The tablet PC is one of the most useful tools a student can have, and it’s much more portable than even the thinnest, lightest laptop – and just as powerful – in recent years. The best tablet there is the Apple iPad, which combines a great screen, solid aluminum chassis, and powerful internal hardware in a range of different price levels for each student.
Learn about the best iPad to study right now. Finding the best iPad can be difficult, which is why we need our review test to determine the best options students need.
Our pick for the best student iPad is the iPad Air 5. It offers most of the most expensive iPad Pro features, like a bigger screen and M1 chip, at a mid-range price; it’s well-balanced with some simple sacrifices.
If you’re looking for a college iPad on a tight budget, the 10.2-inch iPad 2021 offers all the features you need at a great price. The monitor is big enough, and there’s also Apple Pencil and keyboard accessories support. It’s a great choice for the iPad that doesn’t break your budget. But make sure to read about all of our choices of the Best iPad for students in 2024: Specs & Prices below.
Read also: The 20 Best Budget Phones of 2023
1. iPad Air 5
The best iPad generation for students.
The iPad Air 5 comes with a large 10.9″ Liquid Retina display with a 12MP front-facing camera with Center Stage, a smart connector with Magic Keyboard support, but no Face ID, and only 64GB or 256GB storage options.
Our review shows that the iPad Air 5 is the best student iPad, and for just $499, you’ll get almost all of the iPad Pro features for a few hundred dollars less. It comes in at an average 10.9-inch size. It’s perfect for taking it everywhere with you, providing enough screen space for everything you need.
With 2360×1640 at 264p per inch (PPI), everything from your digital books to handwritten notes to educational videos will look great. The display features P3 wide and True Tone colors, making everything look lifelike.
The iPad Air operates on the M1 chip, the same chip as the pioneering iPad Pro. So, you’ll have plenty of power for whatever tasks you need to complete. Other cool features include Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard support, a USB-C port with up to 10Gbps transfer speeds, and a front-facing Center Stage camera that will be great for FaceTime calls.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple M1 |
| RAM | 8GB. |
| storage | 256/64GB |
| Display | 10.9 inches, 1640 x2360 pixels |
| Rear camera | 12MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion 28.6 Wht |
| Price | 499$ |
2. iPad Mini 6
Right iPad for students for you.
The iPad Mini 6 has a redesigned shape, an 8.3-inch small screen, and USBC, and still holds the Touch ID on the top button with a powerful A15 Bionic processor, but without Face ID, a smaller screen than other iPad devices, and more expensive than the previous generation.
If your iPad Air 5 is too much for your bumps or budget, you may want to think about the iPad mini 6 as long as you don’t mind getting a smaller screen, it still has a Touch ID sensor that is just as high on the top button as the iPad Air.
Apple has also unlocked the Lightning port and replaced it with USBC for faster charging and data transfer. Its data speeds are not as far as the iPad Air 5 which uses the latest USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 but is still sufficient for most people.
The iPad mini 2021 can benefit from Apple Pencil’s second generation, which is magnetically connected next to the device, though there is no smart connector in the back to attach the keyboard extension like its larger counterparts.
The iPad mini has a 5G connection for the first time, so you can stay productive anywhere at any time. The only bad thing about the iPad mini 6 is its price, starting at $499 for WiFi models only and $649 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. But still, a great combination of value and power if you don’t mind the smaller screen size than the iPad Air 5 and iPad Pro models.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB. |
| storage | 256/64GB |
| Display | 8.3 inches, 1488 x 2266 pixels |
| Rear camera | 12MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion 19.3 Wht |
| Price | 499$ |
3. iPad (9th Gen)
The best iPad for students.
The iPad (9th Gen) 2021 is an affordable iPad with a 10.2-inch display, a 12MP front-facing camera, and Center Stage, but it uses the older A13 chip, has no Face ID, and still has edges, and only has 64GB or 256GB.
