Tablets are brilliant taskmasters for school. They're essentially portable PCs that can help students take notes, write essays, revise, and even stay in touch with their classmates and teachers — whether at home, at school, or on the go.
But there are loads of options out there, so which tablets are the best for learning? Whether you're buying for yourself or for your child, we've got all the advice you'll need to pick out an A-star tablet.
Why choose a tablet for schoolwork?
Before we dive into the technical stuff, let's warm up with a few reasons why a tablet can be a smart choice for tackling schoolwork:
Super portable: Tablets are smaller and lighter than most laptops. This makes them easier to pop into a backpack and carry with you to class, so you can stay productive on the move.
Interactive learning: Loads of textbooks and educational resources now come in digital formats, which you can clearly display on a tablet. Tablets also offer plenty of interactive learning tools via apps, with their touchscreens making them extra engaging (particularly for younger students).
Personal planners: Tablets help keep you organised with features like note-taking apps, reminders, and calendars — making it easy to stay on top of assignments and deadlines.
Great for creatives: Tablets have big touchscreens that make them perfect virtual sketch pads, especially as most work with styluses that feel just like you're using a pen.
Easy communication: With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can use apps like Zoom and WhatsApp to collaborate on projects with classmates over video calls or instant messages. And it's easy to get in touch with your teacher via email if you have any questions.
Boot up quickly: Whenever inspiration strikes, you can turn on a tablet and open up that essay you were working on in seconds. This can be essential for those times you need to quickly jot down notes too!
Long battery life: Most modern tablets can last at least a couple of days without needing a top up, so you can leave the charger at home and travel light to your lessons.
Best tablets for essays and coursework
If it's all about getting words on a page, you'll want to make sure you've got a tablet that can handle long typing sessions. Fortunately, pretty much all tablets come with some kind of notes app so you can quickly take down key points from lessons. This includes Apple's popular iPad and most Android tablets.
But for lengthy essays, you'll need a proper word processor that can autocorrect typos, keep your grammar in check, and do some neat formatting. Here are a few apps we'd recommend:
Pages (iOS): This is Apple’s main word processing app that comes built into every iPad. It's really straightforward to use and even lets you export docs in PDF and Microsoft Word formats — so there won't be any compatibility issues when submitting work to your teacher. Prefer Word? No problem, just download it from the App Store. Speaking of...
Microsoft Word (iOS/Android): The go-to option if you choose an Android tablet. Just get it from Google Play and enjoy the familiar look and feel of Word on your tablet.
Microsoft 365 (iOS/Android): Perfect if you want Word and a suite of other Microsoft apps, including Excel for spreadsheets and PowerPoint for presentations. With Microsoft 365, you'll also get the Copilot Ai assistant — which can give you a helping hand on those tough assignments.
Google Docs (iOS/Android): While not as feature-rich as Word, Google Docs is easy to use with a few nifty templates and tools for adding images and tables. It also allows several users to edit a doc at the same and see the changes live — making classroom collaboration simple.
Now, tablets aren't the easiest things to type long essays on if you’re using just the touchscreen. That's why it might be a good idea to get one that works with dedicated tablet keyboards or keyboard folio cases, so you can easily type away like you're using a computer.
Tablets for revising: what to look for
Hands up — who likes revision? Yeah, it's a bit of a chore. But the right tech can make a revision sesh seem a lot less daunting and keep you focused. Here are some key tablet features to consider for reading eBooks, PDFs, and more:
10"+ size screen: A tablet with a large screen lets you see and do more. It can be especially handy to go for a model with a split-screen feature too, as it’ll make it easier to compare notes and multitask.
High resolution display: The higher the resolution, the crisper text and images will look. This can help reduce eye strain for those long reading sessions, so aim for a display with at least 1920 x 1080 pixels. Bonus stars for devices with anti-glare tech or blue light filtering.
Stylus support: A stylus can be a useful tool for highlighting text, making annotations, and sketching diagrams that might help you understand something. So, look for a tablet that supports a compatible stylus (or even comes with one).
What is eResearching?
eResearching is just a fancy name for conducting research using a tablet or any digital tool. Instead of heading to the library every time you want to learn something new, you can just use your device and the internet instead. Access online journals and databases from all over the world, save and organise resources, annotate PDFs, or collaborate with your classmates in real-time.
How much internal memory do students need?
To clear up any confusion, memory (RAM) and internal storage are actually two different things. But when it comes to choosing the right tablet for schoolwork, both are important to keep in mind. Here are some quick definitions:
RAM (Random Access Memory): This is basically a tablet's short-term memory. It stores data that the processor needs to run programs and open files, which means that it plays a big role in how fast a tablet feels. The more RAM you have, the smoother everything will run.
Internal storage: This is where all your files, apps, and operating system's data lives. When shopping for tablets, you'll see this measured in gigabytes (GB) with more high-end options offering a terabyte (TB) or two of storage.
Tablets for students will need at least 4GB of RAM. When multitasking across different apps or windows at the same time, this will keep things feeling sharp without slowdowns.
Internal storage is equally (if not more) important. You'll want no less than 64GB onboard, especially as PDF textbooks take up more space than you think and downloading several learning apps can add up. You can offload files using cloud storage services, but files won't always be accessible if Wi-Fi is patchy at school.
Best apps for students using tablets
That's the hardware covered — how about revision and learning apps? Fortunately, there are plenty of iOS (iPad) and Android apps that can help you get the most out of your study time:
Evernote (iOS/Android): This versatile app is amazing for note-taking and organising your study materials. Type or handwrite notes, clip articles from the internet, insert diagrams and PDFs you can annotate, and tag everything for easy access later.
Quizlet (iOS/Android): When it comes to making revision flashcards, this app is hard to beat. Create your own study sets or choose from a big library of existing sets made by other students and educators. You also get eight study modes, including practice tests and matching games. So, you can revise just the way you like.
BBC Bitesize - Exam Revision (iOS/Android): The perfect app for GSCE-age children. It lets you see all your subjects in one easy place, and as its name suggests, breaks them down into bite-sized chunks with handy flashcards, guides, tests, and interactive videos.
Forest (iOS/Android): A unique app that helps you stay focused. When you start a task, you'll plant a virtual tree that'll grow if you stay on task — giving you a feeling of achievement. But if you leave the app halfway through, the tree will die.
MyStudyLife (iOS/Android): A student planner app that helps you manage your class timetable, homework assignment deadlines, and exams with helpful reminders keeping you on track.
Accessories to enhance your tablet for school
We've mentioned a couple already, but here are a few tablet accessories that can boost your device and improve your productivity in the classroom:
Stylus: A digital pen perfect for taking notes, drawing diagrams, and highlighting text on your tablet's screen. When picking a stylus, look for one that's compatible with the tablet you're thinking about buying.
Portable keyboard: It can be slow and tedious typing out long essays on a touchscreen. That's why a compact wireless keyboard you can connect to your tablet can make this much faster and more comfortable.
Tablet case: A durable, protective case is a must-have for anyone using a tablet — especially a student. It'll guard your device from scratches, dirt, and drops. And lots of tablet cases come with built-in keyboards, so you can fold it open, prop it up, and use it like a mini laptop.
Power bank: We can't think of many things worse than running out of battery before class, especially if you haven't submitted that important assignment yet! Having a portable power bank in your bag means you can top up your tablet without having to find a mains socket to plug it into. All you'll need is the battery and your tablet's charging cable.
Need more advice?
If you want a little more guidance, check out our tablet buying guide. It compares all the main types of tablets out there and their benefits. And when you're all clued up, shop from our huge range of iPads, tablets & eReaders to find the perfect study buddy for you or your child.
