8 Best Tech Gadgets for Back to School
It no longer suffices to whip out a pencil case on the first day of classes and call it a day. Among your several devices, heavy textbooks, and inability to wake up before the crack of dawn after a summer of straight chilling, you’re going to need to rely on some back-to-school-friendly tech gadgets to get you through the year — and what better time to stock up than over Labor Day weekend when you're like to find some friendly deals. From necessary items like chargers and calculators to stylish ones like rose gold headphones, here are a nine items to add to your last-minute shopping list so you can start the school year off on the right letter grade. Trust us, these items will make your time in class fun and will make hard work a little more pleasurable. Plus, if you take care of these items, you'll be able to use them when you head off to college or your next job, too.
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Photo: Courtesy of Amazon2/10Choosing which device to charge first when you have limited downtime is like having to choose which child (or Kylie’s Lip Kit color) is your favorite. Charge one, and the other one drains before noon. No longer will you have to make the tough calls with a charger complete with 10 USB ports, built-in safeguards to prevent over-current and overheating, and quick-charge technology for a four-time faster charge. Want to be the most popular kid at the library? Place it on the table so your study buddies can charge their devices along with you.
10-port charging station, $39 amazon.com
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon3/10Tablets just got the most necessary downsize with this e-reader that’s only slightly bigger than your iPhone. It’s got the highest resolution available at 300 pixels per inch compared to regular Kindle's 167. Simply set up an Amazon account, and use wi-fi to download over 800,000 books and class e-textbooks (can you feel the weight lifting off your backpack already?). It’s glare-free, which will save your eyes during long library sessions. And did we mention you only have to charge it every couple weeks?
Kindle Paperwhite, $120. amazon
Photo: Courtesy of Satechi4/10Need to listen to the prof’s lecture one last time before the test? Pop on a pair of Bluetooth 4.0 headphones that are like music — and pillows — to your ears. And while you’re easing into the school spirit, nothing beats decompressing to a soothing playlist on your commute home, or a phone call with a friend that you can answer hands-free.
Rose gold aluminum wireless headphones, $70. satechi.net
Photo: Courtesy of Electro Home5/10Sleeping in feels great, but waking up in time for your morning lab feels even better. This alarm clock frees up a wall outlet with its built-in charger for smartphones or tablets, while its 180-degree swivel feature means you can view the time and date comfortably from any angle (even lying on your back staring at the ceiling). Select if you want to be woken up via buzzer or the radio. And don’t stress about setting it every day: One plug-in is all it takes to remember when you like to wake up during the weekday and weekend. And it uses WakeUp™ technology to perk you up even in a power failure.
USB alarm clock, $35. electrohome.com
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon6/10All math whizzes need a trusty sidekick. Thanks to Texas Instruments, you can compute complex equations faster than your fellow mathletes. You can add your own grid lines and color-coded plots and graphs for easier viewing. We won’t tell you about all the preloaded apps within the device, since we hope you’ll pay attention in class! Plus, it's approved for use in AP classes and SAT, PSAT, and ACT exams.
Graphing calculator, $118. amazon
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon7/10Keeping all your important essays on one device is like putting all your eggs in one basket, which is a recipe for disaster. Back everything up on this four-terabyte external hard drive for ultimate organization. All you need is a minor grasp of Dropbox or the Cloud to sync up your files automatically, and you’re good to go.
Portable external hard drive, $59. amazon
Photo: Courtesy of HP8/10Often, printing out an assignment is half the essay-writing battle. With the portable Deskjet 3755 Wireless All-In-One printer the height of your smartphone, you can scan, copy, and print on the go. Apple AirPrint lets you print directly from your mobile device, and built-in wi-fi connects to your computer.
Portable printer, $70. store.hp.com
Photo: Courtesy of T-Mobile9/10Is it not the actual worst when you've pulled yourself out of bed to make it to class on time, but you're going to be late because your room resembles a messy lost-and-found bin? Fret not: Attach the Tile device to something you don’t want to misplace, like an assignment, keys, phone, or bag you absentmindedly tend to leave on the bus. Then, download the Tile app onto your phone and if you do misplace the item, you can track its location through the app and the Tile attached to the item. It'll ring to alert you of its location, or you can poll the Tile community for its whereabouts as well.
Tile Locator, single pack, $25. t-mobile
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