If your budget is tight, your average iPad (9th) is what you want, it has a 10.2-inch Retina display, which is too large to read your digital textbooks, comment on documents, and draw diagrams. Although this feature will not work with the newer 2nd generation Apple Pencil, it works well with the first generation Apple Pencil and will work with extensions such as Apple’s smart keyboard.
Of course, there are some concessions because of its price, as it still uses the older A13 Bionic processing chip, but it stays too fast to study. It also comes with only 64GB or 256GB of storage options, you’ll also have a Home button, so there’ll be bigger edges.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB. |
| storage | 256/64GB |
| Display | 10.2 inches,1620 x 2160 pixels |
| Rear camera | 8MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion, 8557 mAh, 32.4 Wht |
| Price | 300$ |
Check out: Best budget graphics cards 2024: cheap GPU 2024
4. iPad Pro 12.9
The most powerful iPad.
We have the right projector with a large screen of 12.9 inches, so you can go to the right worksite for your use if you want a new home chassis device, a large screen is the best fit for you.
The “12.9-inch” iPad Pro comes with a Type (liquid eye retina XDR.) display and ends up with up to 120Hz refresh rate.
It is powered by the Apple M2 processor, which delivers solid performance, making it suitable to use with an iPad projector but if it is chosen it may last with them for a long time without needing to buy a new one with stronger features.
The Center Stage GUI supports 12MP resolution, which is the same as the rear camera resolution. Storage starts at 128GB and up to 2TB.
This device supports a second-generation (Apple Cil), keyboard (magic keyboard). The biggest feature is its high price, starting at only 799$ for the 128GB models and it is considered to be an inappropriate proportion of students.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple M2 |
| RAM | 8/16GB. |
| storage | 256/512GB, 1/2TB |
| Display | 12.9 inches, 2048 x 2732 pixels |
| Rear camera | 10/12MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Po 10758 mAh, 40.88 Wht |
| Price | 1,000$ |
5. iPad (2021)
iPad that you should buy in 2024 for students.
The ninth-generation of iPad is a good choice for students, with an excellent “10.2-inch” screen that works perfectly for reading books, taking notes, and drawing diagrams. It supports the first generation of Apple Pencil and can be connected to Apple’s smart keyboard.
Powered by an A13 Bionic processor and 64GB or 256GB of storage memory, the right sizes for most students. It has a 12MP front-facing camera, support for Center Stage, and only an 8MP rear-facing camera.
Starting at 329$ for Wi-Fi-only models with 64GB of storage memory, and 459$ for Wi-Fi-enabled, and LTE SIM cards with 64GB of storage memory.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB. |
| storage | 64/256TB |
| Display | 10.2 inches, 1620 x 2160 pixels |
| Rear camera | 8MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Po 8557 mAh 32.4 Wht |
| Price | 329$ |
Read also: Which iPad should you buy for college students?
6. iPad Air (2020)
iPad is most like a computer.
Powered by an M1 processor, the fifth-generation iPad Air features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina monitor with a 2360 x 1640 pixels resolution similar to the 10th-generation iPad and is backed by oil-resistant coatings and fingerprints.
It features a 12MP front-facing camera that supports Center Stage, which keeps you inside an image frame when you’re having video conversations or joining online lectures. It also has a 12MP rear-facing camera and is available with two internal storage options: 64GB and 256GB.
It does not support a Face ID, but on the other hand, it supports the Apple Pencil, the Magic Keyboard, and 5G networks; with all these features supported, students can use it as a personal computer.
Starting at $599 for Wi-Fi-only models with 64GB of storage memory, $749 for Wi-Fi-enabled, and SIM card LTE with 64GB of storage memory.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A14 |
| RAM | 4GB. |
| storage | 64/256TB |
| Display | 10.9 inches, 1640 x 2360 pixels |
| Rear camera | 12MP |
| front Camera | 7MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion 7606 mAh 28.93 Wht |
| Price | 599$ |
7. iPad 8th-generation (2020)
Unlike the previous version (7th generation) of the iPad, the new 8th generation of the iPad got a boost from the enhancements, with the A12 Bionic super processor, the same processor used for the advanced iPhone XS, at the top. Thanks to this processor, the 2020 8th generation iPad is capable of performing advanced tasks, and the manufacturer describes it as twice as fast as the best-selling Android tablet, even though the iPad is in the middle class, and even considered to be the cheapest modern iPad ever.
