Hey, I’m Sirus. I’m a longtime college student and I’ve been asked numerous times which tablet should I buy for school. Well, let’s talk about it.
For most students, tablets are used for digital note-taking, presentations, and/or documentation among other things. They’re more companions to your setup, so you’ll likely still need a PC.
In the current market, I separate tablets into four categories based on total cost and value they bring: entry-level, mid-range performance, professional, and two-in-one.
Entry-Level Tablets: The Budget-Friendly Choice
These devices are focused on being the lowest cost possible, meaning great for college students. They’re cost-effective, pretty solid performing, and just no-nonsense. They’re helpful and they don’t break the bank.
From what I’ve seen, I would include the 10th Generation Apple iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and the Lenovo P12 2024 as great contenders for this category. There are also different student discounts for all of these tablets, so research those as well before buying.
As you can see, they’re pretty cost-effective, especially compared to other options in this article. Each device has its own little quirks and benefits.
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The iPad 10 is probably the most common tablet used in college out of these three because of its streamlined operating system and integration with the Apple ecosystem, so it works really well with other Apple devices.
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The Samsung Tab S9 FE and Lenovo P12, although a bit rarer to find, are still fairly common and have that benefit of the customizability of Android, so you can make your tablet really your own.
Comparing these three, it really is your choice. Most go for Apple, but others have been able to rock the Android tablets just fine.
If you’re using a tablet for the first time and/or you’re on a tight budget, it really is a good idea to just get the budget-friendly options. If you didn’t actually like digital note-taking or just working with a tablet for a little while, you won’t lose a ton of money, especially compared to the other tiers.
Mid-Range Performance: The Future-Proof Option
If you want a tablet that is more future-proof, this is the mid-range performance category. I included the iPad Air M2 version, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, and S9 Plus here.
These are frankly great if you have the cash. I personally use an iPad Air and have been rocking one ever since I started college, and it’s amazing. I saved up for it by working a ton of overtime at a warehouse and it was so worth it. It performs great, still is useful, and is being used on a daily basis.
The Tab S9 and S9 Plus are always being recommended by Android fans because of their performance and screens. They’re solid devices, especially if you like the flexibility of Android.
I would suggest these devices only to those who are completely set on purchasing a tablet, maybe even only to those who have owned ones before. Because they are expensive and there’s no turning back from the cost.
Tablets in this category are essentially investments. Take a look at the prices and see whether the performance jumps from the entry-level options are worth it. For instance, the iPad Air is a pretty reasonable upgrade from the iPad 10, meaning that many of you might consider it because it has double the storage and a far better processor.
Professional Tablets: For Creative Work
Let’s move to the most expensive category, the professional tablets. These are the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
Although they are really expensive, they actually do serve a purpose for some individuals. I’d recommend these expensive tablets to those who have used other ones before and could benefit from the extra performance and future-proofing for their work. That includes professional digital art, video or photo editing, and maybe really, really intense gaming.
There are a lot of different quirks that these two tablets have.
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The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has Samsung DeX, which when you connect the tablet to a monitor, it can turn into a somewhat PC.
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The iPad Pro with the more expensive options has a nano-textured screen which can be super nice to look at for the digital artists out there.
For most of you, these tablets are probably out of your range. I’d say they’re best for those who have the work that really requires the best of the best. Otherwise, for note-taking, standard school work, and even normal digital art, either the entry-level tablets or mid-range performance ones are great for almost all of you.
Two-in-One Devices: Laptop-Tablet Hybrids
These are laptop-tablet hybrids, a famous example of which is the Microsoft Surface Pro 11. Simply, two-in-one devices are laptops with an actual computer operating system and a tablet form factor.
For those of you who don’t want to buy two devices, a computer and a tablet, you could purchase a two-in-one that incorporates both, which can be pretty cost-effective.
Final Recommendation
I would suggest the entry-level and mid-range performance tablets to nearly everyone watching. The pro options are for the high-level workers out there who use their tablets extensively outside of school, and the two-in-one device is for those who just want more of a hybrid.
Focus on your needs and see which tablet aligns with that. Make sure to check them out at your local Best Buy or tech store to see them for yourself. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision after that, especially with those student discounts.
My name is Sirus, it’s spelled like Cyrus, pronounce like Seer, just take out the T. Thank you very much for reading and have a wonderful day, peace.
