10 Best Tablets for College Students in 2025
Navigating the sea of tablets can be overwhelming, especially when you're balancing coursework, note-taking, and a tight budget. Whether you're a budding artist, a future engineer, or someone who just needs a reliable device for lectures and Netflix, the right tablet can make all the difference.
In 2025, the tablet market offers a plethora of options tailored for students. From Apple's sleek iPads to Samsung's feature-rich Galaxy Tabs and budget-friendly Android alternatives, there's something for everyone. But how do you choose?
This guide breaks down the top 10 tablets for college students, considering factors like performance, battery life, stylus support, and, of course, affordability. Let's dive in and find the perfect tablet to accompany you through your academic journey!
10. Asus ROG Flow Z13
Last but definitely not least, the ROG Flow Z13 is for college students who, between lectures and labs, are plotting their next esports conquest. It’s basically a gaming laptop disguised as a tablet: fast refresh rate, detachable keyboard, and specs that can actually run AAA games.
Fair warning: it’s heavier and pricier, but if you want to edit video or game hard on a “tablet,” nothing else compares. One night in my hall we plugged one into a TV and played co-op games until even the RA gave up.
Specifications:
- 13-inch touch display, up to 165Hz refresh, FHD+ and QHD+ options
- AMD Ryzen AI Max 390/395 (16 cores/32 threads)
- Radeon 8050S/8060S graphics (up to 40 GPU Compute Units)
- Up to 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
- Battery: ≈8 hours heavy use
- Windows 11 Home, detachable keyboard, stylus support
- Weight: ≈1.2kg
Why Buy?
This is the “secret gamer” and multimedia monster: every campus has one person with this setup, running AAA games after hours. If high-end gaming, video editing, or AI apps are a must, this tablet-laptop hybrid has raw power that rivals a much larger desktop. Not cheap or featherweight, but an absolute beast for creative and technical workloads. Would recommend for CS, design, and content creation majors.
9. Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro
The Xiaomi Pad Pro 7 manages to do most things the “big guys” do, for a price that won’t destroy your part-time job savings. Fast enough for classes and light gaming, too.
A couple of friends swear by its stylus for diagramming biology slides. If you don’t need name recognition, but you want value, this is “the one.”
Specifications:
- 11.2-inch LCD (3200x2136, 3.2K), 144Hz refresh
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (Octa-core, up to 3.0GHz)
- 8GB/12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB storage
- Battery: 8850mAh (≈13 hours)
- LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 4.0 storage
- Stylus support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Weight: 500g
Why Buy?
Xiaomi’s formula: top-tier screen, legit battery, zippy performance—all without breaking the bank. Great for diagrams, gaming, and streaming. The stylus makes it extra appealing for science and art students who like to sketch or annotate slides.
8. Amazon Fire Max 14
It’s time to shout-out Fire Max 14 for those who’d rather save for coffee than tablet accessories. Sure, it’s not the flashiest, but for basic notes, PDFs, and streaming—this thing delivers.
Seen in cafes everywhere, usually next to a battered biology workbook and a cup of instant noodles. Pro tip: Sideloading the “real” Google Play Store is a lifesaver.
Specifications:
- 11-inch IPS LCD (2000x1200), 212 ppi
- Mediatek MT8188J chipset, 4GB RAM
- 64GB/128GB storage (expandable by microSD)
- 8MP rear, 8MP front
- Android 11 (Fire OS 8/9)
- Battery: Up to 14 hours; 15W charging
- Stylus support (USI2.0), fingerprint sensor
Why Buy?
Here’s the wallet-friendly go-to. For light note-taking, PDFs, and entertainment, it’s enough. If you don’t want to splurge or worry about losing it, the Fire Max is sturdy and affordable. Not magic, but good enough: more likely seen in cafes next to battered notebooks and iced coffee.
7. OnePlus Pad 2
Nobody expected OnePlus to nail tablets, but here we are—the Pad 2 is an awkwardly attractive, surprisingly powerful Android option.
