3 Best iPads for Students (iPad Mini, iPad Pro, iPad Air)

Update on

Investing in a refurbished iPad is one of the best investments for a student who makes a lot of note-taking, uses graphical apps, or whose studies involve an element of drawing or prototyping.

Today, iPads are way ahead of the competition in the tablet space. They are portable and a great tool for accessing the internet on-demand, but now it is one of the easiest ways to have a touchscreen laptop.

Apple Pencil support on refurbished iPads means that you can take handwritten notes during lectures, scribble down a sketch, write down an equation and retrieve them with ease when you need to revise. Notes were taken by hand also benefit from Apple’s AI engines.

iPads also work with keyboards, so when you are not handwriting, you can easily change to typing when writing longer papers/essays. Initially, iPads were preferred because they were smaller and lighter than most laptops, but with recent releases like the M1-powered iPad Pro, they are even faster than most laptops.

Likewise, because most software comes from the Appstore, it is cheaper and with a wide range of options to choose from. This means that in some cases, you will be better off with a refurbished iPad than with an entry to a mid-level laptop. That aside, here is our round-up of the best-refurbished iPads for students.


1. iPad Mini

iPad Mini

The iPad Mini, now in its sixth generation, is the true definition of a pocket rocket. It offers a solid list of specs that are complemented by an affordable price point, giving it some credentials on why you should make it your next iPad.

The 7.9-inch iPad Mini 5 is a strong choice if you are looking for an affordable option because of the reliable performance of Apple’s A12 Bionic chip. Its diminutive dimensions only make it bigger than some modern phones, which means you can tote around comfortably all day.

It will support the first-generation Apple Pencil and will last long on its battery. The 8-MP rear camera is sufficient for scanning documents, but the 7.9-inch IPS LCD is good enough for reading and media consumption on the go. It will work with Wi-Fi, but a cellular variant is available if you wish to use it to make calls.

If you’re a student looking for a refurbished iPad Mini on a budget then buying an iPad Mini from Phonebot would be your best bet.


2. iPad Pro

iPad Pro

The 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro are the iPads for students who demand more power from their machines. However, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the one to get if you want a laptop replacement. It features the latest in Apple’s display technology –Mini LED and Apple silicon—Apple M1 Chip.

This is a recipe for high performance if you consider that it has 8GB RAM and 16GB RAM options with internal storage from 128GB to 2TB, depending on the RAM.

The 11-inch iPad Pro uses a Liquid Retina IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support. It also uses Apple’s M1 chip with an 8 -core GPU making it a cheaper option to the top-spec 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Both versions work with the second-generation Apple Pencil and will support external keyboards like the magic keyboard and smart keyboard through its smart connector.

The dual 10MP ultra-wide and 12MP wide cameras with a LIDAR scanner are fantastic in document scanning and picture and video taking. The front 12MP Truedepth Camera has a CenterStage feature that tacks you across the frames to keep you in focus. This works well, especially in your online classes.

The slate design with thin bezels and flat edges makes it easy to case and position and will fit in easily in any bag. Perhaps the only thing you will miss is the headphone jack. But you can use the USB-C port to connect more peripherals, including a monitor.


3. iPad Air

iPad Air

If you can’t get close to the price of the iPad Pro, the iPad Air will give you Pro features for less. It features a 10.9-inch display just like the 11-inch iPad Pro and has USB-C to connect your peripherals and charge it up quickly.

It features the A14 Bionic processor (like the one on iPhone 12), which is mighty fast on iPadOS. Plus, it comes with improved stereo speakers, Apple Pencil 2, and Magic Keyboard Support. Graphical performance is enhanced 2X with the A14 Bionic chip from the previous-gen iPad Air.

This makes it a great illustration and note-taking tool, and the display has Apple’s anti-reflective coating. TouchID is integrated into the power button, so this is one to get if you prefer TouchID. It uses the same 12MP wide lens from the iPad Pro 2020, which means you also don’t compromise on your photo, video, and document scanning quality.

So, whether it’s note-taking, reading documents, or illustrations you are keen on, there is always an iPad for you. The iPad Mini 5 for the budget user, iPad Air 2020 for your note-taking, illustration, and media consumption, and the iPad Pro 2021 for high-performance duties.

Pin It on Pinterest