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11.28.24
Back to school shopping is arguably the second largest sales season of the year, after the holidays. In fact, back-to-college expenses are expected to reach about $1,400 per American household this year. For that amount of money, you’d hope that you’re getting the very best off your list. But when you’re going off to college, that list becomes a lot more complicated. Should you get a laptop or is a tablet enough? Should you stock up on snacks? Do you need a printer? Should you still stock up on pens and notebooks?
To make things easier (it’s what we do), we put together a short list of the best back to college essentials you should pick up, so you don't have to.
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College Essentials: Laptop
It’s a pricy expense, but a laptop is most certainly a college essential. And for good reason – aside from your actual work, a lot of the class material will only be available online, and trust me, your eyes will thank you for working off a 14” screen and not on your phone’s 6” screen.
But not every laptop has to come with the four-figure price tag. In fact, there are some really good picks that come in just under $1,000.
Best Laptops Under $1,000
1) Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5")
Price: $771
Why We Picked It: This powerful laptop gets a lot of positive reviews from students. Lightweight and powerful, it boasts of a long battery life (for those back-to-back classes), and a touchscreen to make navigating screens and note taking even easier.
TextNow Tip: Save yourself some money and opt in for an Open Box laptop from BestBuy. You can pick the condition (fair, good, or excellent) and still save over $300.
Price: $849
Why We Picked It: MacBook Airs are great for students, as they are extremely light and compact, and the new M3 chip allows for faster processing (so you won’t be met with the spinning circle that loves to test your patience during a late night paper writing session). What’s even better is that they’re currently on sale at BestBuy, so you can score one while remaining within your budget.
TextNow Tip: Pair your new MacBook with a new iPhone as part of your back to school shopping.
Best Laptop for Programming
Price: $999.99
Why We Picked It: If your major involves some more heavy-duty laptop use, we recommend that you find one with 16GB of RAM or more, plus a powerful processor. Which is exactly what this Asus laptop offers. Plus, a thin and light design makes carrying it around campus a breeze.
College Essentials: Backpack
Speaking of carrying things around campus. Just because you graduated high school doesn’t mean you don’t need a backpack. And while you probably can still reuse your old school bag, you’re going to want something that can protect your new laptop, plus still offer all day comfort as you get in your steps on campus. This is our pick.
Best Laptop Backpack
Price: $109.99
Why We Picked It: This is a backpack that will meet all your requirements – space, comfort, multiple compartments – at a great price point. Not to mention it’s stylish, it comes with a side compartment for a water bottle (hard to find these days), plus a USB charging port slot that will make your long back-to-back classes days feel like studying from home (almost).
College Essentials: Portable Charger
We can't talk about charging ports without mentioning portable power banks, as finding an outlet on campus to plug in your charger for your laptop or your phone can – and should – be a sport. Save yourself the hassle and invest in a portable charger.
Best Portable Chargers for Phones: Best Overall
1) Nimble CHAMP
Price: $59.95
Why We Picked It: It’s compact, light, but powerful enough to charge up to two devices at once. It also actively tries to reduce its environmental impact (already high by the nature of sourcing battery components) by using recycled plastic where it can, so you can feel a little bit better about your purchase.
Best Portable Chargers for Phones: Best for Wireless Charging
2) Satechi Duo Wireless Charger Stand
Price: $99.99
Why We Picked It: This is a sleek wireless charger that will support most phones (with Qi charging), plus other accessories like watches and ear buds. The stand allows for noiseless charging, while still allowing you to use your phone as it’s charging.
TextNow Tip: If you are only looking to charge an iPhone (iPhone 12 and up), opt in for a Magsafe charger like this Anker one, that can magnetically click in to the back of your phone to wirelessly charge it, allowing you to freely use your phone in the meantime.
Best Portable Charger for Laptops
Price: $99.99
Why We Picked It: Laptop chargers will need more battery power than phone ones, which is usually reflected in the price. This Anker one is a great pick that still comes in just under $100, features a powerful enough battery to charge your laptop quickly, plus it doesn’t take up the same room as a textbook in your bag.
If there’s one thing that this list illuminates is that college is expensive. From tuition to accessories to textbooks, it can add up pretty quickly. Consider cutting your expenses where you can by shopping for cheaper phone plans, or finding deals. But most of all: Be prepared, invest in the best essentials, and have fun.
