Best Tablet for College 2023
- By: Ahmad Noor
- Updated: February 27, 2023
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In this digital or information age, all of the tasks are computer-assisted and college students whether freshmen or seniors will definitely need a tablet if they want to complete most of their college work. Tablets are more portable and affordable than most laptops and more comfortable than smartphones. A best tablet for college can be your laptop, notepad, and pencil, a book in class, and sketching & drawing, and a note-taking tool. Apart from college work, tablets can be used for entertainment purposes like watching movies, browsing, streaming, and gaming.
As the market is flooded with tablets, it’s not that easy for students to make a smart decision on the best tablet for college because most of the tablets are not good for the things for which you are picking it. That’s why we have put together a list of best tablets for college students that will help you in different college-related tasks like note-taking, reading, presentations, etc.
Best Tablet for College in 2023

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Buyer's Guide
Choosing the Best Tablet for College
In the present time, the market is full of tablets of different but renowned brands. Each brand’s tablet offers its own perks and benefits. So, it’s not that easy for students to select a tablet on a go, we are going to discuss important factors regarding tablets to make the job easy for you.
Nature of Use
As you are purchasing a tablet for college but you should also consider that for which type of other tasks you are using it. Because some tablets are great for college use but are not great for other tasks. So, if you want to use a tablet for college work and also entertainment then you should go for Windows tablets and Android tablets because they are easy to use, productive, affordable and customizable. On the other hand, if budget is not an issue for you and also has an Apple ecosystem then you should opt for Apple iPads since they are powerful and offers excellent performance apart from other incredible features.
Portability
One of the important factors of a college tablet that you should consider is its portability. As tablets are portably designed, still they range in size from 7 inches to 12-13 inches. So, if you need a tablet for classroom work like reading, taking notes, or presentations, etc. then you should go for a more portable and lightweight tablet like 8-10inch so that it can be comfortably held in one hand. Any tablet above 8 or 10-inch would be heavier and difficult to carry around. But if your college work is sketching or designing oriented then a tablet with large screen would be a great option for you but you have to make a compromise on portability.
Performance
Performance of any tech gadget including tablets depends on the specs i.e. CPU and RAM that they are armed with. And most of the tablets especially the latest ones offer more than enough performance as they are housed with latest chipsets and more RAM. But for college tablet, performance is not an issue because you will be using it mostly for college work like note-taking, reading and other related works and not for some demanding tasks. The main feature for a college tablet is its storage space because you will need a lot of storage for storing lectures, videos and other college stuff. So, you have to pick that tablet which provides good and performance and a lot of storage.
Display
Another factor that you should consider before buying the best tablet for studying is its display. The screen of a tablet depends on screen size and resolution. There are variety of tablets available in different sizes from 7 inches to 12-13 inches. But you have to select that one which perfectly suits your needs. However, for college, you should go for the most compact and portable tablet and in that case, an 8-inch tablet is a recommended one. Because, it offers more comfort while reading, typing or taking notes, etc. As for the screen resolution, the more the resolution is, the sharper the image quality will be. Hence, go for that tablet which is sufficiently bright and colorful so that you can also use it outdoor.
Battery
For convenience and mobility, the best tablet for college students is the one that has packed enough power to last for a longer time so that it can get you through all of your assignments and other college related tasks. Generally, most of the tablets offer a battery backup of 4 to 10 hours. So, if you need to work with your tablet for a whole day then you should invest in that tablet that offers maximum battery life.
Stylus and Keyboard support
For college students that tablet would be great it supports stylus and keyboard however these two features make the tablet pricier but it will help them a lot when it comes to note-taking, typing, sketching, designing etc. Also, most of the tablets come with built-in Stylus Pen yet some of them don’t offer the built-in Stylus. So, if you can afford, buy that tablet that supports both Stylus Pen and keyboard.
Roundup
Best Tablet for College 2023
1. Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
Ultra-powerful yet portable tablet

