For many, college is the first time they have to juggle independent living, studying, socializing, and everything in between. If you let one ball drop, the others will come tumbling down.
To solve this problem, college students often invest in organizational tools. Unsurprisingly, iPads are one of the best organization options available. You can create daily planners, tick items off your to-do lists, and take entertainment breaks, all from the comfort of your iPad.
why you should choose an iPad for college
iPads have earned a reputation for being ahead of the curve, and for good reason. The creative brains at Apple work tirelessly to regularly release groundbreaking features and new tablets.
- All-in-one tablet. iPads have everything: apps for organization, streaming services, fun games, and more.
- Customization options. Once you have found the best iPad for college, you can customize it inside and out.
- Constant updates. Updates are pretty common, which shows that the dev team at Apple cares about your experience.
- User approved. Latest estimates show that two billion people across the globe actively use Apple products.
- Lots of apps. The Apple App Store might only have the second largest number of apps behind Google Play, but it still has a great variety of organization, entertainment, and skill-based apps.
iPad Air (2022) – overall best iPad for college
Specifications
- Price: $549 – $849
- Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches
- Display size: 10.9 inches
- Processor: M1
- Storage: 64GB or 256GB
- Resolution: 2350 x 1640
- Compatible stylus: Apple Pencil 2 for 4th generation and later
The iPad Air is our top pick for the best iPad for college students. It is almost as powerful as the newer iPad Pro, but it comes with a less daunting price point. Both iPads contain an M1 chip, meaning you can expect efficient energy consumption, superfast surfing, and support for more power-intensive note-taking, video editing, and graphic design apps.
Art students love the chip because it contains an 8-core CPU that guarantees 60% faster performance than the previous generation. Also like the iPad Pro, the iPad Air has a 120Hz refresh rate, which guarantees very little lag. In short, the iPad Air is the fastest option for the least amount of money.
This iPad supports Slide Over and Split View features, which allow you to use multiple apps at the same time. College students can surf the internet while they take notes, just like they can on a full-scale laptop. Of course, the iPad Air is much easier to transport.
Pair this iPad with the Apple Pencil 2 for a seamless note-taking experience. The 2nd Gen stylus is known for its ergonomic, matte textured grip. On top of that, it’s far easier to charge a 2nd Gen stylus. Just clip the flat side of your stylus to your iPad and watch it charge wirelessly.
The iPad Air is the ultimate all-rounder. Apart from all the fancy frills, you can expect everything that you’d usually get from an iPad. An endless number of note-taking apps, customization options, and entertainment platforms await.
Don’t know where to start? Explore the 5 best note-taking apps for iPads in 2024.
Pros:
- Battery. Enjoy up to 10 hours of battery life, ideal for a full day at college.
- Colorful display. The display does not disappoint!
- Color options. Colors might not be a deciding factor for many, but it’s important to know that the iPad Air has some of the most aesthetically pleasing colors on the market. You can choose from Space Gray, Blue, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.
- M1 chip. The M1 chip makes this iPad comparable to the more expensive, newer iPad Pro.
Cons:
- No Face ID. Unfortunately, this iPad does not support Face ID. If you want added security, you’ll have to pay more for the iPad Pro.
- Still expensive. Despite being a cheaper alternative to the iPad Pro, the iPad Air is still relatively pricey compared to other tablets.
- Little storage. The base model only comes with 64GB of storage, which might not be enough for busy college students.
iPad Pro (11-inch, 2024) – the most powerful iPad for college
Specifications
- Price: $999 – $2,599
- Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches
- Display size: 11 inches
- Processor: M4
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Resolution: 1668 x 2420
- Compatible stylus: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro
The newest iPad Pro was released on May 7, 2024. In terms of power and super-fast responsiveness, it stands head and shoulders above the rest of the iPad family. Granted, if you want to buy an iPad to take simple notes, the new iPad Pro might not be the best option for you or your bank account. However, if you are undertaking a course in graphic design, video editing, or any other digital-first topic that requires super-fast speeds, the new iPad Pro could quickly become your best friend.
