Different college students have different needs. But there’s one particular need that seems to be universal: all students are interested in the best tablets for college.
The laptop gives you a bigger screen and more convenience for long hours of computer work. But the tablet is lighter and easier to use in class. It gives you the functionality you’d get from a laptop in a classroom environment.
The smartphone is essentially a phone, which the tablet is not. The tablet, however, gives you more space for school-related work, and a bigger screen to work with. You can use it to complete homework, practice and improve math skills, or even prepare and give presentations.
When you put it that way, the tablet is becoming a necessity at college. But what’s the best tablet for college? We’ll give you a list of the top performers. Based on your budget and your preferences, you’ll make the final choice.
10 Best Tablets for Students at College
- ASUS Transformer Mini
The hybrid design is highly popular among students. When you get a laptop and a tablet in a single, compact device, you can use it in class to take notes and at home to do homework. We’re seeing many students being inattentive during classes, so they end up thinking: “I have to hire a service to write my research paper.” When you have this kind of device during class, you can take notes and record the lectures. You’ll have all the information at hand when you start completing papers.
This specific device comes with great features, including a fingerprint scanner and a pressure-sensitive stylus. Although it’s not the most powerful tablet out there, it’s the best you can get for less than $300.
- iRULU Walknbook 2
This is another hybrid model getting a lot of attention. The screen doesn’t have the best resolution and the speakers are rather quiet, so it’s hard to use it for throwing parties. But for students on a budget, it’s the perfect tool for class and homework support.
It costs around $100, so it’s a nice place to start if you need a really cheap device that does its job perfectly well.
- Asus ZenPad S 8
This is a great tablet with a much better screen than the ones mentioned above. The stereo speakers add to the appeal, and the fact that you can take awesome images with it is not to be underestimated.
You can use the Z Stylus to create art on the tablet, too. It’s perfect for design work, painting, and sketching.
For around $200, you get great functionality with the Asus ZenPad S 8.
- Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2
We’re slowly getting in the zone of more potent devices here. The innovative battery placement lets you balance the tablet on the table without using a case. That’s great for students who want to use tablets in the lecture hall.
Add a keyboard to it, and you’ll have a fully functional laptop.
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It’s sturdy and classy, and the battery will get you through an entire day with no issues.
There’s a Yoga Tablet 2 Pro version, which comes with a 13-inch screen and costs $1,700. That’s why we didn’t include that one in our list. You can get a used Yoga Tablet 2 laptop for around $400 and get impressive value out of it.
- Microsoft Surface Go
You like using Windows 10 and wouldn’t change it for Android or iOS? Then you need this tablet in your life. It has a great screen with beautiful graphics.
The cheapest version costs $400.
- Apple iPad Pro 11
Nothing beats the good-old iPad when it comes to durable and gorgeous tablets. This 11-inch device gives you a highly responsive screen. The only downside is that the prices start at $999, so you should be ready to pay a bit more.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A
Samsung is Apple’s greatest competition. It competes with a greater variety of tablets, which fit into anyone’s budget. The Galaxy Tab A comes with prices starting from $230. You don’t get impressive features and battery life from the cheapest alternative, but it should meet the needs of an average student.
- Fire HD 10
Amazon’s tablet is great because it’s affordable and you can often get it on a discount. The official price for the Fire HD 10 is $150. It has impressive battery life and it’s great for reading and highlighting textbooks in electronic format.
The camera is not good enough if you want to use it for photography, and the graphics are not impressive.
Still, this is a great option for students on a budget.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7-Inch
When you compare the S3 to the A tablet from Samsung, you’ll definitely prefer the S line. It comes with an optional keyboard attachment that’s really, really good. You can complete entire papers on it and you won’t miss a laptop at all.
If you get the tablet, you get the S-Pen stylus for free.
You can get it for around $500. For a tablet that competes with the iPad Pro, that’s an affordable price.
- Sony Xperia Tablet Z
Sony’s device is often neglected in tablet top lists, but that’s not fair. It’s a fast, light, and functional tablet that earned the title “Best European Tablet of the Year” when it came out.
The battery and camera don’t compare to the iPad and the Galaxy S3.
The newer generation (Xperia Z2) is better in those aspects. But if you need a really cheap device and you don’t mind charging it more frequently, we recommend you to buy a used Xperia Z.
Did You Make Your Choice?
With so many options with different prices and features, it’s a bit difficult for students to choose the best tablets for school. Hopefully, the top list above will help you make the decision.
We made sure to include a variety of options, so any student can afford a tablet when they need one. It’s perfectly okay to buy a used one, as long as you’re sure it was maintained well.
