Best Tablets for Schools & Preschools

IMPORTANT! The ideal tablet for an educator should be highly portable, have a long-lasting battery life, and have a quality camera that can truly capture those special moments for parents. An operating system that is simple for educators to navigate and an affordable price point were also taken into consideration as important factors when deciding on a tablet.

What to look for when choosing a tablet:

Operating System (OS)

Spending a few extra bucks now will save you hundreds later!

Though newer tablets may be more expensive, investing in one now will save you money in the long run. Both Android and Apple devices run on a unique operating system that is updated regularly. Older hardware may not be able to install the latest OS, so it's important that your devices are from the last one or two years. While HiMama can be used on some older operating systems, performance may vary, and we cannot guarantee compatibility. We only officially support Android and Apple's active operating systems.

Basic amount of memory

With most things stored in the cloud, no need to go overboard with memory.

It is recommended that you choose a tablet with at least 1 GB of storage space when using an app like HiMama. All the information recorded through HiMama is securely saved in Amazon Web Services’ cloud storage, so there’s really no need to get a tablet with more than 16GB of storage.

Sturdy device

After all, you are around young children all day!

You’ll want to choose a tablet that is sturdy and resilient to survive any drops (as this inevitable!) or other impact. Additionally, we strongly recommended investing in a case that can protect your tablet and provide further peace of mind if a little one gets a hold of it. Think of it as an insurance policy!

Long battery life

Important if you don't want to be recharging your tablet all the time.

The ideal tablet will have an excellent battery life - lasting at least 6 to 8 hours when using the internet. Especially when in a classroom or preschool environment, there isn't always time to stop and charge the device mid-day; it is unfortunate when you are in the middle of something important and your battery is dying!

Solid camera

Snapping and recording special moments and observations is important.

Picture time! Photos and videos are essential when considering tablets for a learning environment. With HiMama, parents frequently tell us that they love to receive photos and videos of their child throughout the day, so it's important that these moments are recorded with reasonable quality. First off, you will want to ensure that the tablet you choose has a rear facing camera (so not every photo is a selfie!). For high quality photos that parents will want to share with the whole family, the rear camera should be at least 4 MP.

Easy navigation

Keeping distractions to a minimum is super important for educators.

It can be intimidating shifting from paper documentation to a tablet-based app. To make this transition as smooth as possible, you’ll want an operating system (OS) that is user-friendly. The major operating systems are iOS (Apple), and Android. Many HiMama users find iOS to be the easiest to use!

HiMama Tablet Recommendations for School & Preschool Programs

Cost Conscious Tablets ($)

Acer Iconia One 10

OS: Android 8.1
Memory: 32 GB (2 GB RAM)
Camera: 5MP Rear Camera
Battery: Up to 12 Hours
Screen Size: 10.1 Inches

MSRP: $154.99 USD/$269.99 CAD

Lenovo Smart Tab M10

OS: Android 8.1
Memory: 16 GB (2 GB RAM)
Camera: 5MP Rear Camera
Battery: Up to 8 Hours
Screen Size: 10.1 Inches

MSRP: $199.99 USD/$264.99 CAD

High Value Tablets ($$)

iPad - 5th Generation (2017)

OS: iOS 10 (upgradable to 13.5)
Memory: 32 GB (2 GB RAM)
Camera: 8MP rear camera
Battery: Up to 10 hours
Screen Size: 9.7 inches

MSRP: Although this model is officially discontinued it can be purchased new or refurbished through third party sellers and is a great alternative to more expensive high end tablets!