Making ready for pupil life may be thrilling and disturbing. To make issues simpler, it’s good to know that you just’ve obtained the correct tech that can assist you write your essays, take notes in classes, and relax with Netflix and video games when the work is completed. The iPad has advanced lately to one thing that may now act as a laptop computer substitute for a lot of college students, with equipment just like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil making it one of the crucial versatile gadgets you should buy.
Selecting the most effective iPad may be difficult, as Apple at the moment provides a variety of fashions with completely different costs and options, together with the M4 iPad Professional and M2 iPad Air fashions up to date in Might 2024 and the iPad mini A17 Professional that arrived in October 2024. These three iPads are all able to supporting Apple Intelligence, which is Apple’s AI instrument that powers a number of options, together with some centered round studying and writing and picture era. These options could also be helpful for you as a pupil. The one iPad on sale at the moment that doesn’t help Apple Intelligence is the usual iPad (tenth era) which is due an replace. [Read the rumors about the 11th gen iPad.]
Can college students get reductions on iPads?
College students can lower your expenses on all kinds of Apple merchandise by purchasing at Apple’s schooling retailer of their nation. Apple provides cash off new iPad purchases to college students in larger schooling all yr spherical. In a separate article, you’ll be able to learn all about get an Apple Scholar Low cost.
Plus, for those who’re a pupil and you purchase an iPad (or a Mac) from Apple, you may be capable of get a free reward corresponding to a pair of AirPods or vouchers whereas the corporate’s “Again To Faculty/Uni” occasion is working. This normally runs from June to September within the U.S. and Canada, from July to October within the U.Okay. and Europe, and from January to March in Australia, New Zealand and different southern hemisphere areas.
Click on on the next hyperlinks for the Schooling shops within the international locations the place most of our readers reside:
One other bonus for those who’re a pupil: you may get Apple Music for half worth with free Apple TV+ included.
How a lot can college students save on an iPad?
College students can save as a lot as $100 within the U.S., £100 within the U.Okay., $170 in Australia, and $150 in Canada in the event that they purchase from the schooling retailer.
| Product | U.S. | U.Okay. | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad (tenth gen) MSRP | $349 | £329 | $599 | $499 |
| iPad (tenth gen) Scholar Worth | $329 | £309 | $559 | $469 |
| iPad mini (A17 Professional) MSRP | $499 | £499 | $799 | $679 |
| iPad mini (A17 Professional) Scholar Worth | $449 | £449 | $719 | $609 |
| iPad Air (11-inch, M2) MSRP | $599 | £599 | $999 | $799 |
| iPad Air (11-inch, M2) Scholar Worth | $549 | £549 | $919 | $729 |
| iPad Air (13-inch, M2) MSRP |
$799 | £799 | $1,299 | $1,099 |
| iPad Air (13-inch, M2) Scholar Worth | $749 | £749 | $1,219 | $1,029 |
| iPad Professional (11-inch, M4) MSRP | $999 | £999 | $1,699 | $1,399 |
| iPad Professional (11-inch, M4) Scholar Worth | $899 | £899 | $1,529 | $1,249 |
| iPad Professional (13-inch, M4) MSRP | $1,299 | £1,299 | $2,199 | $1,799 |
| iPad Professional (13-inch, M4) Scholar Worth | $1,199 | £1,199 | $2,029 | $1,649 |
How one can get an iPad pupil low cost
Apple provides a pupil low cost by way of its country-specific schooling shops. To recap:
Relying in your location you could solely want to enroll with particulars of your pupil standing and course and show your identification. Some international locations have much less stringent checks than others. Within the U.Okay. it is advisable be registered with UNiDAYS in an effort to even see the scholar costs. We clarify how to do that in our article How one can get an Apple pupil low cost.
To qualify for a reduction you additionally want to fulfill Apple’s situations. You both have to be a pupil in larger schooling, or a trainer at a educating establishment. The one technique to get a reduction for a kid nonetheless at college is to be house educating them or to be a trainer your self.
In the event you can’t get a pupil low cost that doesn’t imply you gained’t be capable of get cash off a brand new iPad although. Learn our round-up of the greatest iPad offers. Additionally, you will discover hyperlinks to the most effective offers for every kind of iPad under.
