Want To Ace Your Classes? Check Out The Best Tablets For College In 2023
Being in college can be a competitive task, and college students are always looking out for something that can help them. Tablets are great devices to increase your productivity, and if you’ve been searching for one, look no further. We have picked the best tablets for college that can help you in more than one way.
Taking notes, watching lectures, curating assignments, and the list of what college students need to do regularly can go on forever. However, investing in a tablet is an excellent idea because you get your money’s worth. However, there are some factors that you should keep in mind before finally deciding on your purchase.
5 best Tablets for college in 2023
Note: Products on this list aren’t in any order of preference.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: Best Android tablet for college
First up, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is the first entree on the list of the best tablets for college. Samsung re-entered the tablet market dramatically and has been quite successful. There haven’t been many good high-performing Android tablets that are also affordable, but the Tab S7 FE changes that.
It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon SM7225 CPU and is an excellent choice for everyday tasks – including reading, taking notes, and watching media. Moreover, unlike almost everyone in the market, Samsung also includes the S-Pen to use with it for taking notes and designing, making it a suitable choice for college students. The Android tablet experience has seen its ups and downs, but it’s an excellent time for Android tablets in 2023.
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon SM7225 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Display | 12.4-inch 2560 x 1600 Display |
| Battery | Up to 11 hours (advertised) |
| OS | One UI based on Android 12 |
| Weight | 1.34 pounds (or 610 g) |
| Compatible Accessories | S-Pen, Samsung Book Cover |
2. Apple iPad (9th Generation): Overall, the best tablet for college
First off, the iPad (9th Generation) makes it the list of the best tablets for college. While the 9th Gen iPad isn’t the latest model that Apple offers, it still is the tablet that offers the highest value for money, making it a suitable choice for college students. The 2021 iPad is great for everyday tasks and can handle all essential workloads easily.
Housing Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, the iPad can easily withstand your multitasking requirements. While the A13 Bionic is an older chip, it’s sufficient for most students that want an everyday device. All in all, the 2021 iPad is an appropriate choice for college students.
| SoC | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Display | 10.2-inch 2160 x 1620 Retina Display |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Apple iPad OS |
| Weight | 1.06 pounds (or 484.77 g) |
| Compatible Accessories | Apple Pencil (1st Gen), Apple Keyboard |
3. Microsoft Surface Go 3: Best Windows tablet
If you prefer Windows as your primary operating system over other tablet OSes, the Surface Go 3 is an excellent choice. Microsoft’s Surface lineup has improved significantly compared to its first iteration, and the Surface Go 3 can easily be considered among the best tablets for college. Moreover, you can do much more with Windows 11 than with other operating systems.
Powered by an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, the Surface Go 3 can easily let you browse, create documents, and take notes. Paired with the Microsoft Surface Pen, you can bring your creativity to life or take class notes whenever you want. Overall, the Surface Go 3 is a viable tablet for everyday tasks and is an easy laptop replacement.
| SoC | Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Display | 10.5-inch 1920 x 1080 PixelSense Display |
| Battery | Up to 11 hours (advertised) |
| OS | Windows 11 Home in S Mode |
| Weight | 1.2 pounds (or 544.3 g) |
| Compatible Accessories | Microsoft Surface Pen, Microsoft Surface Go Type Cover |
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: Best cheap Android tablet
Samsung is widely known for its premium S-series tablet range, but it’s lesser known for its budget tablet options. One of these tablets is the Galaxy Tab A8, which is an ideal choice if you just want a device for watching YouTube and browsing the internet.
Moreover, it’s extremely inexpensive for tablets as you can buy one for under $200. Likewise, it doesn’t have a high-performing CPU, but it’s perfectly adequate for taking classes and watching lectures. Overall, it’s an ideal choice among the best tablets for college students in 2023.
| SoC | Unisoc T618 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 10.5-inch 1920 x 1200 Display |
| Battery | Up to 8 hours (advertised) |
| OS | One UI based on Android 11 |
| Weight | 1.12 pounds (or 508 g) |
| Compatible Accessories | Samsung Book Cover |
5. Apple iPad Air (5th Generation): Best tablet for college students
Finally, the iPad Air is next-in-line among the best tablets for students. It comes with Apple’s new iPad design, a great display, a USB-C port, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. However, that isn’t all it offers; with the M1 chip, you can do much more on the iPad Air compared to the regular iPad.
If you require high-performance, future-proofing, and something that checks all boxes, the iPad Air is the way to go. Housing Apple’s M1 silicon chip, the iPad Air can handle almost anything you throw at it. Overall, you can rely on the iPad Air for design, watching lectures, browsing, and much more.
Tip: You can also get a deal on the previous generation refurbished 2021 iPad Air from Apple’s website to save some money.
| SoC | Apple M1 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Display | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours |
| OS | Apple iPad OS |
| Weight | 1 pound (or 458 g) |
| Compatible Accessories | Apple Pencil (2nd Gen), Apple Magic Keyboard |
Things to remember about getting a tablet for college
Not all tablets are great, so look for one that would prove to be worthy in the long run.
Display: For a device that is a more extensive form of a smartphone and a laptop replacement, a tablet should have an excellent display so you can use it for work, take notes, and attend lectures without lacking anything.
Battery: A capable tablet is expected to last for several hours, but what good is it if you run out of battery whenever you need it the most? Likewise, look for a tablet with enough battery to last all day.
Performance: There has been an absurd trend with manufacturers not providing a capable CPU in a machine that’s supposed to perform several tasks. Hence, an ideal tablet should have an SoC (System on a Chip) that can easily handle everyday tasks and let you multitask whenever possible.
Weight: Tablets aren’t usually heavy like laptops are, but they still need to be quite portable, so you can carry them in your bag without feeling the weight. A great tablet should be lightweight enough to carry everywhere so you can maximize your productivity.
Which tablet should you buy for college?
The market is quite saturated with tablets right now, but we have only picked the ones that check most boxes and provide you with the highest value. If you require an inexpensive tablet that can get you through the most basic work, the 9th Gen iPad is an ideal choice. However, you can also opt for the Surface Go 3 if you require a laptop replacement.
Like this list? Check out the best tablets for watching movies and TV shows in 2023.