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 11 inches (1668 x 2388)
CPU: M1 Chip
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera Main: 12MP
Camera Secondary: 12MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 inches
Weight: 470 g
PROS
High-res camera
Super-fast performance
Incredible graphics
CONS
Expensive
One port
iPadOS feels limited
The Apple iPad Pro 11 is the best tablet for college because it offers all those features that students love to be on their tablet. The iPad Pro 11 brings stunning performance due to the M1 chip, Retina display, and above all, a long-lasting battery backup as compared to its 2020 model. The 11-inch display is amazingly bright, sharp, and colorful than its counterpart, the Galaxy Tab S7. That's why you can use the tablet in broad daylight on campus without any issues. On top of that, the 2021 iPad Pro 11 is armed with an ultra-fast Apple M1 chip for blazing-fast performance. So, no matter, how many tabs you open or how much the task is intensive, the Pro 11 will do it in milliseconds. The 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 has the same design as the 2020 model. Further, you don't have to worry about its weight because it is highly portable and you can easily take it to the classroom or other places. Also, the four speakers of the iPad Pro 11 provides loud and immersive sound.
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
2. Microsoft Surface Pro X
Best Windows tablet

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 13 inches (2880 x 1920)
CPU: Microsoft SQ 1
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Camera Main: 10MP
Camera Secondary: 5MP
Ports: 2 x USB Type-C, Surface Connect, Surface Keyboard
Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches
Weight: 774 g
PROS
Built-in kickstand
Good speakers
Solid Battery
CONS
S Pen not included
Apps compatibility issues
No headphone jack
Let’s have a look at another best tablet for college students and that is Surface Pro X by Microsoft. The Windows tablet offers portability, good performance, and battery life but it suffers from minor app compatibility issues. The sleek and slim design and thin bezels around the screen give the Surface Pro X a premium look. While the 0.28-inch thickness and 1.7-pound weight make it impressively portable and lightweight when you consider the built-in kickstand with it. Thus, a great option for those college students who are always on the go. Further, the gorgeous 13-inch PixelSense display is sufficiently vivid and bright and provides crystal-clear images. Also, the Slim Pen works perfectly well with the screen which makes the tablet excellent for sketching and note-taking. More, the tablet has no headphone jack but the 2 USB Type-C ports and Surface Connect port is a good option for connectivity. The best student tablet is powered by Microsoft’s SQ1 processor which makes the Surface Pro X great for multitasking, media consumption, and gaming.
Microsoft Surface Pro X
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
Fast performance, Long battery life

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 11.0 inches (1600 x 2560)
CPU: Snapdragon 865 (Octa-core)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera Main: 13MP
Camera Secondary: 8MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 9.99 x 6.51 x 0.25 inches
Weight: 502 g
PROS
Loud speakers
S Pen included
Solid performance
CONS
Finicky fingerprint
Low-res rear cam
Keyboard not included
The Galaxy Tab S7 is the latest flagship tablet by Samsung that is armed with incredibly robust specs, a beautiful display, and all-day-long battery life. All these prominent features make it a strong competitor of iPad Pro 11 (reviewed above). Design-wise, the Tab S7 looks and feels high-end due to the slim chassis and thin bezels. Apart from note-taking and other college tasks, you will love watching movies and gaming on the 11-inch 120 Hz immersive, vivid, and sharp display. As it is equipped with the latest Snapdragon chipset which makes it one of the powerful tablets of all android tabs. That’s why it offers top-notch performance and efficiently runs demanding games and designing apps, etc. Why it is the best note taking tablet for college is that it comes with built-in Stylus S Pen which works well on the 11-inch screen. The Tab S7 is housed with 4 stereo speakers that provide loud and immersive sound. Last but not least, it offers over 13 hours of battery backup which is another plus point for students.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7
4. Apple iPad Air (2020)
Premium yet budget tablet for students

