Mashable's college back-to-school shopping guide: 45+ picks for the 2025 school year

Table of Contents

It’s that time of year again, to hunt sales, stores, and scroll for the best tech and gear for going back to school. One might say the end of summer and the start of “back to school” season is the OG source of Sunday scaries. While there’s no quick fix for the pain of saying goodbye to hot summer days, summer fun, hanging with friends, and, well, not being in school, there are tons of gadgets to pick up to make that transition a lot easier. The following best tech for back to school can help you study better, relax faster, wake up smoother, or just generally improve the overall vibes of your dorm room, classroom, or the hectic energy of school pickup and drop off. 

There are also numerous free resources available, such as Libby, an e-book and audiobook app accessible with a library card, and Notion, a fully customizable calendar and task management platform. Notion also offers paid templates, such as this excellent layout designed for people and students with ADHD. You can also utilize Text2Speech.org to hear an essay out loud for better proofreading or multitasking your study session.

Bedside tech organizer

Scrolling until the wee hours of the night just got even simpler with this bedside caddy for your phone, tablet, chapstick, and anything else you might want to easily reach for without getting up. 

Extra-long and durable charging cable

This 10-foot cable is perfect for hard-to-configure outlets and charging stations. Not only is this Native Union cable super long, but it also has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon with around 100 reviews, and it won’t die after three uses like so many other long cables seem to love to do. 

Electric heating pad

This heating pad could honestly cook an egg on it at its highest setting. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but this heating pad is so compact and practical— it’s the perfect thing to have stashed in your medicine kit for an injured back or cramps. 

Apple AirTag

Nothing is worse than getting into a back-to-school routine and running around looking for things in the morning. Picking up an AirTag for your keys, wallet, or Labubu will save you some future stress. 

Portable air pump

If you’re fretting about sending away a college student to fend for themselves, this air pump can help you sleep just a tad more easily at night. With over 100,000 reviews on Amazon, this tire pump turns a no-air situation into no problem. This pump comes in handy when you need air in your tires and beats waiting around for a tow truck. 

Label maker machine

This portable little label maker is the perfect gadget for the type A student or parent who likes to have everything labeled. This is also great for a junk journaling student wanting to get creative with their spreads, collages, and entries. 

Paperfeel screen protector

Who would have thought the key to test-acing notes was under $7? This paper-feel screen protector transforms iPad and tablet screens from their typical smooth glass into the texture of crisp blank notebook paper. Writing with an Apple Pencil Pro, which is also totally on this list, gets even more tactile with this satisfying scratchy texture. It makes taking digital notes so much easier and smoother, helping you retain more knowledge, which is what school is all about. 

Ban.do sticker book

Amidst the monotony of charging cords, cubes, converting cables, and wallet-stretching investments, a little pop of color is always fun. Sure, there are tons of sticker packs out there, but this book of stickers is annually released by Ban.do and has so many quality, pretty, creatively designed stickers on every page. Stick them on your folders, tech cases, planners, or anything else! 

Neoprene laptop sleeve

This neoprene laptop sleeve is under $25 and can totally save your laptop from scuffs, bangs, and dings that it will naturally incur from being toted around from class to class. Protecting your computer for school can save you a whole lot more than the $13.99 that this cover costs.

Single cast iron burner

Dorm life is all about optimizing how you manage your meals and snacks. When you don’t want to brave campus for a meal, this single burner can be super helpful for heating things up or cooking a full-course meal in your dorm. Though no promises on how thrilled your roommate will be about the smell of dorm-to-table carbonara. 

Anker USB-C 3-port fast compact foldable wall charger

You're trying to charge your phone, but it's taking an hour to get to 20 percent battery life, and all the while the charging brick feels like it could fry an egg. This fast-charging compact brick from Anker has multiple ports, built to handle simultaneous charging up to three devices. 

Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant

So maybe you can’t have real plants in your dorm, but this Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant requires no water and still looks super cool on your bookshelf. It’s on sale right now for $47.99, down from $59.99, which is an excellent steal if you’re looking for back-to-school decor or something to give the student or teacher in your life. If Super Mario isn’t your jam, Lego has a vast array of botanical sets to spark your green (Lego) thumb. 

Three-speed oscillating fan with remote

This three-speed oscillating fan comes with a remote, a petite, portable build, and a timer. It offers a soft background noise if that’s something you like at night (without being so loud that it can disturb your roommate). It’s also the perfect size for a bedside table, bookcase, or desk. 

Insulated stainless steel water bottle

You might have heard about the Owala Freesip hype by now, but if you haven’t, it’s not too late to pick up one of the best water bottles on the market. Owala’s water bottles can keep their contents cool for more than 24 hours, while offering you the option of sucking through a straw or sipping through the mouthpiece. They come in a seemingly never-ending array of unique and visually appealing colors. The best part? The secure lock has never let ME down with drips, drops, or leaking in my bag.  

