TOP 5 BEST STUDENT TABLETS IN 2025

The best student tablet blends mobility and performance to keep you productive in class, on campus, and while you’re on the go.

Our expert review team has analysed the best tablets and student laptops, so we can help you choose the best one. The small, very powerful Apple iPad Air is our pick for the finest student tablet; it’s ideal for usage in schools, colleges, and universities.

We have listed the top student tablets, assessed their functionality, contrasted their features, and tested them in a number of ways to see which ones work best for everything from editing photographs and videos to using office software.

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Our Top Picks

TOP 5 BEST STUDENT TABLETS IN 2025

1: Apple iPad (2022)

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The entry-level iPad, a long-time Apple favourite, offers respectable performance at a fair price. In 2022, Apple made the base iPad even more affordable with a redesign, enhanced features, and some initial price cuts. The base iPad, which is still a highly capable slate and a better choice than most other devices in the same price range, receives our Editors’ Choice award for low-cost tablets.

The 10th generation Apple iPad is comparable to the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. It eliminates the circular Touch ID button beneath the screen and the huge top and bottom bezels for a consistent edge-to-edge look. The display is covered by a large glass panel that is housed inside an aluminium chassis with flat back and side panels. It’s a sturdy, well-made piece of hardware with a contemporary appearance.

The iPad family has very identical dimensions. The Wi-Fi edition of the 10th generation iPad weighs 1.05 pounds and measures 9.79 by 7.07 by 0.28 inches (HWD). By contrasting it with the 2024 iPad Air (9.74 by 7.02 by 0.24 inches, 1.02 pounds), you can see that Apple prefers to have a pretty uniform design across their slates. The 10th generation iPad is too large to fit in purses or smaller bags that could accommodate an eight-inch tablet, despite being lightweight and tiny enough to fit in messenger bags, backpacks, and even some over-the-shoulder slings. It is far more portable than the 13-inch iPad Pro, which is about the size of a laptop.

The display’s overall pixel density doesn’t change annually, but its dimensions, form, and resolution do. The screen is 10.9 inches across the diagonal and features 2,360 by 1,640 pixels with a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. You receive an oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprints, sRGB colour, True Tone white balance adjustment, and an LED-backlit panel with a maximum brightness of 500 nits. When attempting to take images of the tablet outside, it became clear that it was not laminated and did not have an antireflective coating like the iPad Air or iPad Pro screens. The display appears to be recessed a millimetre or two below the protective glass, as opposed to sitting flush like it does on the iPad Pro range. This mostly affects performance on the Apple Pencil.

The display on the new iPad is great for everyday use. For the most part, it is bright enough for indoor use and doesn’t have any problems with HD material from services like AppleTV+ or YouTube TV. It does not, however, thrive outside or even in well-lit, bright spaces. (In this case, that antireflective coating would have been quite helpful.) But it’s just as nice as any other display at this price and considerably better than what you’ll find on a tablet.

2: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The Duet 3 Chromebook is remarkably similar to Lenovo’s initial Duet Chromebook from 2020. The Duet 3 is slightly larger, with an 11-inch 2K (2,000 by 1,200 pixel) screen mounted on a sleek black aluminium chassis. The Duet 3, which weighs 1.14 pounds at launch and measures 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches, is not quite as thin or light as the base iPad 2021 (0.29 inches, 1.09 pounds), but it is quite close. I can carry it around the home all day because it feels light and robust.

Lenovo still designed the Duet in two parts, including the detachable keyboard and cover, which have a nice, thick-woven cloth texture that feels excellent in the hand. Similar to the Duet, the new Duet 3 features a detachable keyboard and rear cover that must be attached individually, albeit they are also magnetised to make sliding into position easier.

It feels solid to type on, and the magnets on our review model are powerful enough that, if I move the keyboard cover’s attach point within an inch or so of the tablet’s corresponding connector, the two devices will click together with a strength and speed that is slightly frightening.The rear cover includes a functionality that isn’t immediately obvious, but it’s quick and easy to attach. The lower part of the cover can be flipped out to serve as a decent kickstand. Unfortunately, sticking a finger under the flap of the kickstand and then sticking it out can be challenging.

The Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook does not use the standard laptop clamshell form factor that is so common among Chromebooks. Instead, it is a detachable, two-in-one design that combines an 11-inch tablet with a magnetically attached keyboard that doubles as a screen cover. The keyboard cover is included with the tablet, which is a pleasant surprise given that many 2-in-1 designs, such as the Microsoft Surface Go 2, sell their keyboard separately. The larger surprise, though, is that despite its small size, the keyboard provides a decent typing experience.

