Don’t be fooled by a crappy tablet, invest in the best iPad for students and make the most of your college experience. These iPads are especially useful when paired with the best college laptops, and can also be used with the Magic Keyboard.
Our top pick for the best iPad for students is none other than the iPad Air M2, a tablet that hits a solid middle ground between performance and affordability. The Apple M2 chip packs 8 GB of RAM and offers satisfying performance, but the product itself starts at a low price of $599. If that seems a little too expensive, we recommend the 10th generation iPad released in 2022. It’s powered by the A14 Bionic chip and only has 64 GB of storage, but assuming that’s enough, prices start as low as $349. Note that it does not work with Apple Intelligence features.
But for college students who can (somehow) afford all of their tuition, the M4-powered iPad Pro is definitely the best option, combining a gorgeous, high-resolution OLED display with impressive processing power. Artists will be happier than ever, especially when paired with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. Otherwise, Apple recently announced the iPad Mini, which starts at $499 and we predict it will be one of the best iPad products for students.
Without further ado, here are the best student iPads you can buy today.
quick list
Best Overall iPad for Students
LED display: 11 inch 2,360 x 1,640p or 13 inch 2,732 x 2,048p
Chip: Apple M2 with 8GB RAM
capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
+ Robust M2 chip power
+ Balanced performance at an affordable price
– 13-inch is the heaviest iPad on this list
The iPad Air M2 is the ideal choice for students who need an iPad, combining the power of Apple’s incredible M2 chip with an affordability that’s perfect for budget-conscious individuals. Essentially an ideal balance between quality and price, it offers 8GB of RAM (versus 4GB on the 10th generation iPad) and impressive processing performance.
The best iPad for students on a budget
LED display: 10.9 inches 2,360×1,640p
Chip: A14 Bionic 4GB RAM
capacity: 64GB, 256GB
+ Ideal for students on a budget
+ Bright and colorful display suitable for artists
– Not compatible with Apple Intelligence
The 2022 iPad A14 is a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable iPad without sacrificing too much performance. While the A14 can’t match the power of the M4, it’s still more than capable of running the iPadOS apps you need, and it also features a bright and colorful LED 10.9-inch display that’s perfect for artists. Please note that Apple Intelligence is not supported.
Best high-end iPad for students
OLED display: 11 inch 2,420 x 1,668p or 13 inch 2,752 x 2,06p
Chip: Apple M4 8GB RAM (16GB RAM, 1TB/2TB storage)
capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
+ M4 chip is very powerful
+ Shooting in Apple ProRes
+ Nano texture display for 1TB/2TB
+ Compatible with Apple Intelligence
– Starting from $1,000
For students looking for the ultimate iPad, there’s no better choice than the iPad Pro M4 right now. The power of the Apple M4, along with unique features like ProRes for visually lossless recording and nanotexture display options to reduce reflectance, makes it one of the most powerful tablets around.
How to choose the best iPad for your students
To find the best student iPad, determine your budget and which features make the most sense for you. First, ask yourself why you want an iPad and you’ll quickly find the answer.
If you don’t have a tablet or iPad, you can use it like a laptop to draw, take photos and videos, take notes, run applications, and even add accessories like the Magic Keyboard. If you want something affordable to play with, this is absolutely fine. Products with lower power consumption. The 10th generation iPad more than satisfies this, offering a bright and colorful LED display powered by the A14 Bionic chip while maintaining a lower price point.
If you already have a tablet or iPad but want something more powerful, or just need a more powerful machine to handle demanding tasks (and potentially more storage), iPad Air is a good choice for most users. It’s a little pricey, starting at $599, but it makes up for it with a powerful M2 chip and 8GB of RAM, and can also be configured with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.
And finally, the iPad Pro with M4 is the first choice for those willing to splurge but want the fastest processing performance along with great additional features. Best of all, it has a gorgeous OLED display and has amazing additional benefits like ProRes recording for visually lossless files. Nanotextured displays are also available to reduce reflectance. This is especially useful if you plan to use your device in harsh sunlight.
