Useful Tablets for Studying

Windows tablets offer advantages that other devices can't, such as running desktop software on mobile hardware. We put the Surface Go 2 higher in our list of the best tablets for students because of its value for money, but if you have the money to spend, it's beefy cousin, the Surface Pro is a Windows tablet with some real oomph.

The Surface Pro 8 is the latest in Microsoft's high-end hybrid tablet range. While we recommended going for the previous generation in the case of the Go above, here the newer version is worth the investment if you can afford it since. In our review, we found the improvements over the older Surface Pro 7 to be much more notable, both in terms of design and performance.

The Surface Pro 8 is designed to showcase Windows 11 and it does that with aplomb thanks to a gorgeous screen and powerful processor. Pair it with a Type Cover, and you really do have an experience that can stand up to a laptop while being thinner and lighter than any laptop you could buy. Battery life is great as well. There are several configurations, so you can opt for lower RAM and storage space to save cash but this is always going to be a pricey tablet for students.

If you're concerned more about power than portability (and you have the budget to pay for it), the best tablet that money can buy is the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021). This is Apple's flagship tablet, sporting the M1 processing chip that puts it on par with a Macbook. Combine it with a keyboard and mouse, and you essentially have a high-quality laptop alternative and one that'll last a long time.

The HDR display is the best example of its type that you can get on a tablet, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2048 x 2732. Its peak brightness is 1,600 nits, and with better control of local dimming, it's more pleasant to look at for long periods. Darker areas have more nuance and depth to them, making for a better and more accurate image that's excellent for photo and video editing.