3: Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

My review unit’s magnificent Sapphire Blue colour scheme and gorgeous OLED panel set the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 apart, despite the fact that it is not all that different from the Surface Pro versions that came before it.

With a resolution of 2880x1920p, a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, and a dynamic refresh rate of 120 Hz, this display is comparable to or superior to the majority of displays offered at this price. The Surface Pro 11 is a great 2-in-1 for creatives since its OLED panel captures 115.2% of the DCI-P3 colour range and 162.7% of the sRGB colour gamut. The display has significantly higher colour gamut coverage than the iPad Pro, which came out earlier this year, according to our testing.

The Surface Pro 11’s OLED panel’s HDR brightness is also far higher than the iPad Pro’s; at its brightest, the Surface Pro 11 reached 878 nits, whilst the iPad Pro could only reach 498 nits. In contrast, the iPad Pro’s SDR brightness was 476 nits, while the Surface Pro 11’s OLED panel averaged almost 564 nits.

The distinctive kickstand that sets the Surface Pro 11 apart can be seen when you turn it over; it opens quite effortlessly but stays solid no matter how you position it. Its range is also very extensive; in its widest open position, you may easily take written notes or work on design projects on a slightly inclined surface.

The review unit’s included Surface Pro Flex keyboard and Slim Pen functioned perfectly when I used the Surface Pro 11. The Slim Pen isn’t very excellent for a 4,096-point stylus, but it’s also not as good as a digital tablet used by a skilled artist. The keyboard is among the most comfortable I’ve ever used.

4: Apple iPad Air

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The 11-inch variant of the 2024 iPad Air starts at, placing it in the middle of Apple’s tablet lineup. It finds a comfortable home between the low-cost iPad and the expensive iPad Pro. Though not as groundbreaking as the 2024 Pro, the iPad Air is the best choice for those who need more than the original iPad can offer but less raw power than the Pro thanks to a slightly larger display, a new processor, a relocated camera, and other spec changes. Because it is particularly helpful for students and amateur creators, it was awarded Editors’ Choice.

Despite having a lot of new technology, the 2024 iPad Air looks a lot like the 2022 model. Perhaps the biggest change is that there are now two Airs to pick from, measuring 11 and 13 inches. People who want a bigger screen may now buy one for less than Pro costs thanks to this. I was given the 11-inch model to test.

The smaller Air is the same size and weight as its predecessor. The 11-inch model is 9.74 by 7.02 by 0.24 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.02 pounds. Both the 11-inch iPad Pro (9.83 by 6.99 by 0.21 inches, 0.98 pounds) and the regular iPad (9.79 by 7.07 by 0.28 inches, 1.05 pounds) are remarkably identical to it. The larger 13-inch edition of the iPad Air weighs 1.36 pounds and measures 11.04 by 8.46 by 0.24 inches. The heaviest iPad in the current lineup is the 13-inch Air.

The 11-inch iPad Air is, predictably, the more portable and user-friendly of the two. While the larger one needs a larger bag for transportation, it fits into several smaller ones. Neither will make you feel heavy.The Air’s chassis is made of aluminium by Apple. It creates the straight side margins and the complete back panel. The entire front of the tablet is covered by a huge sheet of glass. While the Tab S9 FE is rated IP68 and can withstand a 30-minute submersion in fresh water, the iPad Air lacks an IP designation for protection against dust and water. The iPad line is not the best option if you value waterproofing.

5: OnePlus Pad

Last update on 2025-1-6 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Because the tablet industry is as complicated as the smartphone market, it might be difficult to find the perfect tablet for your needs at the right price. With the OnePlus Pad, the upstart smartphone company uses its product philosophy—impressive displays, sophisticated design, and aggressive pricing—to revolutionise a sluggish sector that needs a shakeup.

The OnePlus Pad is a great entertainment tablet and the ideal screen to tote around the house for whatever you need if you don’t care about the “Android vs. Apple” debate.

This tablet isn’t as powerful as the iPad Air, so it won’t be a decent substitute for a laptop. Additionally, it is too costly to compete with the best low-cost Amazon Fire tablets that you may throw at young children during lengthy car rides.

When it comes to entertainment, web browsing, and becoming your preferred screen for everyday tasks, the OnePlus Pad excels. The display is excellent, and the speakers are loud and clear enough to amuse (or annoy) everyone in the vicinity. The design is more stylish and robust than other tablets at this price, and you can purchase it in any colour you like as long as it’s green.

Having a OnePlus phone, like the OnePlus 11, enhances the OnePlus Pad, albeit it’s not required. Even users of iPhones may decide to go with the Pad because of its eye-catching design and larger screen than the iPad 10.9 (2022). OnePlus has a winner with this tablet, and maybe big rivals like Samsung will finally pay attention.

