11 Best Tablets For College Students In 2024-Buyer’s Guide

Ever wonder why anyone needs a specific tablet for college? Let’s find out why.

It’s challenging enough to walk around campus while carrying all your books. Adding necessities like a laptop, power pack, portable charger, and something to eat can make your bag even heavier. 

Luckily, the advanced technology of tablets can replace most books and papers in your bag. The best tablet helps you with your homework without draining your wallet.

But there are some significant factors that you have to consider while choosing the best tablet. They are price, operating system, screen size, battery life, etc.

College students require a tablet for different purposes or need. Few of them may require a tablet for taking photos, while some may require it to look into reason. Tablets are valuable when an understudy needs to give an introduction and these days you’ll see that there is an increasing demand for the best tablet for college studies in the present day.

A tablet with the best highlights is an unquestionable requirement for undergrads and that is the reason I have chosen to list down the best tablets for college students.

Nowadays, even the system is encouraging the use of tablets in many educational institutions. So almost every company launch the specific device for the fulfillment of the need of students. So the process of finding the right device is very important and crucial.

In this way, in this tablet selection guide, we have discovered probably the best tablets for college students which makes a considerable lot of your undertaking less complex in your homeroom, and other requesting assignments.

What To Look For?

The best tablets for college students are ones that are smart and sleeky, as they always move from one class to another. The mobility of these tablets is key. Obviously, no one wants to carry a heavy material that can fulfill their need. A tablet should also have fast and heavy graphics that can help the students to play games and many other activities other than studies.

We know very well that how much a college student uses this device, mostly for the show-off and just for entertainment. We are not judging everyone but this is almost true and most of them do the same. But if you are not one of them then this is only for you.

Let’s get started with the best tablets available for you.

List of Best Tablets For College Students:-

1. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

The Surface Pro 8 is the first laptop-to-tablet PC by Microsoft. It allows us to work, play, and create great ways. We can convert it into a tablet, laptop, or portable digital canvas according to our needs.

This tablet has a screen size of 13 inches, which is already great for any tablet. The display of this tablet is good, as it has Dolby Vision support and can be used to watch a movie or any video.

It has an Intel Core i7 Processor and Windows 11 operating system, the latest version of Windows.

Microsoft claims the battery life of their product is 16 hours, but this tablet can only work up to 5 hours without any extra settings. The battery life is the main reason I opted for this tablet, but it isn’t up to my expectations.

It has a 10 MP 4K rear camera and a 5 MP front-facing camera, which can be used for purposes like clicking selfies and facial recognition for unlocking my tablet.

It has a storage capacity of up to 32 GB and a 256 GB SSD that is expandable up to 1 TB. I like this tablet’s storage capacity, as I need to keep notes on every subject in my college.

Other than battery life, everything about this tablet is excellent for this price. It came with a Microsoft Surface Pro signature keyboard. We can pair it with the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2. This tablet is excellent, and if you have a high budget, then you can go for this tablet.

 

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is one of the most premium Android tablets available. I bought this tablet during my college days to write notes. For that purpose, it has been up to my requirements. This tablet is Wi-Fi only. It comes with a sPen stylus.

This Samsung tablet has a screen size of 27.94 cm (11 inches). However, I wouldn’t say I like its TFT display type, as it makes the screen a little blurry.

It has a Snapdragon 8th Gen processor and an Android 12 operating system, making this tablet very efficient and straightforward.

The best thing about this tablet is that it comes with an 8000 mAH battery. It also supports Samsung’s 45-watt charger, which charges it in an hour.

It came with a 13 MP + 6 MP rear camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide front camera, which is good enough for taking photos and making video calls.

This tablet has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a facial recognition feature for safety. As per my experience, the fingerprint sensor is excellent and fast, but the facial recognition system is relatively slow.

It came with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash memory, expandable up to 1 TB, which is sufficient for a college student like me.

Overall, this tablet is excellent for me, and if you want to buy a tablet under this budget with the above requirements, go for it.

 

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a similar experience to more premium Samsung tablets at very affordable prices. This tablet provides features like writing, reading, entertainment, etc. This tablet is Wi-Fi only.

It has a 10.5-inch LCD screen, which is suitable for a college student like me. But if you are looking for a tablet on which you can play games, I suggest something other than this.

It has a UNISOC T681 processor by ARM and the Android operating system. The processor is very slow, which sometimes makes it frustrating to use for me.

The battery information on my tablet shows a 7040 mAH capacity. It takes too much time to charge, but it can work for a whole day without any worries.

It has an 8 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front camera. They could be of better quality but can be used for video calls.

