Smartphones

Of course, we start with a few phones! These days, a smartphone is an essential item in everyone’s pocket, even kids have one. How good of an idea that is is not our place to judge. 

Apple iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 is the best all-around value proposition from Apple right now and is perfect for users of all ages. It’s fast, has great battery life, dual cameras and night mode. 

Apple iPhone SE

The iPhone SE makes for a great first smartphone. It’s relatively cheap and very compact but still powerful enough for your kid to enjoy the latest games. Plus, it’s an iPhone, which is often a must for youngsters. You have Apple’s marketing department to thank for that.

OnePlus 8

If you want a flagship phone but don’t feel like paying $1,000 for it, then the OnePlus 8 is the way to go. Beautiful display, sleek design and performance like the best in the class.

Samsung Galaxy A71

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

If you’re more of a power user and looking for something fancier, then the Note 10+ is the phone for you. With its S Pen and multitasking capabilities, the Galaxy Note is a dream phone for engineering and art students alike.

Apple iPad (2019)

iPads have become a synonym with tablets and with good reason. They’re reliable, long-lasting and do pretty much everything you’d want them to. They can also be quite affordable unless you’re going for the top-tier model. Last year’s standard iPad is a great choice for those that aren’t looking for anything fancy, just a tablet that gets the job done.

Amazon Fire HD 8

Amazon’s new Fire HD 8 tablet cuts some corners in terms of hardware but that’s directly reflected in its price. If you’re looking for a portable Netflix machine or something to give to your kid and not worry about it getting broken, then you can’t wrong with a Fire tablet. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Now we’re getting into the more serious stuff. The Galaxy Tab S6 is Samsung’s high-end tablet and sits above most other Android tablets on the market. It comes with an amazing OLED display, decent-sounding speakers and even an S Pen. With the Tab S7 seemingly around the corner, the S6 can now often be found discounted, further improving the value. Add a keyboard cover and writing papers on it becomes a breeze. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch 

Withings Steel HR

Apple Watch Series 3

The Apple Watch Series 3 is Apple’s budget option if you’re looking to save a couple hundred bucks or so. Although it’s two years older, it still gets the job done when it comes to essential smartwatch functionality.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is another great smartwatch from Samsung. Smaller,  with a cleaner design and packed with features, it will easily match with any casual outfit.

Fitbit Versa 2

The Versa 2 might not feel as nice as Samsung’s smartwatches, but it’s pretty capable nonetheless and the Fitbit app and its active community are a great perk if exercising is your focus.

Fitbit Ace 2

The Fitbit Ace 2 is meant for the youngest school goers. It’s simple and durable and will help motivate your kid to be more active during the day rather than spend its time glued to a screen.

Garmin Vivofit Jr 2

Another band designed with kids in mind. Garmin’s Vivofit Jr 2 comes in a slew of different cool wraps that include favorite Disney and Star Wars characters.

Headphones

Headphones are a vital part of every modern person’s arsenal. From enjoying your favorite tunes while out and about to keeping things quiet in the dorm room to not disturb neighbors and roommates, their usefulness is unquestionable. Wireless headphones get rid of those pesky cables we keep having to untangle and although that means charging yet another gadget, the convenience is more than worth it.

Apple AirPods Pro

The AirPods Pro are pricey but if you want to keep distractions at bay their active noise canceling is irreplaceable. Plus, if you’re an iPhone user, you get an almost instant connection when you pull them out and you can even ask Siri a thing or two if you so desire. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds+ have a massive advantage of their own: the battery life. It’s almost unparalleled when it comes to true wireless earbuds. You can wear them for most of your waking hours without having to put them back in the charging case.

Anker Soundcore Life P2

If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds on a budget, the Anker Soundcore Life P2 are a great choice. They sound much better than their price-tag suggests and can last up to 7 hours on a single charge, which is more than decent. 

Sony WH1000XM3

Moving to the over-the-ear category, we can’t skip Sony’s flagship wireless headphones. They set the standard for excellent active noise canceling and bring out near-perfect sound.

Sennheiser HD 4.50

Stepping down in terms of price, we get to a beloved pair of Sennheiser mid-range headphones. With a great balance between price and sound quality, these cans won’t disappoint you.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Surprised? You shouldn’t be! Anker is a bang-for-your-buck king and we often recommend the company’s products to those that are looking for value. At that price, the ANC won’t be as good as it is on Sony’s pair but you still have it and the battery of the Soundcore Life Q20 will last for 40 hours! What’s not to like?

Razer Kraken X

Maybe you don’t mind wires? Well then, Razer’s Kraken X will serve you well not only during gaming sessions but conference calls as well. The aesthetic of the headset is subtle enough that it looks suitable even for a professional environment.

Bluetooth speakers

A Bluetooth speaker is another must-have for students. They’re just so versatile! Pump up your favorite beats at home or slip it in your backpack and jam in the park or at the beach, doesn’t matter. They’re durable and their batteries last more hours than you can dance continuously. There’s no reason not to have one. 

