What’s the best tablet for teaching? Well, in all honesty, it’s a bit tied between iPad Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, but depending on your budget, there are choices. With this in mind, we’ll take a look at the best tables for teachers in 2021.
1) Apple iPad
Often enough, Apple products are viewed as the go-to solution in plenty of niches. For a lot of people, they’re also the manufacturers of some of the best tablets for teachers in 2021. However, you should know that there are different iPad versions available for purchase. The standard model is equipped with a decent processor and a screen a little over 10 inches layered with a retina display.
Perhaps most importantly for teachers, the standard iPad model also has a fingerprint sensor. That means that you can set it to unlock only via Touch ID; preventing any students from getting into your tablet and tampering with things without your permission.
Moving on, it’s also important to note that the tablet has more than decent battery life. On a full charge, you’ll be able to use it for around 10 hours. That’s more than enough time for a single workday of any kind of teacher. Also, the stereo speakers of the tablet are more than adequate; though you’re not likely to use the tablet as the primary audio output device in a large class.
The camera is not bad for a tablet; though the 8MP back camera won’t blow you away, it’s not that big of a deal in this context. After all, tablets aren’t used for taking photos in classrooms; at least not often. The part where this device truly shines is the Apple Pencil. If you have this peripheral, you’ll be able to use the iPad for classroom work more easily than ever. There’s no more using your finger to write, or conduct lessons.
Another downside that we have to mention is that this version of the iPad isn’t compatible with cellular Internet; you’ll constantly need a WiFi to make it work. Though, most schools have WiFi in classrooms these days.
Pros:
– Excellent battery life
– Apple Pencil
Cons:
– WiFi Only
– Average camera
2) Apple iPad Pro
Next up, we’ve got the most premium-level version of the iPad currently available on the market: the Apple iPad Pro. This is definitely the most feature-heavy device that’s going to be great for all teachers; you can use it for all tasks, from grading to complex projects. The 11-inch screen is nothing to sneeze at, particularly with its liquid retina technology. The processor on this tablet is far better than on the other iPad versions, ensuring smooth usage throughout all classes.
The audio is probably the most significant improvement here compared to the standard iPad; there are four different speakers compared to the stereo sound of the device above. Plus, all of the extra hardware and software capabilities don’t come at the price of battery power. You’ll still be able to get a solid 10-hour session out of the iPad Pro before it requires a recharge.
Also, the security of the device is improved, as you can do more than lock your tablet using a fingerprint. This time around, there’s also Face ID using the front camera; additionally ensuring there is no student tampering possible.
Moving on, we have to point out that the camera is far better in this model as well. The back one has 12MP, while the front camera is a 7MP one. Still, this isn’t such a predominant feature when it comes to classroom use. However, the thing that does stand out is the 512GB storage in this model; more than enough for any kind of electronic records of different classes.
Pros:
– More storage
– Decent battery life
– Better security
Cons:
– Steeper price
3) Apple iPad Mini
Our final Apple product on this list is an interesting pick, the Apple iPad Mini. Now, the “mini” part of its name might seem like a downside. In reality, it’s what lands it on the shortlist of the best tablets for teachers in 2021. More specifically, this is the most easily portable version of the Apple iPad. Firstly, it’s far less heavy than its pricier counterparts; but it’s also small enough for you to hold in one hand.
Plus, it’s one step closer to a phone because you can use it with cellular data as well. Naturally, there’s always WiFi as an option as well. Also, the screen is a little below 8 inches; meaning that it’s significantly lighter and smaller than the other iPad versions. However, it still has all the important features; such as the stereo speakers and the Touch ID security.
The battery life is also pretty much identical, with about 10 hours per charge. The camera has more in common with the iPad than the iPad Pro in terms of quality and MP. Of course, this won’t be your deciding factor among the best tablets for teachers in 2021; but it’s still worth mentioning.
