Headed back to school? A reliable tablet can help you have a great semester. These slim, portable devices are great for staying organized and managing assignments. Today, with accessories like tablet keyboards or styli, a tablet can almost replace your laptop.
To help you make the best purchase, we tested the top options for performance, portability, budget, and extra features like detachable keyboards. No matter what you’re studying, these are the best tablets for students to start the school year right.
What is the best tablet for students right now?
Our pick for the best tablet for students overall is the 10th-generation iPad thanks to its affordable price and versatile use. We also included other tablets from Samsung, Microsoft, and more for all your school needs.
Also: Best rugged tablet in 2025
The best tablets for students in 2025
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This base-model iPad is the best option for most students. Apple recently reduced the price to a more affordable $349, but it’s also available for even less through other retailers. It offers almost the same high-end features as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but with a lighter form factor and a crisp 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, True Tone display.
Review: iPad 2022 (10th-Gen)
In his hands-on testing, ZDNET editor June Wan determined that if you’re shopping on a budget — as most students are — this iPad should “make the most sense.” For a reasonable price, the device offers a lot — the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the-go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera.
There’s also a Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad. It’s perfect for turning your tablet into a laptop for studying or essay writing. It includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts.
However, one callout to note that some verified customers make is that this iPad doesn’t support the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, which means you’ll have to use a dongle to use it. However, students can still use the 1st-gen Apple Pencil or any other compatible iPad stylus.
Apple iPad specs: Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone | Processor: A14 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Memory: Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector |
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The Wacom One 13 Touch is one of the best drawing tablets for digital art or graphic design students. What stands out in this drawing tablet is its touchscreen. The 920 x 1080 Full HD resolution display allows for 10-finger multi-touch gestures, giving art students a new dimension of intuitive use and interaction. You can use several gestures like scrolling, panning, and zooming during the creative process while you’re drawing in a program, or you can turn it off altogether if you’d prefer.
I went hands-on with this drawing tablet and was impressed by the pen-to-paper feel, like the Wacom Intuos Pro. The pen is also impressive and has excellent palm rejection technology. Plus, Wacom says you never have to charge it.
Review: Wacom One 13 Touch
I could see students who prefer a screen display but still want to use programs like Adobe or Corel Painter finding the Wacom One 13 Touch more valuable than a regular tablet like the iPad.
One verified customer called it a “great tool to learn digital art” and “upgrade the illustration game to digital.”
Wacom One 13 Touch specs: Dimensions (L x W x H): 13.2 x 8.7 x 0.1 inches | Active area: 11.6 x 6.5 inches | Compatibility: Windows 10 and over, Mac OS 11 and over, Chrome OS, Android 8 and over | Pressure levels: 4,096
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Samsung’s lineup of FE tablets is lower priced than the premium tablets but still impressive options. The larger Tab S9 FE+ is available for $600 and offers a lot in a sleek package, including Android 13 right out of the box. This high-powered Android tablet comes with an S Pen and even an IP68 dust/water resistant rating to make it a durable choice for students.
It has an 8,000mAh battery, 6 or 8GB of RAM, 128 or 256GB of included storage. The device also supports a microSD card up to 1TB, so you’ll have plenty of space for documents. In addition, video calling for virtual classes is well supported by a front 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a rear 8MP camera is well supported by a front 12MP ultra-wide camera and a rear 8MP camera to help you capture documents.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+
ZDNET contributor Max Buondonno tested the Tab S9 FE+ and was impressed with its large screen, battery life, and “an array of multitasking features like split-screen, multi-window, and even DeX, which gives you a desktop-like interface for getting work done.”
Overall, 98% of Best Buy customers would recommend this tablet, giving it an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ tech specs: Display: 12.4-inch | Processor: Exynos 1380 (S5E8835) | Storage: 128GB or 256GB | Memory: 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB | Colors: Gray, lavender, mint | Cameras: 12MP ultra-wide camera, rear 8MP camera | Weight: 1.38lb | Dimensions: 11.24 x 7.30 x 0.26 inches| Connections: USB-C 2.0 | Battery life: 10,090 mAh
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Apple’s iPad Mini is a powerful tablet packed in a small package. The iPad Mini was last updated in the fall of 2024 with new features like support for latest gen Apple Pencil, a slightly bigger screen size, and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.