It came in three different sizes, i.e., 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB. I have the 64 GB one, which is a great deal for me on a budget.

There are some things that I need to appreciate about this tablet, as it does not have a fingerprint sensor, a stylus is not included in the pack, and the charging time is longer. Still, I like this tablet because it meets my expectations for the price, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a tablet for learning and taking notes.

 

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 – Most Popular

In between the corona, the new version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab arrives. This new version is advanced than its previous versions. But you have to wait a few months so that it is available in the market. The design is very sleek and easy to hold.

The screen size is 11 inches which is enough for writing and drawing over it. You can also use it as a drawing tablet. It is 6.3mm thick so easily sip it into the bag. But you should aware that there is a tablet in your bag. The body is strong, made from aluminum with beautiful metal sides. Comes in 3 tone that is mystic bronze, mystic black, and mystic silver.

Under the hood, you will get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset. With one of the best chipset, Octa-core (Kryo 585) CPU and Adreno 650 GPU. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Instead of all this, there are many other reasons to declare this gadget as the best tablet for college students. On the software side, the AI works well and its performance increased.  So no worry about its performance. It is also considered as one of the best tablets with a large screen.

 

5. Microsoft Surface Pro X- Best Surface Pro for College

Microsoft Surface series has a lot of great windows tablets and the second on the list is the New Microsoft Surface Pro X. This is also a great and popular windows tablet available in 2022.  It is considered another flagship Tablet by Microsoft for business persons. This can be the best tablet for college students who can work well.

Surface Pro X is also ultra-lightweight and slim in design with almost the same features as that of Surface Pro 7. You will get a bigger screen size of 13″ in the Pro X with an automatic light-adjusting feature. It also comes up with a removable surface signature cover which you can use to transform your tablet into a laptop.

It is a 2-in-1 tablet and comes up with 2 portable USB ports for the users. Many more options are available if you need to have a tablet with USB ports. It has many variants with different RAM & Storage spaces. The most popular is the 8GB,128GB version, and has a Microsoft SQ1 processor. It can be compared to an i7 processor performance. You should definitely go for this as it also has a battery life of up to 13 hours.

 

6. Apple iPad Pro 12.9- Best iPad For College

The iPad Pro has received a big makeover for a new generation, with a new full edge display, an A12X Bionic chip mostly used in laptops, and a new version of the Apple Pencil that attaches to the side of the iPad magnetically, with wireless charging. 

Its screen size is quite an impressable 12.9-inch large display for bringing out more creative output. Resolution is 2k and 4GB of RAM and the best thing is about its storage, you have many options 64GB/256GB/512GB/1TB.  With a very lite weight of 613g.

Since we know very well about apple it is very expensive as compared to the other but not if you are an apple lover. Add on the additional expense of the Pencil and this is the most expensive iPad ever made by some margin.

 

7. New Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The first and the most popular windows tablet is the new Microsoft Surface Pro 7. With over 400+ positive ratings, Surface Pro 7 is very much popular among office persons. Microsoft designs tablet devices keeping in mind the requirements of business persons.

This tablet is ultra-lightweight and slim in design which makes it a compatible windows tablet that you can use on the go. This can be turned into a Tablet PC within seconds and you can get the experience of operating a laptop. It is a versatile device with a great design and comes with Type C & Type A USB connectivities. The screen size is 12.3″ with a full touch screen display that you can smoothly use for your work.

 

8. Microsoft Surface Go – Best Budget Tablet For College

Microsoft wants to dominate the Windows Tablet Market by launching more and more windows tablets in different price ranges.  Surface Go is another great product made by Microsoft and is a very handy and light-weight tablet. It has a screen size of 10″ and weighs 1.15lbs only.

This beautiful device is 4G-enabled and thus you can easily connect your device on 4G connectivity. The processor used in Surface Go is Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y and has Windows 10 Pro installed in it.

You can easily use this device in your home as well as in your workplace. Surface Go has everything you need in a perfect windows tablet.  You can go with different RAM options of 4GB or 8GB and a storage of 64GB & 128GB.

Microsoft has made sure to give you an ultra-smooth experience while using this amazing device. It has a very easy to use interface and the great camera quality makes it easier to capture some good clicks and for video conferencing.

Connectivity options like WIFI, Bluetooth, and different sensors are also present in this device just like you have on your mobile phones. The battery backup is great and offers a backup of 9 hours on a single charge.

For more detailed information read our Microsoft Surface Go Review.

 

9. Google Pixel Slate 12.3″

This may be quite expensive for what it offers. Google mainly prides this slate for its ‘Molecular Display’ and undoubtedly the Pixel Slate delivers a much better display than any other. Credit goes to its high pixel density and up to 337 nits brightness level. As the brand of this device offers the most but unfortunately to put this in the section of best tablets for college students we have to ignore the pen with it.