Pros:
– Easier to use
– Less expensive
– Cell data compatibility
Cons:
– Smaller device not suitable for every class
4) Samsung Galaxy Tab
Finally, we move away from the Apple iOS range of products into something completely different. And by that, we naturally mean Android devices. Among them, there’s no-one that comes closer to Apple’s prestige than Samsung and their Galaxy Tab series of products.
Much like the standard iPad, the Galaxy Tab has a 10.5-inch screen. However, while the display is definitely high-quality; it’s far from the only thing that recommends this device to teachers. For one, the S pen that you get with this tablet is one of the best stylus devices we’ve ever seen. With it, you’ll be able to write on the tablet as easily and naturally as you would with a regular pen and paper. Its ease of use is truly unsurpassed when it comes to office work and teaching.
On the other hand, its 64GB of space isn’t enough to measure up to the iPad Pro; but as you might already know, the apps and software take up much less space on the Android OS. And seeing as the newest Galaxy Tab models have more cloud-based apps and storage, that’s becoming far less of a problem.
We should also point out that, while certainly not the cheapest tablet on this list, it’s far more affordable than the Apple models.
Pros:
– The best stylus
– More affordable than Apple
Cons:
– Costly compared to other Android tablets
5) Lenovo Tab
For years, the Samsung tablets and phones had the finest-quality displays in the Android market. And while Lenovo was known as an affordable, but less than an optimal manufacturer; all of that has changed in the past couple of years. The Lenovo Tab is a good example of that. It’s high-resolution enough to put it besides the Samsung mid-range tablets, but with a far more approachable price range.
You can get the crisp and colorful colors that Samsung offers for a fraction of the price. The only downside of this model is that outdoor visibility is subpar. But if you’re going to use it as a teacher in a classroom, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Still, it’s the highest-quality tablet you can get for less than $200; a ridiculously low price for such a decent tablet.
Pros:
– Extremely inexpensive
– Decent display quality
Cons:
– Poor outdoor visibility
6) Huawei MediaPad M5 Tablet
Let’s face it, even today, Huawei is not the most renowned premium hardware manufacturer. And while their phones have become more mainstream in Europe; their table offering isn’t the most varied one. Still, they have two tablets on this list because of their high cost-effectiveness ratio.
The M5 MediaPad tablet is far from perfect, however, it’s also not bad. The build quality is okay, it supports quick charging (potentially important for teachers who work long hours) and its speakers offer an agreeable sound quality. The standout here is the excellent display; the only problem with the basic version of the tablet being its low internal storage. Of course, that’s something that you can deal with via external cards, but that’s realistically not something you want to fiddle around with.
There are also smaller details, such as the bad official keyboard as well as a lack of built-in productivity apps. On the other hand, it’s cheap enough to warrant a couple of compromises.
Pros:
– Affordability
– Great display and sound quality
Cons:
– Lack of storage
– Shoddy keyboard
7) Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite Tablet
We’ll round off this list of top picks with the lowest-end tablet; the Huawei MediaPad M5 Lite. As you might assume, it’s what the iPad Mini is to the iPad – but dumbed down to the Huawei tablet level. Its processor is surprisingly solid though. While it has a measly amount of RAM (4GB) for modern standards, it still manages to operate with a fair amount of smoothness.
The single biggest selling point that puts this tablet in the Top 7 list is its insanely dependable battery. Its 7500mAh allow for more battery life than any other device we’ve reviewed so far. However, using more demanding apps will shorten that significantly.
Pros:
– Best battery life
Cons:
– A lower-quality version of the M5 proper
Advantages of Using Tablets in the Classroom
There are plenty of advantages to using tablets in the classroom. For one, it allows for easier management of presentations; that kind of visualization is important, especially for younger students. But perhaps even more importantly, it eases the logistics involved in working as a teacher. You can keep all of your students’ records in a digital format, take notes easily, and complete all kinds of productivity tasks.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, the main thing you need to decide here is what kind of budget you’re dealing with. If you can afford it, there’s simply no alternative to the iPad Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Otherwise, we’d have to recommend the Lenovo model as the best balance between affordability and quality.