The new M4 chip is the crowning glory of this Apple release. It is the next generation of Apple silicon, and it can deliver the same performance as the M2 chip while using just half the power. So, where does the other half go?
This chip contains Apple’s most powerful Neural Engine, capable of a staggering 38 trillion operations per second. That is 60 times faster than Apple’s first Neural Engine in the A1 Bionic chip. The Neural Engine is brilliant for AI processes, allowing you to remove the background on a 4K video on Final Cut Pro in a single tap.
Additionally, this chip is also good news for gamers and entertainment seekers. The new, advanced Media Engine supports AV1 decode, which allows you to play high-resolution videos while preserving power.
Overall, the new iPad Pro has a much more vibrant display than its predecessors. You won’t find another device that delivers this kind of dynamic range. Two OLED panels combine for phenomenal full-screen brightness, providing 1000 nits for SDR and HDR content and 1600 nits for peak HDR.
You can enjoy sub-millisecond control over the color and luminance of each pixel, which is ideal for college students who want to pursue graphic design, illustration, and other forms of digital art. Even when you are just watching videos, it’s apparent that the new iPad Pro has the ability to illuminate textures that other models hide in shadows.
The 11-inch version is just 5.3mm thick and weighs just over one pound, making it easy to transport and maneuver. On top of that, this iPad has a massive range of storage options, including 1TB and 2TB. If you choose either of these options, you can customize your iPad with nano-texture glass, which eliminates glare and reflections.
Essentially, the new iPad Pro is a lot like a laptop. In fact, plenty of users have already replaced their Mac with this slimmer, faster option. Apple assures customers that this model has up to 10 hours of battery life, and many reviewers have confirmed this.
We’ve only mentioned the 11-inch version, but there is also a 13-inch model that starts at $1,299. If you want to add the new Apple Pencil Pro to your basket, it will cost you another $129. As usual, the stylus is not included in the price of the iPad, making it an even more expensive option.
Pros:
- Brilliant battery life. The consensus is that the new iPad Pro has a brilliant battery life, with one reviewer clocking in 9 hours and 53 minutes of web browsing and 15 hours and 42 minutes of streaming videos.
- Doubles as a laptop. The new iPad has such an impressive power output that it can easily double as a laptop. It’s super easy to transport, making it an even more attractive prospect as an all-in-one tablet and laptop.
- M4 performance is unparalleled. The M4 chip is revolutionary, offering unbeatable speed, brightness, and overall performance.
Cons:
- Extremely expensive. Starting at $999, this is one of the most expensive options for college students, leaving many wondering whether it makes more sense to buy a laptop.
- Only suitable for specific college courses. Theoretically, any type of college student can purchase this iPad. However, it only makes sense for students who spend a lot of time on energy-intensive apps such as Illustrator or Final Cut Pro.
iPad (9th Gen, 2021) – best iPad for college students on a budget
Specifications
- Price: $329 – $609
- Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches
- Display size: 10.2 inches
- Processor: A13 Bionic
- Storage: 64GB or 256GB
- Resolution: 2160 x 1640
- Compatible stylus: Apple Pencil 1
On the surface, the 9th Gen iPad seems a lot like the iPad Air. The display size is almost identical, as are the storage options. But a few key features set these iPads apart and make the 9th Gen iPad the best iPad for college students on a budget.
You can grab the 9th Gen iPad for just $329. The 10.2-inch screen is decently sized, making it feel like a laptop rather than a tiny tablet. This tablet also guarantees 10 hours of battery life, just like the iPad Air.
The A13 Bionic processor isn’t comparable to any of the latest iPad chips, but it is good enough for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro/Max. It guarantees a 20% performance boost over the previous generation, so if you’ve only ever had the previous models you’ll notice a big difference. Then again, if you are studying graphic design, you might struggle with the somewhat outdated tech.
