iPad vs. Android tablet for college: Which fits your major (and budget)?

Published Aug 12, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel. Looking to buy a new tablet for the upcoming school year? If you've done a little research, you'll know it's a great time to buy because there are many options to choose from. While we could easily throw out a couple of recommendations, you might be asking yourself which one is better: an iPad or Android tablet for college? The simple answer is.... If you want to keep things simple, the easiest way to answer your question is to find out what kind of computer you're using. Most people treat a tablet as an accessory device and rely on a laptop or desktop to accomplish more in-depth things. If this is you, choose a tablet that pairs well with your current computer. If you use a Mac, you'll want to buy an iPad. If you use a Windows device, you'll want to go with Android. The reason is that you get seamless connectivity between these devices when you pair them. Sure, you can pair an iPad with a Windows PC, but it won't be as seamless as pairing it with a Mac. The same applies the other way around. You can pair an Android tablet with a Mac, but you'll get better support with Windows. If this is you, you know which one you're going to go with. The only thing left is to find out how much you want to spend. The reality is that it's a little more complicated Sometimes, we need to take things a level further when looking at products. Buying something that matches your system won't always be the right answer. Plus, if you're not a PC user and are going to rely on a tablet alone, the above logic doesn't help you. The main differentiator between Apple and Android tablets is their software. One runs iPadOS and relies on the App Store, the other runs some form of Android. The latter category is a little more complicated, since most brands can customize their Android experience to their liking. If there is one constant between Android products, it's that most of them rely on the Google Play Store for apps. The exception to this is Amazon's Kindle, but we wouldn't recommend that for college. So the question becomes, which has better app support? It's a crucial question This question is tough to tackle because everyone has different uses when it comes to their tablets. For the most part, most apps are available across the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. However, there are exceptions, which can lead to issues if you need a particular app for your studies. We've found that many companies and educational brands offer better support for Apple devices. Updates will come to Apple devices first, or the experience will be better on these products when compared to Android. Some will choose to build apps exclusively for Apple's products. Because each student has their own needs, we can only be broad here, but major staple apps for musicians, medical students, and artists can sometimes only be found on iPadOS. The winner is... We'd say the safe bet is to go with an iPad. And the good news is that there's an option at nearly every price tag. Stick with something in the middle. For Apple, that means going with the iPad Air. The starting price did get a bump recently due to rising costs of components, so it starts at $749. If you're not totally convinced about an iPad and you have an idea of the apps you will need for college, you can always check if they are available on the Google Play Store. If they are, choose an Android tablet that you like without any issues. Again, going with something mid-range is the winning move here. We can easily recommend Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 FE that starts at $670. Both look modern and are reliable. You also get impressive power, great screens, and years of support for major OS updates that provide new features. You can also pair a stylus and keyboard cover with each tablet to up your productivity. No matter which one you choose, we don't think you'll be disappointed. Apple iPad Air (5th Generation) $690 $749 Save $59 Storage 64GB, 256GB CPU Apple M1 Memory 8GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE $450 $550 Save $100 Storage 128GB/256GB Operating System Android 15 Battery 8,000mAh