6 back-to-school gadgets you’ll want in your backpack

It’s officially mid-August, which means the start of school is once again right around the corner. Whether you’re heading to campus for the first time or preparing to head back, there are a lot of different gadgets out there that can make your experience of heading back to class easier and less stressful.

Whether you’re searching for a dependable laptop to handle your work, headphones for listening to music, or a tablet for taking notes, here are six back-to-school gadgets worth considering. Even if you graduated long ago, these are still worth checking out, especially since some are on sale. When I was in college, even adding one useful tech gadget to my backpack often changed how I studied and helped me succeed.

1

MacBook Air (M4)

A reliable and powerful laptop

Operating System

macOS

CPU

M4 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU

RAM

16GB, 24GB, 32GB

Apple’s M4-powered MacBook Air features the tech giant’s latest chip, a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price.

I wouldn’t have gotten through my college years without my MacBook, and if you’re looking for a laptop that can survive all the years you have left studying, look no further than Apple’s 13-inch M4 MacBook Air. It’s currently on sale for $800, saving you $200 off its regular price of $1,000. This is Apple’s latest MacBook Air, featuring 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and its powerful M4 chipset. What I especially love about the MacBook Air is its portability, thanks to its thin and lightweight design, which makes it easy to slide into your backpack and pull out during class.

2

SanDisk 1TB Portable SSD

Store large files and back up important ones

Equally important as a laptop for school is portable storage. If you’re a media major that requires editing videos or handling large files, a portable SSD will make your life easier. Even if you’re not in a media-oriented program, having a portable SSD to back up all your files and important school documents will provide added peace of mind. When I was in college, I did exactly that, and it saved me quite a few headaches and missed deadlines. That said, SanDisk’s 1TB Extreme Portable SSD is perfect for this purpose. Not only does it offer 1TB of ample storage, but it also features a durable design, so if you accidentally knock it off your desk, you don’t have to worry about it breaking. It’s on sale currently for $100, saving you $30 off its regular price of $130.

3

Beats Studio Pro

Jam out to your favorite tunes while studying

Brand

Beats

Battery Life

Up to 40 hours

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3

Noise Cancellation

ANC, Transparency modes

Microphones

Six with ANC on, three with ANC off

The Studio Pro succeed the popular Studio Wireless 3, bringing a number of improvements, including USB-C Audio and Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking, as well as a refined design and up to 40 hours battery life.

I wouldn’t have made it through college without Spotify and podcasts, and there’s nothing like a good pair of headphones to complement that experience. Currently, the Beats Studio Pro is on sale for $180, saving you $170 off its regular price of $350. What I like about these headphones is that they are compatible with both Android and iOS, and offer up to 40 hours of battery life, which is more than enough for extended studying sessions without needing to recharge them. They also feature noise-cancelling and transparency modes, allowing them to adapt to your specific needs depending on the setting you’re in. Additionally, it offers lossless audio via USB-C, enabling you to achieve the best possible sound quality.

4

Google Pixel 9a

The best value mid-range smartphone

Brand

Google

Colors

Iris, peony, porcelain, obsidian

SoC

Tensor G4, Titan M2

Google’s mid-range Pixel 9a offers impressive high-end features like a 48-megapixel main shooter, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera with macro, its Tensor G4 chip, and 8GB of RAM, all in a cost-effective $500 package.

If you’re in need of a new smartphone for back to school and don’t want to break the bank, then the Pixel 9a is worth considering. It’s the latest mid-range handset from Google, and features a beautiful 6.3-inch OLED display, 128GB of storage, Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, two rear cameras, and a massive 5,100mAh battery. It’s way better than the $600 iPhone 16E, and is currently on sale for $400. You can’t argue with its value.

5

Kindle Scribe

Take your notes to the next level

Brand

Amazon

Resolution

300ppi

Storage

16GB, 32GB, 64GB

Screen Size

10.2-inch glare-free

There’s a good chance that when you go back to campus this fall, you’ll be taking plenty of notes in class. One of the best devices to make that easier is the Kindle Scribe. Like Amazon’s regular Kindle devices, it has an E Ink display, but what makes the Scribe unique is that it’s specifically designed for note-taking. It features a 10.2-inch display, 64GB of storage, and comes with a stylus for jotting down notes. Its display feels paper-like, so even though it’s a tablet, it gives the impression you’re writing on paper. It also avoids the distractions of your smartphone or tablet, so you can focus on what you’re writing. You can also load documents onto it, like textbooks, to read and mark up. The Kindle Scribe is available on Amazon for $450.

6

Apple iPad

A budget-friendly tablet

Brand

Apple

Storage

128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Weight

1.05 pounds (477 grams)

If a Kindle Scribe isn’t the type of tablet you’re looking for, when I was in college, my iPad was my sidekick. It was a handy second display for my Mac, and at night, I used it to unwind by watching YouTube videos, TV shows, and movies. The bigger screen is typically better than your phone for watching content on, and it’s still just as portable and lightweight. Currently, you can snag Apple’s iPad for $300, saving you $50 off its regular price of $350. What I like about this particular model is that it’s affordable, features an 11-inch screen, comes with 128GB of storage, and is powered by Apple’s A16 chipset. While it may not be as fancy or powerful as the iPad Air or iPad Pro, for $300, it offers a lot of value, and for basic tasks, it gets the job done.