It’s almost hard to believe, but back-to-school season is upon us. It seems like only yesterday you were unpacking that dorm room or clearing out your locker, but now it’s time to gear up again for another year.
Technology is ever-changing, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the latest and greatest and wind up spending way more than you have to.
Whether you’re looking for the best tech to tackle those university classes or just trying to survive high school, we’ve got a roundup of the tools you should take with you.
Here’s our list of the best tech for back-to-school.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Best Chromebook for back-to-school
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is one of the best Chromebooks I’ve reviewed this year. It’s got all the performance you’ll need for school projects, and it’s versatile.
As the name suggests, you can spin the screen around and use it for presentations. It can also be used as a tablet, perfect for taking notes in your lap when space is limited.
Battery life is fantastic, and you’ll rarely be concerned about finding a charger in the library.
If you’re looking for a premium Chromebook experience that’s still more affordable than other laptop options, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 should top your list.
If you need something more robust, the Apple MacBook Air M4 is a fantastic choice.
I use mine daily for content creation and editing, and it has all the performance you need at an affordable price.
It’s hard to think of Apple and value in the same sentence, but the MacBook Air line has consistently been one of the best deals in tech if you need a full-fledged laptop with excellent performance and outstanding battery life.
- CPU
-
13th-Gen Intel Core i5
- Display type
-
IPS LCD
- Display dimensions
-
14″
- Display resolution
-
1920×1200
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a powerful and versatile laptop. It features an Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM, making it capable of running more intensive apps and keeping multiple Chrome tabs open at once. It features a 14-inch IPS LCD panel with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Like the name suggests, the Spin 714 can be hinged outward to function as a tablet or presentation device.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best earbuds for back-to-school
A pair of quality earbuds is an essential part of your back-to-school checklist. Whether it’s working out in the gym, walking to class, or getting through those long study sessions, you’ll need a pair of reliable earbuds along the journey.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are on the pricey side at $300, but they’ll last for years, with a sound quality that fits their price tag.
They also feature dedicated processors for better noise cancellation and outstanding battery life, so you don’t need to constantly top off to keep listening to your favorite songs and podcasts.
Good audio makes the difference, so it’s worth springing for a bit more with the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds.
- Battery Life
-
8 hours with ANC on (30 hours with charging case)
- Noise Cancellation
-
Yes
- Microphones
-
3 per bud
- IP rating
-
IPX4
- Supported codecs
-
AAC, LDAC, SBC
- Charging
-
USB-C, wireless
Sony’s flagship true wireless earbuds have been our top recommendation in the category for two years straight, and the WF-1000XM5 look poised to continue that tradition. The newest model features dedicated processors for both noise cancellation and regular audio processing while being lighter and smaller than their predecessors. But the premium quality comes with a price tag to match.
Google Pixel 9a
Best smartphone for back-to-school
I’m a huge fan of the Google Pixel 9a, especially for back-to-school. It’s one of the best pound-for-pound values in smartphones, and it’s difficult to find any glaring weaknesses.
Its 6.3-inch Actua display is gorgeous and is bright enough for outdoor viewing. The Pixel 9a comes in some fun colors and has a unique Pixel design.
It’s a light and compact smartphone, ideal for throwing in a bag or carrying around in your pocket.
Under the hood, the Pixel 9a is no slouch. Its Tensor G4 chipset provides plenty of raw performance for the price, and the experience is smooth, especially paired with 8GB of RAM.
The Pixel 9a is a phone you can carry with you for years, as Google promises seven years of software support and extras.
Google’s flavor of Android is easy to use, and you’re going to love Pixel extras like Now Playing.
Battery life is excellent on the Pixel 9a. Its 5,100mAh battery provides two full days of mixed use, ideal for when you have a late night and forget to throw your phone on the charger.
There is also the Pixel camera. Point-and-shoot photography is excellent on the Pixel 9a, even in low-light conditions, perfect for capturing special moments with friends.
- SoC
-
Google Tensor G4
- Display type
-
pOLED, 120Hz
- Display dimensions
-
6.3 inches
- Display resolution
-
1080 x 2424
Google’s Pixel 9a takes everything that was great about the Pixel 8a and looks to modernize it. With an all-new Pixel 9-inspired look and no camera bump, this might be the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen yet.
Google Pixel Watch 3
Best smartwatch for back-to-school
Yes, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is right around the corner, but there will be deals on the Pixel Watch 3 coming up that make it worth saving some money.
The Pixel Watch 3 is still outstanding, and it makes an excellent companion to the Pixel 9a.
Battery life is solid, and Google added more variety to the Pixel Watch 3, offering it in two sizes.
If you have a bigger wrist, you can take advantage of more screen real estate and get a better-fitting watch.
It features all the fitness and sleep tracking you’ll need, because it’s important to keep track of your health after all-night study sessions.
Google offers a variety of colors and bands to choose from, meaning you can personalize your Pixel Watch 3 to your tastes.
If you need a sleek, minimalist smartwatch that does the job and doesn’t look like a giant computer on your wrist, the Pixel Watch 3 is worth a look.
- Case size
-
41mm; 45mm
- Case Material
-
Aluminum
- CPU
-
Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 with Cortex M33 co-processor
- RAM
-
2GB
The Google Pixel Watch 3 comes in multiple sizes for the first time, while still keeping the same gorgeous display. It features all-day battery life and all the health and sleep trackers you’ll want to improve your life. It’s ideal for those looking for a minimalist smartwatch, without the bulk of other competitors.
Anker 25K Power Bank
Best charger for back-to-school
No back-to-school list is complete without a power bank.
The Anker 25K Power Bank gives you all the juice you’ll need on the go for all of your electronics.
