Unlike the high school environment, college life is utterly different, your time and schedule will no longer be dictated by others. Now, you have control over your time and responsibilities; therefore, you can decide what you want to become.
If you’re in a hurry, check out our top choice GALAXY TAB S4 View at Amazon.
In college life, instead of writing notes to friends, you’ll take notes for yourself. It is one of the most crucial processes of a college study, and students do it mostly on-the-go. But, nowadays, everything has been digitalized, you don’t need to carry a traditional notebook and pen to do the same. There are many portable laptop and tablets are available which allow working in a smarter way.
Also, read: best tablet for Microsoft OneNote
After writing lots of post on the different types of tablets and laptops, some of my readers requested to write a post on the best tablets for college note taking. And, it’s here! in this post, I will discuss the all-important features which will be helpful to select a perfect tablet for you, and also, you’ll get my all recommendation from budget to expensive for the top-rated college tablets.
QUICK OVERVIEW
Top Rated Tablets for College Students for Notes Taking
| LG G Pad AK495 |
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab A |
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| Lenovo Yoga Book |
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| Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro |
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Editor’s Choice for Android |
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Apple iPad Pro Editor’s Choice for iOS |
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Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Editor’s Choice for Windows |
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Best Tablets for College Students in 2023 – Reviews
1. LG G Pad F 8.0 AK495 (Cheapest Tablet for College Students)
1.32 lbs | 8-inch | IPS | 1280 x 800 | 1 GB | 16 GB | Android 6.0
If you need a cheaper tablet for your college needs, the LG G Pad could be a nice choice. It is offering an 8-inch IPS display with HD resolution, and with the built-in stylus, it can be used for notes taking.
Also, keep in mind because it is a budget tablet; therefore, it has some flaws like low memory and old Android OS. However, considering the low price it totally worth it.
First of all, it is offering an 8-Inch IPS display with HD resolution, which provides wide view angles, and good color quality. In fact, the display resolution is a bit low, however, if you’re going to use for only notes-taking or some usual task then it is still pretty good.
According to the manufacturer, this model is offering Wi-Fi connectivity along with 3G support, which provides a flexible user experience.
When it comes to performance, you’ll be getting a 1.2 GHz Quad-Core processor, which can deliver a justified performance. Moreover, with the inbuilt 16 GB storage capacity, you can store lots of data, and which is also upgradable up to 128 GB with a microSD card.
As I said above the OS is a bit older, it is powered by the Android 5.0 and might be upgradable up to 6.0 (not sure). But it is still not a bad deal around 100 bucks.
Despite the low memory and a bit old Android version, the LG G Pad F 8.0 is still one of the best cheap tablets for college students which is offering an 8-inch IPS display, built-in stylus, and flexible connectivity options.
PROS
- Most affordable price
- Good display quality with IPS panel and HD resolution
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Built-in stylus to take notes
- Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity
CONS
- Old Android version
- Not ideal for heavy users
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab A (Best Affordable Tablet for Students)
1.23 lbs | 10.1-inch | TFT | 1920 x 1080 | 3 GB | 16 GB | 14 hours | Android 6.0
As you know, Samsung is one of the leading technology giants which has been spread their leg all over the world. Whether it’s about the smartphone, laptop, tablets, smart tv, smartwatches or even the refrigerator you can find many high-class products from Samsung.
When it comes to Samsung’s tablets there are lots of models are available. The Samsung SM-P580NZKAXAR is one of the most successful tablets from their budget range lineup. Additionally, with the inbuilt stylus, it becomes a considerable option for note taking for college students.
If you are looking for an affordable tablet for taking notes it could be a solid option. With the 3GB RAM, 10.1-inch full HD display and inbuilt stylus, it can be used for many tasks like browsing, movies watching or notes taking.
Despite an octa-core processor and high performance, this tablet is offering 14 hours of battery backup on web browsing. It is really appreciable that it can last up to a whole day with a single charge. I forgot to tell you, you’ll get 16GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable up to 256 GB with a microSD card.
