Before we go through the list, it is worth specifying the main criteria we used:
- All tablets in our list officially support a stylus/pen/pencil. Since we believe this is an essential feature for a student (e.g. for notetaking, drawing sketches etc.), we did not consider tablets that do not possess such feature for precision writing tools (not to be confused with a simple use of pen which would make writing rather difficult!). We’ll be listing their official digital pen too, although nowadays it is quite easy to find compatible versions which are often cheaper.
- Price & Quality: with technology progressing at an impressive pace, newer tablets can be super expensive. When putting our list together, we always prioritised what students really need from such tool, and we considered everything else a plus. Basically, this means we will still go for top quality and brands, but for previous versions rather than latest ones (great discount opportunities!). Obviously, if you have a higher budget you can get the newer and more powerful tablets with those all extra features, up to you.
Now that we are ready, let’s look at the best tablets for university!
1. Apple iPad (9th Generation)
You cannot literally go wrong with this tablet, one word to describe it: quality. The release of newer versions have pushed its price down a bit, although it is still relatively high given the quality of the product.
(here the Apple iPad 2022 version for comparison; mind that the 2023 model is not out yet, and might not come out anytime soon, meaning that prices would not get much lower the longer you wait!).
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab (S6 Lite)
Again, a quality tablet which has seen its original price coming down due to newer versions coming out. This is still a top product and it definitely makes the list of best tablets for university!
(here a newer version Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 which comes with a noticeable bigger screen, 12.4 inch, which makes it even better for studying if you have the budget!)
3) Microsoft Surface (Go 3 Tablet)
This is another great tablet for university that comes with an in-built stand too! Microsoft makes it easy to link their devices with their well known software apps (e.g. Office 365), which is definitely something to consider as well!
(the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the latest tablet they produced, with a 13 inch monitor essentially making it a 2 in 1 laptop/tablet)
4. Lenovo P11(Plus)
Lastly, we had to include the Lenovo P11, another amazing tablet for university. With an 11inch display and high quality video-audio, this is a great device!
Laptop or Tablet, what’s better for university?
If you are wondering whether you should get a tablet or a laptop for university, it is very much worth specifying that a tablet is not a substitute nor an alternative to a laptop.
Although it is not a uncommon to find students only using a tablet for studying, if you had to make choice between the two, a laptop would be better.
This is mainly due to having a more computational power to run software, and a bigger screen to look at when studying.
Completely different story if you already have a laptop. In that case, getting a tablet would be a great complement and enhance a better a study experience!
