Best Tablet For Students: Study Smarter With Samsung Galaxy Tab
Whether you’re off to college or uni, a Samsung Galaxy tablet is an excellent option for both work and play. Gone are the days when you need to rely on a desktop to get your work done. The best student tablets put power, portability and performance at the forefront of innovation and are sure to make student life a whole lot easier. And with a fantastic range of student offers available, we explore why a Samsung Galaxy Tab really is the best student tablet for you.
Is a tablet useful for students?
As a student, you are going to need a device that can work and play as hard as you do. Whether it’s note taking in lectures, researching, writing assignments or binge watching Netflix after a night out, a Samsung tablet has you covered.
Galaxy tablets such as the Galaxy Tab S8 5G, Galaxy Tab S7+ and Galaxy Tab A8 offer the ideal balance between a smartphone and a traditional laptop. They are both highly portable; great when you are walking to uni or moving between lectures and powerful so you don’t need to worry about running out of battery mid way through a class.
Plus, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series is S Pen compatible giving you even more creative freedom. Whether it’s writing directly onto the screen so you can take notes or drawing and designing projects to share with others, the S Pen for Galaxy Tabs gives you the power to go beyond the norm of basic touch interaction.
You’ll also find exceptional tablet student discounts with Samsung so your hardest decision will be deciding on the best Samsung tablet for you.
How can I use my tablet to study?
Bursting with awesome apps, a Samsung Galaxy Tab is the essential study companion. We’ve listed some of the ways your Galaxy Tab can help you study for assignments and ace your exams.
You can:
1. Take detailed lecture notes using Samsung Notes
2. Complete assignments using much loved productivity apps including Google Docs and Microsoft Office
3. Edit documents effortlessly with the awesome S Pen for Galaxy Tabs
4. Collaborate with your peers using video conferencing apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
5. Access class recordings to keep up-to-date remotely
6. Write, annotate and share group work using collaborative apps such as Google Docs
7. Juggle assignment deadlines with organiser apps such as myHomework
8. Access research and journals on the go with a 4G enabled Galaxy Tab
How do I write notes on my tablet?
Forget scrappy, muddled pieces of paper, the innovative Samsung Notes app lets you quickly write things down on the screen and save them for reference later. With Samsung Notes you can use the S Pen (if supported), on-screen touchpad or Bluetooth connected keyboard to take and store notes conveniently. You’ll find the Samsung Notes app ready to go on your Galaxy Tab.
Leave your traditional stationery at home. The Samsung Notes app has everything you need for note taking. You have the freedom to switch between different types of pens, highlighters and rubbers in the app’s toolbar. You can even customise the thickness and colour of your pen. You can also highlight a section of text and select an action such as cut, copy, paste, dictionary, clipboard and share.
When you’ve had enough of typing you can simply jot down your thoughts with the Galaxy S Pen and let the app translate them to text. You can even write in another language and Samsung Notes will convert your handwriting in that language to text as well. Or why not make things even quicker? Simply speak your thoughts and ideas and make live voice recordings. Ideal for those occasions when it’s easier to verbalise your ideas than write them.
Can you print from a tablet?
Yes! Although your tablet can store everything you need electronically, when it comes to submitting assignments and projects, sometimes you’ll need to submit a hard copy. It’s easy to print from your Galaxy Tab simply follow the steps below:
1. Navigate to Settings
2. Search for Printing
3. Tap Printing and tap Default Print Service to search for compatible devices
4. If no compatible devices are found you’ll need to download plugin from the Google Play Store
5. Select the correct plugin app for the printer you use
6. Tap install
7. You’ll find the downloaded plugin under Settings > Printing > Print services
8. Tap the plugin to search for your printer
9. You are now set up and ready to print
Alternatively, if your printer has a USB connection you can use an OTG adapter and USB cable to plug into your phone's charging port and the printer's USB port.
You’ll find the print option in one of three places in most apps:
1. More options (three vertical dots in the upper right corner)
2. Share > Print
3. Own in-app print menu (e.g. Word)
Please note: Not all apps on the Play Store support printing
Can you use Zoom on a tablet?
Whether you’re working on a collaborative project or catching up with loved ones, you’ll be able to access Zoom on your Galaxy Tab. Zoom is available for free on the Google Play Store so you can stay connected wherever you go.
Can a tablet use Microsoft Office?
You can get all of the Microsoft Office suite apps on a Galaxy Tab by downloading it from the Google Play Store. You have the option to install one integrated Office app or separate apps for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote and if you have a smaller Galaxy Tab such as the 8.7 inch Galaxy Tab A7 Lite you won’t need to pay since Microsoft Office is currently free on devices that are 10.1 inches or smaller. For larger Galaxy Tabs you’ll need to sign up for a Microsoft 365 subscription which gives you extra capabilities and storage options.
