Choosing a budget tablet for school in 2025 can get overwhelming. There are so many options, each with different features, performance, and price tags. Personally, I’ve spent hours checking out reviews, testing entry level tablets, and talking to students, so I know what actually matters when you’re looking for an affordable tablet that works well for everyday school tasks.
Whether you need something for taking notes, reading e-textbooks, streaming lectures, or even sketching for art class, plenty of options out there won’t empty your wallet. For students, a good budget tablet balances price, battery life, and performance, plus a few handy extras that make schoolwork easier.
Here, I’ll share the best budget tablets for school in 2025, highlight what to look for, and share a few real world tips. Every student’s needs are a bit different, but this guide is all about solid, practical picks that offer a lot of value on a tight budget.
1. Best Overall Budget Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ grabs my top spot for the best all around budget tablet for students in 2025. It’s affordable, runs on Android 14, and comes with a solid 11 inch LCD display that’s bright enough for reading and streaming. Apps open quickly thanks to the Snapdragon processor and 4GB of RAM, handling school apps, PDFs, and multitasking without slowing down.
Top Features I Like:
- Long lasting battery (around 12 hours, perfect for a full school day).
- Lightweight, so it’s easy to toss in a backpack.
- Decent speakers and headphone jack, perfect for video calls or online classes.
- Expandable storage with a microSD card slot, great for ebooks and media.
This tablet doesn’t have S Pen support like Samsung’s pricier models, but for most school tasks, a cheap capacitive stylus works fine for notes or light sketching. If you want serious drawing capabilities, you might want to look at options with advanced pen support, but for school basics, this model covers the essentials at a smart price point.
2. Best Budget Tablet for Apple Fans: iPad 9th Gen (2021)
If you really want the Apple experience, the iPad 9th Gen is still a steady pick for school in 2025, especially if you don’t need the newest features. Apple’s App Store still has the best selection of education first apps. The 10.2 inch Retina display is clear and crisp, which makes it a breeze for note taking, e reading, and video calls.
Why It’s Worth Checking Out:
- Reliable A13 processor is still speedy enough for anything school related.
- Long software support (Apple tends to update older devices for years).
- Great battery life, usually around 10 hours.
- Lots of affordable case and keyboard options for student use.
This iPad isn’t the latest model, which keeps the price down. Used or refurbished units can save even more money and still have plenty of life for a full school year or two. Accessories like the first generation Apple Pencil or budget friendly Bluetooth keyboards can give this iPad even more flexibility for different learning styles.
3. Best for Note Taking and Drawing: Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2
For students who want to take handwritten notes or add some creative flair to their work, the Lenovo Tab P11 Gen 2 is a super useful choice. With its 11.5 inch 2K display and optional Precision Pen 2 support, it’s a solid fit for writing, highlighting, or doodling diagrams during lectures and group projects.
Features to Know:
- Works with Lenovo’s stylus for smooth handwriting or drawings (sold separately).
- Quad speakers for clear audio with videos and calls.
- Runs Android 13 out of the box, still eligible for major updates.
- Battery life is about 10 hours, enough for a busy day of classes.
The keyboard cover isn’t included in most bundles, but it’s easy to connect any Bluetooth keyboard for faster typing or longer essay assignments. If you want a bigger screen than most basic tablets offer, this Lenovo model stands out as an excellent yet affordable step up, especially for those with artistic interests or a preference for writing notes by hand.
4. Easy on the Wallet: Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)
The Fire HD 10 is really popular with students because of the price. It’s the cheapest tablet on this list that still covers basics like web browsing, reading, and basic productivity tasks. There’s a new version for 2023 with a brighter 1080p screen and longer battery life, making it more comfortable for extended study sessions or reading assignments.
Where It’s Handy:
- Super low cost, often on sale for under $90.
- Great for reading Kindle books, streaming lectures, or light web research.
- Strong parental controls and tough kid settings, great for younger students or family sharing.
It doesn’t run Google Play apps right away, but you can stumble upon guides online to get most of what you need. While it might feel a bit slow for super heavy note taking or multitasking, it’s tough to beat at this price for light work and ebooks—plus, Amazon regularly supports this line with software updates to help it last longer for your investment.
5. Best Chromebook Tablet: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3
Chromebook tablets are super practical for students who want a laptop and a tablet in one. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 comes with a detachable keyboard and runs ChromeOS, so you get full access to Google Docs, Sheets, and other tools schools often use. This makes workflow easy and gives a boost to multitasking on a student budget.
Cool Features:
- 10.9 inch display is great for both typing reports and streaming lessons.
- Keyboard is included; it snaps on and off with magnets, so you can switch between laptop and tablet style quickly.
- Impressive battery life (up to 12 hours on a charge).
- Compatible with USI styluses for note taking or sketching (stylus sold separately).
Google Play app support adds a lot of versatility, so you can download most of the same Android apps as a regular tablet. The built in kickstand means it’s comfortable for reading, watching, or typing anywhere, making this a solid choice for students who value flexibility and need to get assignments done wherever they are.
Key Things to Look For in a Budget Tablet for School
Not every budget tablet covers all the basics. Here are features I always check when recommending one for school:
- Battery life: Should last at least a full day of classes and homework (usually 8+ hours).
- Decent screen: A bright display (1080p or better) helps a ton with reading textbooks and watching videos for homework.
- Storage: Look for options with 64GB or more. Some tablets support microSD cards for more space if you like to store lots of files, download videos, or keep your favorite study music handy.
- Operating system and apps: Make sure you can install the productivity and education apps you’re going to use, like Google Classroom or Microsoft OneNote.
- Accessories: Bonus points for models with affordable cases, keyboards, or stylus support for greater flexibility.
I recommend thinking about how you’ll actually use your tablet. If most of your schoolwork is in Google Workspace, a Chromebook tablet works best. If you like drawing or want to take real handwritten notes, make sure it supports a proven stylus. Always double check that the apps your school requires are available on the tablet’s operating system so you won’t run into compatibility headaches during the semester.
Making Your Tablet Last Longer
Owning a budget device doesn’t mean you have to replace it every year. I always suggest picking up a sturdy case and screen protector right away; that’s the easiest way to keep your device safe from drops in your backpack. Keeping the software up to date and clearing out unused files gives a big boost to overall performance. If your tablet feels slow after a few years, a factory reset will often bring it back to life for another semester or two of solid use, so you get plenty of value before needing an upgrade.
Wrapping Up
The right budget tablet makes school a little smoother without costing a fortune. There are good options at every price, whether you’re all about Android, want the Apple experience, or prefer the simplicity of a Chromebook. The best pick for you comes down to your own needs like battery life, writing and drawing support, app compatibility, and what accessories (if any) you find useful. A bit of careful research helps buyers make informed choices, and a well chosen tablet can carry you through class, homework, and plenty of downtime, too. Stay on top of your schoolwork and stretch your budget further this year with one of these tablets—no stress, just smart choices for student life in 2025.
