There are lots of reasons for students to invest in a tablet. They’re practically weightless in a backpack, they last all day on a charge (at least the good ones) and there are lots of touch-friendly student apps available that can help your child get ahead. Plus, you never have to wait for them to boot. What separates the tablets worth considering from the ones worth buying? Design, versatility, included apps and available accessories.
You also have to keep the age of the student in mind. Parents of grade-school children will likely want a tablet that offers parental controls and apps and content geared toward little ones. Those who prefer to scribble notes in class will prefer a slate with pen input. And those looking for a tablet and laptop in a single device should look for compatible keyboards. Here’s our top seven tablet picks for Back to School 2013.
Best Overall:
1. Apple iPad
2. iPad mini
(US$329 to US$499)
The fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini have one very important thing in common: more than 375,000 apps designed just for Apple's tablets. From educational apps to productivity tools to cutting-edge games, the latest and greatest tablet apps tend to hit the iPad first. The fourth-gen iPad stands out because of its very sharp 9.7-inch Retina Display and fast A6X processor, while the smaller 7.9-inch iPad mini is better for one-hand use.
3. Best for Note-Taking: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (US$399)
Ideal for keeping up with lectures, the Galaxy Note 8 comes with a built-in S Pen that makes it easy to take notes. You can also annotate books, which Samsung makes easier on the eyes with a special Reading Mode for the 8-inch display. Multitaskers will love that they can run two apps side by side on the screen. When work is done, kick back with the WatchOn app and use this tablet as a TV remote.
4. Best for Young Readers: Amazon Kindle Fire HD (US$169)
With an Amazon Prime membership, this 7-inch tablet lets kids access free books via the Kindle Owner's Lending Library and free Prime Instant Videos. Plus, with a subscription to Kindle FreeTime Unlimited (US$2.99 per month for Prime members), one fee covers access to thousands of kid-approved books, games and educational apps. Easy-to-use parental controls, a bright HD display and powerful speakers make this a great tablet for tweens.
5. Best Tablet for Grade School: Fuhu Nabi 2 Tablet (US$199)
The Fuhu Nabi 2 is a 7-inch tablet that protects both itself with rubber bumpers and your child with robust parental controls. It's easy to create kid profiles and limit the apps and content they can access. The Nabi 2 also comes with its own integrated learning system in Fooz Kids University and helpful utilities such as a Chore List. Add in a kid-friendly video service (US$2.99 per month) and this tablet has everything Junior needs for school.
More: Fuhu Nabi 2: Full Review
6. Best Cheap Tablet: Hisense Sero 7 Pro (US$149)
Don't let the US$149 price of the Sero 7 Pro scare you off. Available at Walmart, this 7-inch tablet boasts a high-def display (1280 x 800 pixels), easy access to the Google Play store and a quad-core processor that offers plenty of pep. And, unlike the Nexus 7, the Sero 7 Pro features both a microSD Card slot and a mini HDMI port. If your student is looking for both a laptop and a tablet and you don't want to spend a lot on the latter, this is a safe bet.
7. Best Affordable Windows 8 Tablet: Acer Iconia W3 (US$379)
If your student likes the idea of running full Windows 8 in a device that costs less than US$400, take a good look at the Acer Iconia W3. This slate lasts nearly 9 hours on a charge and comes with Office 2013 Home and Student edition to keep your child productive while away at school. Spring for the US$79 Bluetooth keyboard dock and your student will be able to take notes in class while still traveling light. This isn't the fastest Windows 8 slate, but it does a lot for the price.
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