Charger stand

Sleep easier at night knowing all of your devices (or almost all of them) are also recharging and getting their beauty sleep in one easy-to-reach place. This Anker MagSafe charger stand can charge your phone and AirPods. It’s also super on sale right now, which is just a cherry on top.

Sunrise alarm clock

There are many higher-priced sunrise alarm clocks on the market, but the Dekala sunrise alarm clock is an excellent budget choice for those looking for a sunrise-simulating alarm clock. It includes a dimmable display and multiple alarm sounds to choose from. Regulate your sleep, ease your wake-ups, and even use it as a reading lamp at night. 

USB-C port hub

This Anker 553 takes the No. 1 spot on Amazon in the computers and accessories category — and for good reason. This 8-in-1 USB-C hub is ideal for students, content creators, photographers, or anyone who frequently uses multiple devices and various memory cards. This hub allows you to plug your camera’s SD card directly into your phone, enabling you to upload photos and videos to your heart's content. 

Smart power strip

Want to be able to turn things on and off when you’re not home or without getting out of bed? This smart power strip allows you to turn your lights off from your phone or with a Google Home or Alexa device. A power strip is always helpful to have when setting up a new room; one with WiFi connectivity can be even more handy. 

Insulated stainless steel mug

This vacuum-sealed insulated mug can keep drinks hot or cold for hours upon hours. Keep your coffee hot or your cold brew cold through hours of classes. And, when you get home, the wide mouth makes cleaning much simpler and accessible. 

Portable laptop power bank

This Anker laptop power bank can be such a lifesaver when you need a quick charge and there’s no outlet in sight. The bank isn’t like your average backup portable phone charger — it can charge multiple devices all at the same time. It’s also a fast-charger with various ports for all your different devices.

Digital camera

Digital cameras are so back. This Kodak PIXPRO is a great digital camera for capturing pictures with a distinctive digital camera aesthetic. Slip it in your bag, pocket, or attach the wrist strap on your way to football games, parties, and moments you want to remember. 

Lightweight cordless hand vacuum

Perhaps a classroom, dorm, or car isn't the best place to pack a full-size vacuum. Crumbs, dirt, and dust accumulate fast and get so annoying. Pick up this cordless hand vac from Shark for under $100. It has a compact charging dock, while the vacuum itself weighs in at just 1.4 pounds. 

Electric gooseneck kettle

Tea lovers rejoice, you can take your beloved tea ritual with you to your dorm or classroom. This gooseneck kettle from COSORI has a precision spout for coffee or tea, an LCD display for temperature control, and even a keep warm function. Plus, it will look pretty cool on your counter.

Portable espresso maker

This Wacaco portable espresso maker is almost too good to be true. To top it off, it isn’t even electric. Using a hand-driven piston, the device creates rich shots of espresso. Just add hot water and your favorite brand of espresso grounds. 

Inkless portable printer

Even though many classes are fully digital now, some folks really like to see a physical copy of their drafts, reading assignments, or notes. Edit a physical copy of your upcoming essay with this portable travel printer. It’s inkless and compact, which is great for throwing in your bag and deciding to print something on a whim. Impress the person sitting next to you who forgot to bring their copy of the reading by printing them a quick backup.

Twin XL memory foam mattress topper

Viscosoft memory foam mattress topper is the perfect addition to your dorm room and sleep routine. Get deeper and more comfortable sleep on this soft memory foam. It has a removable and washable cover. Viscosoft also has a decent return policy if you decide the memory foam vibe isn’t for you. 

Universal wireless controller

This 8bitDo Ultimate Two Wireless Controller is the perfect thing to snag for a dorm room gaming setup. This controller has a sleek charging dock that makes for compact storage. The controller works with PC, Switch, and other mobile devices. 

Google Home

Ever feel like back-to-school season is so busy that you need an assistant? Google Home can fill that void seamlessly. This compact smart home device features a built-in camera for video calls and syncs with your music and video streaming apps. Tell it to shut off the lights, when to wake you up, and to even set pomodoro timers for studying.

Amazon Kindle

The newest version of Kindle is just about $100 and works like a charm for reading school assignments or checking out ebooks from the library. Give your eyes a break from staring at computer screens with the Kindle’s glare-free display. This model will stay charged for weeks and take up so much less space in your bag than physical books.

Skylight Calendar

Back-to-school time for families is rough; it’s so hard to keep track of pickup times and drop-off times. When you add in music lessons, sports practice, and parent-teacher meetings, things can get hectic. Sure, you can have a paper planner on the wall, but a Skylight digital wall calendar and chore chart can be life-changing. This display has an always-on feature so that everyone in the house can be on the same page, which is priceless. 