Finest iPad for college kids
11-inch iPad Air (2024, M2): Finest All-Rounder
Professionals
- M2 processor
- 128GB of storage in base mannequin
- A number of colour choices
Worth When Reviewed:
$599 (128GB, Wi-Fi solely)
The 11-inch iPad Air (M2), with its 11-inch show, trendy design, low weight (462g), nice cameras, and massively highly effective processor, is a superb selection for college kids.
Sadly, it’s a bit on the dear aspect for a pill, with the present costs beginning at $599/£599 ($549 for college kids), however this does now embrace 128GB of storage, which is double that of the baseline iPad Air (2022, M1) it changed. This makes it the right mixture of energy, storage and options, for a worth that isn’t unreasonable, and one we will heartily suggest for these beginning out on their research.
The most important characteristic of the mannequin launched in 2024 is the inclusion of the M2 processor. This is identical chip that powered the earlier era of iPad Professional fashions, to not point out a number of Macs. In an iPad Air, it makes the system fly.
The digital camera is a 12MP Vast lens (additionally like on the iPad Professional), which may file video as much as 4K/60fps, and as with different iPads on this listing, the front-facing digital camera is a 12MP Extremely-Vast that enables for Middle Stage and is now sensibly positioned on the longer aspect of the chassis to permit panorama views.
Basically, the 2024 iPad Air is a 2022 iPad Professional for a less expensive worth. The one main characteristic it’s lacking is the 120Hz ProMotion display refresh price, however that’s not one thing most individuals will even discover.
There are many colours to select from, and if you wish to full the Apple-flavoured package deal then the 11-inch iPad Air helps the Magic Keyboard ($299/£299), Apple Pencil Professional ($129/£129) and Apple Pencil USB-C ($79/£79). See: Apple Pencils in contrast: Which Apple Pencil works along with your iPad?
In the event you desire a bigger show, there’s additionally the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) that comes with all the identical specs and options. It begins at $799/£799 (or $749 for college kids).
We extremely suggest the 11-inch iPad Air (M2) for college kids who want premium efficiency and the most effective iPad you should buy with out the Professional title.
Learn iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Professional (M4) to learn how the iPad Air compares to the iPad Professional.
How a lot can college students save on the iPad Air?
MSRP: $599 / £599 / AU$999 / CA$799
Scholar: $549 / £549 / AU$919 / CA$729
College students save: $50 / £50 / AU$80 / CA$70
Learn our full
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024) evaluate
iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024): Finest for Observe-Taking and Studying
Professionals
- Small and lightweight
- Extra storage
- Centre Stage for FaceTime calls
Cons
- Might really feel cramped relying in your wants
Worth When Reviewed:
$499 (128GB); $599 (256GB); $799 (512GB)
If crucial issue to you is portability there’s one iPad specifically that you just may need to think about.
The iPad mini, up to date in October 2024 with the Apple Intelligence-capable A17 Professional, is the smallest and lightest iPad you should buy, weighing in at 293g. In fact, the low weight is a results of the iPad itself being smaller, because of the 8.3-inch show (which is larger than it was since Apple removed the Dwelling button and relocated Contact ID to the facility button on the highest edge a couple of generations in the past). The result’s a compact however highly effective system that doesn’t really feel too small. We predict this display dimension is ideal for studying books or taking notes (particularly with an Apple Pencil), so it might be excellent if that’s how you plan to make use of your iPad.
And don’t let the diminutive kind idiot you: the A17 Professional chip is identical as that discovered within the iPhone 15 Professional, so there’s no scarcity of energy on faucet. Connectivity is top-notch too, with help for Wi-Fi 6E and 5G networks accessible, relying on the mannequin you select.
The front-facing digital camera is an Extremely-Vast lens, so it might probably monitor you and preserve you within the middle of the body on video calls because of Middle Stage, whereas the 12MP Vast digital camera on the again can seize nice pictures and movies that might be utilized in shows or for media-based assignments.
There are three storage choices accessible (128GB, 256GB and 512GB). We’re glad Apple has stopped promoting the 64GB mannequin as we didn’t assume that was sufficient storage. 128GB must be sufficient so that you can retailer your apps, music, films, pictures, and movies, and for those who want extra space we suggest iCloud’s varied storage choices.
One drawback is that the mini solely works with Bluetooth keyboards, somewhat than Apple’s vary of iPad-specific keyboard, however whether or not that’s a big drawback is debatable–at this dimension, a in-built keyboard can be too small to kind on comfortably.
Costs begin at $499/£499 ($449 for college kids) for the 128GB mannequin (which is what the 64GB mannequin used to price). The 256GB possibility elevating the fee to $599/£599 (down from $649/£649 beforehand), and the 512GB mannequin costing $799/£799. In Australia the worth of the iPad mini dropped with the arrival of the brand new mannequin from $829 to $799).
How a lot can college students save on the iPad mini?
MSRP: $499 / £499 / AU$799 / CA$679
College students: $449 / £449 / AU$719 / CA $609
College students save: $50 / £50 / AU$80 / CA$70
iPad (tenth gen, 2022): Finest Stability of Worth and Energy
Professionals
- Air-style design
- 10.9-inch Liquid Retina show
Cons
- 64GB storage on base mannequin
- No compatibility for Apple Intelligence
- New mannequin coming quickly (we hope)
Worth When Reviewed:
From $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) (was $449 and $599)
Due to a worth reduce in 2024, and the retirement of the iPad 10.2-inch (ninth gen), the iPad 10.9-inch (tenth gen) mannequin that arrived in October 2022 is now the most affordable iPad accessible from Apple. However that doesn’t imply it’s a funds system, because it options the identical design method because the iPad mini and iPad Air. This implies you don’t have the standard Dwelling button, which has been changed with swipe gestures and the Contact ID sensor repositioned within the energy button on the highest edge. This makes room for a bigger show than on its predecessor and ensures that the Dwelling button is now formally a factor of the previous.
On this iPad, the ten.9-inch Liquid Retina show, in contrast to on the mini, Air or Professional fashions, is unlaminated. This implies there’s a slight air hole between the glass and the digitizer beneath. You most likely gained’t discover it in any respect, however for those who intend to make use of the Apple Pencil for notes (1st-gen 1 and USB-C Apple Pencils are supported) then you could expertise slight delays within the monitoring.
One welcome addition (that arrived with this mannequin, and is now a characteristic of the M4 iPad Professional and M2 iPad Air) is that the front-facing digital camera is situated on the longer finish of the panel, that means it provides a real panorama view that’s centrally situated. That is significantly better suited to FaceTime and different video calling apps. That new panorama 12MP Extremely Vast digital camera has a f/2.4 aperture that delivers a 122-degree view; it’s additionally appropriate with the Middle Stage characteristic that retains you within the middle of the body even for those who transfer about whereas on video calls. Apple bestows this iPad with a 12MP f/1.8 rear digital camera so you may get some nice pictures and shoot video 4K video at 60fps. In case your course requires any form of video content material, then both the entrance or again optics of the iPad (tenth gen) ought to show greater than enough. Plus you’ll be able to name house and look good doing so.
An A14 Bionic processor is on the coronary heart of this iPad, which is identical chip that powered the iPhone 12 (together with the Professionals). So there’s greater than sufficient energy for phrase processing, note-taking, coding, and most different schooling apps, to not point out gaming and leisure duties. The change from a Lightning port to USB-C additionally opens up the flexibility to make use of varied peripherals and even energy an exterior show in order for you the iPad to develop into extra like a fully-fledged pc. Nonetheless, the A14 will not be highly effective sufficient for Apple Intelligence, Apple’s AI options which can be accessible on the opposite iPads on sale proper now. Whether or not that issues relies on your wants, however the modifying help that is likely one of the Apple Intelligence options could also be helpful for a pupil. Examine what’s in Apple Intelligence.
Apple kits out the baseline mannequin with 64GB, which feels a bit bit insufficient now, particularly since Apple has doubled the storage within the iPad mini from 64GB to 128GB. There isn’t any 128GB iPad proper now, so you would need to go for the 256GB model in order for you the area for film downloads, music, video games and all of your pictures and movies on the system. The additional area will serve you higher in the long term, however for those who don’t need to blow that further money, then there’s at all times the choice of increasing your iCloud storage as a way to preserve stuff secure within the cloud as an alternative.
There are 4 colours to select from (Blue, Yellow, Silver, and Pink) so you need to be capable of discover one which fits your character, and for further performance, you could possibly put money into the brand new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio, though the $249/£249 price ticket does appear very excessive. In fact, a normal Bluetooth keyboard will get you a similar outcomes for lots much less cash. As talked about above, the brand new iPad helps the first-generation Apple Pencil, however because the charging port is now USB-C you’ll want an adaptor from Apple for those who’ve already purchased the Pencil. In any other case, the dongle is now included within the field whenever you purchase a brand new Apple Pencil (1st gen). In fact, there’s additionally the appropriate Apple Pencil (USB-C) which will get across the dongle insanity.
