Best Tablets under $300 for students and school

Best Pick

Apple iPad 11" 11-inch A16 chip Blue 2025

77.1 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its A16 chip and all-day battery life power a responsive 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone. The device excels as a portable entertainment and creative hub, especially when paired with accessories like the Apple Pencil for note-taking. This iPad is best for students and casual users who prioritize media consumption, light gaming, and handwritten notes over demanding multitasking.

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad mini 7.9" 128GB Silver 2015

34.6 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its 7.9-inch Retina display and compact 467g weight make it exceptionally portable for a device with a high-resolution screen. The inclusion of a Touch ID sensor and a 128GB storage capacity are notable features for a refurbished model in this category. This iPad Mini is best for users seeking a highly portable, secondary device primarily for reading e-books and consuming media on the go.

Apple iPad mini 7.9" 128GB Silver 2015 tablet
Price $300
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Also available open box & refurbished:

Apple Aluminum

19.2 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its aluminum alloy housing provides a premium, durable build uncommon for basic keyboards. The full-size layout with a numeric keypad and 12 dedicated Apple shortcuts enhances efficiency for data entry and Mac navigation. This keyboard is best for Mac users who need a reliable, wired input device for extended spreadsheet work or financial tasks.

Best Tablets under $600 for students and school

Best Pick

Apple iPad 11" A16 Chip Kit Pink 2025

81.2 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its A16 chip and 512GB storage deliver robust performance for editing photos and videos directly on the 11-inch Liquid Retina display. The device excels as a portable entertainment and creative hub, especially when paired with accessories like the Apple Pencil for note-taking. This iPad is best for students and artists who prioritize a large canvas for digital drawing and media consumption over heavy multi-tasking productivity.

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad mini 8.3" Space Gray 2024

70.8 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the powerful A17 Pro chip, which delivers excellent performance for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks within a compact 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display. The device is built for Apple Intelligence, offering enhanced writing and task assistance with a focus on privacy, and it maintains all-day battery life in a portable 293-gram form factor. This iPad mini is best for mobile gamers and users who prioritize a highly portable media consumption and note-taking device with Apple Pencil support.

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Apple 11" Space Gray

40.6 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its M2 chip and all-day battery life power a versatile 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color. As a Geek Squad Certified Refurbished unit, it offers a cost-effective entry into the iPadOS ecosystem with support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. This iPad Air is best for students and creatives who prioritize portability and note-taking or digital sketching over heavy, desktop-style productivity work.

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Apple 11" Space Gray tablet
Price $560
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Also available open box & refurbished:

Best Tablets under $1,000 for students and school

Best Pick

Apple iPad Air 13" Space Gray 2025

95.1 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M3 chip, which provides desktop-class performance for demanding creative apps on a 13-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen. The device's excellent scores for art and design are further enhanced by its support for the Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard connector. This iPad Air is best for digital artists and illustrators who need a powerful, portable canvas with precise stylus input.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Apple iPad mini 8.3" Space Gray 2024

72.2 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its compact 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and lightweight 299g design make it exceptionally portable. The powerful Apple A17 Pro chip ensures smooth performance for apps and games. This tablet is best for users who prioritize a highly portable device for reading, media consumption, and on-the-go connectivity over heavy productivity tasks.

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Best Tablets under $1,500 for students and school

Best Pick

Apple iPad Pro 11" M4 Chip 2024

100 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M4 chip paired with a vibrant 11-inch OLED display, delivering exceptional performance and visual clarity. The device's premium build quality and seamless integration with the Apple Pencil make it a powerful tool for digital creation. This iPad Pro is best for professional artists and designers who require a highly portable, studio-grade canvas for detailed illustration and on-the-go content creation.

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Great Alternatives

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Apple iPad Air 13" Starlight

93 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the powerful Apple M4 chip paired with 12GB of RAM, enabling smooth multitasking and advanced AI processing. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display offers a sharp 2732x2048 resolution and excellent color accuracy, making it ideal for detailed visual work. This tablet is best for digital artists and designers who need a portable, high-performance canvas with precise Apple Pencil Pro support.

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Apple 13" Purple

41.2 Students Score
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the Apple M3 chip paired with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, enabling powerful performance for creative tasks and Apple Intelligence features. The device is further differentiated by its full compatibility with accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, which expand its functionality beyond a typical tablet. This iPad Air is best for digital artists and note-takers who require a large, color-accurate canvas and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem for on-the-go creation.

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Apple 13" Purple tablet
Price $1,450

Premium Tablets for students and school

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