There is no USB-C and the big round home button that might seem unsightly to some. This iPad doesn’t support Magic Keyboards and (one of the worst setbacks) it isn’t compatible with the Apple Pencil 2.
Despite all that, the 9th Gen iPad still gets the job done. If you are willing to wait a bit longer for pages to load and you aren’t bothered by the clunky Apple Pencil 1 charging process, you can bag a bargain.
There is talk of this iPad disappearing from the Apple lineup, so get yours ASAP.
Pros:
- Affordable option. If you’re on a budget, the 9th Gen iPad is ideal for you.
- True tone. The 9th Gen iPad automatically adjusts to changes in ambient light to give you a customized experience.
- Headphone jack. The built-in headphone jack allows you to use older headphone models, without splashing out on wireless headphones.
Cons:
- Processor. The A13 Bionic processor pales in comparison to the M1 chip.
- Only supports 1st Gen stylus. The 1st Gen stylus gets the job done, but it can be frustrating to charge.
- No Face ID. This iPad model doesn’t offer Face ID.
- No Magic Keyboard. You can’t use a Magic Keyboard with this iPad model, but you can purchase other compatible keyboards.
iPad Pro (2022) – best iPad for college students doing a creative course
Specifications
- Price: $799 – $2,099
- Dimensions: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.26 inches
- Display size: 12.9 inches
- Processor: M2
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Resolution: 2048 x 2732
- Compatible stylus: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil 3
The iPad Pro might be pricey, but it’s the best iPad for college students who are studying a creative discipline. Before we get into all the artsy features that can help you excel at digital illustration, graphic design, and video editing, let’s talk about the basics.
We’ve included the 6th Gen iPad model in our list because it has an M2 chipset. It has an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. In plain English, this means that the iPad Pro works faster than any other iPad on the market. You can run apps such as Illustrator, Final Cut Pro, and Photoshop without a problem.
On top of that, you can enjoy Face ID, Apple Pencil Hover, and a number of other interesting features. You can choose the 11-inch option, but the 12-inch screen provides more real estate to artists.
The only noticeable downsides are the price and the weight. This iPad comes in at 1.5lbs (and an extra 0.01lbs for the Cellular models) making it pretty hefty. It can be difficult to maneuver this tablet, meaning it might not be the best option for college students who need to run from one class to another. Then again, with a good keyboard and case, traveling should be easy enough.
Read 10 iPad tips and tricks you need to know to jumpstart your iPad experience.
Pros:
- Unbeatable speeds. The M2 chip guarantees unbeatable processing speeds, meaning your workflow will run as smoothly as possible.
- Supports creative apps. Creative apps use much more power than standard note-taking apps, and this iPad can meet the demand.
- Range of storage options. With everything from 128GB to 2TB of storage on offer, there is no limit to the amount of art you can create.
Cons:
- Few color options. Only available in Space Gray and Silver, which can seem a bit dull in comparison to the iPad Air.
- Heavy. At 1.5lbs, the iPad Pro is much heavier than the iPad Air, and it could cause wrist strain.
- Expensive. There is no denying that the iPad Pro is extremely expensive, which is one of the biggest cons of this otherwise impressive tablet.
Rock Paper Pencil: A Pen-On-Paper Experience for iPad
Whether you’re using your iPad for art, notetaking, or planning, the slippery feeling of Apple Pencil on glass just isn’t cutting it. Rock Paper Pencil is the best iPad drawing accessory for students who are looking to get a realistic pen-on-paper feel for their iPad.
This product includes a reusable, paper-feel iPad screen protector and two ballpoint Apple Pencil tips. Built with nano-texture technology, Rock Paper Pencil adds subtle friction between your screen and Pencil, giving you more control while drawing or writing.
- NanoCling Screen Protector: Securely bond your screen protector to your iPad using static cling. Easy application, non-adhesive, removable and reusable.
- Matte Texture: Subtle friction mimics the feel of paper (no more slippery glass!)
- Precision Apple Pencil Tips: Smoother, more controlled strokes