Laptops

Laptops are a vital part of any study efforts these days, so why are they so low on our list? Well, chances are you already have one that you’re happy with. But if that’s not the case, we have a few models that will be great companions both at home and in the classroom.

Dell XPS 13 9380

Dell’s XPS 13 is packing a lot more punch while managing to keep its profile relatively slim. An Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 4K display are signs that this machine means business. If you want to separate yourself from the Mac crowd, this Dell is the right way to do it. 

HP Envy X360

The HP Envy X360 bets on AMD’s mobile processors and that’s a breath of fresh air. Team Red’s chips enjoy better power efficiency without sacrificing performance. This means better battery life and less heat on your lap. The Envy’s hinge allows the display to go all the way around, so you can also use it as a tablet. Pretty nifty! 

Acer Predator Helios 300

If you’re looking for something with more horsepower that can run e-sport titles at high FPS, the Predator Helios 300 is a good balance between price and performance. It comes with a 144Hz refresh-rate display, which is quite rare at that price point, and a CPU-GPU combo that can handle almost anything you through at it.

Anker wireless charger

Looking for something more universal? Anker is here to help you out once more! Charge any Qi-compatible device on this wireless charger without a hassle. 

5-port USB charging station

One of the worst things about having a bunch of gadgets is that most of them need charging. It’s not long before a corner of your home becomes a rat’s nest of cables and power bricks. With this 5-port charging station, you can significantly declutter your charging operation and add convenience in the process. This one even comes with the necessary short cables to keep things as neat as possible. 

Aukey 2-port USB car charger

Most cars these days have a USB port for charging or even a wireless charger. But those are often super slow. Aukey’s car charger supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 and has two ports so you and your partner can both top up your phones in no time! 

Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 power bank

Like to have camping trips over the weekend? This power bank is far from the biggest on the market, but it’s slim and relatively light and can still top up your phone around 3 times, plenty to get you through a nature getaway. Of course, it can also charge anything that uses USB chargers, which makes it an invaluable addition to your tech lineup. 

Logitech C920 Hd Pro Webcam

Unfortunately, even high-end laptops in 2020 often come with webcams that are simply not good. And now that so much of our communication is through video calls, it’s worth investing in a webcam that will provide superior image quality.

Who doesn’t have a Kindle these days? But do you have the latest waterproof Kindle Paperwhite? Probably not. So give your old one to a younger(or older) relative and treat yourself to a nice new e-reader. There’s no need to tell you what to do with it after that.

Fire TV Stick

You’re stuck with an older TV in your dorm room that doesn’t have integrated streaming services? Get a Fire TV Stick and you’re good to go! Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, whatever your choice of streaming service is, you can probably get it via the Fire TV Stick. 

Roku Streaming Stick+

The deal with the Roku Stick+ is pretty much the same as with the Fire Stick, but with a slightly different lineup of services. Which one you’d get largely depends on what you’re planning to watch the most. 

Asus Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band router

Spending that much on a router might seem like an unnecessary expense, but think about it. Pretty much all of your devices rely on Wi-Fi, so why not treat yourself with a capable router that will provide a faster and more reliable connection?l—-

Nintendo Switch

SteelSeries Stratus Duo Wireless Gaming Controller

If you don’t have the money to spare for a console, then why not make your mobile gaming experience a lot better with a quality controller. The Stratus Duo can be used with any Android phones and PC, while iPhones would work with the SteelSeries Nimbus+. Get the $10 mounting bracket for your phone and you have a portable console ready to go!

Miscellaneous

TaoTronics Metal LED Desk Lamp

Okay, that’s not a cheap desk lamp, but has plenty of features. It’s energy-efficient, it swivels anyway you want it, has different light modes and brightness levels and even includes a USB charging port. And it just looks plain cool, which is important since you’ll spend a lot of time near it. 

Peak Design Everyday Backpack

Sure, this backpack is targeted towards photographers, but even if you’re not carrying a camera and 5 lenses around, you can still take advantage of its superior compartment design and durability. Put an end to the rummaging and wasting time to find that one thing you dropped in your backpack weeks ago. With the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, everything has its place. 

Sofa Sack Memory Foam Beanless Bag chair

This beanbag chair is actually beanless. What does that mean? Well, as the name suggests, it’s filled with memory foam instead, giving you more comfort and less noise when moving around. This cloud-like chair will quickly become your favorite place to be. 

Nouhaus Ergo3D ergonomic office chair

Sooner or later, you’ll have to get some serious school work done and that means spending hours at your desk. So, do yourself a favor and get a chair that’s comfortable and ergonomic. The Nouhaus Ergo3D is just that and will give your body the support it needs. Additionally, it comes with roller-blade-style wheels which are great for carpeted rooms and are smooth and quiet on hardwood floors as well. 

SHW Electric Height adjustable computer desk

Maybe sitting while working isn’t your thing. That’s fine. With this height-adjustable desk, you can switch from a sitting desk to a standing desk in seconds. Just make sure all the cables have the necessary slack, or you’ll be in trouble. It’s not a small investment, but it’s cheaper than physiotherapy, that’s for sure.