Puzzled by the question of what is the best tablet for students? We’ve rounded up the best tablets of 2020 for iPad OS, Android, and Windows. These five models are distinguished by performance, functionality, build quality, and unique solutions. In this article we will give you a complete guide about best tablets for students in 2020.
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Best tablets for students:2020
The reality is that if you want the very best tablet, truly off the shelf, that will perform perfectly for years to come, you buy the iPad Pro. Those who have had the opportunity to use it for a long time know what speed and smoothness to expect. Apple iPad Pro impress with their speed and ease of use. Nevertheless, for home, you can recommend a few good models for Android if you decide to buy an inexpensive but good tablet.
Best tablets for students: So Which Tablet Should You Buy?
- Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020)
- Apple iPad Air 10.5 (2019)
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 10.5
- Huawei MediaPad M6 10.8
What is it for?
First of all, the best tablets for students can, in many cases, complement or even replace a light laptop. A perfect example of this is the new iPad Pro with its optional Magic Keyboard. Of course, you will have to pay dearly for it, but this offer is for employees of companies (corporations) or wealthy users who expect the best experience and the highest comfort at work.
The choice of tablets with keyboards is not limited to Apple products. Among others, there are excellent devices on the market from Samsung, Huawei (Android), and, of course, Microsoft, with their Surface Pro (Windows) models.
The best tablets are often bought for company employees looking for an integrated ecosystem, years of technical support and updates, and seamless performance with a variety of compatible accessories.
Devices running on iPadOS and Windows operating systems are the most interesting offers for these companies. On the other hand, many also buy cheap Android tablets, which in most cases, are enough for work (for example, for a warehouse or sales representatives), but this is a topic for a separate article.
Creative people want to use the stylus on their tablets, with the appropriate software. You can also add advanced augmented reality (AR) features here. Quick sketches, drawings, notes, and even 3D models or interior designs can all be accomplished with a modern tablet.
Best tablets for students with a large screen is especially good for working. Many also enjoy playing and reading e-books. Of course, 10 “or even 12” hardware is much heavier than an e-book reader. Hands get tired of it faster, but when traveling, for example, by train, this will be a good addition.
The most modern Android, Windows, or iPadOS tablet?
The coolest Windows tablet, after plugging in the keyboard, works just like a regular laptop. You will be able to use the same applications and drivers as on your home computer. You will usually also receive long term support for updates. These are great benefits for companies and other users.
If you want touch control that is more convenient, intuitive, and extremely fast, and you can get all the new updates over the years, then buy an iPad. User comfort is at the highest level here, and the choice of quality applications and accessories is very wide. The price will be high but not too high when considering the basic versions of the iPad. However, you have to get used to the fact that part of the synchronization with your computer is done through iTunes.
If you are an Android smartphone user and want to have a clear and beloved Google ecosystem, then buying an Android tablet is not a bad idea. Here you can count on lower prices and a wide range of free programs. The gesture experience is not as good as on the iPad, and the smoothness can also be inferior as Android’s optimizations are worse than the iPad’s.
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) – the best tablet ever
If you are a creative person, designing, drawing, and want to conveniently create sketches, notes, working with mobile devices, while expecting maximum speed and productivity, buy the latest iPad Pro with a stylus. Especially with a 12.9-inch display.
Its large, bright, very crisp screen with optional Magic Keyboard makes it very comfortable to work, almost like on a MacBook. Of course, this is still the iPadOS mobile system, which is less functional than Windows 10. However, in terms of speed and ease of touch control, it is much better.
The 2020 Apple iPad Pro also has secure Face ID unlocking and good cameras with 4K recording. There’s even a LiDAR scanner for more accurate 3D mapping or augmented reality effects. This is rightfully the best tablet of 2020. We think Apple iPad Pro is the best tablet for students.
Main characteristics Operating System:
- iPadOS Screen (diagonal): 12.9 inches
- Display (resolution): 2732 x 2048 pixels
- Processor (number of cores): 8 cores
- Internal memory: 128 GB Weight: 641 grams.
Apple iPad Air 10.5 (2019) – a fast tablet with Retina display
iPad Air 10.5 (2019) is the perfect deal for most people looking for a versatile tablet, mainly for movies, games, music, web browsing, and sometimes reading books or magazines.
It is not so advanced, there is no magnetic connector, and Face ID unlocks, the camera is also worse. However, the device is very fast, and its gesture-based touch controls are extremely comfortable and basically outperform any Android tablet.
Main characteristics Operating System:
- IOS 12 Screen (diagonal): 10.5 inches
- Display (resolution): 2224 × 1668 pixels
- Processor (number of cores): 6 cores
- Internal memory: 64 GB
- Weight 456 grams.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 12.3 is the best Windows tablet.
The Surface series is already a high-end brand in its own right. You can even say that these are legendary devices among business tablets. The model is far from cheap, but it has several huge advantages over its competitors.
Firstly, it is a full-fledged Windows 10 operating system in which you can work on a regular laptop or desktop computer (the same programs). Secondly, it has Intel Core i3, i5, and even i7 processors and up to 16 GB of RAM. Third, it supports standard USB Type-A and C ports to which you can plug anything.
