Best Back-to-School Tech and Supplies
Back-to-school shopping used to mean notebooks and pencils. Now it's chargers, tablets, earbuds, and a USB-C hub because your laptop only has two ports. Times have changed, and the tech you bring to class can make or break your semester. We focused on gear that helps students actually study, not just look cool in the library. Noise-isolating earbuds so you can focus in a loud dorm. A charger with enough ports for all your devices. A tablet for notes and textbooks. Stuff that earns its spot in a backpack. And look, we get that student budgets are tight. Everything here punches above its price point, and we included budget alternatives where they exist. You don't need to spend a fortune to set yourself up right.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Key Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad Air M2 (11-inch, 128GB) | Tablet | Powerful M2 chip | Buy on Amazon |
| Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024) | Kindle | Wireless charging support | Buy on Amazon |
| Anker Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds | Audio | 50-hour total battery life | Buy on Amazon |
| Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W) | Charger | Compact and portable | Buy on Amazon |
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) | E-Reader | 300 ppi display with adjustable warm light | Buy on Amazon |
| Anker USB-C Hub Adapter 7-in-1 | Hub | 7 ports in a compact body | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Look at Each Product
Apple iPad Air M2 (11-inch, 128GB)
M2 chip delivers fast performance for multitasking and creative apps. 11-inch Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color and True Tone. Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. 12MP front camera with Center Stage for video calls.
- Powerful M2 chip
- Gorgeous Liquid Retina display
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- All-day battery life
- 128GB base storage fills up fast
- Magic Keyboard sold separately
Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024)
7-inch glare-free display with 300 ppi for sharp text. Wireless charging compatible and auto-adjusting front light. 32GB storage for thousands of books. Up to 12 weeks of battery life. Waterproof (IPX8).
- Wireless charging support
- Auto-adjusting front light
- 32GB storage
- 12-week battery life
- No color display
- Locked to Amazon ecosystem
Anker Soundcore Space A40 Earbuds
Compact noise-cancelling earbuds with adaptive ANC and 50 hours of total battery life at an entry-level price. LDAC Hi-Res audio codec support and a six-microphone array deliver clear calls and detailed music.
- 50-hour total battery life
- Adaptive ANC at budget price
- LDAC Hi-Res support
- Ultra-compact case
- ANC weaker than premium brands
- No wireless charging on base model
Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W)
65W compact USB-C charger with GaN technology. Three ports (2 USB-C, 1 USB-A) for charging multiple devices simultaneously. Compact foldable plug design for portability. Intelligent power distribution with PowerIQ 4.0.
- Compact and portable
- 65W output charges laptops
- Three ports
- Foldable plug
- Gets warm under full load
- Power shared across ports when multi-charging
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)
The Kindle Paperwhite features a 6.8-inch glare-free display with adjustable warm light for comfortable reading day or night. Its flush-front design and IPX8 waterproofing make it durable and comfortable to hold. Weeks of battery life means you rarely think about charging.
- 300 ppi display with adjustable warm light
- IPX8 waterproof for poolside or bath reading
- Up to 10 weeks of battery life
- No built-in audiobook speaker
- Audible requires Bluetooth headphones
Anker USB-C Hub Adapter 7-in-1
Compact multi-port hub that expands a single USB-C port into HDMI 4K output, two USB-A ports, SD and microSD readers, USB-C data, and 100W pass-through charging. Essential for laptops with limited ports.
- 7 ports in a compact body
- 4K HDMI output
- 100W pass-through charging
- SD and microSD readers
- Can get warm under heavy use
- Short built-in cable
Frequently Asked Questions
Do students really need a tablet?
It depends on how you study. If you're the type who annotates PDFs, takes handwritten notes, or reads a lot of digital textbooks, a tablet is a huge upgrade. The iPad Air M2 with an Apple Pencil is hard to beat for that. But if you mostly type everything, your laptop is probably enough.
What are the best budget earbuds for studying?
The Anker Soundcore Space A40. They're under $80 and have surprisingly good noise cancellation for the price. Battery life is insane too — 10 hours in the buds alone. Perfect for library sessions when you need to block out the person crunching chips at the next table.
Is a Kindle worth it for college?
For pleasure reading, absolutely. For textbooks, it depends — most textbooks need a bigger screen or color display. But having a Kindle for assigned novels and non-fiction saves you from lugging physical books around. The Paperwhite's glare-free screen is way easier on your eyes than reading on your phone.
What charger should a student buy?
The Anker 735 with 65W output. It charges laptops, phones, and tablets from one brick — meaning you can ditch three separate chargers. The foldable plug makes it backpack-friendly. One charger to rule them all, and you'll stop fighting over the one outlet at the coffee shop.