Don't be slowed down by shoddy tablets and invest in one of the best student iPads to get the most out of your college days. These iPads are especially useful when paired with our best college laptops, and could even be used as one with a magic keyboard.
Our number one pick for best student iPad is none other than the iPad Air M2, a tablet that fuilfills a solid middle ground between performance and affordability. Its Apple M2 chip delivers satisfying performance backed by 8GB of RAM, yet the product itself starts as low as $599. If that seems a bit steep for you, we recommend the 10th generation iPad, which launched in 2022. It's powered by the A14 Bionic chip and starts as low as $349, although that's with only 64GB of storage, assuming that's enough for you. Just keep in mind, it doesn't function with Apple Intelligence features.
But for college students who (somehow) have money to spare after all of your tuition expenses, the iPad Pro powered by M4 is without a doubt the best pick available, featuring excellent processing performance in a gorgeous, high-resolution OLED display that will make artists happier than ever, especially when paired with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. Otherwise, Apple recently announced the iPad Mini starting at $499, and we predict it'll sit among the best iPad products for students.
Without further ado, here are the best student iPads you can buy right now.
Quick list
Best student iPad overall
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
+ Solid M2 chip power
+ Balanced performance at a great price
- 13-inch is the heaviest iPad on this list
The iPad Air M2 is the ideal choice for students in need of an iPad, combining Apple's incredible M2 chip power with an affordable price tag that is ideal for budget-conscious individuals. It's essentially the ideal balance of quality and price, providing 8GB of RAM (versus the 10th generation iPad's 4GB) with processing performance that will not disappoint.
Best budget student iPad
LED Display: 10.9-inch 2,360 x 1,640p
Chip: A14 Bionic with 4GB of RAM
Capacity: 64GB, 256GB
+ Perfect for budget conscious students
+ Bright and colorful display good for artists
- Not Apple Intelligence compatible
The iPad A14 from 2022 is an excellent choice for those who want a budget iPad without making major sacrifices in performance. A14 won't be able to match the power of M4, but it's still more than capable of running necessary iPadOS applications, and also has a bright and colorful LED 10.9-inch display ideal for artists. Keep in mind, it's not Apple Intelligence compatible.
Best high-end student iPad
OLED Display: 11-inch 2,420 x 1,668p or 13-inch 2,752 x 2,06p
Chip: Apple M4 with 8GB RAM (16GB RAM with 1TB/2TB storage)
Capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
+ M4 Chip is exceptionally powerful
+ Filming in Apple ProRes
+ Nano-texture display for 1TB/2TB
+ Apple Intelligence compatible
- Starts at $1,000
If you're a student looking for the ultimate iPad, there's no greater choice than the iPad Pro M4 at the moment. The power of Apple M4 will deliver one of the strongest tablets out there, alongside unique features like ProRes that allows for visually lossless recordings, and nano-texture display option for reduced reflectivity.
How to choose the best student iPads
Finding the best student iPad a matter of budget and determining which features make the most sense for you. Begin by asking yourself the reasons you want an iPad, and you'll come to an answer in no time.
If you don't own a tablet or an iPad and want something affordable to draw with, snap photos/videos, take notes, run applications, and potentially even using like a laptop with an accessory like Magic Keyboard, you can absolutely get away with a lower powered product. The 10th generation iPad will be more than capable of fulfilling this, yielding a bright and colorful LED display with the A14 Bionic chip, yet maintaining a lower price point.
If you already have a tablet or an iPad but want something more powerful, or simply need a stronger machine to handle demanding tasks (and potentially require greater storage), the iPad Air is a good bet for most users. It's a bit more expensive, starting at $599, but it makes up for it with the powerful M2 chip and 8GB of RAM, also capable of being configured with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.
And finally, the iPad Pro powered by M4 is the number one choice for those willing to splurge, but also want to get access to the fastest processing performance alongside excellent additional features. Best of all, it's behind a gorgeous OLED display, and has amazing additional benefits like ProRes recording that allows for visually lossless files. Nano-texture display is also available for reduced reflectivity, which is especially useful if you plan to use the device in harsh sunlight.
