School is anxiety-inducing enough. Let us take one thing off your mind with this roundup of essential school tech.
Going off to college is stressful, no matter when you’re doing it—and it can be even worse when you realize that you don’t have everything you need. We want to give you one less thing to worry about! Our list touches on a lot of the most important tech you’ll need for school, and we’ve done the research for you to figure out what’s best. Grab what you need and worry over signing up for the right classes in time, instead.
Laptops
Laptops aren’t just a good idea for a college student—they’re nearly a requirement. A quality laptop will let them work and study from nearly anywhere, have a battery life that lasts all day, and is ultraportable so it’s easy to carry around.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 2025)
The MacBook Air with the M4 chip is, hands down, the best laptop for students. It’s very powerful, so it can handle nearly any task a student needs for a project. On top of that, it’s lightweight, has a battery life that lasts all day, and the price is right.
Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 (14" AMD)
If you need Windows 11, you can opt for the Lenovo Yoga 7 instead. It has a 14-inch OLED touchscreen monitor in a light form factor, and the price is hard to argue against.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook
While this is technically a ‘gaming’ Chromebook, the price and the specs are right for most students' workloads. It just has the advantage that you can do some light gaming, too.
Tablets
Apple iPad mini (2024)
The latest version of the iPad mini is a fantastic choice for students on the go. It’s approximately the size of a medium paperback, making it easy to throw in a backpack, read, and take notes. Just make sure to get theApple Pencilif you plan on using it for writing!
Apple iPad Pro 13 (2024)
If your or your student’s major requires drawing and graphic design, you’ll want to upgrade the tablet to the iPad Pro 13-inch. While expensive, you’ll get all the screen real estate you’ll need, and some powerful specs to match.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
Not a fan of Apple? Samsung’s tablets are among the best for Android, and the Tab S10 FE+ strikes a good balance between performance and price. With a 13-inch screen and other features meant for creatives, it can be a good alternative to the iPad Pro.
Headphones and Earbuds
Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones
Sony’s active noise cancelling is bar none in the audio industry. The XM6s lets students relax and focus on their homework and studying, or get some peace on the plane ride to visit home.
Soundcore Space One Pro
Sony out of your price range? Anker’s Soundcore series is a great semi-budget option. These headphones also offer active noise cancelling, are easy to fold up, and have a great battery life.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Earbuds
Sony’s earbuds are also a great option. These noise-cancelling earbuds are great for working out or walking around campus.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Enjoy significant enhancements to the Apple AirPods Pro with this 2nd generation release, powered by Apple’s H2 processor. Delivering twice the active noise cancellation, spatial audio, USB-C charging, and more.
Flash Drives
A good thumb drive is something students might not think about needing until theyreallyneed it. Flash drives are integral if you’re planning to use library printer services or access your files on a public computer, so you don’t need to sign into something on a public device.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go
The Ultra Dual Drive Go is a perfect student companion. 256GB can fit all of your important files, and the flash drive features both a USB-C and USB-A port, so you can use it with most devices.
Lexar JumpDrive Fingerprint F35 Pro
If you’re carrying sensitive documents around on a flash drive, you’ll want to take a few extra precautions. The F35 Pro offers fingerprint recognition so if it gets lost, no one can access your information.
SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive
Sometimes flash drives can double as additional storage on a laptop, and the Ultra Fit Flash Drive from SanDisc is a perfect choice for that. This is a 1TB flash drive in a form factor small enough to sit relatively flush against your laptop.
Power Banks
Anker Nano Power Bank (Type-C)
This power bank is perfect for charging your phone up while on campus. The Anker Nano is small enough to be tucked away in a pocket or corner of a backpack, and you’re able to still easily use your phone while connected to it.
Mophie Powerstation Pro AC
With 27,00 mAh of internal battery capacity,100 watts of AC, and 60 watts of USB-C fast charge, the Mophie Powerstation Pro AC packs enough juice to get your laptop up and running again in no time.
Useful Subscriptions
It’s not always about the hardware! A good subscription to a streaming service can make study time more bearable and break time more enjoyable.
Spotify
Spotify is the best place for streaming music, and there is even a student-oriented subscription plan that gets you a discount.
Netflix
Netflix, by far, has the most shows and original series to watch. Anyone will be able to find a slew of entertainment on this service.
Other Gadgets
Here are some other tech products that can help a student out as they head off to college.
Glocusent Book Light
This helpful light clips directly onto your book and offers five brightness settings, three light temperatures, and an adjustable bulb. You can even easily charge it via USB!
Roku Streaming Stick Plus
Roku’s Streaming Stick Plus is the thinnest 4K streaming stick available today. It comes with a Voice Remote, and its ultra-slim design is perfect for frequent travelers as well as those who want to keep their wall-mounted TV as clean-looking as possible.
Rocketbook Core Smart Notebook
If you like the feeling of pen and paper but also want proper note organization on a computer, Rocketbook’s smart notebooks are just the thing you need.
Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip KP303
Plugs are a luxury in small dorm rooms. Not only does a smart power strip help, it allows you to controls lights and other devices from an app.