If you can’t find an outlet at the café or library, the Anker 25K can easily power your laptop. It’s also ideal for charging your phone or earbuds during class.
It’s a versatile power bank, capable of up to 165W charging speeds. Its massive 25,000mAh capacity means you’ll get several charges of your phone and other electronics before it’s time to fill back up again.
At $100, it may seem expensive, but the repeated use you’ll get makes it worth the money.
- Brand
-
Anker
- Battery Capacity
-
25,000mAh
- Ports
-
3 USB-C, 1 USB-A
- Weight
-
1.31 lbs
- Dimensions
-
6.18 x 2.13 x 1.93 in
- Voltage
-
165W
The Anker 25K Power Bank is ideal for those who need a lot of charging capability on the go. It’s fantastic for topping off your smartphone or giving your wireless earbuds a needed charge during the day, but it’s also equipped to recharge your laptop or Chromebook, thanks to its 25,000mAh capacity.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE
Best tablet for back-to-school
Android tablets are fantastic all-purpose tools for school, but there’s no reason to spend more than you have to.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE does the job without the wallet-punishing price of its more expensive siblings.
Its 10.9-inch display is ideal for binging your favorite shows, and it’s large enough to use during classes, yet small enough to bring anywhere with you.
The Tab S10 FE is powered by an Exynos 1580 chipset. I’ve used the Exynos 1580 in the Samsung Galaxy A56, and it’s a capable chipset, providing smooth performance, especially paired with 8GB of RAM.
It’s also power-efficient, so you’ll have no problem making it through an entire day of classes with its 8,000mAh battery.
The Tab S10 FE also has stylus support, perfect for artists or students who still love to handwrite notes.
Samsung’s flavor of Android, One UI 7, runs smoothly on the Tab S10 FE.
Samsung also included a microSD card slot for expandable storage, meaning you can take more of your files and photos with you.
All told, the Tab S10 FE is an excellent back-to-school companion, especially for around $500.
- SoC
-
Exynos 1580
- Display type
-
LCD, 90Hz
- Display dimensions
-
10.9″
- RAM
-
8GB/12GB
- Storage
-
128GB/256GB
- Battery
-
8,000mAh
Samsung’s latest midrange tablet isn’t just a spec bump. With a brighter display, new AI tools, and IP68 water and dust resistance, the Tab S10 FE could be one of the best value tablets around at just $500.
Amazon Echo Spot
Best smart home device for back-to-school
The Amazon Echo Spot is a wonderful addition to any dorm room.
Mornings are tough enough, but the Echo Spot lets you wake up with a big, bright display and your favorite music.
You can see weather reports at a glance, and even have Alexa control the lighting in your room.
If you don’t like the harsh tones of an alarm clock, you can set up your Echo Spot to slowly wake you up with music and lighting effects.
Amazon offers three color options, and the clock face is customizable, allowing your Echo Dot to match your style.
With dorms usually cramped, any device that serves multiple functions is ideal, and a versatile Echo Dot is perfect, especially for $80.
- Speakers
-
1.72-inch built-in speaker
- Camera
-
No
- Dimensions
-
113 x 103 x 111mm
- Weight
-
405 g
Amazon’s all-new Echo Spot is a smart alarm clock with a 2.83-inch touchscreen and a 1.73-inch speaker, perfect for your bedside. Beyond telling time, it integrates Alexa for weather updates, music, and alarms, making it a versatile daily tool. Prime members can grab it at a 44% discount ahead of Prime Day.
Nomad Universal Charging Cable
Best charging cable for back-to-school
All this fancy tech is useless unless you have a reliable way to charge it all.
Instead of messing around and deciding which cables to bring with you, it’s easier to have a well-built universal cable you can just throw in your bag.
The Nomad Universal Cable has you covered. It’s a durable cord, with Kevlar reinforcement and electroplated metal connectors.
At 1.5m, it’s long enough to reach your tech, and unlike most other cables, it won’t fray easily.
- Cable Length
-
3 meters
- Compatible With
-
USB-A, USB-C, Micro-USB
- Brand
-
Nomad
Touted for its versatility, this charging cable from Nomad not only charges multiple devices simultaneously, but it’s also as tough as they come.
It’s important to spend wisely
Back-to-school is tough enough, and it’s especially difficult when trying to pick out the right tech items for your budget.
Our list will get you through the process, and you’ll be much more successful in the coming year.
Also, don’t forget to check back for more sales as the school year gets closer.
-
- SoC
-
Google Tensor G4
- RAM
-
8GB
- Storage
-
128GB, 256GB
- Battery
-
5,100mAh
- Ports
-
USB-C
- Operating System
-
Android 15, 7 years of updates
Google’s Pixel 9a takes everything that was great about the Pixel 8a and looks to modernize it. With an all-new Pixel 9-inspired look and no camera bump, this might be the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen yet.
-
- Storage
-
128GB/256GB
- Operating System
-
Android 15
- Battery
-
8,000mAh
- Ports
-
USB-C
- Display type
-
LCD, 90Hz
- Price
-
$500
Samsung’s latest midrange tablet isn’t just a spec bump. With a brighter display, new AI tools, and IP68 water and dust resistance, the Tab S10 FE could be one of the best value tablets around at just $500.
-
- Battery Life
-
8 hours with ANC on (30 hours with charging case)
- Noise Cancellation
-
Yes
- Mono Listening
-
Yes, either bud
- Bluetooth
-
5.3
- Microphones
-
3 per bud
- IP rating
-
IPX4
Sony’s flagship true wireless earbuds have been our top recommendation in the category for two years straight, and the WF-1000XM5 look poised to continue that tradition. The newest model features dedicated processors for both noise cancellation and regular audio processing while being lighter and smaller than their predecessors. But the premium quality comes with a price tag to match.