It’s smooth, the stylus is solid, and the battery lasts about as long as your longest lecture. Bonus: does really well with audio, so movies sound less tinny than you’d suspect.
Specifications:
- 12.1-inch LCD, 3K (3000x2120), up to 144Hz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 GPU
- 8GB/12GB RAM, 128GB/256GB UFS3.1 storage
- 13MP rear, 8MP front
- Battery: 9510mAh (up to 15+ hours), 67W fast charging
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C
- Weight: 584g
Why Buy?
Surprisingly premium for the price. If you love Android and want that buttery smooth, big high-res screen—for Netflix, notes, even gaming—this is solid. OnePlus includes cool AI apps and their proprietary stylus/keyboard. Can multitask like a boss. Bonus: hand-feel and build are really comfy.
6. Apple iPad (2025)
If the Air feels a bit extra, the regular iPad is practically a rite of passage now. It’s what cafeterias, bookstores, and about half the students in the library seem to have.
It loads fast, runs every education app, and hey, you can split-screen Zoom and take notes like a multitasking pro. I once watched someone order pizza, FaceTime their mom, and finish an essay all at once. Apparently, that’s just a Tuesday.
Specifications:
- 11-inch Liquid Retina LED (2360x1640), 264 ppi
- Apple A16 chip (5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
- 6GB RAM, storage options: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- 12MP wide rear, 12MP Center Stage front
- Battery: Full-day (est. 10 hours)
- Apple Pencil support, USB-C port
- Weight: ≈477g
Why Buy?
What you see in half the lecture halls: dependable, quick, and friendly to all the classic student apps. Reliable for note-taking, endless Zooms, and FaceTime with family. Not too expensive, and doesn’t feel like you’re missing out on premium features. The sweet spot for value-minded buyers—no need to overthink it.
5. Lenovo Tab P13 Pro
This Lenovo is the dark horse—reliable, affordable, and just fancy enough. Great for research (those six Chrome tabs won’t crash), online classes, and Netflix marathons.
Battery life is the real standout here; there was one long group project night where this thing just Would. Not. Die. The keyboard attachment is optional, and so is the stylus if you're on a budget.
Specifications:
- 13-inch AMOLED (1600x2560), 240 ppi
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (Octa-core, Adreno 630)
- 8GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
- Dual Rear: 13MP wide + 5MP ultrawide; Front: 8MP wide
- Battery: 11,000mAh, 15+ hours real-world
- Android v12, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2
- SIM slot (LTE models), fingerprint sensor
Why Buy?
If you want all the basics covered—big screen, great battery—without shelling out Apple or Samsung money, Lenovo’s P13 Pro lands the punch. Handles heaps of multitasking and is ideal for reading PDFs, notetaking, and those endless video-calls. Friends say it just. won’t. die. Even after a marathon of binge-watching or group projects. Keyboard and stylus are optional: nice if you’re budget-conscious.
4. iPad Mini (2025)
Tiny, but mighty—this one’s perfect if you want something that disappears into any bag. The screen’s a bit smaller, but for note-taking, reading e-textbooks, or doomscrolling between classes, the iPad Mini delivers.
A friend accidentally left his in a pocket of his hoodie for a whole day before noticing. Not a single scratch. Portability? Check.
Specifications:
- 8.3-inch Liquid Retina (2266x1488), 326 ppi
- Apple A17 Pro chip (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB/256GB/512GB storage
- 12MP ultra-wide rear, 12MP front Center Stage camera
- Battery: all-day (specific not listed, real world ≈ 9-10 hours use)
- Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C support
- USB-C charging, Wi-Fi 6E
- Weight: 293g (Wi-Fi)
Why Buy?
Ridiculously portable, the Mini disappears into any bag or oversized hoodie pocket. If campus life is about light travel and quick notes, this is pure joy. Supports Apple Pencil for sketching, handwriting recognition, and surprisingly good Netflix—plus, you can hold it in one hand while speed-walking between classes. Small, mighty, more flexible than people expect.
