We have been using a bank of 18 Samsung Tab A7's at one of our schools. Managed via Esper.io as they provide up to 100 devices for free on the one account. You can use managed Google play store to deploy apps. Only grudge is that the Managed Google Play does not support paid apps anymore due to licensing abuse. But we have had no problems with these tablets and if you shop around, can easily find them at half the price of a new iPad.
Device is also built very well, metal on back glass up front so pretty much like an iPad. Definitely worth the money!