The equipment also features a modern fast wireless connection and good workmanship. You can even buy the useful Type Cover keyboard if you need a tablet that looks like a laptop in practice.
Main characteristics
- Operating system: Windows 10
- Screen (diagonal): 12.3 inches
- Display (resolution): 2736 x 1824 pixels
- Processor (number of cores): 4 cores
- Internal memory: 128 GB
- Weight: 775 grams.
Best tablets for students10.5 is the best Android tablet.
Galaxy Tab S6 10.5 is a fast Android tablet suitable for multimedia and simple office work. It got an excellent processor that guarantees flawless performance even in the latest games or advanced programs.
It also has a large and bright AMOLED display that makes movies and photos look very beautiful. In addition, the kit already includes an active stylus for sketching, writing handwritten notes, editing graphics, and even remote control of the camera. Optionally, you can purchase a cover with a keyboard and touchpad. Thanks to this, the tablet will replace the laptop to some extent.
Main characteristics
- Operating system: Android 9.0
- Screen (diagonal): 10.5 inches
- Display (resolution): 2560 × 1600 pixels
- Processor (number of cores): 8 cores
- Internal memory: 128 GB
- Weight 420 grams.
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Huawei MediaPad M6 10.8 is the best Huawei tablet on Android
The MediaPad M6 is a near-ideal tablet for general home use and can sometimes be taken on the go. It has a large, high-quality screen that guarantees your child hours of entertainment in the car or on the couch while watching movies. Four very good speakers also contribute to this.
The device is also suitable for games because it has a fairly powerful processor and 4 GB of RAM. In addition, here, you can use an interesting desktop mode that makes the Android system look like Windows and allows you to conveniently control the device using the keyboard or mouse. It is worth noting that the keyboard is sold separately, and there are no pre-installed Google applications. They are partially replaced by Huawei services (HMS).
Main characteristics
- Operating System: EMUI 10
- Screen (diagonal): 10.8 inches
- Display (resolution): 2560 × 1600 pixels
- Processor (number of cores): 8 cores
- Internal memory: 64 GB
- Weight: 498 grams.
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Difference Between Huawei MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro
There has been a sharp decline in sales of Android tablets lately. However, Huawei still manages to be the most successful in this market. The previous MediaPad M3 was a solid tablet, and the company has updated this lineup with the new Huawei MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro devices.
The design of the MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro is standard – an all-metal body, smooth to the touch. The corners are nicely rounded, and the back tapers off at the edges for a comfortable fit in hand. New in design is the addition of 2.5D glass to the front panel, which perfectly complements the rounded and curved aesthetics of the tablets. Both the M5 and M5 Pro have plastic antennas on the top and bottom of the case for better signal reception and cellular connectivity.
Unlike smartphones with small bezels, the Huawei MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro have solid and wide bezels, but that makes sense. Wide bezel allows you to comfortably hold your tablet without touching the display.
Certain controls on the MediaPad M5 Pro only allow you to use your tablet in landscape orientation. Portrait use will be inconvenient due to the location of the power and volume buttons on the side. The 8.4-inch MediaPad M5, by contrast, is designed for portrait orientation, with ports and buttons positioned like regular smartphones. The power and volume keys are on the right side, while the front camera and Huawei logo are on the top front. The USB Type-C port is located at the bottom.MediaPad M5 Pro is also the best tablet for students.
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Tablet performance
The Huawei MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro tablets are equipped with IPS displays with a resolution of 2560 × 1600. But, the M5’s screen is 8.4-inches, while the M5 Pro offers a much more viewing experience at 10.8-inches.
Both MediaPad M5s have Huawei’s own latest-generation Kirin 960 processor and 4GB of RAM underneath. The tablets are fast and responsive, and the performance is good enough for everyday use. With scrolling interface, web browsing, multitasking, and graphically simple games, the gadgets coped without problems.
How well they will work in the future only time will tell, at the moment, the Huawei MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro do an excellent job with my daily demands.
Hardware
The MediaPad M5 and M5 Pro are available in versions with 32, 64, and 128 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. There is also a SIM card slot in LTE variants. Front-mounted fingerprint scanners can be used to navigate the OS instead of on-screen buttons. A headphone jack is not provided on both models, but a headset adapter is included in the package.
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Sound from speakers
Huawei makes up for all the shortcomings with the impressive Harmon Kardon speakers. The 8.4-inch M5 has two speakers, while the 10.8-inch has a sharper four-channel speaker system. The speakers are not only loud but also have good sound quality. So, they are crisp, with no signs of distortion, even at maximum volume. However, these are some of the best speakers that make listening to music on your tablet more enjoyable.
Keyboard dock and stylus
What sets the Huawei MediaPad M5 apart from the M5 Pro is a docking station with a keyboard and an M-Pen stylus that lets you draw drawings, jot down notes, and even do handwritten calculations using the calculator app. The Huawei stylus is the size of a regular pen, making it more convenient to use. It also has a built-in battery that charges via a USB Type-C port hidden under a clip.
Which tablet is the best?
We think Apple iPad Pro 2020 is the best tablet for students. It is the best in terms of speed and enjoyment, as well as system optimization. Ideal for movies, university works, games, internet, and work. Especially when combined with Magic Keyboard.
