Best Tablets for Students in 2025: iPad Air vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE vs OnePlus Pad

Tablets have become a genuine laptop alternative for many students, especially for note-taking, reading, and light productivity work, but the right choice depends heavily on which ecosystem you’re already using and what you specifically need the tablet to do. The iPad Air, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and OnePlus Pad each take a different approach to the same student use case.

Operating System and App Ecosystem

The iPad Air runs iPadOS, which has the most mature tablet-optimized app library of the three, particularly for note-taking apps, PDF annotation, and creative tools, and it integrates tightly with an iPhone or Mac if you already own one. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE runs Android with Samsung’s One UI layered on top, giving it strong multitasking features like split-screen and a desktop-style mode, along with integration with Samsung phones. The OnePlus Pad also runs Android and tends to offer strong hardware value, though its tablet-specific app optimization and long-term software update history are worth researching before buying, since this varies more on Android tablets than on iPads.

Note-Taking and Stylus Support

For students, stylus support is often the deciding feature. All three tablets support a stylus, but check compatibility and pricing carefully: Apple Pencil support and generation depends on the specific iPad Air model, Samsung’s S9 FE line notably includes the S Pen bundled in some regions, and OnePlus sells its own stylus as an accessory. Beyond hardware compatibility, look at how well your preferred note-taking app actually performs on each platform, since palm rejection quality and pen latency can vary by app, not just by tablet.

Multitasking, Keyboard Accessories, and Value

• Keyboard cases turn any of these tablets into a laptop-like typing setup, but check whether the keyboard case is sold separately, since that can meaningfully change the total cost.
• Split-screen and multi-window support differ by OS — Samsung’s One UI and recent iPadOS versions both offer capable multitasking, though the experience differs enough that it’s worth trying in person.
• Storage and whether it’s expandable matters for students storing lecture recordings, PDFs, and large files — check if microSD expansion is available, which is more common on Android tablets than on iPads.
• Battery life claims should be treated as best-case; real classroom and study use, with note-taking apps and video streaming, will typically be lower than marketed figures.

Making the Choice

If you’re already using an iPhone or Mac and want the most polished note-taking and creative app experience, the iPad Air is the safer bet. If you want strong multitasking, S Pen input, and Samsung ecosystem ties, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE is compelling. If you’re looking to stretch a student budget while still getting solid hardware, the OnePlus Pad is worth serious consideration, provided you’ve checked current software support commitments. Try to handle each tablet before buying, since screen quality, weight, and keyboard-case typing feel are hard to judge from photos alone.

Tablet Comparison at a Glance