As I said, this model is coming with a stylus and which is called S Pen in case of Samsung. Basically, S Pen not only allows to take simple notes but also you can create custom animated GIFs or take notes even without unlocking screen, which is very useful if you’re in a very hurry.
Here I want to tell you, this tablet is equipped with the full HD TFT screen, which is very sharp and bright, the view angles are not as great as the IPS though.
Overall the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is probably the best tablet for taking notes at the inexpensive price range, which is offering a big display with good picture quality, an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, and built-in stylus.
If you don’t want to spend more on your tablet it could be a nice choice.
PROS
- Most reasonable price
- Big screen with full HD resolution
- Longer battery life
- Good performance with octa-core processor and 3GB RAM
- Built-in stylus allows taking notes easily even on lock-screen
- Expandable storage capacity up to 256GB
CONS
- A bit older Android version (6.0)
3. Lenovo Yoga Book (Portable Tablet cum Notebook for Students)
1.5 lb | 10.1-inch | IPS | 1920 x 1200 | 4 GB | 64 GB | 12-hours | Android 6.0
The Lenovo Yoga Book is probably the most unique tablet of our list which is coming with 360-degree foldable design and looks like a portable notebook. Actually, it has a sensitive pad on the opposite side of the screen which can be used for drawing and typing both purposes. Therefore, it could be a sweet spot for your writing notes along with the benefit of a notebook.
First, let’s talk about the performance, the Lenovo Yoga Book is offering an Intel Atom x5-Z8550 processor along with the 4GB of RAM which ensures the outstanding processing during drawing, browsing or playing games. Moreover, with the 64GB of SSD (solid state drive), it allows storing lots of data including videos, music, photos, or documents.
As I said this tablet is offering a foldable pad which can be used for drawing or typing. Basically, this typing has been possible by the software-based keyboard, which is called Halo keyboard and will only appear when you need it, rest of the time it works as a highly sensitive drawing pad. Yes, it is a super sensitive pad which has 2048 level of pressure sensitivity It means you can do realistic drawings or take notes with a real pen stylus and real ink by placing a paper on the pad.
I hope you have understood, it is a high-performance laptop in the portable shape of tablet.
Like our previous tablet, it also has a 10-inch display with full HD resolution but here you’re getting an IPS panel which provides more realistic colors with wide view angles. Moreover, it has great audio quality with Dolby Atmos technology; therefore, you can use it for movie watching by placing in watch mode.
As I told you above it has a 360-degree foldable design, and watch mode is one of them. It can be used in four styles create mode (note-taking and drawing), type mode (productive laptop), watch mode (enjoy movies of videos), and browse mode (compact tablet).
When we see this tablet from the price point, it is way better than the previous Samsung tablet in terms of performance, design, durability, and usability.
If you are looking for a budget tablet for writing notes or drawing, the Lenovo Yoga Book could be the perfect choice which is offering many outstanding features without an expensive price.
PROS
- Very reasonable price
- A big IPS panel with full HD resolution ensures the amazing pictures quality
- Can be used for drawing or writing notes with real pen and paper
- With Halo keyboard use as a productive laptop
- 360-degree design provides flexibility usage
- Amazing sound quality with Dolby Atmos for watching movies or listening to music
- Good battery life
- Thinner size despite a convertible design
CONS
- A bit old Android Marshmallow version
4. Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro (Great Choice for Mid-Range)
1.1 lbs | 10.8-inch | IPS | 2560 x 1600 | 4 GB | 64 GB | 10.5 hours | Android 8.0 | USB Type-C, QC
If you can move your budget slider to a bit higher, then you can get the Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro which is a better tablet with outstanding design and performance. Its design is somewhat inspired by Apple’s iPad; therefore, it is offering the metal unibody with 2.5D curved glass design. Besides appealing design, it can provide an amazing picture quality and performance.
First and foremost, this tablet is offering the 2560 x 1600 pixels of resolution in the 10-inch IPS display, which can deliver a sharper and vivid image quality. Moreover, it is offering the Quad speaker’s setup which is tuned by the Harman/Kardon and delivers a paramount sound quality.
