9 Awesome College Gadgets for Students

Though your laptop and books are, of course, your school lifeline, there are some other gadgets you can add to your list to make your life easier. From practical picks to streaming sticks (hey, it’s all about that work/life balance!), our TCG gear guide is full of recommendations designed to aid you in all the demands of student life.

Logitech K480 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard

The average keyboard on your laptop is fine, but a Bluetooth keyboard that you can sync with your Smartphone can come in handy for serious study work. Logitech’s K480 can be connected to three devices at once on any platform, from Mac to Android.

Logitech MX Master

Your laptops trackpad is not going to cut it for extended use – you will be much more comfortable using a mouse. The MX Master has buttons that you can customise, supports trackpad gestures and will keep your hand comfortable all day.

Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones

A good pair of noise cancelling headphones is a must, something to block out roommates and any other access sounds. The Bose’s QuietComfort is quite a pricey pair, but they’re worth it! They’re wireless so they won’t get in the way while you’re moving around and they run for 20 hours on a single charge.

Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable

A hard drive may not be the most exciting gadget, but it is the most practical. You definitely need something to backup your hard work on just in case your laptop crashes and the Seagate Backup Plus will do just that.

Fitbit Alta

A smartwatch or fitness tracker is a must-have if you’re set on maintaining your work-study balance. If you’re looking for a device that handles your notifications, reminders and more than go for an all-around smartwatch like the Apple Watch or if you’re an Android user – the Huawei Watch.

If you’re just interested in fitness stuff, you can’t go wrong with the Fitbit Alta. This tracker will monitor your workouts, steps, sleep and pair with the app on your phone.

Livescribe 3

Spend one lecture with the Livescribe pen and you’ll never want to go back to a plain old Bic. As you write in the Livescribe’s speciality notebook, the smartpen will send a digital copy of your notes to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can access them at any time.

Roku Streaming Stick

Your dorm or flat most probably has a TV, but how do you watch a variety of shows at an affordable price? The Roku streaming stick is a thumb-sized device that plugs into your TV or monitor’s HDMI port and streams web-based content like Netflix, Hulu, HBO and more!

Anker PowerCore 20100

A one-device battery pack might not be enough – you may want a dedicated battery pack for a long class you have to take. The Anker PowerCore is small, light and powerful and it can power up your tablet, phone and other gear with its two USB ports and whopping 20 000mAh battery.

Stir Kinetic Desk M1

Standing desks are still a big thing these days, so if you’re considering a new desk setup, try the Stir Kinetic. This smart desk is a comfortable work station that can adjust between sitting and standing positions, you can even tell the desk how often you’d like to stand up and it will gently “nudge” you by slightly raising up.

Whether you’re just starting studying next year or about to graduate college, our list of essential gear for students will ensure that you have a productive—and fun—school year.