5 Best iPads For Students : Are They Good For Studying?

iPads offer students a multitude of applications, from digital note-taking and attending video lectures to engaging in creative projects, conducting research, collaborating with peers, reading ebooks, utilizing productivity apps, and even enjoying entertainment like watching movies or playing games. iPads are great for educational and leisure activities, making them valuable tools for students.

In this article, I’ll cover topics such as whether iPads are enough for college, which ones are the best, the use cases, what storage capacity students should choose, and the best picks.

Do Students Need An iPad?

Whether a student needs an iPad depends on their personal preferences and the specific education requirements.

iPad is a device that is helpful in many ways. You really can’t go through university or college without taking notes, reading books, going through content, and having a portable device that lasts you through the entire day, and iPads can help with all of that and more.

Best iPads

iPad Use Cases For Students

iPads can assist students in many ways. Here are some of the most popular use cases for study:

• Note-Taking: students can take digital notes on iPad and annotate files with Apple Pencil.
• eBooks: iPads have multiple apps that give you access to thousands of ebooks and digital textbooks.
• Art: students who are studying art will find out that the iPad is very handy when it comes to graphical design.
• Productivity: several productivity apps allow students to be more organized: GoodNotes, Notability, Reminders, Notion, etc. That allows you to take notes and create to-do lists.
• Collaboration: iPads allow communication and sharing notes and documents with other students.
• Online Class: iPads have great cameras and great audio and many students use them to attend video classes.
• Research: The iPad allows students to lie on a sofa or bed and gather research more comfortably. iPads have LTE and WiFI connectivity.
• Multimedia and Entertainment: Students can watch educational videos on iPads, participate in virtual events, and even enjoy entertainment by watching movies.

Certain educational institutions may provide specific guidelines or suggestions concerning the use of iPads or similar devices. It is advisable to check the school’s website or reach out to the institution directly for accurate and detailed information.

How Much Storage Students Need?

The iPad comes with a few storage options. Depending on usage, you can opt for a particular model.

Activities	Storage Space
Books	5 GB
Notes	1-2 GB
Movies (Can’t study all day, can we)	7-8 GB
Photos	10 GB
Games and other Applications	10-15 GB
Total	50-60 GB

Is 64GB Enough Storage For a Student?

Yes, 64GB of storage can be sufficient enough for students. With 64GB of storage, a student can download a few apps, games, ebooks, and textbooks, take notes, attend video classes, browse the web, research, and, of course, use social media and watch Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and other streaming services.

Is a Laptop or iPad better for Students?

The iPad is a better pick for most students. It’s also the best tablet overall. suppose you don’t require specific software and processing power for schoolwork. But ultimately, this is entirely dependent on your use case and what you expect from your laptop. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, this table should help you to reach a decision:

Specification	iPad	Laptop
Processing Power	Lesser	Greater
Battery Life	Better	Worse
Portability	Better	Worse
Digital Note Taking	Better	Non-Existent (unless you opt for a laptop with a touchscreen + stylus support.)
UI	Easy-to-use	Requires getting used to
Allowed In Classes?	Yes	Yes
Longevity	5-7 Years	2-3 Years
Multi-Purpose?	Yes	Yes
Parental Controls?	Yes	No
Fanless?	Yes	No

As you can see from the table above, the iPad is a much better choice for most students when it comes to deciding between a laptop and an iPad. This is because, generally, students need a portable, quick device and don’t want an extreme amount of processing power.

Plus, iPads have no cooling fan, so they have a better audio profile. Compared to most laptops which end up roaring like a jet engine at the smallest of tasks, you’ll have a much more tolerable experience in class.

Regardless, for most students, the iPad is the best choice as it is comparatively inexpensive (especially the base model), is portable, has great battery life, lets you take notes, and has an ecosystem to match.

If you buy Magic Keyboard for iPad, you can use it like a laptop, but it won’t be compatible with laptop software, and it won’t have the processing power that laptops have.

You might be interested in reading about the differences between iPads and laptops.

Pros & Cons of iPad for Students

Which Is The Best iPad For a Student?

For students, the best option is iPad Air. It’s the best value for money. Overall, the iPad Pro is the best iPad. It has the best screen, storage options, processing power, and other features, like Face ID, that other models don’t offer.

iPad Pro is also a lot more expensive. I believe the best option based on value for money is the iPad Air for Students. It’s compatible with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2. It doesn’t have a 120Hz screen as iPad Pro(iPad Air has a 60Hz screen), but if you’re not an artist oriented on detail, you won’t need it. iPad Air has a laminated screen, just like the iPad Pro (the classic iPad has a non-laminated screen).

Based on these facts, I believe the iPad Air is the best iPad for Students from a value-for-money standpoint. Based on specifications, it’s definitely iPad Pro. But the iPad Air is enough to do all the necessary school work, and in my opinion, the iPad Pro is an overkill for a student.

You can get the iPad Air 64GB for 559 USD in the United States, and for 669 USD, you can get the 256GB model. If you want WiFi+Cellular, you will have to pay extra.

How is the iPad Air Different From the iPad Pro?

The iPad Air differs from the iPad Pro in several aspects:

• The iPad Air lacks a 120Hz display, a feature present in the iPad Pro.
• It offers lower storage capacity and RAM compared to the iPad Pro.
• While the iPad Air features Touch ID (Fingerprint sensor), it lacks Face ID.
• The cameras on the iPad Air are not as advanced as those on the iPad Pro.
• The iPad Air has a lower peak brightness.
• In terms of processing power, the iPad Air’s processor is not as robust as the iPad Pro’s.
• Additionally, the iPad Air is smaller in size compared to the iPad Pro.

Older iPads

You can buy an older iPads from older generations to drive down the price:

Tablet Name	Sceen Size	Generation	Released Date	Display	Resolution	Refresh Rate	Starting Price	SIM	Weight	Battery	Chipset	Max Storage	RAM	Front Camera	Back Camera	Port
Apple iPad Pro 12.9	12.9-inches	5	2021, May	LCD	2048 x 2732	120Hz	~$1049	Nano SIM, eSIM	1.5lbs	10758 mAh	Apple M1	2TB	8GB, 16GB	12MP	12MP	USB-C
Apple iPad Pro 11	11-inches	3	2021, May	LCD	1668 x 2388	120Hz	~$800	Nano SIM, eSIM	1.03lbs	7538 mAh	Apple M1	2TB	8GB, 16GB	12MP	12MP	USB-C
Apple iPad	10.2-inches	9	2021, September	LCD	1620 x 2160	60Hz	~$400	Nano SIM, eSIM	1.07lbs	8557 mAh	Apple A13 Bionic	256GB	3GB	12MP	8MP	Lightning
Apple iPad Air	10.9-inches	4	2020, October	LCD	1640 x 2360	60Hz	~$549	Nano SIM, eSIM	1.01lbs	7606 mAh	Apple A14 Bionic	256GB	4GB	7MP	12MP	USB-C
Apple iPad Mini	7.9-inches	5	2019, March	LCD	1536 x 2048	60Hz	~$450	Nano SIM, eSIM	0.68lbs	5124 mAh	Apple A12 Bionic	256GB	3GB	7MP	8MP	Lightning

iPad Accessories For Students

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