performance and affordability. Ideal for students and professionals seeking a reliable note-taking tool, this budget-friendly tablet boasts a sizable screen and seamless compatibility with the latest Android OS.

While this tablet impresses with its price and feautures, some have reported variability in battery performance and screen brightness. Nevertheless, its overall value and capabilities remain unmatched, making it the top choice for those looking for the best budget tablet for note-taking.

Best Tablets Under $200 in 2024

Tablets offer a better media consumption experience than smartphones, so check out this Game Rant guide for the best tablets under $200.

Selecting the Best Tablet for Note Taking

• Stylus Responsiveness : Choose a tablet with a precise and responsive stylus for seamless note-taking.
• Battery Life : Provide long-lasting battery life to keep up with all-day note-taking without frequent recharges.
• Display Quality : Choose a high-resolution screen that reduces eye strain during prolonged use.

Q: What are the best features to look for in a note-taking tablet?

Key features include a responsive stylus, long battery life, and a high-resolution display for clear visuals and smooth note-taking.

Q: Can I use a note-taking tablet for professional work?

Absolutely, modern tablets are equipped with powerful processors and software that make them suitable for a variety of professional tasks, including note-taking during meetings.

Q: Are there tablets specifically designed for students?

Yes, many tablets are designed with students in mind, featuring durable builds, educational software, and features like note-taking and textbook reading.