The Best Tech for Back to School

The MacBook Air was once the go-to laptop for college, but over time, the price has gone up as Apple aims for a more high-end market. Now we have the MacBook Neo as the entry-level option. And even with the recent $100 price increase, it remains the best overall college laptop to buy. The design feels every bit as premium as a MacBook Air, with the added fun of different color selections. The standout feature, however, is definitely the high-resolution display, which is brighter and sharper than any other laptop you can get for less than $1,000. The trade-off is in performance, especially the limit of 8 GB of RAM, but that should be enough for most students.

Bonus tip: You’ll get $100 off if you buy using your college email address through Apple’s website.

If you want a light laptop for class that won’t break your back lugging it across campus, the Zenbook A14 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is for you. At just 2.18 pounds, it’s one of the lightest laptops around, over half a pound lighter than the MacBook Air. That doesn’t mean it feels flimsy, as Asus has used its patented Ceraluminum material to build a machine that’s extremely lightweight yet sturdy. You’ll be astounded by just how light this laptop feels. It’s reasonably priced too—especially considering the specs, OLED display, and great battery life.

There’s a next-gen model that comes with the more powerful Snapdragon X2 chips, but it’s much more expensive.

Most college students probably don’t have room in their dorms for a full-size monitor—nor would one help you when you’re studying at a coffee shop or the library. That’s where a portable monitor comes into play. It gives you access to a second screen on the go, which can be really useful depending on your area of study. There are tons of different portable monitors out there to choose from, but this is a large 16.1-inch screen with a sharp 2560 x 1440 resolution. It even comes with a 180Hz refresh rate, making it a solid gaming screen when needed. Of all the portable monitors we’ve tested, the Arzopa Z3FC is the best to take to college with you.

Sony’s flagship headphones have been on the top of our list since they launched (9/10, WIRED Recommends). The WH-1000XM6 have seven times the processing power of Sony’s previous XM5 model (9/10, WIRED Recommends), which allows for the best noise reduction on earth. Couple that with 30 hours of battery life, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and a brand-new set of dynamic drivers with bold and joyous tuning, and these are the best wireless headphones we’ve ever tested.

The latest model features a new, smaller case and folding ear cups, which make them even better for dropping into your school bag, and the replaceable faux leather ear pads are very comfortable, thanks to a liberal use of memory foam.

This is our favorite pair of cheap earbuds. Former WIRED reviewer Ryan Waniata called it a “shockingly loaded pair for less than a takeout dinner for two.” He was really impressed not only by the clear sound but also the noise-canceling capabilities. In particular, he also noted the earbuds’ ability to cut out even the deepest rumbles and highest-pitched noises. The Go Pop ANC even has an effective transparency mode if you don’t want the fully isolated effect. Pair that with eight hours of battery life, and you have an absolutely killer pair of wireless earbuds for only $25.

If reusable water bottles bring out your inner germaphobe—nobody wants to miss class because they’re stuck in bed with the yucks—then get the Larq. It uses a nontoxic UV-C LED light in the lid to sterilize your water every two hours (or when prompted), which reduces funky odors and bacterial buildup. It’s double-insulated and made from BPA-free stainless steel, and a full charge is good for up to three weeks of tech-assisted sanitation. Plus, the app lets you track your water intake goals—though honestly, it didn’t inspire us to drink more water.

The company also sells the PureVis 2 with a filter, but that model is a bit of a hassle. The filter tends to slip into the bottle when full, and it chokes the water flow, which isn’t ideal when you’re wheezing in the middle of a hot yoga class. It also eats up a lot of space inside the bottle, so you’re left with less water than you’d think. The mouthpiece is not the easiest to clean. So, while the idea of better-tasting drinking water is appealing, we just prefer the OG, filter-free version.

Care Instructions: Hand-wash with warm, soapy water every so often.

Once you use this surge strip, you’ll wonder where it’s been your whole life. Each outlet sits on a rotating wheel, meaning you won’t ever have to feel frustrated that your chunky plug won’t fit next to your other chunky plug. It’s ingenious. It’s also perfect for dorm rooms, cafés, and other shared spaces packed with gadgets; bring this to the library to split one power outlet into eight and everyone will want to be your best friend.

There’s also a handy LED that indicates the surge protector is indeed offering protection.

This is our favorite budget scooter—it typically sells for right around $500—making it one of our top picks for students. Just know that the Segway E2 Pro isn’t going to get you very far. I (Julian) traveled less than 10 miles on a single charge; most people weigh less than I do and can get better range, but 10 miles is probably enough to get you across campus and back.

It’s heavier than it looks, at 41 pounds, but it’s quick to fold down and easy to carry by the stem. I’ve had no problem cruising around my neighborhood with this scooter and its 350-watt motor, which has a top speed of 15 mph and does a decent job on small slopes. It’s fairly steady on bumpy roads thanks to the 10-inch tubeless tires, and the front drum brake and rear electronic brake reliably bring this vehicle to a stop fairly quickly. It’s worth noting that, as a safety precaution, you have to pair it with Segway’s app to unlock the highest speed.

My favorite addition is the turn signals, which you can easily access on the handlebar—I just wish there were a timer to automatically stop the blinkers after a few seconds, because you have to manually turn them off. Overall, the E2 Pro is a nice upgrade pick over the E2 Plus, which was my previous budget recommendation.

This intuitive light accomplishes several tasks at once. There’s a paddle on the circular head that gently moves from the top to the bottom. Start sliding it to turn on the light, then keep sliding it to adjust how bright you want it. Uniquely, there’s also a mirror in the center of the video-friendly ring light, so you can make sure there’s no broccoli in your teeth right before your Zoom session starts. When your call is over, twist the head to face downward and it becomes a gentle reading light.

The lamp charges your phone wirelessly when you plonk your handset onto the grippy base—assuming of course that you have a phone with wireless charging support. The little arm that sticks out from the lamp’s stem just above the base gives you a convenient place to prop up your phone for video calls, selfies, or just to keep an eye on the screen.

While you often see 100 watts as the standard amount of power delivery, there are more powerful laptops that need a bit more. Take, for example, a gaming laptop or a 16-inch MacBook Pro. If you have one of those, you need a USB hub with more oomph, which is exactly what the Plugable 9-in-1 Hub is. With 140 watts of power delivery, it has no problem quickly charging up a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

In addition, the Plugable 9-in-1 hub has just about every port you would need, including 10-Gbps USB-C, and it can support a secondary screen, up to 4K resolution at 60 Hz, with its HDMI port. One of the three USB-A ports can even deliver power, which is perfect for charging up a phone, your headphones, or some other small accessory. The best part is it’s all put together in a robust metal chassis with clearly labeled ports. My only complaint is that the large Plugable logo is an eyesore, but you can put a sticker over it.

Posture and ergonomics aren’t usually top of mind for young people, but they really should be. There’s no reason to hunch over a table working on your laptop when you don’t need to. This simple stand is not only stylish and sturdy, it also folds down into something that’s easily backpackable. It’ll slide right next to your laptop in a backpack laptop pouch, and give you much better posture no matter where you take your schoolwork.

Regardless of whether or not you bring a laptop stand to school with you, having a dedicated keyboard is super useful. Fast typing is one thing, but if you happen to be a gamer, this low-profile keyboard doubles for that too. The Razer Joro Portable Wireless Gaming Keyboard is not only fairly affordable—it’s also highly portable. It’s easy to just toss this in your bag, because it’s not much thicker than a laptop. The only downside is the lack of a 2.4GHz dongle, meaning you’ll have to connect over Bluetooth or a cable.