There are some genuinely great tablets available on the market today. From Lenovo, Samsung, Amazon, Microsoft and Apple — the question is which ones are right for you or your student? We’ve rounded up the best tablets for back to school this year, so you can find one that suits your needs and your budget.
On this list, you’ll find entrants from Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon and Microsoft. That’s because they’re all genuinely excellent tablets, whether you’re an iPadOS, Android, ChromeOS or Windows user.
Whether you’re after something affordable, or something that can handle a bit more work and possibly replace a laptop, we’ve got you covered. You really can’t go wrong with the Apple iPad Air (M4) or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 — both are top-tier picks and among the priciest on this list.
| Product | Price (approx.) | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire HD 10 | $139 | Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ | $219 | Amazon |
| Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025) | $319 | Amazon |
| Lenovo Idea Tab Pro | $279 | Amazon / Lenovo |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | $799 | Amazon |
| Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026) | $519 | Amazon |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 11 | $999 | Microsoft / Amazon |
| Apple iPad Pro (M5, 2025) | $899 | Amazon |
Amazon Fire HD 10
Price: ~$139 (with ads; a bit more without)
Where to buy: Amazon
The Fire HD 10 has replaced the smaller Fire HD 8 as Amazon’s sweet spot for back-to-school. It’s not the tablet you’d primarily pick for heavy coursework, but it’s a fantastic device for downtime — YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu and Kindle reading all work great. PCMag still rates it as the best cheap tablet for most people, provided you don’t mind Amazon’s locked-down ecosystem (PCMag).
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
Price: ~$219
Where to buy: Amazon
The Galaxy Tab A9+ is Samsung’s budget pick and a solid one. It has an 11-inch 90Hz LCD, quad speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos, and microSD support if you need extra storage. Lightweight and long-lasting, it’s great for reading, note-taking and streaming — an ideal first tablet for younger students.
Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025)
Price: $319–$349
Where to buy: Amazon / Apple
The base-model iPad is the best tablet for most students, according to both PCMag and ZDNET. It packs an A16 chip, an 11-inch Liquid Retina display, USB-C, and supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Magic Keyboard Folio. For the price, it offers most of what you’d want from an iPad without stretching the budget.
Lenovo Idea Tab Pro
Price: ~$279
Where to buy: Amazon / Lenovo
The Idea Tab Pro is PCMag’s pick for best Android tablet for most people. It sports a large, sharp 12.7-inch screen, a stylus and fast charger in the box, multitasking modes, and microSD support. It’s powerful enough for schoolwork and entertainment while staying well under $300 (PCMag).
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Price: ~$799
Where to buy: Amazon
The Galaxy Tab S11 is one of the best Android tablets you can buy today, and Android Central’s top pick for students. It features a stunning AMOLED 120Hz display, a flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip, up to 12GB of RAM and the S Pen included in the box. DeX mode turns it into a near-laptop experience, and Samsung promises 7 years of software updates — great for long-term value. A keyboard cover is sold separately.
Apple iPad Air (M4, 2026)
Price: $519–$599
Where to buy: Amazon / Apple
The 2026 iPad Air is the best iPad for creators and students per PCMag. It has Apple’s M4 chip — nearly iPad Pro levels of performance — plus a vibrant Liquid Retina display, support for Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with colour options including blue, purple, starlight and space grey. If you want serious power without going Pro, this is the sweet spot.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11
Price: from ~$999
Where to buy: Microsoft / Amazon
The Surface Pro 11 is the best 2-in-1 tablet PC (IGN). Running full Windows 11 on Snapdragon X or Intel Core Ultra silicon, with an OLED display option and Copilot+ AI features, it’s a proper laptop replacement that doubles as a tablet. The keyboard cover and Surface Slim Pen are sold separately, but the device’s flexibility makes it tough to beat for students who need full desktop apps like Excel, PowerPoint and Office.
Apple iPad Pro (M5, 2025)
Price: from $899 (11-inch) / $1,199 (13-inch)
Where to buy: Amazon / Apple
The M5 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet Apple has ever made, and IGN’s overall top pick. It has the stunning Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED display, 120Hz ProMotion, M5 chip performance that rivals laptops, and full support for Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. It’s overkill for most students, but if you’re studying design, video, architecture or engineering — or simply want the best — this is it.
