With so many students using tablets for at-home learning or as part of in-class connections, teachers and parents want to get the best tablet for students…the one that can handle Zoom meetings, class assignments, and a bit of YouTube for brain breaks.
But with so many available options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! What is the best choice for YOU? We have compared several popular options to help you narrow down the right fit for your family.
My personal favorite is the Apple iPad Air (5th Generation) – it’s simple enough for younger students to use independently but can handle the more rigorous multitasking a high schooler would put it through. Whether you’re looking for something that works well for design, a cost-effective tablet for just the basics, or the best on-the-go option, this list can help you decide.
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, 10.4″
This powerful tablet comes in a sleek design, available in multiple colors. It has a 128 GB hard drive, so plenty of storage, a Fujitsu processor, and a USB 2.0 port in case you need to transfer any files.
Reviewers love the included pen for easy navigation and writing. Though a little heavier than other lite tablets, the screen is great for viewing educational content and joining Zoom meetings. The headphone jack will enable your student to work anywhere, and the long battery life ensures they won’t miss a moment of learning.
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
The lightweight Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is just the tool to help you make lessons more interactive and efficient! Thanks to its 11” vivid Super AMOLED display and intuitive stylus, achieving this is easy. Your students will certainly appreciate the versatility of DeX mode for completing their admin tasks, the tablet’s long battery life for uninterrupted learning, and seamless integration with other Samsung devices to help them stay organized. The fast Snapdragon processor, ample 128GB storage, quad speakers, and dual cameras will undoubtedly help them maximize productivity and engagement when creating presentations or annotations in real time.
3. Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch
Experience Apple’s stunning Liquid Retina XDR display combined with the powerful M1 chip when you opt for the iPad Pro. Thanks to its advanced cameras that ensure crisp video calls and photos, It’s ideal for multitasking, gaming, and video streaming. Weighing just 1.5 pounds, it’s lightweight and easy to cart around and its integrated Apple Pencil capabilities will benefit your book-orientated students and creatives alike. In terms of pricing, it’s set on a more premium scale, yet its unmatched quality, seamless device integration, and excellent customer support make it a smart investment for all users.
4. Apple iPad Air (5th Generation)
The lightweight Apple iPad Air tablet will help your learners stay productive on the go. Its speedy performance, long battery life, and vivid 10.9-inch display will certainly help to keep them engaged. To improve usability that much more, consider adding an Apple Pencil to the mix for intuitive note-taking, or looking into a Smart Keyboard accessory to enhance productivity even more. The highly portable design makes this a great tool to easily slip into backpacks, while the Smart Folio case keeps it protected.
5. Microsoft Surface Pro 7, 12.3″
The Surface Pro can function like a laptop but is more lightweight and mobile. It’s sturdy and can be turned at multiple angles, which makes it great for Zoom meetings and for younger students who work anywhere and everywhere. The 10th generation Intel core processor makes accomplishing multiple school tasks at once a breeze.
Sound input and output get great reviews, and it comes already equipped with a headphone jack, so no need for extra adapters. It doesn’t have the longest battery life of the tablets on this list but would work well for the length of a school day.
6. Microsoft Surface Go 2, 10.5″
The Surface Go 2 is portable, has a great camera, and is compatible with a variety of accessories. It features a lightweight design and comes equipped with the Windows 10 operating system, making it easier to install a variety of apps without worrying about iOs or Android restrictions.
This device is less expensive than many of the others on the list, so it may run a little slower, but it’s an excellent starter tablet for students needing to do at-home learning. The touchscreen is very responsive, and with added accessories like a pen or keyboard, productivity increases.
7. Huawei MatePad T 8, 8″
The MatePad is an excellent value for the cost- its Octa-Core processor can handle class video meetings, watching educational videos, and all other school functions. One downside is the inability to download Google services, but those are accessible through the browser.
It’s smaller than the other tablets on this list, which makes it a perfect fit for little hands – just be sure to get a case! It has a micro USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a 5 MP camera- everything your student needs to complete their online assignments.
Conclusion
As more and more learning transfers to an online format, manufacturers are coming up with excellent ideas to make their technology easy to navigate and useful for a variety of learning experiences. Any of these tablets would be a beneficial tool in pushing your child’s learning to new heights!