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 11
Want a tablet that morphs into a laptop whenever midterms rear their ugly heads? Surface Pro 11’s your play. The detachable keyboard feels almost as good as an old-school ThinkPad, and Windows 12 runs full versions of the weird programs professors love to assign.
There’s a reason you see these everywhere from student unions to the library. The kickstand lets you prop it up even if your dorm desk is more cardboard than wood. Warning: it’s a little heavier in your backpack—especially if you’re rocking a 3-year-old back. Been there, don’t recommend.
Specifications:
- 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen (2880 x 1920, 120Hz; 600 nits)
- Snapdragon X Plus (10-core) or Intel Core Ultra options
- Up to 16GB RAM, SSD: 256GB/512GB/1TB
- Battery: Up to 14 hours video playback
- Rear camera: 10MP; front camera: Unspecified
- OS: Windows 11 Home
- 2x USB-C (supports charging, display output)
- Surface Slim Pen 2 support
- Keyboard (optional)
- Weight: 895g
Why Buy?
The Surface Pro 11 is the closest thing to a laptop in tablet form—seriously. It runs Windows, so all those fussy campus apps and PowerPoint extravaganzas work perfectly. The kickstand and detachable keyboard make it versatile, whether you’re propped in bed, at a coffee shop, or awkwardly seated on campus lawns. The stylus is optional, but if you love to mark up PDFs or sketch diagrams, it’s basically an upgrade to your study workflow.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
This one’s for the Android loyalists who refuse to bow to Apple. The Galaxy Tab S10+ actually feels like a laptop in disguise: gorgeous AMOLED display, zippy performance, and a stylus that’s both included and genuinely useful for, well, everything.
One roommate used his for both taking notes in stats and (with a sneaky split screen) watching speedrunning videos. If multitasking is your lifestyle, this slate is a winner.
Specifications:
- 12.2-inch AMOLED display (2800 x 1752), 120Hz refresh
- MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor
- 12GB RAM, storage: 256GB/512GB (expandable by microSD)
- Rear cameras: 13MP main + 8MP wide; Front: 12MP + 12MP
- Battery: 10,090mAh
- OS: Android 14 (One UI 6.1.1)
- Weight: 571g; Thickness: 5.6mm
- USB-C (3.2 Gen 1), S Pen stylus included
Why Buy?
This Tab is Android’s answer to the iPad, and goes toe-to-toe with it. The display is vibrant—ideal for streaming videos or critical art classes. The S Pen comes right in the box (not a separate purchase), which is a blessing. Plus, if multitasking is your superpower, Samsung’s multitasking features are the best in Android town. Not to mention, the battery is marathon-ready—essential for group-study endurance tests.
1. iPad Air (2025)
Let’s get this out of the way: the iPad Air is relentlessly good for college. It’s light enough not to feel like carrying a textbook (the hardcover kind that bruises ankles), but still packs enough power for heavy notes, multitasking, and a zoom call that doesn’t make you look like a toothpaste ad.
It’s got Apple Pencil support for doodling during lectures (purely academic, of course) and the battery lasts long enough that you might forget where your charger is. If you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem or just like things that “work,” this is a no-brainer. I still remember someone in the back of Chem 101 who used hers to sketch a perfect caffeine molecule—prof was impressed, I was jealous.
Specifications:
- 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD (1640 x 2360 pixels, 500 nits)
- Apple M3 chipset (8-core CPU, 9-core GPU)
- 8GB RAM, storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
- Rear camera: 12MP wide; front: 12MP ultrawide
- Battery: 7606mAh (up to 10 hours)
- Stylus support (Apple Pencil Pro)
- Weight: 460g; Thickness: 6.1mm
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, eSIM (optional)
- Colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, Blue
Why Buy?
This tablet is a campus favorite for a reason: the performance is smooth, the display looks fantastic in any light, and the Apple Pencil Pro is truly next-level for drawing, annotation, or casual doodles during a boring lecture. Battery lasts well past your longest class day, and its light build means no aching shoulders walking across campus. If you’ve ever envied someone whipping out perfect digital notes in Philosophy 101, this is probably what they’re using.