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 10.9 inches (1640 x 2360)
CPU: Apple A14 Bionic (Hexa-core)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera Main: 12MP
Camera Secondary: 7MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 inches
Weight: 460 g
PROS
Superfast performance
Superb cameras
Excellent display
CONS
Battery life
No face ID
No headphone jack
The fourth Gen iPad Air packs the power of iPad Pro but the less price is making it the best iPad for college. The tablet offers notable features like a large screen, powerful processor, good audio, and better Apple Pencil support. Talking about its design, the metal frame, thin bezels, and slimmer body gives the iPad Air the look of iPad Pro. Further, the 10.9-inch Retina display is bright and colorful and on top of that anti-reflective. The tablet is home to powerful stereo speakers which provide loud and clear sound. The best cheap tablet for college offers robust performance as it is packed with an Apple A14 Bionic processor which’s why it efficiently handles intensive multitasking. Also, the 12 MP main camera and 7 MP front-facing camera are both excellent in capturing quality pictures. But the only downside of this iPad Air is its battery life which is not that much good. Overall, the iPad Air is a good option for college students as it is powerful and less expensive and in addition, excellently supports the Apple Pencil.
Apple iPad Air (2020)
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Solid 2 in 1 tablet

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 12.3 inches (2736 x 1824)
CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G4 (Quad-core)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera Main: 8MP
Camera Secondary: 5MP
Ports: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, Surface Connect, Surface Type Cover
Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.33 inches
Weight: 775 g
PROS
Fast performance
USB-C port
Wi-Fi 6
CONS
Speakers
Thick bezels
Keyboard not included
Let’s have a look at another flagship from Microsoft; Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 7 provides strong performance, updated internals, and better ports than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 6. It looks slim and durable but the thick bezels around the screen are noticeable. Also, the Pro 7 is great for entertainment and productivity because you can use it in tablet, studio, and laptop mode. While its predecessor does not has a Type-C port but thankfully, the Surface Pro 7 is finally housed with a USB Type-C port for fast file transferring. Further, the 12.3-inch gorgeous display color-rich and bright and is perfectly great for entertainment purposes and artistic works. The best laptop tablet for college offers high-end and powerhouse performance as it is loaded with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and Intel Iris Plus Graphics. All these specs make it an incredible tablet for productivity, designing, and media consumption. Apart from that, it comes with a battery backup of over 7 hours which makes it a good choice for college students.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
6. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020)
Budget-friendly yet powerful

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 10.4 inches (1200 x 2000)
CPU: Snapdragon 662 (Octa-core)
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera Main: 8MP
Camera Secondary: 5MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 9.75 x 6.20 x 0.28 inches
Weight: 477 g
PROS
Colorful display
Decent speakers
Battery life
CONS
Limited RAM & CPU
Camera quality
A bit dim display
Tablets are mostly used for entertainment purposes. We suggest that if you buy a tablet for your leisure time, use it for your leisure time and don’t install work-related apps. Mostly budget-friendly tablets don’t pass the entertainment threshold. Some don’t have good displays, while others lack good performance. In the case of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A7 is quite competitive. It comes with a wonderful display suitable for a whole 10-inch screen with no distorted pixel and a very great watching experience. Furthermore, the performance is quite incredible. You can watch movies, read a book and browse through the internet with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A7 without any problems. The design of the tablet is also great and is quite portable. It’s easy to carry it around while you are traveling or taking it to your workplace. Overall, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A7 is a great tablet with good design, performance, display, and more.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020)
7. Apple iPad 10.2 (2020)
Apple's affordable tablet

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 10.2 inches (1620 x 2160)
CPU: Apple A12 Bionic (Hexa-core)
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera Main: 8MP
Camera Secondary: 1.2MP
Ports: USB 2.0
Dimensions: 9.87 x 6.85 x 0.30 inches
Weight: 495 g
PROS
Excellent value
Solid Battery
Apple Pencil support
CONS
Speakers
Outdated design
Low-res selfie cam
The iPad 10.2 is one of the best cheap tablet for college that comes with a faster and latest chipset and other great features than its 2019 model. Those students who are searching for a premium Apple tablet but don’t have the budget then the 2020 iPad is a good option for them. Design-wise, the 10.2 iPad has the same design and looks as of the 2019 model. Still, it looks fine but the thick bezels give it an outdated look. Also, the tablet has two speakers but are not that much impressive speakers. By weighing 495 g, it is quite portable and lightweight. Comparing its 10.2-inch display to the 9.7-inch 2019 model, the 2020 iPad has more bright and colorful Retina display. Also, the Apple Pencil works smoothly and well on the screen. While the 2020 model is armed with Apple’s A12 Bionic processor, it brings more performance than the 2019 model. On the bright side, the tablet comes with a battery backup of over 10 hours which is enough for your long college or school tasks.
Apple iPad 10.2 (2020)
8. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2020)
Best tablet for work & entertainment