OnePlus is completing an ecosystem of devices in addition to delivering a tablet. The OnePlus Pad and the company’s other flagship devices from the previous year, such as the OnePlus 11 and the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, have a lot of visual similarities. That is, if you bought those things in “Eternal Green” (the phone) or “Arbour Green” (the buds). Both of those gadgets were also offered in black, despite OnePlus’s strong commitment to going green with the OnePlus Pad.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who follows the phone market, since numerous product lines and companies have embraced this green hue that seems natural. It’s pretty hot right now, at least in certain places. For OnePlus, neither purple nor blue is acceptable. Arbour, Halo, and Eternal are all just green.

What to Look for When Buying a Best Student Tablets In 2025

When buying the best student tablet in 2025, focus on the features and specifications that cater to educational needs, budget, and usability. Here’s what to consider:

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1. Performance

Processor (CPU):

• Look for tablets with Apple A-series/M-series chips, Qualcomm Snapdragon, or MediaTek Dimensity processors for seamless multitasking and app performance.

RAM:

• 4GB: Suitable for basic tasks like browsing and note-taking.
• 6GB or More: Ideal for multitasking, video editing, and demanding apps.

Storage:

• 64GB: Minimum for storing apps and documents.
• 128GB or More: Recommended for students who store videos, presentations, and eBooks.
• Expandable Storage: Check for microSD card support for added flexibility.

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2. Operating System

• iPadOS: Great for seamless app integration and educational tools.
• Android: Versatile, with access to a wide variety of apps and customization.
• Windows: Offers a laptop-like experience, ideal for productivity-focused students.

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3. Display Quality

Resolution:

• Full HD (1920×1080): Good for reading and watching videos.
• 2K or Higher: Recommended for detailed visuals and professional use.

Size:

• 8–10 Inches: Compact and lightweight, ideal for portability.
• 11–13 Inches: More screen real estate for multitasking and media consumption.

Panel Type:

• IPS: For wide viewing angles and accurate colors.
• OLED/AMOLED: Offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, perfect for multimedia.

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4. Stylus and Input Support

• Stylus Compatibility: Look for tablets that support active styluses (e.g., Apple Pencil, S Pen) for note-taking and sketching.
• Keyboard Accessories: Check for detachable keyboards or Bluetooth keyboard compatibility for productivity.

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5. Battery Life

• 8–12 Hours: Ensures a full day of use without needing to recharge.
• Fast Charging: Reduces downtime for students on the go.

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6. Connectivity Options

• Wi-Fi 6/6E: Faster and more reliable internet connection.
• Cellular Models (4G/5G): Useful for students who need internet access outside Wi-Fi zones.
• Ports: Ensure the tablet has USB-C or Lightning ports for fast data transfer and charging.

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7. App Ecosystem and Compatibility

• Educational Apps: Ensure compatibility with platforms like Google Classroom, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.
• Productivity Tools: Access to apps like MS Office, Google Docs, and PDF readers is essential.

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8. Build Quality and Durability

• Rugged Design: Choose a tablet with reinforced frames or protective covers for younger students.
• Water and Dust Resistance: Tablets with IP ratings offer added durability.

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9. Camera and Audio Features

• Front Camera: At least 5MP for clear video calls and online classes.
• Rear Camera: Useful for scanning documents or capturing images for projects.
• Speakers and Microphone: Good-quality stereo speakers and a noise-canceling microphone improve the online learning experience.

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10. Portability

• Weight: Lightweight models (<1.5 lbs) are easier to carry.
• Slim Profile: Enhances portability for students with a busy schedule.

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11. Security and Parental Controls

• Biometric Security: Face ID, fingerprint scanner, or secure PINs for privacy.
• Parental Controls: Essential for younger students to manage screen time and app usage.

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12. Budget and Pricing

• Entry-Level Tablets ($100–$300): Basic features for casual use and note-taking.
• Mid-Range Tablets ($300–$600): Better performance, larger screens, and stylus support.
• Premium Tablets ($600+): Advanced features like high-resolution displays, powerful processors, and robust ecosystems.

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13. Brand and Ecosystem

• Apple iPads: Excellent app support and accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
• Samsung Galaxy Tablets: Great Android options with S Pen support.
• Microsoft Surface: Best for students needing Windows-based tools.
• Lenovo and Huawei: Affordable options with competitive specs.

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14. Accessories

• Protective Cases: Look for sturdy, shock-absorbent cases.
• Stylus and Keyboard: Enhances productivity for note-taking and typing assignments.
• External Storage: Portable drives or cloud storage options for backup.

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15. Warranty and Support

• Ensure the tablet comes with at least a 1-year warranty and access to responsive customer service.