For writing notes, you’ll be getting an M-Pen with this tablet which ensures the natural experience.
If we talk about the performance, the Huawei M5 Pro is powered by an octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and offers 64GB of storage capacity. It is the perfect blend for a wonderful performance, whether it’s about the gaming, work, or even watching movies it will allow to anything seamlessly.
There is a great thing about this tablet is, along with longer battery life, it is offering the fast charging feature. Therefore, it can be fully charged within the 2.9 hours for a whole day marathon.
Last but not least, with the Android 8.0 base Huawei Emotion UI 8.0 it ensures the optimum performance with security. in facts, the Emotion UI has some bloatware that I personally don’t like, but it’s not a deal breaker though.
Overall, the Huawei Media M5 Pro is probably the best tablet for college students for taking notes at the mid-range price, which is offering the beautiful design, gorgeous picture quality, decent performance, big storage, and long battery life with fast charging.
PROS
- Brilliant picture quality with high-resolution display IPS display
- Great performance with an octa-core processor, 4GB RAM
- Longer battery life with fast charging capability
- Quad speakers deliver an impressive sound quality
- Responsive stylus for smoother drawing and natural notes taking
- Premium metal body 2.5D curved design without a premium price
- Fingerprint and latest OS for better security
CONS
- Emotion UI has some bloatware
5. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 (Overall Best Android Tablet for Students)
1.06 lbs | 10.5-inch | Super AMOLED | 2560 x 1600 | 4 GB | 64 GB /256 GB | 16-hours | Android O
Previously, the Galaxy Tab S3 was holding this place, but on the update of the article, I have substituted it with the Latest Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. The latest Galaxy S4 is better than its previous S3 model in terms of screen quality, performance, and battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still a great choice if you have some lower budget.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is coming with a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1600 pixels of resolution which delivers a vivid, vibrant, and sharper image quality. As an AMOLED display, it can provide a higher contrast ratio than the IPS display, it means the image quality will be more appealing.
Unlike the previous version, the latest Samsung Galaxy has high data storage capacity, you can get up to 256GB variant. Moreover, with the Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM, it can provide outstanding performance.
Here is an interesting thing, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 can be used as a full PC, you just need to connect the keyboard cover with Dex. Moreover, with the included S Pen you can do more than just taking notes, with the higher-pressure sensitivity and accuracy you can take your creativity on the next level.
If you enjoy watching movies or TV shows then you’ll love its cinematic Dolby Atmos surround sound which completes the immersive viewing experience with Super AMOLED display.
With the longest battery life, it can last more than a day on video playback with a single charge. Moreover, the fast charging feature will allow to load it up quickly for your whole day journey.
It doesn’t matter that you are going to use your tablet for drawing, gaming, browsing or movies watching, the Samsung Tab S4 can handle it all with ease. This buddy is coming with almost latest Android O version which ensures the higher security and performance.
If you’re looking for the best Android tablets for your college need, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is the complete package whether it’s about performance, design, display quality, battery life or durability.
In facts, this tablet is a bit expensive, if your budget is something low, you might like Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 which is still a great choice.
PROS
- Outstanding display quality with Super AMOLED panel and higher resolution
- Crisp color with the higher contrast ratio
- With the Dex and keyboard cover can be used as a full PC
- Very sensitive stylus for seamless drawing or notes taking
- Brilliant performance with Snapdragon processor and 4GB RAM
- Large storage capacity
- Longest battery life with fast charging feature
- Latest Android version with Google Assistant feature
- Cinematic sound quality with Dolby Atmos support
CONS
- Price is higher, especially for the 256GB variant
- Keyboard cover need to be purchased separately
6. Apple iPad Pro (Most Premium Tablet for College Students)
1.03 lbs | 11-inch | IPS | 2388 x 1668 | 4 GB | 64 GB – 1TB | 10-hours | iOS12 | USB-C
You also have to admit that, there is no doubt the latest Apple iPad Pro is the most extravagant tablet on the planet earth. If you have a large budget then you don’t need to look elsewhere, it is a perfect choice and would be the right investment for your money. However, the latest iPad is also a fantastic option without spending an awful amount of money, and it is offering almost all premium features, you can also take a look at it.
