The best tablet for teachers should be very user-friendly, so they can quickly access teaching materials and apps. It needs to have a good, clear screen that’s easy to read from, which helps when showing things to the class or reading documents. Long battery life is key, as teachers might use it all day without a chance to charge. It should be light and easy to carry, especially when moving around the classroom or school. Good storage space is important for keeping lots of teaching files and resources. It’s also helpful if the tablet can connect to the internet well and work with other devices like projectors or smartboards. Lastly, it should be durable to handle daily use and have strong security to protect school information.
I chose the Microsoft Surface Pro for these features, but I’ve also reviewed more good ones in this list.
Top 8 Tablets for Teachers Reviewed
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7
This tablet is easy to use and is accessible with all of your favorite android apps. Anyone that purchases a Samsung device can rest assured they have a high-quality piece of equipment. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is light in weight at only one pound and has a sleek and stylish design comparable to the iPad Pro. The device has an upwards of 13-hour battery life and is equipped with an enhanced battery for quick charging in the classroom.
Internal storage space on this android tablet is up to 64 GB, and it is also wifi and Bluetooth enabled. With a generous 10. 2-inch display screen size, you will certainly be able to see anything on the tablet screen without issue. This tablet has a front-facing, landscape-oriented camera that can be used for video calls, which is especially helpful if you are teaching online.
One major benefit of this tablet is that it is lightweight and easy to use. This device gives the teachers remote access to learning platforms such as Google Classroom. Teachers can quickly leave a reply to student questions with this tablet! Moreover, teachers can access Zoom or Google Video platforms from this tablet, which comes incredibly handy in facilitating an online classroom.
Be careful when shopping for a Samsung tablet, as some do not have the same display size. Many of the less expensive options can be enticing but likely are the tablets with the 7-inch screen. The last thing to consider is that android is quite simply not the same operating system as Apple. So if you are familiar with an Apple iPad, you might have difficulty getting used to this tablet. Lastly, you may not want to count on it, doubling as your laptop because of the type of device this is.
2. Amazon Fire Tablet
This affordable tablet has so much to offer! Impressively, the Amazon Fire rocks a 4.6 out of 5-star rating from almost ninety-six thousand verified customers! So basically, almost one hundred thousand people give this device two thumbs up…WOW! With a 10. 1-inch screen display and 1920 x 1200 screen resolution, users can see anything on the screen. Moreover, it comes with a 1080P in HD screen. Users can choose what size storage they want in their tablets when ordering.
The Amazon Fire Tab comes in either 32 or 64Gb internal storage. The memory on this device is expandable. Up to 512GB is needed! With up to 10 hours of battery life, this can be used all day.
This tablet can be used with Alexa and comes with a 1-year limited warranty. This tablet also includes a 2-megapixel front camera and an Octa-core 2.0 GHz processor.
These are some of the best tablets for teachers because of the accessibility to various texts and set timers for students. As with the first tablet mentioned, the Amazon fire tablet is an android operating system; however, it does not work with Google apps.
This may not be a great option for teachers who need to use Google apps or documents. On the flip, because this is an Amazon tablet, many cool applications are free for reading and learning in the classroom. Also, what students wouldn’t love to say, “Hey Alexa…” for whatever question they have. This digital interaction makes learning a lot of fun before it might not have been…like typing a question in the Google search bar. If this is a tablet used for learning games and digital reading, this would be a great addition to your classroom.
3. Dragon Touch Max10 Tablet
At first glance, the Dragon Toch Max10 tablet looks like an earlier iPad version. However, its Amazon rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from almost five thousand verified customers is nothing to look over. This tablet has a generous 10-inch screen with 16GB of internal storage.
The Dragon Touch device has an 8.1 Android operating system with a 64-bit core processor for quick response. Worried about this off-brand tablet dying on you? Don’t be! The battery life on this device will last you up to 10 hours, which is plenty for all the classroom apps!
Storage with a tablet is only 16GB and is only expandable up to 128 GB. If you plan on using many different apps, this may not be your tablet. However, this table is Google Docs accessible, which is important for those who do online teaching. Moreover, the battery life makes this a great tablet for teachers as it can last an entire class day without dying.
4. VAN YKO MatrixPad S21
If you want a high-quality tablet for not a lot of money, this is a great option. Rocking a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from over one thousand verified customers gives us the idea that this is a quality device. The screen size on the VAN YKO MatricPad S21 tablet measures 10.1 inches and has a battery life of up to 10 hours.
This device features a 2.4GHz processor and a front-facing 2mp camera, and a rear-facing 8mp camera. Being wifi enabled, this device can be connected to your mobile hotspot or available wifi. Memory on these tablets goes up to 32GB but can be expanded to 512GB with a micro SD card. While you may not be able to use this as your laptop, this device has some of the best features of tablets available.
When classifying the best tablets for teachers, it is important to consider video, Zoom, or Google Meet with students who cannot be at school. This tablet can do any of those things making education in the classroom versatile.
Teachers will appreciate the storage capability of this device when downloading educational apps.