What are the best apps for studying?
With so many amazing apps available on Samsung tablets it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to studying. Here are our top 5 free study apps to get you started:
1. Samsung Notes: Write, draw and highlight in a variety of styles and colours during your lectures and meetings
2. Google Drive: Great for collaborative working whether it’s a word document, spreadsheet or formal presentation. Find your documents in Google Drive where they are saved to the free Google cloud service.
3. myHomework: A digital planner that enables you to track classes, assignments, exams and group projects so you’ll be sure never to forget a deadline
4. Microsoft Lens: Enables you to take pictures of whiteboards, blackboards, journals and other printed documents. The app will crop out everything around it and convert it into editable and shareable text.
5. RefMe: Getting to grips with source referencing in your essays can be a bit of a headache. RefMe makes the process of finding and citing sources quicker and easier. It also has thousands of educational resources which can be a great place to start your assignment research.
Which Samsung Galaxy Tab is best for students?
When it comes to deciding the best student Galaxy Tab you’ll need to consider what Samsung tablet works best for you including the size and connectivity options. We’ll guide you through your options to help you decide on the best student tablet. Check out our Samsung Tablet comparison chart to find out more.
1. Think about size
How do you plan on using your Galaxy Tab? Are you looking for a tablet that you can multitask on effortlessly during the day and transform into a captivating viewing platform at night? If so you’ll want to opt for a larger tablet such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8+ 5G which has a stunning 12.4 inch Super AMOLED display. If you prefer a tablet that you can easily carry between lessons, is lightweight and allows you to effortlessly work on the go, you’ll want to explore the 8.7-inch Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. For more information check out our ‘Which Tablet Screen Size Is Best For You?’ guide.
2. Stay connected on the go
As a student, you're unlikely to find yourself in one place for very long. Whether it’s moving between lectures, catching up on emails in the students union or travelling between campuses, staying connected is important. WiFi-only tablets allow you to connect to the internet through a WiFi connection, making them ideal for use at home. For greater flexibility, opt for a tablet model with 4G or even better 5G connectivity.
3. S Pen compatibility
When it comes to note taking, nothing is quite like writing with the innovative Galaxy S Pen stylus. All the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series include the S Pen as standard so you can get creative with your note taking and artistic drawings.
4. How much storage will you need?
If you’re looking to save assignments, files and photos to your tablet you need to think about how much storage you need on your tablet. The Galaxy Tab A8 has an entry level 32GB of storage through to the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra with a whopping 512GB. It’s worth noting that you can also free up space on your Galaxy Tab with cloud-based storage such as Microsoft OneDrive so you won’t need to worry about filling up your tablet too quickly. Many Samsung Tablets also have expandable memory, so you can increase the storage capacity by inserting one of our MicroSD cards. Browse our full range of Micro SD memory cards here.
You can find out more about memory and storage options in our guide here.
5. What about battery life?
One thing for sure is that you don’t want to find yourself mid way through an essay only for your tablet to lose power. If you’re looking for a Galaxy Tab with a long lasting battery look no further than the three Galaxy Tab S8 models. These tablets will last a full day without needing to recharge and when it comes to recharging the Super Fast Charging 2.0 (45W) will have you back on track in no time.
6. Awesome Samsung tablet accessories
With Samsung you also have the option to choose from an exceptional range of integrated Galaxy Tablet Accessories including tablet keyboards such as the sensational Galaxy Tab S7 | S8 Keyboard and Book Cover or the advanced 2-in-1 Book Cover Keyboard for Tab S8 Ultra which features a large trackpad, seamlessly integrated keyboard and a flexible cover that lets you find the perfect angle for studying, browsing and vlogging. You can even pair it with a Samsung Bluetooth enabled mouse for more comfortable working on the go. And when it comes to wireless headphones there’s no need to compromise on sound. You’ll enjoy noise cancelling, fully adjustable immersive sound with the Galaxy Buds Pro.
Get great student savings with Samsung Galaxy
There’s a Samsung Galaxy Tab for all budgets whether you’re looking for an entry level or pro grade model. The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is currently available from just £119 through to the epic Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra which starts at £1,149. For a fantastic mid priced option the Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes in at an exceptional £449. Even better you’ll find incredible student offers with Samsung. Simply check out our Student Offers page for the latest and greatest Galaxy Tab offers.
Looking for more information about the best Galaxy Tab for you? Check out our ‘Galaxy Tab Series Explained: Which is the best Samsung tablet for you?’ article for the full lowdown.
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