The 5 Best Tablets for Students in India Under ₹20,000 (2025)

The 5 Best Tablets for Students in India Under ₹20,000 (2025)

By The Tech Guru

Let's face it: your phone screen is too small for reading 50-page PDFs, and your gaming laptop is too heavy to use while lying in bed. You need a middle ground. You need a tablet.

For a student, a tablet isn't just a luxury; it's a digital notebook, a portable library, and a personal cinema all rolled into one.

The good news? 2025 is the year of the "Budget Premium" tablet. Features that used to be exclusive to the iPad Pro—like 2K screens, 120Hz refresh rates, and quad speakers—have finally trickled down to the under-₹20,000 segment. You no longer have to buy a slow, laggy device to save money.

Here are the 5 best tablets that offer the perfect balance of study and play for Indian students right now.

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1. OnePlus Pad Go: The Display King

Overview

If your primary use for a tablet is reading lecture notes and binge-watching Netflix, the OnePlus Pad Go is untouchable. It features a massive 2.4K resolution display, which is significantly sharper than the standard 1080p screens found on other tablets in this list. The text looks crisp, and movies look stunning.

Key Specifications

• Display: 11.35-inch 2.4K (2408x1720) LCD, 90Hz

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G99

• Battery: 8000mAh (33W Fast Charging)

• Speakers: Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Best-in-Class Display: The 2.4K resolution is a visual treat for reading and media.

  • ReadFit Ratio: The 7:5 aspect ratio is more "square," making it perfect for reading eBooks and PDFs.

  • Premium Build: Feels much more expensive than it is.

• Cons:

  • Helio G99 is good for daily tasks but average for heavy gaming.

  • No headphone jack (you'll need Type-C or Bluetooth).

Who it's Best For:

The "Media Consumer." If you spend 80% of your time watching videos or reading textbooks, this screen is the best your money can buy.

Want to see why this screen is so good? Read our full [OnePlus Pad Go Review].

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2. Realme Pad 2: The 120Hz Speedster

Overview

Realme has always been about specs, and the Pad 2 is no exception. It is the only tablet on this list to offer a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes scrolling through notes, web pages, and the UI feel incredibly smooth and fluid. It feels faster than any other tablet in this segment.

Key Specifications

• Display: 11.5-inch 2K (1200x2000), 120Hz

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G99

• Battery: 8360mAh (33W Fast Charging)

• Speakers: Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • 120Hz Smoothness: Makes the tablet feel incredibly responsive.

  • Fast Charging: 33W charging tops up the massive battery quickly.

  • Large Screen: The 11.5-inch display gives you plenty of room for split-screen multitasking.

• Cons:

  • Realme UI comes with some pre-installed bloatware.

  • Camera quality is just average (good enough for scanning docs).

Who it's Best For:

The "Power User." If you hate lag and want the smoothest possible experience for navigating apps and web browsing, the 120Hz screen is a game-changer.

Is the 120Hz display a gimmick? Find out in our deep-dive [Realme Pad 2 Review].

Confused between this and the OnePlus? Read our [OnePlus Pad Go vs Realme Pad 2 Display Battle].

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3. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+: The Multitasking Pro

Overview

Samsung understands productivity better than anyone. The Galaxy Tab A9+ brings the famous One UI experience to a budget tablet. It is optimized for multitasking, allowing you to run up to three apps on the screen at once without stuttering. It’s essentially a mini-laptop experience.

Key Specifications

• Display: 11-inch WUXGA (1920x1200), 90Hz

• Processor: Snapdragon 695 (5G capable variants available)

• Battery: 7040mAh (15W Charging)

• Speakers: Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Best Software: Samsung One UI is polished, stable, and great for multitasking.

  • PC-Like Experience: Supports Samsung DeX mode (on external monitors) for a desktop-like interface.

  • Long Support: Samsung offers excellent long-term software updates.

• Cons:

  • Slow Charging: 15W charging feels painfully slow in 2025.

  • TFT display isn't as vibrant as the IPS panels on OnePlus or Realme.

Who it's Best For:

The "Serious Student." If you need a reliable workhorse for multitasking, attending Zoom classes, and taking notes simultaneously, Samsung's software is unbeatable.

Can it replace your laptop? Check out our [Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Review].

Samsung or Realme? See which one wins in our [Samsung A9+ vs Realme Pad 2 Comparison].

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4. Lenovo Tab M11: The Note-Taker's Dream

Overview

This is the hidden gem of the list. Why? Because it comes with a stylus (pen) in the box. Most other brands make you pay ₹3,000–₹5,000 extra for a pen. Lenovo includes the "Tab Pen" for free, making this the absolute best value for students who want to write digital notes.

Key Specifications

• Display: 11-inch WUXGA (1920x1200), 90Hz

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G88

• Battery: 7040mAh (Up to 10 hours video)

• Speakers: Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Pen Included: The only tablet in this price range to include a stylus.

  • Note-Taking Apps: Comes with pre-installed software like Nebo and MyScript Calculator.

  • Reading Mode: Specialized mode to make the screen look like paper for reading.

• Cons:

  • The Helio G88 processor is slightly weaker than the G99 or Snapdragon 695.

  • Gaming performance is mediocre.

Who it's Best For:

The "Digital Note-Taker." If you want to replace your physical notebooks with digital ones but don't want to spend extra on an Apple Pencil, this is the only choice.

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5. Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE: The Budget Battery Beast

Overview

If your budget is strictly under ₹15,000, the Redmi Pad SE is the king. It offers a premium metal unibody design and a massive battery that just keeps going. It strips away some fancy features but nails the basics perfectly for a very low price.

Key Specifications

• Display: 11-inch FHD+ (1920x1200), 90Hz

• Processor: Snapdragon 680

• Battery: 8000mAh (Solid standby time)

• Speakers: Quad Speakers with Dolby Atmos

Pros & Cons

• Pros:

  • Incredible Value: Often available for ₹12,999 or less.

  • Premium Build: All-metal body feels surprisingly expensive.

  • Great Battery Life: The Snapdragon 680 is very power-efficient.

• Cons:

  • 10W charging is extremely slow (takes hours to fill up).

  • Performance is strictly for media and light tasks; not for gaming.

Who it's Best For:

The "Budget-Conscious Binge Watcher." If you just want a nice screen and good speakers for watching lectures and movies without breaking the bank, this is it.

Conclusion

Buying a tablet in 2025 is no longer a compromise. You can get amazing screens, great sound, and genuine productivity features for under ₹20,000.

• For the best screen, get the OnePlus Pad Go.

• For the best speed, get the Realme Pad 2.

• For digital notes, get the Lenovo Tab M11.

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Quick Comparison Table

Model	Display	Key Feature	Best For
OnePlus Pad Go	11.35" 2.4K (90Hz)	High-Res Display	Reading & Media
Realme Pad 2	11.5" 2K (120Hz)	120Hz Smoothness	All-Rounder / Speed
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+	1 1" FHD+ (90Hz)	Multitasking (DeX)	Productivity
Lenovo Tab M11	11" FHD+ (90Hz)	Stylus Included	Note-Taking
Redmi Pad SE	11" FHD+ (90Hz)	Metal Build / Price	Budget Media