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 11.5 inches (1600 x 2560)
CPU: Snapdragon 730G (Octa-core)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Camera Main: 13MP
Camera Secondary: 8MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 10.41 x 6.75 x 0.27 inches
Weight: 485 g
PROS
OLED display
Loud speakers
Battery life
CONS
Weak cams
Few optimized apps
Face unlock issues
As the tablet’s market is saturated by main players like Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Amazon, the Lenovo enters to the already occupied market with its new Tab P11 Pro. With 2K OLED screen, amazing performance, long battery life and great stereo speakers, the P11 Pro offers more as compared to its price. Not only that but it comes with supporting the Lenovo Pen and keyboard. Coming towards its design, the build quality is good and feels durable with the aluminum body. Also, the tablet feels does not weighty as it weighs only 485 g. Further, the 11.5-icnh AMOLED screen that comes with a resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels is sharp, contrasty and color accurate. That’s the reason that the P11 Pro is perfect for watching movies, streaming and browsing, sketching, note-taking and high-end gaming. As the P11 Pro is loaded with Snapdragon 730G chipset and 6GB RAM so its performance will not disappoint you. Last but not the least, the battery life of this tablet is very impressive as it provides a backup of around 10 hours.
Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
9. Microsoft Surface Duo
Dual screen tablet

Image: Amazon
SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 8.1 inches (1800 x 2700)
CPU: Snapdragon 855 (Octa-core)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera Main: 11MP
Camera Secondary: 11MP
Ports: USB Type-C
Dimensions: 7.35 x 5.71 x 0.18 inches
Weight: 250 g
PROS
Dual-screen
Supports Microsoft Pen
Design
CONS
Dated hardware
Poor camera
Expensive
The Surface Duo has completely changed the use of mobile device as it looks more like a pocket-shaped laptop than a mobile phone. For mobile productivity, the Surface Duo is the best one however it has dated hardware. More, the dual screen device has all-glass chassis which makes it premium and gives it a sexy look. The two screens are connected through sturdy and tiny hinges that’s why you will not feel any wobbling in the device. You can also use it as a single-screen device like a phone by rotating the device. The main feature of this tablet is its dual-screen functionality that is sufficiently vivid and clear. You can run two full apps on each screen or you can extend the app to both screens. Furthermore, the best tablet for students is backed by Snapdragon 855 SoC processor and 6GB RAM that’s why it offers maximum performance. Also, the tablet has a single 11MP camera that works both as a main and selfie camera. So, students who want a dual screen tablet then the Surface Duo is a good choice for them.
Microsoft Surface Duo
FAQs
Samsung vs. Apple Tablet, which is suitable for students?
Samsung and Apple are the two leading tech gadget manufacturers and both are offering top of the line tablets. Both iPads and Samsung tablets have their own pros and cons. Samsung tablets offer a much wider range of features and capability, customization while the Android OS gives the tablets access to a wide selection of apps. On the other hand, Apple iPads are well-built, have sleek and futuristic designs and also comes with a range of premium features and capability, provides more security but they are not that much customizable like the Samsung tablets. Another, big difference between the two i.e iPads and Samsung tablets is their price. Samsung tablets are less expensive than the Apple iPads.
So, those students who have Apple ecosystem and have enough budget then for them, Apple iPads are a good choice. But those students who have limited budget and want such a tablet that offers more customizations and are budget-friendly than Samsung tablets are for them.
Is Windows tablet a good option for college use?
As Windows tablets runs on Windows OS which is the most productive, powerful and easy to use OS. Also, Windows tablets are portable and offer laptop’s performance. On the other hand, their convertible form-factor and detachable keyboard make the Windows tablets an ideal option for college use. Windows tablets are excellent for note-taking, entertainment purposes, gaming, sketching and other similar works. So, yeah, Windows tablets are a good option for college students.