With summer almost over and the first semester of school starting, it's high time to shop for your back to school supplies if you haven't already. In addition to the standard fare of pens and paper, we'd like to recommend some of our favorite tablets. These devices are some of the most highly reviewed tablets available and many are what we would consider among the best tablets for students heading back to school.
Budget-Friendly: Apple 10.9" iPad (10th Gen)
Getting your hands on a quality tablet doesn't have to be costly. Take the 10.9" iPad (10th Gen) from Apple, for example. Not only is this tablet lightweight, but it's relatively light on your wallet as well. Don't worry, though. Despite weighing about as much as your average cup of coffee, the refreshed entry-level iPad still delivers solid performance, thanks to its A14 Bionic processor, which consistently delivers fast, reliable performance.
It comes with 64GB of storage which, admittedly, isn't a lot. With that said it's still an excellent companion device that is versatile enough to be used as a reader or for note taking. We also love that the iPad ecosystem has one of the most robust accessory markets out there.
In terms of display, it features a 10.9" LCD screen with 2360 x 1640 resolution (at 264 ppi) that should deliver consistently clear images. It also routinely goes on sale under its usual $349 price tag which we think makes it an unbeatable value with great overall performance.
The Homework Helper: Surface Pro
Among the Surface Pro's most beneficial features is its rendering of the full Windows experience on a tablet. This is great for students because, for one, it eliminates that extra step of having to transfer files to a laptop or PC when you need to use Windows, and two, it provides an operating system that is familiar, clean, and easy to operate, so students can focus on the class or assignment at hand.
In addition to running native Windows OS, the Surface Pro also includes an exhaustive list of features that can benefit students in countless ways. For starters, its Snapdragon X-series processors are optimized to power Microsoft's AI-based Copilot+ features. It’s also got a couple of other key upgrades including better battery life (Microsoft claims up to 14 hours), optional 5G support, Wi-Fi 7 support, and you can even get a version of the Pro with an OLED screen. Students will also appreciate its built-in kickstand which lets you prop it up without the added bulk of a case. It is pricey though with the base model alone starting around $999
The Entertainer: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
For those looking for stellar performance inside and outside of the classroom, look no further than the Samsung 11" Galaxy Tab S9. Featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy Tab S9 is one of the best-performing Android tablets you can buy. Those specs, combined with a wealth of connectivity options that include USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and included S Pen, allow the Galaxy Tab S9 to tackle just about any assignment or task.
Not only is the Galaxy Tab S9 great for educational purposes, but it can also handle all your entertainment needs. That's owed in part to the Tab S9's objectively gorgeous 11" AMOLED 2X display that boasts an insane screen refresh rate up to 120 Hz. This truly stunning screen should satisfy gamers, movie watchers, and social-media enthusiasts alike—basically anyone who prizes a bright, vibrant display above all. The incredible screen is supported nicely by quad speakers enhanced by Dolby Atmos surround sound. Sadly, the battery performance falls a bit short on this otherwise great tablet, but it still has plenty of juice to get you through a studying session or binging your shows.
For Creativity: Apple iPad Pro
Students who live to create can take their art to new dimensions with the Apple 13" iPad Pro. What makes the iPad Pro a top pick for digital artists? Well, for starters, its new and incredibly powerful M4 chip allows it to handle even the most demanding workflows, including taxing applications such as video editing, 3D design, or modeling.
The iPad Pro's most conspicuous feature is its 13" Ultra Retina XDR display, which produces crisp 2752 x 2064 resolution with 264 ppi—making it an optimal canvas for design. Furthermore, the iPad Pro's shiny new OLED display outputs 1600 nits for crystal-clear viewing and works in concert with the all-new Apple Pencil Pro for detailed, lifelike digital drawings.
When you're not in the classroom, snap pictures or FaceTime friends using the iPad Pro's dual rear-camera setup or its front-facing camera. The iPad Pro also includes four integrated speakers, five microphones, up to 10 hours of battery life, and optional 5G LTE wireless connectivity, which should allow you to fulfill all your entertainment needs.
For Most People: iPad Air
We think the latest iPad Air is a great catchall, do-everything device for most people and even more so for students. This version is worth buying over the recently updated 10th generation base model for a couple of reasons. For starters, it packs Apple's M2 chip. It's also compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and now the Apple Pencil Pro as well—just like the iPad Pro. We had to include it because the Air truly offers one of the smoothest experiences of any tablet-like device on the market.
The Air is a lot similar to the entry-level model this time around but we think the inclusion of the M2 chip makes it worth picking up over the latter. It may lack the OLED display of the Pro, but it still comes with respectable 11" Liquid Retina display, which supports a 2360 x 1640 resolution. Also, unlike Apple's entry-level iPad, the Air has double the amount of memory so if you're planning on using it for more demanding coursework, it's by far the better choice.
The Air is as sleek a device as you're going to find, and packs power and performance for days, thanks to Apple's in-house M2 chipset, 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and so much more—all housed inside a sleek and portable aluminum unibody shell that somehow weighs a hair over a pound.
Have a question about tablets or need help finding the device that's best for you? Drop us a question, down below, and we'll answer best we can!
2 Comments
I love all these products. They are quite dynamic in their features.
I love these products and I want to be an online advertiser