The new generation CPU is 40% faster than the previous generation; It’s also 30% faster than the 7th generation, and it also does support the 1st-generation, high-performance Apple Pencil. The device is also compatible with many accessories, The device is also compatible with many accessories, such as the smart keyboard from Apple, or accessories from other companies (third parties), such as those offered by the American company Logitech.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A12 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB |
| storage | 32/128TB |
| Display | 10.2 inches, 1620 x 2160 pixels |
| Rear camera | 8MP |
| front Camera | 1.2MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion, 32.4 Wht |
| Price | 329$ |
Read also: Best Budget Android Phones in 2023
8. iPad Pro 11
The iPad Pro 11 we’ve listed here is the same tablet as the 12.9-inch model listed directly at the top of this guide. The main difference is the screen size – the iPad Pro 11 has an 11-inch screen, while the iPad Pro 12.9 has … well, you might guess.
There are some indirect effects of this – basically, the battery of this tablet is a little smaller, although this doesn’t matter because the screen derives less charge. One of the other discounts is that it doesn’t get a small LED screen, and sticks to the LCD screen instead – which is why here, less on our list in terms of chipset, shipping speed, and accessory compatibility, however, this is essentially the same device, and it would be great for people who need a strong performance but don’t want to carry a huge model. And more importantly, it has the same looking – so it’s not going to disappoint the designs and the business users here. and finally, it’s worth mentioning that this iPad module is slightly cheaper than 12.9 inches.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple M1 |
| RAM | 8/16GB |
| storage | 256/512GB, 1/2TB |
| Display | 11 inches, 1668 x 2388 pixels |
| Rear camera | 12/10MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Po 7538 mAh 28.65Wht |
| Price | 799$ |
9. iPad Air 3
The best budget-friendly iPad.
This iPad Air has now been replaced not only by one version but by two newer versions. Both packages make promotions in terms of design, presentation, and processing power, and you should check them first. However, you may find the iPad Air 3 in a sale, or significantly reduce the recommended retail price for another reason. And these are the only times you should consider capturing this old module.
When we tested the tablet at launch, we found that it’s a great compromise between low-cost, entry-level iPad, and large-screen Pro models – it has a relatively large screen, so it’s great for streaming movies or playing games, and it’s also compatible with the Smart Keyboard cover for writing, and it works with the original Apple Pencil.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A12 Bionic |
| RAM | 3GB |
| storage | 64/256GB |
| Display | 10.5 inches, 1668 x 2224 pixels |
| Rear camera | 8MP |
| front Camera | 7MP |
| Battery | Li-Po, 8134 mAh |
| Price | 499$ |
Read here: The best iPad for drawing 2023
10. iPad mini (2021)
The best iPad mini for students.
iPad mini (2021) is arguably a more specialized offer than other Apple tablets. That’s why you find the last mention of this scope in the list.
After reviewing this module we can say that this iPad mini is a smaller, lightweight alternative to other panels, so if you want a device you can easily fit in your purse (or large pocket), it’s good for you.
We also found it very powerful considering its price, and we loved her modern design and her portability. But unfortunately, there are also some disappointments such as the battery life and accessory compatibility, so it’s worth mentioning that this is not the device to consider first when looking for a new iPad. There is certainly a market for the iPad Mini, but we imagine it is a more specific market than the iPad Pro or Air.
Specifications:
| operating system | iPad-OS 16.1 |
| CPU | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB |
| storage | 64/256GB |
| Display | 8.3 inches, 1488 x 2266 pixels |
| Rear camera | 12MP |
| front Camera | 12MP |
| Battery | Li-Ion, 19.3 Wht |
| Price | 499$ |
