The top 5 cheapest gaming tablet for students in 2025

You’re a student looking for the most affordable gaming tablet for your gaming experience, i got you covered in this article about the cheapest gaming tablet for students in 2025.

Remember, this is all about gaming tablet, and the most cheapest gaming tablet may not neccesarily be the cheapest tablet be it Android or iOS.

For you to have a full gaming experience with your phone or tablet, you have to at least have the minimum requirements for gaming on your mobile device.

Same goes to PC.

In other to explain this better, I will categorize it into two;

Apple tablet and Android tablet.

When I say Apple tablet, I mean to say Apple iPads.

Let’s proceed.

Contents show

Android Gaming

When it comes to Android gaming, especially in 2025, there are two things involved:

Native Android gaming
Emulation.

A good number of Android phones and tablets, even old, outdated ones, will run any native Android games very well; that can’t be said for emulation naming.

However, some high-graphics Android games like Lara Croft: Guardian of Light, Prince of Persia: Lost Crown, etc will stutter or lag a bit on low-end mobile phones.

1. Native Android gaming

For native Android gaming, these are the minimum requirements in 2025;

An 8GB RAM
128GB Storage
Android 13
Snapdragon 675 and above

If your tablet have these minimum requirements, it will comfortable play any high demanding mobile games.

Remember, games like Grid Legends Deluxe Edition have minimum requirements of 8GB RAM, Snapdragon Gen 2, and Android 14.

But aside from the Grid Legends Deluxe Edition, other native Android games can be played on a tablet with 8GB RAM, a Snapdragon or any other processor, and Android 13.

I would recommend these android tablets;

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ is a well-rounded mid-range tablet offering a crisp display, impressive quad‑speaker sound, solid Snapdragon performance, and expandable storage all in a slim, lightweight build.

It’s ideal for streaming, multitasking, and everyday use. Its drawbacks include modest charging speed and basic cameras.

However, the table is also good for gaming and can play high end Android games.

If you’re looking for a reliable, affordable Android tablet for entertainment or productivity, this is a strong option.

Key Specs

Display

11.0″ TFT LCD (WUXGA) screen
1920 × 1200 resolution, 90 Hz refresh rate

Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (SM6375) octa‑core (2×2.2 GHz + 6×1.8 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 619
RAM / Storage variants: 4 GB + 64 GB, or 8 GB + 128 GB
microSD expansion: Up to 1TB
OS: Android 13

Body

Dimensions: 257.1 × 168.7 × 6.9 mm
Weight: ~480 g (Wi‑Fi); ~491 g (5G)
Colors: Graphite, Silver, Navy

Battery

Battery: 7,040 mAh
Fast charging: 15 W

Cameras & Audio

Rear: 8 MP autofocus, FHD video @30fps
Front: 5 MP, FHD recording
Audio: Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos

Connectivity & Extras

Wi‑Fi 5 and optional 5G model
Bluetooth 5.1, USB‑C port
Includes 3.5 mm headphone jack; no NFC, no IP‑rating
Face recognition supported

Get the cheapest price of Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ from Amazon

2. Lenovo Legion Y700 2023

The Lenovo Legion Y700 2023 version is one of the most sought-after Android tablets, powered by a Snapdragon Gen 1 processor.

This tablet is strictly for gaming, as it is named Lenovo gaming tablet.

There are different versions, but the least I will recommend to you in 2025 is the Lenovo Legion Y700 2023 version.

This tablet is very good for native Android gaming, and emulation.

However, you may find it quite difficult to buy this tablet as it is restricted to some regions. The best place to buy the tablet if it’s not in your region or country is AliExpress.

Yes you will find this tablet along with others on AliExpress and the cheapest price is around $310 on AliExpress.