Another benefit is the convertibility of the Pixel Slate. Adjust and transform from angle to angle almost natural. The detachable keyboard is another area where Google played the field. The support for the stylus in the Pixel Slate is fine. The minimal latency 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity deliver effortless taps and strokes while drawing over it.

The Pixel Slate keyboard will cost $199 and Google’s Pixelbook Pen $99 additionally which may be a headache. Moreover, the ChromeOS of the tablet is a work in progress. Its hardware is just awesome 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Added 8MP front and rear camera and great battery life of 10hr. 

 

10. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Our favorite Android tablet with a keyboard option is the S6 for several reasons. This is a premium tab that boasts excellent performance levels thanks to its Snapdragon 855 chip and the best thing nowadays, it has a Super AMOLED display and this made up to bring it in a segment of best tablets for college students.

As a result, it’s fantastic for media playback in particular, and a bonus is the inclusion of HQ AKG-tuned speakers. However, its keyboard is not attached to its price you have to buy it separately and it’s cover too.

Although many rivals sell these accessories together with the tab if you switch to Samsung then you do need to go for others. Under the hood, it is powered by Snapdragon 855 with Adreno 640 graphics. RAM is much better 6GB – 8GB, and full HD display. Since it has android 9 but can be upgraded further.

Apart from Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e and Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 are its predecessor which is also good and capable of doing its job on a low budget. It can be a good choice for MBA Students.

Still want to know more?? Read our expert’s Review on Samsung Galaxy Tab s6.

 

11. Amazon Fire HD 10″

The best in class, features, and also the best tablets for college students. Amazon’s Fire collection of tablets is among the maximum selling tablets throughout the planet. Nevertheless, the tablet is internationally famous for its enduring functionality and dependability. Our existing competition, the Fire HD 10 2017 Model is just one such tablet computer, which is priced low at about $150 for the base version.

The tablet is among the greatest and the thinnest in Amazon’s lineup of tablet computers. It sports a 10-inch HD screen, which can be sharp, crisp, and bright. The tablet includes an all-metal backing to get a premium tablet computer experience. The tablet comes in various storage versions such as 32GB and 64GB versions. The tablet is largely intended for amusement and accordingly will come with Amazon’s E-Books accessibility and packs in some completely free stuff in the Prime Video.

For more detailed information read our Amazon Fire HD10 Review.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:-

Here, we will be answering the most commonly asked questions by college students who are going to buy a tablet for college. These questions are available in the public domain and we are answering them in our blog post.

• What is the best tablet for college?

According to us, It depends upon the needs and requirements of the student. If you have a budget then Surface Pro X or the Apple iPad Pro can be a great choice.

• Which is the most affordable budget tablet for college students?

If you just have to do some normal work and surfing the web for your classes then the most affordable tablet for college students can be the Amazon Fire HD 10.

• What should I consider when looking for a tablet for college?

Ans: There are so many tablets available for college students, but choosing the right one for yourself is a task. We have to look for certain things while choosing our tablets, i.e., price, display, operating system, storage capacity, and battery life.

• Are tablets for college students of good quality?

Ans: There are numerous tablets available in the market for college students, ranging in price from high to low and in quality from good to poor. You have to choose the tablet for you according to your needs and budget.

• Can I find a tablet for college with a stylus included?

Ans: Nowadays, many tablets come with a stylus and without a stylus. If you want to buy a tablet with a stylus, you can find one on the market. But you can also buy a stylus if you already have a tablet.

• What is the best tablet for college students for note-taking?

Ans: There are many tablets available in the market for note-taking. But the Apple iPad Pro (M1 series) is the best tablet for this purpose overall.

• Are there any tablets for college students that are compatible with Microsoft Office?

Ans: Many tablets for college students are compatible with Microsoft Office. Some of them are the Microsoft Surface Go 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8+.

• What are the best tablets for college students to watch lectures?

Ans: Many tablets have small screen sizes and bad displays, making attending lectures difficult. So, always keep the screen size and display in mind while buying your tablet. The iPad Air M1 and iPad Mini 2021 are the best for this purpose.

• Are there any tablets specifically designed for college students?

Ans: There are several tablets available in the market for college students. However, whether a tablet is designed specifically for them is still being determined. I don’t think so. The best tablet for college students available is the Apple iPad Pro M1.

• What are the best tablets for college students on a budget?

As we all know, every student has a different budget for buying tablets. So those tablets came under a basic budget that every student can afford. These tablets are the Microsoft Surface Go 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 6.

 

Final Verdict