You may be in denial that summer is over, but the calendar on the wall doesn’t lie. In the coming weeks, students in the US and other countries worldwide will begin a new school year. No matter what your grade level is or which institution you attend, your return back to the classroom is a good reason to expand your arsenal of technology tools and ensure that you have all the gadgets that you need to make your academic year successful.
Below you will find our top ten choices for students looking to cram as much learning (and fun) into the 2015–2016 school year. In true countdown fashion, we will start with number 10 and count down to our most favorite device for going back to school. Wonder what our top pick will be? Read on to find out!
#10 – Anker 36W 4-Port USB Wall Charger Travel Adapter with PowerIQ™ Technology ($19.99)
USB devices are abundant in the dorm room or classroom, make sure you have enough space to charge each one with this 4-port USB wall charger. Not only does it charge multiple devices, but it also charges them with the power appropriate for each device. This allows you to charge your iPad, iPhone and other devices all at the same time and as quickly as possible.
#9 – Klean Kanteen Vacuum Insulated Classic Bottle ($30)
You may not hit every meal with your busy schedule, but you can make sure you stay well hydrated with the stainless steel classic bottle from Klean Kanteen. With vacuum insulation, the bottle will keep your coffee hot or your water cold for most of the day.
#8 – Fitbit Charge HR ($149)
If you are into fitness and don’t need all the bells and whistles of the Apple Watch, then the Fitbit Charge HR is what you want to wear on your wrist. The fitness tracker provides continuous heart-rate monitoring, automatic sleep tracking, a decent screen and accurate step counting. The Charge HR lacks the notifications of its more expensive counterpart, the $249 Fitbit Surge, but it is a tad smaller and much easier to use.
#7 – Jabra MOVE Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset ($99)
These Bluetooth, over-the-ear cans from Jabra will connect to your iPad, iPhone or Mac and provide hours of listening enjoyment. Besides music, the headphones also have a calling feature that allows you to receive and answer phone calls. If you prefer the isolation of an in-ear model, then you should check out the Delta Black Earphones from Brainwavz or any of the Bose Quiet Comfort noise-cancellation headphones. The Bose models are pricey at $300, but they promise to block most, if not all, audible distractions. Another reliable option, if you don’t need the wireless connection, is the Bose SoundTrue Headphones, which deliver comfort and quality for around $100.
#6 – Logitech UE Boom ($199)
Headphones are great when your roommates or other students are around. If you are alone and want to pump up the volume, you’ll need a good set of speakers to fill your dorm room or classroom. One of the best overall picks is the Logitech UE Boom, which offers Bluetooth connectivity, quality 360-degree sound and a cost that won’t drain your bank account. If you are looking for something more portable, then you should check out the now discontinued Logitech UE Mini Boom. There’s also the new Logitech UE Roll, which includes a bungee for hanging and IPX7 waterproofing for all your wild and crazy adventures.
#5 – Spotify Premium ($10 monthly)
You’ll need some solid music selections if you want to make it through that late-night study session. Pair a premium subscription with the headphones at number 7 and you will cruise through your courses.
#4 – Brother HL-L2340DW Laser Printer ($99)
Even with everything moving online, there still will be times when you will need to print a research paper or some other scholarly documents. In these instances, you will be thankful you went the extra mile to purchase a printer before you headed back to school. The best value is the Brother HL-L2340DW, which offers inexpensive monochrome laser printing (32ppm), WiFi connectivity, mobile printing and more. If you need an all-in-one that’ll scan and print, then you’ll need to spend a bit more cash to get the Brother MFC-L2740DW. Similar to the HL-L2340DW, the AIO model has a major advantage – the ability to scan documents to popular cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, OneNote and more.
#3 – Apple Watch ($349))There’s nothing worse than receiving a message in class and pulling out your iPhone to see what it says. If you want to be discrete with your classroom communications, then you should grab an Apple Watch and let the notifications come flying in while you jot down notes during your early morning World History lecture. Not only can you quickly respond to messages, but you also can review your schedule, check the weather and more by merely glancing at your wrist.
#2 – iPad mini 3 ($399)
The iPad mini 3 offers an excellent compromise between power and portability. The 7.9-inch tablet is powerful to play most games while also sliding into your backpack without notice. If you purchase the model with cellular connectivity, you’ll get a navigation device, web browser and portable gaming system wrapped into one easy-to-carry package.
#1 – MacBook Air, 13-inch ($999)
Hands down, the 13-inch MacBook Air is the best laptop on the market for portable computing. The notebook is lightweight and fits easily in a variety or messenger and backpack-style bags. It’s also affordable with a starting price tag under $1000. Though small, the MacBook Air is still powerful enough for most students who plan to use it for researching, writing, image editing and light video editing. If you are in an engineering or multimedia course and require extra horsepower for 3D graphics or video editing, then you should spend a bit more and get a MacBook Pro.
