While tablets are great for playing games and watching videos, today students can benefit a great deal from bringing a slate to class. A number of textbooks are available in interactive, digital versions, which will save room in your backpack. And, with a plethora of advanced apps now available for students, a tablet could be your ultimate study companion. Here are our top five picks.

One of the least expensive tablets on the market looks and acts like a pricier slate. For under $200, you get a 12-ounce device with a powerful quad-core CPU and a colorful 7-inch screen. With access to Google’s huge library of content, including books, magazines, movies, TV shows and music, Nexus 7 has everything your student needs. Add in advanced voice input, Google Now for remembering your searches and other cool new features of Android Jelly Bean, and this ASUS-made slate is a steal.

Apple iPad ($499)

The world’s best tablet is even better in 2012, with a super-sharp 2048 x 1536-pixel display and blazing fast quad-core graphics. With the world’s deepest ecosystem of apps and accessories, it’s easy to find the right study software or attach the perfect wireless keyboard for your typing style. Apple’s iBooks store already has dozens of textbooks you can buy for class, with more arriving all the time. You can even buy a 4G LTE-enabled version of the iPad so you can stay online even when your classroom doesn’t have Wi-Fi.

Apple iPad 2 ($399)

If you want an iPad but want to spend less up front, 2011’s iPad 2 is still available for just $399. Though the iPad 2 doesn’t have as sharp a screen or as fast a processor as the new 2012 iPad, it is powerful enough to play most games and conduct video chats using Apple’s FaceTime feature. It also has access to all the same apps, books and accessories as its successor.

8-cel HP 530 laptop battery brand new 4400mAh Only AU $62.46

ASUS’ quad-core powerhouse just got an upgrade with a new full HD screen (1920 x 1200 pixels) that’s not only super-sharp but bright enough to read in the quad. Other perks include a faster new Nvidia CPU and SonicMaster audio-powered speakers. An optional keyboard attachment turns the Transformer into a clamshell-shaped Android notebook that lasts more than 10 hours on a charge — enough for all-day note-taking and paper writing.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 ($399)

A solid mid-range choice, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 combines strong performance with one of the brightest screens we’ve tested on a tablet. With Samsung’s subtle UI improvements on top of the latest Ice Cream Sandwich OS, you have the best possible Android experience with access to everything in the Google Play market and the ability to switch easily between tasks. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 also comes with an IR blaster that allows it to double as a remote control.