The Best IPads For College: Expert Tested And Reviewed

This lightweight tablet can do everything -- including taking notes for college. Compatible with the Apple Pencil (second generation), the iPad Air makes it easy to take notes in class and watch seminars virtually if needed. Apple's products are largely customizable, and this is no different: you can opt for one of five colors and get more or less storage depending on what you need. 

In addition, you can also equip your iPad to use cellular data if Wi-Fi doesn't feel sufficient for classes. For students who might need to use their tablets while on the go often, a cellular data plan ensures you can always get online to access. 

Review: iPad Air (2022)

ZDNET contributor, Jason Cipriani, went hands-on with the iPad Air and was impressed by its 2-in-1 compatibility thanks to the Apple Keyboard and Apple Pencil additions. "It's as powerful as the iPad Pro, but costs hundreds of dollars less -- even when you max out the storage -- with a display that's on par with the 11-inch iPad Pro," he wrote. 

Overall, 98% of Best Buy customers who bought the iPad Air would recommend it to others and gave it an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.

iPad Air (5th generation) tech specs: Display: 10.9-inch Retina display | Processor: Apple Silicon M1 | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Space gray, starlight, pink, purple, blue | Cameras: 12MP rear, 4K video. 12MP Ultra Wide camera | Weight: 1.02 pounds | Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches | Connections: USB-C port | Battery life: 10 hours

Apple's tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best design out of Apple's tablet lineup -- especially thanks to its versatility and compatibility. When it comes to features, you essentially get the same suite as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models, but in a more lightweight form factor and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, True Tone display. Plus, Apple recently reduced its price by $100, making it an affordable $349.

Review: iPad 2022 (10th Gen)

In his hands-on testing, June Wan determined that if you're shopping on a budget (as most students are), this iPad should "make the most sense," especially given the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the-go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera. There's also a Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad, making it perfect for turning your tablet into a laptop in your dorm, library, or campus center with ease. Plus, it includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts. 

However, one callout to note that some verified customers make, is that this iPad doesn't support the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, which means you'll have to use a dongle in order to use it.

Apple iPad specs: Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone | Processor: A14 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow  | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback with USB-C charging

Apple's iPad Mini has an A15 Bionic chip, making it a powerful tablet packed into a small package. The iPad Mini was last updated in the fall of 2021 with new features like support for the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, a slightly bigger screen size, and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer.

Review: Apple iPad Mini (6th Gen.)

There's a spot on the right side of the tablet to charge the Apple Pencil, making it a great tablet to draw or write class notes on. Plus, the size makes it portable enough to bring wherever you need it around campus.

ZDNET contributor Jason Cipriani went hands-on with the iPad Mini and said, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely fascinated by it." "Its compact size is more manageable," Cipriani wrote. "I don't have to move my keyboard and mouse or trackpad out of the way to make room. Within a few hours, the iPad Mini quickly became my preferred device for taking notes."

ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner also noted that "Compared to a phone, [the iPad Mini is] better for reading ebooks, PDFs, documents, news apps, and other digital content," meaning you won't have to lug around heavy textbooks from class to class--you can just slip your iPad Mini into your backpack. 

iPad Mini tech specs: Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A15 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Colors: Space gray, pink, purple, starlight | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video. 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery life: 10 hours

There is no doubt that the iPad Pro is powerful, thanks to its M4 chip. This chip upgrade comes with next-generation machine learning accelerators to handle a diverse range of tasks, and ProMotion technology, enabling variable screen refresh rates ranging from 10 to 120Hz.

ZDNET reviews editor Kerry Wan spent some time with the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro and was especially impressed by the chip performance. "A more efficient processor means the iPad absolutely speeds through app load times, 4K video exports, detecting and cropping subjects out of images, and more," he wrote in his review. 

Review: iPad Pro (7th generation)

Wan added that this tablet is perfect for content creation thanks to the iPad-iPhone-only workflow that feels less challenging than previous models. "This ultimately lowers the barrier to entry for videographers, digital artists, and other content creators, which is never a bad thing," he said. 

The Pro also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, which has a range of note-taking features, including a squeeze gesture for quick tool and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse. It also pairs with the newly revamped Magic Keyboard, which is thinner and lighter, has a larger trackpad and a new row of function keys to make your iPad experience feel more like a MacBook experience--especially if you want to entirely replace your laptop with an iPad for schoolwork. 

Apple iPad Pro tech specs: Display: 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space black | Cameras: 12MP wide (4K, ProRes), Landscape 12MP ultra-wide | Weight: 1.23 pounds | Dimensions: 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.24 inches | Connections: USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web

All college students know the importance of a college budget, and this 9th-generation iPad is perfect for those looking for a powerful Apple product with a budget of less than $400. You'll find many of the same features you'd expect from Apple's other tablets, like iPadOS updates for years and access to the App Store.

Review: iPad (9th generation)

While the 10th-generation iPad was announced in 2022, Wan said the 2021 version is still a good buy -- plus it's $120 cheaper. "Even if you're shopping for personal use, if your intended uses are mainly video streaming, note-taking, and playing tablet games, then the ninth-generation iPad should suffice," Wan said. 

While this iPad doesn't feature the near-borderless design as some of the newer units included in this list, with a 10.2-inch display, there is still plenty of room to draw or write with your Apple Pencil and connect the Smart Keyboard to transform your iPad experience. 

One Reddit user noted that the older design wasn't a deterrent in buying the 9th-gen iPad: "The non-laminated display is honestly not a deal-breaker, and it's definitely not as bad as tech reviewers make it out to be."

Apple iPad (9th generation) tech specs: Display: 10.2-inch with True Tone | Processor: A13 Bionic chip | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver and space grey  | Cameras: 8MP f/2.4 back, 12MP Ultra Wide f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.08 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x .29 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours