Top 5 Best Cheap Tablets for College Students

What’s the best tablet for college? If you’re a student on a tight budget, you might be surprised at just how affordable some of these tablets can be. Read on to see our top picks.

If you are currently a student, you may want to take advantage of Amazon’s Prime Student Free Trial. You’ll get six months of Prime Student for free, which includes perks like free movie streaming, free photo storage, early access to deals, free Audible content, free access to select ebooks, and free two-day shipping on over 50 million eligible items.

---

1. Acer Iconia 11.6-Inch (128 GB Model)

Amazon has the 128 GB Acer Iconia on sale for around $700. That isn’t exactly cheap, but compared to a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (which retails for $999), it’s quite the bargain. It’s also a pretty fair price for a tablet that has a display that’s almost a foot wide. For students who want a Windows tablet experience, this big tab is a solid choice.

Buy it here.

---

Pros:

Zippy solid state drive

9-hour battery life

12 MP rear camera

Optimized Dolby Home Theater v4 audio enhancement

Dock is great for low- or high-angle viewing

---

Cons:

May be somewhat too expensive for some students on a budget

Opinions are divided about the enjoyability of the Windows tab experience in general

Could benefit from a bit more RAM and a slightly larger cache

2.09 pounds doesn’t seem that big, until you try to hold it for a long period of time

Some users may feel more comfortable buying a Windows tab from Microsoft

---

2. iPad Mini 2

An iPad Mini 2 ($399) is a good option for college students who plan to walk or bike to campus, since it has such a small form factor. The iPad Mini with retina display enables you to have a lightweight device that won’t make you squint, but you can save yourself about a hundred bucks by going for the original iPad Mini ($299) instead of the more recent one.

This 7.9-inch tab benefits from a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, reducing smudges and keeping your iPad Mini looking factory fresh. This tablet would be a good option for anyone who wants to bring a tablet, and not a full-sized laptop, to their lectures.

Buy it here.

---

Pros:

Designed by Apple

Reliable, less prone to crashing than some other tablets

Smudge resistant

Lightweight

Great battery life

---

Cons:

More expensive than tabs of a comparable size

Small screen can make it hard to tap certain items on the screen

Not compatible with some popular, Android-only apps

FaceTime camera is only 720p

May be too small for students looking to buy a tablet that will replace a laptop

---

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (7-Inch)

Samsung’s tablets are generally pretty solid, and the Galaxy Tab 4 is a great option for anyone who needs a smaller tab. The tab may be on the smaller size, but it comes with about $300 worth of freebies, since Samsung is working aggressively to get your business. These “Galaxy Perks” include three months of SiriusXM Internet Radio, some free audio books, a $10 Google Play credit, and 50 GB of Dropbox space. You can usually find this tab online for under $170.

Buy it here.

---

Pros:

Beautiful display

8 GB flash memory

32GB of memory available through a microSD slot and 50GB of free Dropbox storage

Thin and lightweight design

Solid multi-tasking

---

Cons:

Cameras are a little wimpy

Multi-tasking limited to two apps at once

Tab is great for taking notes, may be too small to work as a full laptop replacement for busy students

Some users have complained the tab runs very slowly

Multiple users have found the screen on the Nexus 7 more vivid than this Samsung tab

---

4. Lenovo Yoga Multimode 10-inch Tablet

Some students want the portability of a tablet, but the form factor of a laptop. If flexibility is the most important thing for you, this tablet from Lenovo could be perfect. You can use it in tablet mode to take notes during class, then place the tablet in stand mode for when you need a stable screen for writing papers.

This tablet works as a laptop replacement for anyone who needs maximum battery life, or anyone who doesn’t like working in Windows or OS X. Just buy a wireless keyboard and you’re good to go. Even with the added cost of a wireless keyboard, you’ll probably get away without spending more than $300.

Buy it here.

---

Pros:

18-hour battery life

16 GB flash memory

Ideal for Android fans

Lightweight

Much cheaper than buying a traditional laptop

---

Cons:

Ships with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, not KitKat

On-board cameras may seem underwhelming to some (5 MP rear, 1.6 MP front)

Only has up to 32GB micro-SD card storage support

Some users find the display slightly low-res

Some users suggest the default launcher should be replaced with a third-party launcher

---

5. YABILA 10-Inch Android Tablet (16GB)

If price is your primary concern, this ultra-cheap tablet will fit the bill. This tablet runs Android 4.2, and supports HD playback. With the savings you’ll get from buying this cheap tab, you’ll have a ton of money left over for pizza and textbooks. Amazon is currently selling this tablet for over 50 percent off the list price.

Buy it here.

---

Pros:

Quad-Core 1.2Ghz with SGX 544MP GPU

Supports 1080p HD play, HDMI output (Cable sold separately), G-sensor and 3D games

Supports memory cards

Fairly lightweight

Nice display

---

Cons:

Terrible battery life

Could use more RAM

Not the most renowned brand in the tablet sphere

Some users found sound quality a bit lacking

Some user reviews indicate Wi-Fi connectivity is prone to disconnecting

---

Considering getting someone an electronics gift? Check out our Gifts section for tons of great gift recommendations, or visit our ultimate guides to the best gifts for women and best gifts for men.

---