If I would suggest the latest iPad only for taking notes then it would be like shooting a fly with an Army tank. Therefore, if you don’t have any special requirement then I don’t suggest to spend extra, there are many good tablets are listed up for you.
The latest iPad is offering an 11-inch Retina display with ProMotion True One and wide color which delivers the real life-like colors. It is probably the richest display quality you can ever get into a tablet device.
If we talk about the performance, the A12X bionic chip has repulse all rivals in the benchmark score, and it proves that you will be getting the highest performance that you can imagine from a tablet. Moreover, this year, you can get iPad Pro with up to 1TB of storage capacity.
The camera quality of Apple’s devices has been always appreciated by users, and this latest iPad Pro is beyond expectation. The 12MP back and 7MP front cameras are capable to shoot videos up to 4K resolution, and all trendy feature like portrait mode, AR, HDR, Animoji, and Memoji are also available for you.
Aesthetically, the latest iPad pro has been totally redesigned and it has become thinner, lightweight, and more beautiful too. The sound quality also has been improved, it is loaded with Quad-speaker setup which delivers surround-sound quality.
If I talk about the drawing capability, then it will blow your mind, because of the highly responsive latest Apple Pencil and high-resolution display you won’t able to feel that you’re drawing on a tablet instead of a real paper. Additionally, the Apple Pencil now responds to your touch as well, and you can quickly switch between the brushes or eraser without interrupting your workflow.
With the Smart Keyboard Folio, you can use this as a full laptop for your productivity need.
The good news! the latest iPad Pro has finally adopted the USB Type-C port; therefore, it has opened a large number of doors to connect with different devices like cameras, drones or external displays.
There are many things to say about this unbelievable piece of technology, it is probably the best tablet of 2023 for everyone needs, expensive though.
If you’re not ready to spend much money, you might like Apple’s latest iPad model which is also a nice choice for the lower price.
PROS
- Highest quality display with real life-like colors
- The top-notch performance with A12X Bionic chip
- Surround sound quality with quad speakers
- Slimmest and lightweight design
- Highly responsive Apple Pencil allow working naturally
- USB Type-C to connect with external displays or compatible devices
- Outstanding camera quality with all latest features
- Can be used as a full notebook with Folio keyboard
- Most secure Face ID
CONS
- Very expensive price, not for everyone
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Most Powerful Tablet for College Students)
1.73 lbs | 12.3-inch | IPS | 2736 x 1824 | 8/16 GB | 128 GB – 1TB | 13.5-hours | Win10 Pro
If you need a real laptop level performance, I think Microsoft Windows is the finest option, however, iPad Pro is also a great option but when we talk about the laptop level performance and usability then latest Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is a more viable option.
Why?
Actually, firstly the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is a powerful laptop, then we can consider it as a tablet. It is a full replacement for your desktop, you can get an idea of how powerful is that.
The best thing about this tablet is, you can configure your unit as per the requirements, it is available with 128GB to 1TB storage, 8GB to 16GB RAM, and Intel i5 to i7. After seeing the configuration, I don’t need to tell you how amazing is the Intel i7 processor which is also accompanied by the big RAM and SSD storage.
As I said above it is a powerful laptop; therefore, it is equipped with a 12.3-inch big IPS screen with 2736 x 1824 pixels of resolution which can deliver vibrant and accurate picture quality, also provides more room to work with multiple applications. Moreover, with the Surface Pen, you can write or draw directly to the screen with natural and higher precision, but you have to purchase the pen separately.
In the design aspect, the Surface Pro 6 looks very stunning, the metal unibody design with thin bezel screen can impress anyone with a first look.
Also, keep in mind due to the big screen and metal body design it is comparatively heavy than other tablets of our list. However, it is still very lighter than a common laptop.
According to the manufacturer, this latest Surface Pro has a longer battery life, which can last up to 13.5 hours on video playback with a single charge. It is really appreciable when we think about the display size and performance.