As you’ll be able to see, there are a couple of caveats, however with its trendy design, strong processor, and bigger show, the ten.9-inch iPad (tenth gen) is a superb all-rounder that may show a sensible funding for these heading off to pursue their research.
For extra data, you’ll be able to learn our iPad 10.9-inch (tenth gen) information.
We anticipate to see an Eleventh-generation iPad early in 2025, extra right here: What it is advisable know concerning the subsequent iPad.
How a lot can college students save on the tenth gen iPad?
MSRP: $349 / £329 / AU$599 / CA$499
College students; $329 / £309 / AU$559 / CA$469
College students save: $20 / £20 / AU$40 / CA$30
Learn our full
Apple iPad (tenth gen, A14, 2022) evaluate
11-inch iPad Professional (2024): Finest for Energy and Efficiency
Professionals
- M4 Processor
- OLED show
- Stupidly mild and skinny
Cons
- Costly
- Most likely overkill for college kids
Worth When Reviewed:
$999 (Wi-Fi solely)
The Professional iPads are the top of Apple’s pill vary, and as such they really feel like the facility and worth are most likely overkill to your common pupil. That being mentioned, in order for you the most effective, then that is the place you’ll discover it.
The 11-inch iPad Professional (M4), was launched in Might 2024, boasting extremely mild and skinny development, however with a silly quantity of energy inside. In an unprecedented step, Apple launched the brand new M4 processor within the iPad earlier than the Mac, making the 11-inch iPad Professional and 13-inch iPad Professional probably the most up-to-date gadgets within the Apple catalog.
The query actually, is do you want all that grunt? In the event you’re after an iPad for taking notes, writing essays, watching Netflix, taking part in some video games and utilizing it for video calls house, then the iPad Air is a greater stability of energy and worth. However, for these with cash burning a gap of their pockets, and people planning on doing a variety of gaming when they need to be finding out, the 11-inch iPad Professional comes with a brand new Extremely Retina XDR OLED show that has two layers (Apple calls this Tandem OLED) to provide the brightest panel they’re ever made, kicking out as much as 1600 nits. It’s additionally ProMotion, with an ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh price.
Cameras are 12Mp sensors, with the rear unit a Vast lens that may file video as much as 4K/60fps, plus ProRes capabilities which might be of curiosity to video content material creators. The front-facing lens additionally has the TrueDepth array, permitting Face ID, which stays a Professional-only options on iPads. You get Centre Stage for video calls, and the location of the digital camera on the longer edge means you get panorama view.
The 2 dimension variants provide the identical capabilities, with 256GB of storage the baseline, and costs beginning at $999/£999 ($899 for college kids) for the 11-inch mannequin and $1,299/£1,299 for the 13-inch variant.
As we’ve mentioned, the iPad Professionals are most likely an excessive amount of to your typical pupil, however that doesn’t imply they aren’t glorious merchandise for individuals who can afford them and reap the benefits of all the facility on provide.
How a lot can college students save on the 11-inch iPad Professional?
MSRP: $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 / CA$1,399
College students: $899 / £899 / AU$1,529 / CA$1,249
College students save: $100 / £100 / AU$170 / CA$150
Learn our full
Apple iPad Professional 11-inch (M4, 2024) evaluate
iPad 10.2in (ninth gen, 2021): Finest Discount Hunt iPad
Professionals
- Low-cost
- Centre Stage help for FaceTime
- Appropriate with any Bluetooth keyboard
Cons
- Not offered by Apple
- 64GB storage could also be too little
Worth When Reviewed:
$329 (64GB) | $479 (256GB)
Since we anticipate that college students are prone to be wanting to economize the place they’ll, we’d counsel that the ten.2in iPad (ninth gen) is the closest you may get to a discount iPad. True, it’s not in manufacturing, being discontinued in early 2024 by Apple, however there should be inventory accessible from third-party sellers on the market, and refurbished fashions might make the ticket worth even decrease.
