The best tech for college freshmen
You're going to need a bunch of stuff your first year.
Starting college is expensive. In addition to, you know, the tuition, you and the parentals will probably be making a large shopping trip to buy all manner of sweaters, snacks and extra-long twin sheets to round out your dorm room. And that's not counting all the gear you'll need to actually get work done. In addition to a few laptop recommendations (the XPS 13 is our reigning favorite), we have suggestions on things like cloud storage, backpacks and peripherals like travel mice and backup batteries. Check out the gallery below for all our first-year picks (think of it as a college starter kit), and be sure to read the rest of Engadget's back-to-school guide here.
Dell $800+
On campus you're going to want a machine that you don't mind carrying between classes, but that’s still powerful enough to get your work done. A sharp screen and killer speakers for watching movies might also be nice. The XPS 13 actually fits the bill, packing Intel's powerful Broadwell chips and a gorgeous Gorilla Glass display into a compact frame that weighs as little as 2.6 pounds. A pretty cushy keyboard makes writing papers a breeze, and decent speeds mean that you won't be stuck waiting on the XPS 13 when you really need to be running to your next class. With so few flaws, it’s little wonder Engadget has named the XPS 13 its favorite Windows laptop for two years running.
$999+
Whether you’re late for class or just want to feel the wind in your hair, Boosted Board’s electric ridable makes for a fun, comfortable ride. Sure, these high-tech longboards come at a premium price, but the company’s second-generation model offers more distance than before, plus an expandable power port. The springy bamboo skateboard deck lets you street surf your way to work or across campus at up to 22 miles per hour. If you opt for the fast charger, a 30-minute coffee-shop break could get a depleted battery back up to around 85 percent.
Acer $500+
If you just need a barebones laptop, Acer’s new Aspire E is your best bet. It’s an updated version of The Wirecutter’s recommended budget laptop, and it packs in a 15.6-inch 1080p screen, a 2.3GHz Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage -- not bad for just $500. It isn’t the most stylish thing around, but if value is a priority, the Aspire E remains one of the better deals around.
BioLite $45
This versatile little device is the kind of thing you chuck in your bag with tons of use cases in mind. BioLite is known for its off-the-grid power and illumination products, and the PowerLite Mini is no different, but you don’t need to be camping to make good use of it. If your smartphone gets desperately low on a charge, the onboard 1,350mAh battery can get help you get by until you reach your next outlet.
The Mini also has as a built-in five-stage light, including a fade-able white-lantern mode, pin spot, red night vision and a red/white strobe. If you find yourself studying, barbecuing or hanging out in the park after dark, you’ll have a light to keep things illuminated. Cyclists can use the Mini too, with the included handlebar/seatpost mount it can serve as a headlight or tail light during nighttime rides.
Logitech $60+
If the trackpad on your laptop isn't exactly a winner, or you just want to give your hand a break, it's worth investing in a portable mouse like the MX Anywhere 2. True to its name, it really can go almost everywhere: Not just because it's small, but because its laser sensor works smoothly on most surfaces, including glass. It might be a bit too diminutive for large hands (in that case we'd recommend the $100 MX Master), but everyone else will love how easily it fits into a side pocket as well as how infrequently it needs to be recharged.
Mophie $100+
Anything that can boost one’s battery life belongs in a college student’s survival kit, so why not get that purchase out of the way before you ever set foot on campus? Mophie’s Juice Pack phone cases offer protection and an extra battery, but are still slim enough to pocket without issue. For iPhone 6/6s users, there’s an added bonus: wireless charging. This feature, which arrived earlier for Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, lets you ditch the wires and simply drop your device on one of Mophie’s charging bases -- or any Qi or Powermat chargers -- to top off. Not only that, they’re magnetic, so your device will stay secured until you’re ready to move on. You can choose from three models, with a lay-flat home version, a display stand for desk or office and a car-vent-mounted option.
OXO $50
Just because you've resorted to eating ramen doesn't mean you have to drink crap coffee in your dorm, too. The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker will brew you a smoother cup of coffee than standard methods, which certainly helps for those late nights when you need to stay awake and don't need a generous dose of heartburn on top of it. Sure, cold brew takes a day to prepare, but it also lasts a lot longer, so the next time you need to caffeinate at 3 AM, you won't have to suffer the indignity of a stale pot.
Roku $50
Why buy a streaming set-top box when Roku’s $50 Streaming Stick is just as capable? The updated model brings a speedier interface, along with the usual list of supported services (read: virtually all of them). The Roku stick is also very portable, so you can bring it to a friend’s room, or back to your parents’ house during breaks. The only thing that would make it a better pick would be if the remote had a headphone jack, so that you could listen even when your roommate is trying to study.
Microsoft $749+
Though it came out last year, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 is still our favorite laptop/tablet hybrid, thanks to its thin and light design, sharp, pen-enabled screen and robust performance. It’s portable enough to carry with you all day, and the Surface Pen is ideal for jotting down notes in class. And unlike many other detachable laptops, the accompanying keyboard is comfortable enough to replace a full-size laptop. (Too bad it’s still sold separately, though.) Microsoft also managed to cram a surprising amount of power into its svelte case, so it’ll be useful for demanding productivity apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere.
Timbuk2 $99+
This one’s obvious: You’re starting college, therefore you need a bag for your daily strolls around campus. We’re fans of San Francisco-based Timbuk2, and its Spire backpack, in particular, offers ample storage in a water-resistant roll-top design that was made exclusively for Apple. There’s plenty of padded space for tablets or laptops up to 15 inches in size, and the exterior is webbed with straps to hold U-locks, carabiners, helmets and more. The ever-useful elasticized side pocket can hold your bottle of choice, and if a non-screw top is involved, there’s even an opener built into the shoulder strap.
Prices vary: Free, $10, $15+ per month
There’s nothing worse than spending several days working on a paper only to lose it when your hard drive crashes. External drives offer some peace of mind, but they can also get lost or break easily. That’s why a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive is essential to students. You’ll get a few gigabytes worth of storage for free, but it’s worth paying for a subscription for a nearly unlimited cloud drive. A terabyte on Dropbox will cost you $99 a year, and you’ll get the same from Google Drive for $120 a year.