If you are looking for a powerful tablet for taking notes which should work as fully laptop too, the latest Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is probably a solid option as per the current market.
PROS
- Biggest display with higher color accuracy and brightness
- Available with different configurations
- Solid build quality with appealing design
- Most powerful performance with large storage capacity
- Longer battery life
CONS
- The high-end model is too expensive
- Comparatively heavy
Best Tablets for College Note Taking in 2023 – Buyer’s Guide
Choosing a perfect tablet for notes taking depends on some factors, and I promised above, this section will tell you which features you should need to be considered before choosing the best college tablet in 2023.
Whenever we go to buy a laptop or tablet the first thing that comes our mind is size.
Then what is the perfect size and resolution for note taking tablets?
Size and Resolution
Size is somewhat a subjective choice, some users may prefer to have a big size tablet like 10-inch or even above for immersive viewing and powerful multitasking, while some users may like a portable tablet for convenient usage. However, in most of the cases, an 8-inch to 10-inch tablets work just fantastic, it is enough to take notes, watching movies or browsing the internet, without taking you down with higher weight.
When it comes to the resolution, for an 8-inch size full HD resolution is pretty enough, it can provide an amazing image accuracy. However, if your budget is higher, you can go with even higher resolution, but human eyes won’t able to see the much difference between full HD and 2K displays.
Stylus
It doesn’t matter how shiny or expensive paper you have, without a good pen you can’t write or draw in your perfect way. It also fits well with the notes-taking tablets, and you’ll need to think about the stylus characteristics. However, if you’re going to use your tablet only for taking notes then you don’t need to worry about that much, but if you also want to draw then it definitely deserves some consideration.
Before picking a perfect stylus, here are some important features which describe the stylus’s quality.
Pressure Sensitivity: As much higher the pressure sensitivity the stylus will be more responsive. It can be a few thousand, usually, 1,000 pressure sensitivity is pretty good for writing notes seamlessly, while a drawing enthusiast can take advantage of higher sensitivity for creative strokes.
Nibs: Soft nibs are ideal for notes taking while hard nib works best for drawing purpose.
Buttons: Some stylus comes with programmable buttons which can be used for performing some frequent commands like, to switch between the pen and eraser.
Extras
These are some other features you can look into, not too important though.
Quick Charging: Along with longer battery life, if tablet supports the quick charging feature then it would be better. It can save precious time whenever you’ll be in hurry. This information can be found in the products specification section.
USB Type-C: Yes! it is a very popular port nowadays because it offers faster data transfer along with quick charging (some exceptions are there). The cool thing about the USB Type-C is the symmetrical design, you can connect in both way without the need to see the right side.
Weight: As I said above, if you will choose a tablet around 8-inch to 10-inch, it can be used for a whole day without any fatigue. While if you choose a larger size, then it could be a bit heavy, but it will also give you more space to work.
Durability: Falling tablets accidentally from the hand is the most common thing; therefore, we need to think about the tablet’s durability. If you are getting a metal body design then it’s not a big deal to accept some extra weight.
Wrapping it up
If you will try to find the best notes-taking tablet for college students on any E-commerce website or search engines, there will be lots of options will pop up. And it becomes a bit confusing, that’s why I have curated this list according to different users’ requirements.
First of all, if you are looking for the most inexpensive tablet for college students, I would like to recommend either Samsung Galaxy Tab A or Lenovo Yoga Book, both tablets are amazing at the budget price range, you can choose as per your taste. However, the Lenovo Yoga is a bit better option with some high performance and innovative design.
While, if you have a better budget the Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro could be your best bet which is offering a premium design with the wonderful performance at mid-price range.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is my best recommendation for the Android tablet, which is offering all top-notch features, a bit expensive though. On the other hand, the latest Apple iPad Pro is the most premium option for people with deep pockets, which is probably the most extravagant tablet of 2023.
Lastly, for performance lover, the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is the ultimate choice, which is the most powerful tablet cum laptop in our list.
If you have any questions regarding these best college tablets of 2023, let me know in the comment below. I will back to you shortly.
Thank you very much for reading, have a nice day 🙂
