Essentials

The best tablets for back to school: Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and more

By Lily Rose

August 2, 2022 / 8:30 AM EDT / Essentials

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A new tablet can enhance any student's school year. Whether you're considering an Apple iPad for back to school or the competing Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, we've found the best tablets for back to school, according to reviewers.

Top products in this article:

Apple iPad 9 (64 GB) (space gray), $299 (reduced from $329)

$299 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, $250 and up (regularly $350)

$250 and up at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (silver), $500 (regularly $680)

$500 at Amazon

Tablets can be a great tool for students. The lightweight, mobile gadgets are perfect for reading, taking notes, attending online classes and drawing digital art. During a study break they can be used for browsing the internet and streaming your favorite shows.

Tablets can be pricey, especially if you're trying to stick to a budget. Luckily, Amazon has discounts on all of the best and most popular tablets from Apple, Samsung and more right now. You can find a great Apple iPad 9 or Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet starting under $300. We even found a top-rated Amazon Fire tablet for just $75.

Keep reading to shop the best tablets for back to school.

Apple iPad 9: $299

Get a great deal on an 4.8-star-rated Apple iPad 9 ahead of the new school year. The 10.2-inch iPad 9, released in 2021, is the most affordable of Apple's iPad offerings. It offers a 8 MP wide-angle back camera, and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle front camera. It boasts stereo speakers, too. This iPad is powered by a A13 Bionic chip. It boasts up to 10 hours of battery life, and is compatible with the Apple Pencil ($99) for drawing or note-taking.

Available in two colors; prices vary. The sale prices listed below are for the space gray iPad 9 with Wi-Fi-only connectivity.

Apple iPad 9 (64 GB) (space gray), $299 (reduced from $329)

$299 at Amazon

Apple iPad 9 (256GB) (space gray), $429 (reduced from $479)

$429 at Amazon

Want to protect your new tablet investment? Get the 64 GB Apple iPad 9 bundled with a two-year subscription to Apple's protection plan, Apple Care+. That bundle's on sale on Amazon, too.

Apple iPad 9 (64 GB) (silver) bundled with Apple Care+, $369 (reduced from $398)

$369 at Amazon

Apple iPad Air 5: $559

Looking for a lightweight tablet to toss in a school bag? Introduced in 2022, the 10.9-inch Apple iPad Air 5 is the latest in the lightweight iPad Air line. The iPad Air 5 offers performance up to 60% faster than the prior model, thanks to Apple's turbo-charged M1 chip. The device boasts a 12 MP wide-angle back camera that supports 4K video. It also offers touch ID, and Apple's Liquid Retina display.

Available in five colors; prices vary.

There's a special promotion right now on the 4.8-star-rated 2022 Apple iPad Air: You can save 20% each on Beats Studio Buds or Beats Fit Pro with purchase.

Apple iPad Air 5 (64 GB) (space gray), $559 (reduced from $599)

$559 at Amazon

Apple iPad Air 5 (256 GB) (space gray), $679 (reduced from $749)

$679 at Amazon

Apple iPad Mini 6: $409

The iPad Mini 6 is a compact tablet with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display screen. Released in 2021, the Apple tablet is powered by an A15 Bionic chip. It features a 12 MP wide-angle back camera, and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle front camera. It boasts landscape stereo speakers. Available in four colors.

Note that the Apple iPad Mini is not compatible with the Apple's external Magic Keyboard. It can, however, be used with other Bluetooth-enabled external keyboards.

Amazon has sold out of the 64 GB Wi-Fi-only iPad Mini, but you can find all colors on sale for $409 at Walmart right now.

Apple iPad Mini (64 GB), $409 (reduced from $459)

$409 at Walmart

Amazon does have some inventory left in the Wi-Fi and cellular model with 64 GB of storage. Prices vary by color. You can score the best deal on the space gray shade.

Apple iPad Mini 6 with celluar connectivity (64 GB) (space gray), $617 (reduced from $649)

$617 at Amazon

Apple iPad Pro 5: $700

Apple's high-end tablet, the iPad Pro, features an 11-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, a pro camera system and a Thunderbolt port for lightning-speed data transfers. Looking for a traditional laptop experience so you can take notes in class? It's compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard.

Available in two colors; prices vary. The sale prices listed below are for the space gray iPad Pro 5 with Wi-Fi-only connectivity.

As with other iPad models, the iPad Pro 5 with cellular connectivity is more expensive than the Wi-Fi-only device. But if 5G is the connection you're craving, then the extra expense may be worth it.

Apple iPad Pro 5 (128 GB) (space gray), $700 (reduced from $799)

$700 at Amazon

Apple iPad Pro 5 (256 GB) (space gray), $849 (reduced from $899)

$849 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: $200

The 4.6-star-rated Galaxy Tab A8 offers a 10.5-inch LCD display, 32 GB of storage and fast-charging capabilities. The dark grey version of this already-affordable Android tablet is $33 off on Amazon right now, making it a great choice for students on a budget.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, $197 and up (reduced from $230)

$197 and up at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: $250

The Samsung tablet features an up to 13-hour battery and includes an S pen to help you write notes, doodle or personalize photos. Unlike some other Samsung Tabs, the S6 includes a headphone jack.

Price varies by color. You can find the best deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite in gray and blue.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64 GB), $250 and up (regularly $350)

$250 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: $398 and up

This on-sale Samsung Tab features a large 12.4-inch screen, dual speakers, a lightning fast processor for streaming and ‎64 GB of storage. (A 256 GB version is also available.) You can even link this tablet with your Samsung Galaxy phone and make phone calls from the tablet.

Prices vary by color. The best deal is on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE in green; the mystic black color can be had for about $10 more.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (64 GB), $398 and up (regularly $680)

$398 and up at Amazon

Fire 7 tablet (2022 release): $75 and up

Use this 7-inch Amazon touchscreen tablet to read, browse the web, watch videos, listen to music and more. At under $100, the 4.4-star-rated Amazon Fire 7 is a great value for students on a budget.

The Amazon Fire 7 is not currently on sale, though you can save 20% by trading in an older tablet.

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (16 GB), ad-free (2022 release), $75

$75 at Amazon

Need more storage for all those school projects? The 32 GB Amazon Fire 7 tablet is just $20 more.

Amazon Fire 7 tablet (32 GB), ad-free (2022 release), $95

$95 at Amazon