Review: Apple iPad Mini (Seventh-Gen)
The right side of the tablet has a spot to charge the Apple Pencil, making it a great tablet for drawing or writing class notes. Plus, its size and weight make it portable, so you can bring it wherever you need it around a school campus.
ZDNET senior contributor Jason Perlow went hands-on with this iPad and lauded its portability. “The iPad Mini 7 gets a lot right,” he wrote. “It’s portable, powerful, and packed with features like Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Pro support, making it a great device for students, professionals, and older users.”
iPad Mini tech specs: Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A17 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Colors: Space gray, pink, purple, starlight | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video. 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery life: 10 hours
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Microsoft’s Surface Pro devices are some of the best 2-in-1 tablets on the market today. The Surface Pro 9 is one such example of a powerful tablet that can quickly replace your laptop.
With the Surface Pro 9, you’re getting a tablet that runs Windows 11 out of the box instead of a mobile operating system like Android or iPadOS. That means you don’t have to worry about finding apps or workarounds for your workflows and can access programs like Word and Outlook with ease.
Review: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
ZDNET’s June Wan also went hands-on with the Surface Pro 9 and praised the Signature Keyboard and Slim Pen 2. “I love how responsive and tactile the low-travel keys are, how the keypad — while not as large as competing ultraportables — is just as clicky on the bottom left corner as it is on the upper right, and how everything just snaps into place without needing to jump through further connectivity hoops.”
However, the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard and Slim Pen 2 are sold separately for an additional $280. Even so, verified customers love this keyboard combo, especially the ergonomic design and responsiveness.
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 tech specs: Display: 13-inch PixelSense Flow Display | Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 or Microsoft SQ3 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Memory: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB | Colors: Sapphire, platinum, forest, graphite | Cameras: Rear: 10MP autofocus camera with up to 4K video Front: 1080p full HD video | Weight: 1.95 pounds | Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.37 inches | Connections: 2x USB-C (4.0 on Intel model, 3.2 on 5G), Surface Connect and Keyboard ports, nano SIM on 5G model | Battery life: Up to 15.5 hours of typical usage
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The best tablet for most students Is the 10th-generation iPad, thanks to its versatility, compatibility, and affordability.
|
Tablet |
Price |
Display |
Storage |
|
Apple iPad 10th-generation |
$280 |
11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone |
128GB |
|
Wacom One 13 Touch |
$500 |
13.2-inch 920 x 1080 Full HD resolution display |
N/A |
|
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ |
$500 |
12.4-inch TFT LCD display |
128GB or 256GB (microSD card up to 1TB) |
|
Apple iPad Mini (seventh-gen) |
$400 |
8.3-inch Liquid Retina display |
64GB or 256GB |
|
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 |
$1,000 |
13-inch PixelSense Flow display |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
*MSRP at the time of writing
The right tablet for you depends on your characteristics as a student. Consider how you study and take notes, whether you need something for typing or drawing, and whether you’re looking for a laptop replacement.
|
Choose this laptop for students… |
If you want… |
|
Apple iPad (10th-gen) |
The best tablet for most students. It is super versatile and affordable. |
|
Wacom One 13 Touch |
A tablet for graphic design students. Its touch screen allows for handy gestures and a pen-to-paper-like experience. |
|
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ |
An Android tablet for school. Its large screen allows for optimal multi-tasking. |
|
Apple iPad Mini (seventh-gen) |
A portable and lightweight tablet that can easily fit into a backpack. It’s great for notetaking, annotating, and reading for school. |
|
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 |
A 2-in-1 tablet that can replace your laptop. It runs on Windows 11 and can speed through daily tasks. |
Before investing in a tablet for a student, here’s what to consider:
- Storage: Be sure to consider the amount of storage that comes with your chosen tablets. Students generally deal with a lot of files, but this is less of a concern if this is a supplementary device to your computer or laptop.
- Compatibility: Consider a tablet’s compatibility with programs and software you use the most, as well as if you can utilize accessories like keyboards or stylus pens.
- Size: Your preferred tablet size may vary depending on what you’re using your tablet for. Smaller tablets are great for reading and are portable enough to take in your backpack. Larger tablets are easier for drawing and have a more extensive workspace area for multitasking.
- Cost: Like most tech, tablets can be expensive. However, look for brands or retailers that offer student discounts so you can save on your device.
The ZDNET team chose all of the tablets included in this list based on their performance when tested in the real world. When we test tablets, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best.
- Display: We measure the brightness level in different lighting conditions and assess color accuracy.
We also compare the display’s performance with what the manufacturer promised, test the screen’s responsiveness to touch, and assess the performance of any extra features, like a manufacturer’s stylus.
-
Performance: For real-world performance metrics, our reviewers measure how quickly the tablet reacts to input, assess game performance and frame rates, test how the tablet handles having multiple apps running simultaneously, measure the time it takes to launch apps, and even assess the tablet’s temperature during intensive tasks.
- Battery life: We test different scenarios for battery life, including measuring how long the battery lasts while streaming, web browsing, using productivity apps, and playing games.
- Camera and audio: For cameras, we evaluate features like resolution, aperture, low-light performance, autofocus accuracy, dynamic range, color accuracy, image quality, sharpness, and video quality. For audio, we look at the sound quality and overall listening experience, including audio clarity at different volumes, stereo separation of left and right audio channels, maximum volume level in various environments, and if there is perceived distortion.
For a deeper look into our testing process, check out our comprehensive tablet testing methodology.
Latest news on tablets
- In January, Bloomberg reported Apple will likely launch a new iPad Pro with the M5 chip this fall. A new MacBook Pro sporting the same upgraded chip is also expected.
- Samsung also reportedly has new tablets in the works — the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. The new devices could further fuse laptops and tablets.
It really depends on what kind of student you are and how you study and work. For example, if you are the type of student who needs a tablet to store your textbooks, browse the web, or take notes, a tablet is a great option. However, if you need to access different programs at once for multitasking, a laptop may suit your needs better.
There are many tablets perfect for students, like the Microsoft Surface Pro or the iPad Mini, but there are currently no tablets designed specifically for students.
All of the tablets listed here are compatible with Microsoft Office. However, most of them use the mobile version of Microsoft’s office suite. Of all these tablets we tested, only the Microsoft Surface runs the full version of the software.
Many brands offer student discounts. Here are some notable ones:
Latest updates
- In our August 2025 update, we verified prices and availability of our recommendations. We also added news about potential upcoming products from Apple and Samsung expected this fall.
Other student tablets we’ve tested
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The Kindle Scribe is a great tablet if you still like taking notes by hand but need a digital boost. The device lets you take handwritten notes or underline important quotations within the book you’re reading.
ZDNET’s Kyle Kucharski said the Scribe’s pen feels like a regular pencil. It also attaches to the tablet with a magnet.
“Note-takers who don’t have the most elegant penmanship can easily translate their handwriting into text and then edit the font and size further. This is a great way to clean up and organize hastily taken notes that you can save for further reference, particularly if your writing leaves something to be desired,” Kucharski said in his review.
It also comes with preset templates to help you create notebooks, journals, and lists. You can also create sticky notes in Microsoft Word and other compatible Word documents.
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This tablet obviously isn’t one you’d pack for a college course. However, it might interest parents looking for a tablet for their school-age kids not yet ready for an “grown up” device.
The device comes with an Amazon Kids+ subscription that gets you access to thousands of kid-friendly ad-free books, as well as movies, games, and other educational content your child will love.
ZDNET’s Maria Diaz tested the tablet out on her own kids with positive results.
“If you’re trying to choose between an iPad or a Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet, much will depend on your kid’s age and how they will use it. Amazon has refined the Amazon Kids platform into a kid-friendly user experience that doesn’t feel childish for older kids but that younger kids can still navigate,” Diaz said in her review.
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For more, check out our round-up of parent-recommended tablets, our favorite Amazon tablets, and best Android tablets.
Tablets Reviewed & Compared