If you need an iPad to cowl the fundamentals, it provides sufficient efficiency and options to make it a wonderful selection for a lot of college students. The ultimate 2021 mannequin featured the greater than enough A13 that beforehand powered the iPhone 11 vary (this gained’t work with Apple Intelligence although). The FaceTime cameras has an Extremely-Vast lens and help for Middle Stage, making video calls house so much higher wanting than on earlier iPads.
It might fortunately run the Microsoft Workplace apps for iPad if that’s what you need to use, however there are free productiveness apps from Apple and others that may make note-taking and dealing on assignments a doddle. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you’ve got a really workable laptop computer that ought to deal with most coursework calls for. Assist for Apple Pencil (gen 1) means you’ll be able to annotate paperwork, sketch, and naturally apply your handwriting.
The iPad 10.2-inch remains to be an excellent choose if you will discover one and your calls for aren’t too onerous. It’s going to deal with tutorial life with ease, and supply loads of leisure when classes are over. One phrase of warning, although. The bottom mannequin comes with solely 64GB of storage, which at the present time appears fairly imply. With that in thoughts, we’d suggest choosing the 256GB model as it will be extra sensible, albeit costlier. As a tough information, right here’s the costs for the iPad (ninth Gen) when it was nonetheless accessible from Apple – $329 / £369 / AU$549 / CA$449.
Learn our full
Apple iPad 10.2in (2021) evaluate
Ought to college students purchase an iPad or a laptop computer?
Earlier than you go forward and purchase your iPad you could need to think about its suitability to your objective.
As a pupil you most likely have a couple of necessities:
- Low worth
- Nice apps for issues like note-taking, recording lectures and revision
- Gentle sufficient to hold round all-day
- Keyboard and stylus help
- Appropriate for making video calls house
You may be questioning whether or not a pill or a laptop computer can be higher for these wants, and for those who lean in the direction of the latter, check out our information to the most effective Macs for college kids.
We predict, nevertheless, that an iPad is a superb selection. It runs most of the apps you’ll discover on a laptop computer, together with Workplace apps like Phrase and PowerPoint and the Apple equivalents, and in some instances, an iPad is definitely extra highly effective than a laptop computer because of the super-fast processors Apple makes use of.
One other profit is that you would be able to have all of the books you want to your course in your iPad and carry them with you to lectures and tutorials. You might even {photograph} pages from books within the library and use optical character recognition to avoid wasting the textual content to your iPad.
Not solely do you not must lug all of your books round with you, however an iPad can be far lighter than even the lightest laptop computer, so that you gained’t get backache from carrying it to lectures and the library.
With battery lifetime of 10 hours–loads for a day on campus–you aren’t going to wish to discover a area beside a plug socket in an effort to get by means of a day at uni.
Suppose that having an iPad will imply it’s a must to kind on an on-screen keyboard. No! You might sync any Bluetooth keyboard or plug in one in every of Apple’s personal iPad keyboards and successfully flip your iPad right into a laptop computer. There’s additionally the Apple Pencil, which might are available in helpful for those who needed to jot down some notes in your iPad display in a lecture. See Finest stylus for iPad.
And whenever you’ve completed finding out there are a great deal of video games, and apps for video calling your mother and father.
Nonetheless unsure? We have now extra data evaluating a MacBook laptop computer and an iPad.
Are iPads good for college kids?
The subsequent query you may want some reassurance on is whether or not the iPad is the most suitable choice for a pupil. There are a variety of different tablets accessible, a lot of that are cheaper than an iPad. So that you may be pondering of saving some cash.
We predict for those who achieve this you’ll remorse it. There are lots of explanation why Apple’s iPads are so in style:
- The App Retailer is heaving with nice apps designed particularly for the iPad.
- A lot of these apps might be excellent for college kids: note-taking apps, apps for changing handwriting to textual content, apps for recording lectures, timetable administration, and naturally video calling (so you’ll be able to keep in contact with mum and pop).
- There may be an ecosystem of nice equipment designed to work with the iPad.
- Apple’s iPadOS is secure and straightforward to make use of, particularly if you have already got an iPhone.
- In the event you’ve obtained a Mac you should use an iPad as a second display, offered you’re working Large Sur or later.
- Apple Intelligence, powered by AI, might simplify your research by finishing up summarisations of textual content, creating photographs for illustrations, and different helpful options.
That’s all of our student-related shopping for recommendation, however for those who’re shopping for for somebody youthful, take a look at our information to the greatest iPad for Children.