Key specs

Performance & Platform

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) — flagship-grade performance for gaming
OS: Android 13 with Lenovo ZUI 14 (or 15 depending on region)
GPU: Adreno 730
Cooling: Vapor‑chamber thermal system (~8771 mm²)
Stylus support: Optional stylus with 4,096 pressure levels (though accessories may vary)
RAM & Storage
12 GB LPDDR5X + 256 GB UFS
12 GB LPDDR5X + 512 GB
16 GB LPDDR5X + 512 G

Display & Design

Screen: 8.8″ IPS LCD, 2560 × 1600 (2.5K), ~343 ppi
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Brightness: ~500 nits, 100 % DCI‑P3
Build: CNC-machined unibody aluminum

Cameras & Audio

Rear cameras: Dual setup — 13 MP main + 2 MP secondary, LED flash
Front camera: 8 MP, 1080p video
Speakers: Stereo with Dolby Atmos, JBL tuning

Connectivity & Ports

Wi‑Fi 6 (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz; note some regions limited to upper channels)
Bluetooth 5.x
USB: Dual USB‑C (Gen 3.1) — one side, one bottom

Battery & Charging

Battery: 6,550 mAh Li‑Po
Charging: 45 W fast (USB‑C, bypass charging for optimal performance)

The Legion Y700 (2023) offers top-tier performance in a compact 8.8″ package—high-refresh display, flagship SoC, solid battery, stylus support, and quality build. Its biggest downsides: no cellular, limited Wi‑Fi band support, and mainly available via imports if outside China.

3. Samsung tab s8

This is another android tablet with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

The main reason the iPad added the tablet is because the price has really come down to $300 on Amazon, which is a good bargain for a gaming tablet.

If you’re looking for an 11-inch Android tablet with good stylus support and not just for gaming, I recommend the Samsung Tab S8 to you.

Mind you, I have this tablet, and it’s still serving me to this day, both for note-taking, media consumption, and gaming.

For gaming, the tablet is very good both for native Android gaming and emulation.

The downside is that there’s no cooling system like the Lenovo Legion Y700 tabs or the RedMagic gaming tablet.

Key Specs

Display & Design

Screen: 11″ LTPS TFT LCD, WQXGA (2560 × 1600), 120 Hz refresh rate

Performance

SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm, octa‑core up to 2.99 GHz)
GPU: Adreno 730

Memory & Storage

RAM: 8 GB (some regions offer 12 GB)
Storage: 128 GB or 256 GB onboard, expandable via microSD (up to 1 TB)

Battery & Charging

Capacity: 8,000 mAh (typical)
Charging: Supports up to 45 W Super Fast Charging (charger sold separately)

Cameras & Audio

Rear: Dual setup – 13 MP wide + 6 MP ultra-wide
Front: 12 MP ultra‑wide, Auto‑framing for video calls
Audio: Quad speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos

Extras & Connectivity

Stylus: S Pen included (Bluetooth-enabled)
Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2; optional 5G/LTE variant
Ports/Sensors: USB‑C 3.2 Gen 1 port; side‑mounted fingerprint sensor; no IP rating

You can buy Samsung tab s8 from Amazon

4. Xiaomi Pad 6

Looking for the best, cheapest gaming tablet for students, I present to you the Xiaomi Pad 6.

This is another good tablet for students in terms of note-taking and gaming.

Key Specs

Display

Size & Type: 11.0‑inch IPS LCD, WQHD+ (2880 × 1800), ~309 ppi
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz variable refresh
Visual Features: HDR10, Dolby Vision, DCI‑P3, TÜV Rheinland low‑blue‑light, Gorilla Glass 3

Performance

SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7 nm)
CPU: 1×3.2 GHz + 3×2.42 GHz + 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 585 cores
GPU: Adreno 650
RAM & Storage: 6 GB or 8 GB LPDDR5 + 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage

Cameras

Rear: 13 MP f/2.2 with PDAF (4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps)
Front: 8 MP f/2.2 (1080p@30fps)

Battery & Charging

Battery: 8840 mAh typical (8640 mAh minimum)
Charging: 33 W wired (QC4/QC3+/QC3.0/QC2.0, PD3.0/PD2.0, MI FC1.0)

Connectivity

USB: USB‑C 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
Wireless: Wi‑Fi 6/5/4 (2.4 & 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 (AAC/LDAC/LHDC 3.0), IPv6
Speakers & Audio: 4 speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi‑Res audio support

Sensors & Extras

Sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient‑light, hall sensor
OS: MIUI Pad 14 based on Android 13 (upgradeable to Android 14/HyperOS)
Extras: 4 mics, stylus & keyboard accessories support

You can buy the Xiaomi Pad 6 from Amazon

These are the best cheapest gaming tablet for students, and mostly i will recommend the Samsung Tab s8 and the Xiaomi Pad 6 because of their good stylus support and gaming.

However, if you’re only looking for the best cheapest gaming tablet, i will recommend the Lenovo Legion Y700 2023.

