TechComputers & PCsLaptops5 reasons to buy a tablet instead of a laptop for school or universityTablets are the devices that make a lot of sense for many students – here’s why and which to buyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechComputers & PCsLaptops5 reasons to buy a tablet instead of a laptop for school or universityTablets are the devices that make a lot of sense for many students – here’s why and which to buyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Tablets are the devices that make a lot of sense for many students – here’s why and which to buy
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Samsung)
(Image credit: Samsung)
With a new academic year getting closer, T3’sBack to Class monthis here to bring you the very best in tech gear and buying advice ready for September. Wherever you (or your kids) are heading for 2023/2024, we want to make sure they’re well-equipped for what’s next.
Here we’re going to look at the tablet versus laptop debate for school, college, or university. Both gadgets are suitable for study, but there are certain key reasons why you might want to invest in one of the best tablets around rather than one ofthe best laptopsorbest Chromebooks– and we’ll expand on those reasons below.
While we wouldn’t say choosing a tablet over a laptop is right for every single student out there – there are somegreat student laptop options, too, you see – it’s certainly something to consider: it might be a much better fit for you (or your kids), and you could save some money along the way too.
1. Tablets are often cheaper
(Image credit: Amazon)
(Image credit: Amazon)
Clearly tablets like the12.9-inch iPad Prodon’t come cheap (with a starting price of £1,249/$1,099), but generally speaking you’re going to get more bang from your buck with a tablet. The entry-level10.9-inch iPadstarts at £319/$329, and you’d struggle to find a decent, capable laptop for the same sort of price – even one of thebest budget laptops.
Pick up an 11-inchAmazon Fire Max 11, meanwhile, and you’re parting with a mere £259/$279. Of course you have the costs of adding on accessories like cases, keyboards and styluses if you’re going to need them, but we reckon the deals are often good ones – especially if you can get these accessories included with the tablet as bundles.
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Today’s best Apple iPad Pro 12.9, Apple iPad 2022 and Amazon Fire Max 11 dealsApple iPad Pro 12.9$302.28ViewSee all pricesApple iPad (2022)$349$299ViewSee all pricesAmazon Fire Max 11$199.99$169.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple iPad Pro 12.9, Apple iPad 2022 and Amazon Fire Max 11 dealsApple iPad Pro 12.9$302.28ViewSee all pricesApple iPad (2022)$349$299ViewSee all pricesAmazon Fire Max 11$199.99$169.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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Apple iPad Pro 12.9$302.28ViewSee all pricesApple iPad (2022)$349$299ViewSee all pricesAmazon Fire Max 11$199.99$169.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025
Apple iPad Pro 12.9$302.28ViewSee all prices
Apple iPad Pro 12.9$302.28ViewSee all prices
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
Apple iPad Pro 12.9
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Apple iPad (2022)$349$299ViewSee all prices
Apple iPad (2022)$349$299ViewSee all prices
Apple iPad (2022)
Apple iPad (2022)
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Amazon Fire Max 11$199.99$169.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025
Amazon Fire Max 11$199.99$169.99ViewSee all prices
Amazon Fire Max 11
Amazon Fire Max 11
$199.99$169.99View
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$169.99
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Deal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025
Deal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025
Deal endsWed, Jan 29, 2025
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
2. Tablets are more portable
(Image credit: Samsung)
(Image credit: Samsung)
Wherever you study, chances are you’re going to have to carry some stuff around – whether it’s from school to home, or halls to the lecture theatre, or away on a field trip. With that in mind, tablets typically offer a much smaller, lightweight device that you can quickly slide into a backpack or even hold steady in one hand without any problem.
There is a trade-off here, which is that the screens of tablets are usually smaller and of a lower resolution – but it might be a trade-off that’s worth it for what you need. If you do need to go big, consider theSamsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra(or theprevious-gen S8 Ultraif you can get it cheaper): it offers a huge 14.6-inch AMOLED display with 2960 x 1848 resolution, while tipping the scales at just 732g.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra$1,219$999.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra$1,219$999.95ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
$1,219$999.95View
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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra$1,099.99$989.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra$1,099.99$989.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
3. Tablets are more versatile
(Image credit: Google)
(Image credit: Google)
You can do more than you might think from a tablet: you can type on it, you can draw on it, you can speak into it, you can take photos with it, and you can just sit back and look at it. Pick up something like theGoogle Pixel Tablet, and it comes with its own magnetic charging dock – perfect for watching videos or listening to music after class has finished.
TheApple,GoogleandAmazonapp stores come backed with useful apps for all kinds of educational and research needs, and if you’re buying a tablet for younger children, then managing parental controls on these devices is straightforward too (if you decide to go for anAmazon Fire tablet, there arespecific Kids Editions of themyou can look out for).
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Today’s best Google Pixel Tablet and Amazon Fire tablet dealsGoogle Pixel Tablet$459$424ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
4. Tablets are simpler to use
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
Sometimes, less is more: if you’re taking notes in a lecture or trying to focus on an educational app then you don’t want a dozen distractions pulling you away. While Windows and macOS are more advanced operating systems and better for multitasking overall, they also make it easier to try and do too much at once when you shouldn’t be.
That said,Androidand iPadOS are getting better at letting you manage multiple windows and apps alongside each other, which means you can get up a website and an essay (for example) at the same time. There’s just enough flexibility to be useful, while app and operating system updates and device security are all neatly handled in the background.
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
5. Tablets can be laptops too
(Image credit: Microsoft)
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Perhaps the most compelling argument for tablets over laptops is that tablets can transform into laptops much more easily than laptops can switch into tablet mode. Take theMicrosoft Surface Pro 9, which runs full-fat Windows 11: you get the portability and versatility of a tablet, combined with the power of a laptop when a keyboard is attached.
The same goes for other tablets – hook up a keyboard and suddenly you can get much more work done. Other peripherals like a mouse and a pair of headphones can also be added to these slates quite easily, which means you’ve got a mini productivity station when you’re at your desk and a giant mobile phone when you’re on the move.
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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