Chromebook

If you find yourself asking, “Do I really need a laptop for school?” you can always pick up this Acer Chromebook Plus. Chromebooks can be an excellent choice for students as they can accomplish most school-related tasks with ease.

Instant smartphone photo printer

This Kodak step instant smartphone printer can revolutionize your planner, notes, and, maybe most importantly, your junk journal. Take pictures from your smartphone and instantly print them on this compact device. The opportunities are endless: print mini stickers of all the books that you’ve read, print mini tarot cards for your journal entries, or print photo stickers of selfies with friends.

Apple Watch

This model of the Apple Watch is the best in tech for back to school because of its price point, battery life, and size. Receive calls, texts, and notifications on your wrist while tracking your steps, fitness, heart rate, and more. 

Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro is one of those products that is so well made it almost feels analog. Take seamless digital notes on your iPad with this stylus that conveniently magnetically charges on the side of newer iPads. It’s also on sale for under $100 at the time of writing.

Open-ear Bluetooth bone conduction sport headphones

These headphones are excellent for the jogger moving to a new campus. Stay safe from bikes, cars, and pedestrians while going for a jog in a new place with the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro Open-Ear Bluetooth bone conduction headphones. 

Espresso machine and drip coffee maker

OK, so this Espresso Machine from Ninja is not ideal for a dorm. If you’re moving into a new apartment and want to splurge on a nice coffee setup, this machine offers so many different options. Make a latte, cortado, americano, drip coffee, cold brew, or cold foam with this machine. 

Asus ROG Ally 7

This portable Windows gaming console runs PC games super well. It has a ton of horsepower in its sleek, compact device design. This is a perfect investment for gamers who can’t have a full PC setup at school. 

Amazon Kindle Scribe

If you’re an avid Kindle fan and want to take your relationship to the next level, you could consider getting an Amazon Kindle Scribe. This device is awesome for those Kindle users who have wished they could take some quick notes on that classic anti-glare surface. The stylus writes quite seamlessly, and the interface for saving your notes is intuitive and user-friendly. 

Oura Ring

Going back to school is such a shift in your daily routine. There are new wake-up routines to manage, bedtime routines to get used to, and just a whole different level of demand during the day. The Oura Ring Gen 4 can track your activity, temperature, heart rate, HRV, and menstrual cycle. Get unique insights into your sleep quality, energy levels, and even alerts from their “symptom radar” that warns you to take it easy and rest.  

Switch 2

If there’s anything to gift a student heading off to school, it might just be the Switch 2. Sure, it has very little to do with actual school, but recreation is important, too. Back-to-school season is sometimes all work and no play, but the newest portable gaming console on the market can help with that. The new Switch 2 has numerous exciting releases, including a new Mario Kart, which is always an enticing game for new friends to explore together. 

Noise-cancelling headphones

These headphones are hands-down some of the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market. They’re often on sale, down from their usual $399, and more affordable than the newer Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. They’re smooth, sleek, durable, and simple to connect to your devices. The audio quality is simply excellent. 

Smart TV projector

Dorms really can’t handle a whole TV, but this projector offers built-in streaming services and a compact, sleek design that can simply slip into a drawer. Project a movie for a night in, or any number of aesthetic videos onto the ceiling for the vibes alone. 

Apple iPad mini

An iPad mini is honestly such an excellent sidekick for students. It’s compact and capable of so much. Read and annotate class assignments with ease, take notes, add to your online calendar, all while texting, FaceTiming, or scrolling your usual apps. 

3-in-1 microwave air fryer

This microwave is basically the holy grail of microwaves because it’s also a convection oven and an air fryer. Get the convenient benefits from all three in one device. An added touch that makes this such a well-made appliance is its quiet-close door and minimal sound. 

Laser projector with Google TV

This projector is a little bit of a higher price point, but with it, you get outdoor versatility, longer battery life, and a precise laser-quality image. It has Google TV and Netflix built in, weighing in at two pounds. This makes it a valuable addition for campus movie nights, karaoke parties, or marathon watching your favorite shows. 

Apple MacBook Air

You can’t go wrong with this Apple 2025 MacBook Air. Coming in right under $1,000, this MacBook offers excellent horsepower for anything that school assignments ask of you. It has the latest M4 chip, which offers wicked-fast performance. It has that quintessential MacBook Air sleek design and lightweight portability for accompanying you anywhere you go. 

Lightweight folding e-bike

The Brompton C Line Explore Folding E-Bike is an investment, but also potentially a perfect transportation method for getting around campus. Save on transit or car costs without breaking a sweat when you zip around to class on this 26-pound, six-speed e-bike. Plus, this steel frame e-bike folds up nice and compact for storage at your side during class or in the corner of your room.