Other tablet i will recommend to you for native Android gaming includes;

Samsung tab s7
Lenovo Tab K11 Plus
Google Pixel Tablet
OnePlus Pad Go

2. Emulation

When it comes to emulation, these are the minimum requirements, especially in 2025:

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8GB RAM
256GB storage
Cooling system

Cooling systems are not necessarily needed unless you’re the type that games for a long period of hours.

As long as you’re buying the tablet for gaming, which includes emulation, I recommend at least a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.

This simply means you can emulate games on your Android tablet, including Switch games and PC games, using Winlator.

The Android tablet I will recommend to you includes the following:

Lenovo Legion Y700 2023 (Gen 1)
Samsung tab s8
Redmagic nova tablet
Lenovo Legion gen3/gen4

Here’s the truth: when it comes to emulation, there are few cheap tablets that will do the job for you.

And this includes the Lenovo Legion 8.8-inch tablet.

Why I’m saying this is because the tablet is strictly for gaming with a cooling system and is very affordable compared to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series, the Redmagic tablet, and even the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro tablet.

For example, the Lenovo Legion Y700 gen 3 costs between $330 to $400 depending on the variant. The base model cost around $330, while the 512GB model cost around $400 respectively.

This is way affordable compared to Samsung tab s9 (Gen 2) which cost around $560 on Amazon and the Redmagic nova tablet (Gen 3) which cost around $620 on AliExpress.

If you don’t want to break the bank buying a gaming Android tablet, especially for emulation, I recommend the Lenovo Legion Y700 gen 3.

They have already released the Gen 4 or the Elite version, but so far, the tablet is not good for a good number of Switch games and PC games via Winlator.

iPad Gaming

Now is all about Apple users or iPad users.

For ipad gaming experience for students, I recommend these iPads;

iPad mini 6
iPad 10 Gen
IPad Air M1
iPad pro M2

For iPad Mini 6, this is for those who want to have the feeling of console gaming when using a telescopic controller.

On iPad mini 6, you can play any mobile games except for some AAA games like Sniper Elite 4, Resident Evil 3, Grid Legends Deluxe Edition, etc.

If you want to play all the AAA games on the App Store, then you can go for the iPad mini 7, though it will cost more.

For emulation on iPadOS, you can emulate PSP games as there’s a PPSSPP app on the App Store, and NES games using the Delta app.

You can’t emulate PS1 and PS2 games, Switch games, or PC games on iPadOS.

Don’t Miss

Is the ipad 9th gen still worth it in 2025

The iPad 10 Gen is another good tablet for students in terms of note-taking and gaming.

Definitely, you will enjoy the tablet except for the AAA games I mentioned above. Even the iPad 11th gen won’t be able to play some AAA games as well because of the Apple A16 Bionic.

Most of these new AAA games on the App Store require the Apple A17 Bionic or the Apple A17 Pro Bionic.

As a student who wishes to have a good gaming tablet, especially an iPad, I will recommend the iPad Air M1.

With the IPad Air M1, you can easily take notes and play games on the iPad. When I say play games, it includes the AAA games I mentioned above.

On Amazon, you can buy the iPad Air M1 for as low as $320 and play your favorite games on the tablet, as well as take notes.

So I recommend this tablet if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend much as a student.

Check out the cheapest price of IPad Air M1 on Amazon.

Next iPad i have on the list is the iPad pro M2.

This might be a little expensive for you as a student, but it’s worth it in terms of gaming and note-taking.

If you plan to use your iPad after college or university, I recommend this because I believe that in the next two or three years, the M1 iPad will be outdated, and AAA games will not be available for M1 iPads.

If you don’t plan to upgrade every two years, I recommend the M2 iPad, especially the 11-inch iPad, as it’s good for students compared to the larger 12.9-inch iPad.

Check out the cheapest price of iPad pro M2 on Amazon.

Now listen, if the price of the iPad Pro M2 is more than the price of the iPad Air M3 on Amazon, I recommend you go for the IPad Air M3.

Let me guess, you’re looking at the iPad Pro m4?

Well, it’s actually the best iPad in terms of note-taking and gaming, but it’s way too much because iPad gaming is very restricted compared to Android.

As long as emulation is limited to a few in iPadOS, I can’t purchase the iPad Pro M4 because it’s overkill for native mobile gaming.