For a student who already has access to a suitable computer, two tablet setups are worth comparing: the iPad A16 with 128GB and Wi-Fi for iPad apps and PDF markup, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE with 8GB RAM, 128GB and Wi-Fi for handwritten notes with an included S Pen. Start with the apps your course requires, then compare the complete setup you would actually buy.
This is a comparison of documented features, exact configurations and accessory requirements. The recommendations are editorial judgments; neither tablet was put through classroom or battery tests for this guide.
Compare the complete study setup
| Exact configuration | Best fit | Pen and keyboard budget | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad A16, 128GB, Wi-Fi, Silver | Students whose required workflow works in iPadOS apps or the browser | Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79; Magic Keyboard Folio: $249; $328 extra for both | Pen and keyboard are separate; USB-C Pencil lacks pressure sensitivity |
| Galaxy Tab S10 FE, 8GB RAM/128GB, Wi-Fi, Gray; SM-X520NZAAXAR | Handwritten notes and PDF annotation with a pen already included | S Pen included; EF-DX720UBEGUJ Book Cover Keyboard Slim: $139.99 published MSRP | On-tablet DeX only; no HDMI output or Wireless DeX |
The dollar figures above are accessory-only U.S. reference costs, before tax and shipping, not tablet prices or complete checkout totals. Apple’s captured accessory listings supplied $79 and $249; Samsung’s published price list supplied the keyboard’s $139.99 MSRP. Offers and local prices change. Add the current tablet price, any required charging equipment and paid apps before comparing carts.
iPad A16 128GB Wi-Fi: the straightforward iPad option
Choose this configuration when the course tools you need are supported on iPad and you want a tablet for reading, annotation and handwritten notes. The A16 model supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Apple Pencil, but those are different accessories. This setup uses the USB-C Pencil to keep the pen choice explicit.
Apple’s iPadOS 26 Preview guide documents highlighting, underlining and annotating PDFs, including adding shapes or text. It also supports drawing with a compatible Apple Pencil. That provides a useful starting point for lecture handouts; check a sample course PDF and your required export format before committing to a paid note-taking app.
The USB-C Pencil pairs and charges by cable and attaches magnetically for storage. It does not support pressure sensitivity or wireless pairing and charging. That is a meaningful distinction for an art course that uses pressure-controlled brush strokes. Do not assume Pencil Pro features apply to this tablet-and-pen combination.
For handwriting, add the $79 Apple Pencil (USB-C). If you also want Apple’s matching keyboard case, the $249 Magic Keyboard Folio raises the pen-and-keyboard addition to $328. Both are separate purchases. The U.S. iPad box lists a USB-C cable and 20W power adapter; the tablet price still has to be added to this accessory budget.
The landscape front camera is a practical specification to compare for video classes. More consequentially, this is an iPadOS device. Verify that the school accepts the iPad version of its exam software, file-submission workflow and specialist applications; a keyboard accessory does not establish desktop-app compatibility.
Check the iPad 128GB Wi-Fi Silver configuration, Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad A16. Confirm the A16 model and included items in the selected cart.
Galaxy Tab S10 FE 8GB/128GB Wi-Fi: the pen-included option
The exact configuration here is the Gray Wi-Fi model SM-X520NZAAXAR, with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Samsung includes the S Pen and documents pressure-sensitive writing and drawing. If handwritten notes are the main reason you want a tablet, having the intended pen in the box makes this a useful alternative to pricing the tablet and stylus separately.
Samsung Notes can import a PDF, add text or drawings and export an annotated PDF. Importing creates a copy rather than changing the original file. There is an important limit: this workflow adds annotations; it does not edit the PDF’s underlying contents. Check the exported copy to make sure your handwriting, page layout and instructor’s required file format survive.
Do not choose the FE model on an assumption that every feature shown for higher-end Galaxy tablets is included. Samsung’s PDF support page excludes the S10 FE from the Note Assist feature list used for AI PDF translation. The ordinary annotation workflow is the documented reason to consider it here.
DeX offers a desktop-style interface on the tablet itself, with touch, S Pen and supported keyboard or mouse input. Samsung specifically says the S10 FE is not compatible with HDMI output or Wireless DeX. If you need to plug directly into a classroom HDMI projector or create a monitor-based desk setup, this restriction should be a deciding factor.
The S Pen adds no separate purchase to this selected tablet setup. The Book Cover Keyboard Slim is sold separately; the compatible Black U.S. model EF-DX720UBEGUJ has a published MSRP of $139.99. That makes $139.99 the reference pen-and-keyboard addition, because the pen is included. Check the actual keyboard offer and tablet-box charger contents rather than assuming a bundle or wall adapter is supplied.
Check the Galaxy Tab S10 FE 128GB Gray Wi-Fi model and verify the EF-DX720UBEGUJ keyboard. The latter is Samsung’s product-information page, not a promise of a consumer checkout price.
Before buying for a course
- Ask for the exact software list. Include secure exam clients, browser extensions, lab tools, programming environments and required document features. Ask whether iPadOS or Android is accepted and whether an approved laptop is still required.
- Test one real assignment. Open a course PDF, annotate it, export it, upload it to the learning portal and reopen the submitted file. This checks the workflow you actually need rather than the presence of an app icon.
- Plan local storage. The recommendations start at 128GB; decide how many downloaded textbooks, videos and large PDFs you need offline. Samsung lists microSD support up to 2TB, but do not assume every app or school-managed file can move to a card.
- Plan connectivity. These exact selections are Wi-Fi models. Check access to the campus network, offline app behavior and account sign-ins before depending on the tablet away from home.
- Compare the full cart. Add the selected tablet, exact compatible pen, keyboard or case, required charger, paid apps and any recurring subscriptions. Check student discounts without assuming you qualify or that your school supplies a license.
- Keep laptop requirements separate. If your course needs desktop software or specialist peripherals, follow the school’s approved computer requirements. Even a Windows Arm tablet needs an app-and-driver check; Microsoft says hardware and app drivers must support Windows on Arm.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better choice for handwritten notes?
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE is the first one to compare if an included pressure-sensitive pen is your priority. The iPad A16 is a reasonable alternative when your preferred course workflow is supported on iPadOS and you include the separate Pencil cost. Neither is automatically better for every student.
Can either replace my laptop?
Only if it meets every requirement of your actual course. Obtain school confirmation for exams, specialist software and submission formats first. Treat the tablet as a companion device until that checklist is satisfied.
How much extra are the pen and keyboard?
For the specified iPad accessories, the reference addition is $328: $79 for Apple Pencil (USB-C) plus $249 for Magic Keyboard Folio. For the specified Samsung setup, S Pen is included and the matching Slim keyboard’s published MSRP is $139.99. These exclude the tablet, tax, shipping and other extras.
Can I edit or just write on a PDF?
Both documented workflows support PDF annotation. Samsung explicitly distinguishes adding text and drawings from editing existing PDF content. If your course needs page-content editing, complex forms or a specific signed-file format, verify that exact capability in the app you plan to use.
Can the Tab S10 FE connect to an HDMI display?
Samsung says the Tab S10 FE does not support HDMI output or Wireless DeX. On-tablet DeX should not be mistaken for external-monitor support.