5. Lenovo Tab M8 Tablet
When it comes to getting a lot of value for not a lot, this is one of the best. Teachers will love that his device has a battery life of up to 18 hours and a high-resolution 8-inch screen. The Lenovo Tab M8 tablet features an Android 9 Pie core processor for speed and Dolby audio-tuned speakers.
The high resolution makes the display one you won’t get bored looking at! This item on Amazon received a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from over seven hundred different verified customers. Lastly, the Lenovo Tab comes with a charger cord and is wifi and Bluetooth enabled for easy online use.
Next time I comment on this device, it will be because I bought one for my class! Students will love the ability to say “Hey, Google” and ask any questions they want. The crazy long battery life on this device makes this a great tablet for teachers and their classrooms. One downside to this tablet is that the screen is small, and it cannot be doubled as a laptop.
Is an Apple iPad Good for Teachers?
Apple is in its world regarding operating systems and various other capabilities that give them an edge in technology. The Apple iPad, together with the MacBook laptop, is the best device for full versatility.
More so, this company has a department specifically geared toward education, which is different from any of the other companies listed. This is a great tablet for teachers because it could be used as a laptop and is ideal for teachers because of the sheer number of available classroom applications.
6. Apple iPad Pro
This very well could be the right tablet for teachers! Picture quality has never been better than with this iPad Pro which has both a front camera and a back camera. This iPad has the new Liquid Retina display and comes in either a 12.9 or 111-inch display screen and an all-day battery life! Screen resolution and display on these tablets are remarkable.
This tablet has many amazing features, such as Touch ID, facial recognition, a front camera, and another two on the back. This iPad has a smart keyboard and an Apple Pencil to be used on the screen for things like taking notes or drawing. These iPads are wi-fi enabled and have Bluetooth.
The Apple iPad Pro is, by far, one of the best tablets for teachers on the market. Teachers can access multiple learning platforms from this iPad, i.e., Blackboard and Schoology. Not only that, but students can access textbooks, make in-text notes, create movies, and so on.
More so, the Apple iPad can certainly double your laptop. One big draw to the Apple user is that the iPad operates under its system rather than a Windows 10 system. Lastly, this tablet/laptop has so many different cool accessories that students will be chomping at the bit to take notes! Things like the Apple Pencil make taking notes or drawing fun and exciting, making learning even better.
What About the Other Guys? (pssst…Microsoft? Samsung?)
It is easy to overlook some of the other competitors when it comes down to spending a small fortune on a tablet. When it comes to the best tablets, we don’t want to overlook anything beneficial to teachers. Before simply going right to Apple, take a quick look a the Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet and Laptop and the Samsung Tab S6.
7. The Microsoft Surface Pro (10th Gen)
Microsoft can sometimes be overlooked. Microsoft has been in the game for a long time and is not always the first to purchase a computer device. However, the 10th-generation Microsoft Surface Pro has some truly amazing capabilities. With a 12. 3-inch screen Operating through the Windows 10 software, this tablet can operate as your laptop, which gives you a duality of use.
Teachers will certainly appreciate the up to 15 hours of life this tablet/laptop offers. Moreover, this device has a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor that makes any assignment or task easy and fast.
Windows 10 is one of the best operating systems for things like Microsoft products. So if your school uses word, excel, or PowerPoint, this is a good option. The flexibility of this being used as both a tablet and a laptop allows you to be flexible in your teaching capabilities.
One big thing that can be done with the Microsoft Surface Pro is the capability to use certain security software online that cannot be used on a regular tablet. For example, many states have access centers with student information that can only be accessed with a computer and cannot be accessed with a tablet.
8. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 tablet has a 110.4-inch screen size and operates with up to 13 hours of battery life! The processor featured on this device is a Mali-G72 MP3, which allows the user to move from one task to the next quickly.
This tablet weighs only a little over a pound making it easily transferable from a purse or bag to a classroom or home. Moreover, this device has 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded to 1TB with a micro SD card. Lastly, this little device includes a writing stylus for writing or drawing in apps.
Android has many neat applications that can be used within a classroom for both teacher and student use. For example, Android can be used with Google Play applications. Teachers can conduct Zoom or Google meet classes with students who are not inside the classroom.
While the Samsung screen isn’t as big as the 12,3-inch Microsoft Pro, it is plenty functional but cannot double as a laptop. This does not operate with a Windows 10 system, which may limit your access to certain programs.
Last Thoughts
Sometimes what we think we want may not be the best option. Now more than ever, educators worldwide are questioning what will work best in both the brick-and-mortar classroom and the virtual classroom. Knowing my students can reach me and reach them is the most important point in all of this.
Devices that allow accessibility for one-on-one learning are vital for social and emotional health, and helping kids learn what they need for life is ultimately the most important endeavor.
Overall, consider whether your needs constitute something made to be just a tablet or a device that can double that o a laptop. Think about what types of projects you want your students to complete in class, as well as what capabilities students may have at home that do not come into your actual classroom.
Considering all these things will allow you to make the best decision possible for your students and yourself.
