Fall is just around the corner, which means students and families around the world are preparing to go back to school.
Retailers typically lower prices on items aimed at college students to drum up business during this time. That’s why our expert editors work hard to keep you up to date with the best back-to-school deals on offer.
But once you’ve loaded up your pencils, notebooks, and all the essentials you’ll need for your dorm room, it’s good to take a moment to think about what comfort items will make the upcoming school year a little more fun.
That’s why we asked top experts in various categories to share their recommendations for the ultimate dorm room gadgets for the 2024 school year.
All of these products are on sale for US Labor Day, and while they’re all priced at $400 or (much) less, they’re great value for your buck. These are things we wouldn’t go back to school without if we could help it. Hopefully, one or two of these professional lectures will be just what you (or a lucky student in your life) need. The ideal dorm room experience.
A small dorm room? I choose the best small tablet available
Jeff Parsons
My own dorm room days are long gone, but there is one gadget that would have made a huge difference if I had put my mind back to it. It’s an iPad mini 6.
I’m a big fan of Apple’s little 8.3-inch tablet for a variety of reasons, but I also believe it’s a great option for schools (even if it doesn’t make my list of best tablets for students). The small chassis means it won’t take up much space in your bag with textbooks, notebooks, headphones, Stanley Quenchers, and other things kids carry around these days.
When you need to be more productive, pair it with one of the best wireless keyboards (including the NuPhy Halo75 V2 recommended below) to annotate documents and take advantage of iPadOS features like Math Notes. You can use Apple Pencil to. When it’s party time, all you need is a good Bluetooth speaker.
Unfortunately, it’s on sale for Labor Day, so it doesn’t make sense to invest in an iPad mini 6 right now if you want the latest and greatest. That’s because the device is three years old at this point, and rumors are hot that Apple is gearing up to launch the iPad mini 7.
It’s likely to boast a number of decent upgrades, including more RAM and processing power (for use with Apple Intelligence), more storage, and longer battery life. I didn’t have a lot of space in my own dorm room, so Apple’s smallest tablet would be a game-changer.
Finish your essay in style, but more importantly in comfort
Peter Wolinsky
My colleague Jason’s degree is in ancient history, but my degree is literally in ancient history, and the gadget I wish I had when I was due to submit my entire 2,000-word essay on Rome was , a proper productivity keyboard namely the NuPhy Halo75 V2.
You might think that a keyboard is just a keyboard, but from someone who types on a decent keyboard (and tests a lot of keyboards for that matter), it’s really beneficial to use the most comfortable board possible. Let’s listen. And there are few things more comfortable than an adorable little Halo.
The main reason why this keyboard is so comfortable for long writing sessions is the keycap profile used. NuPhy has developed a unique profile that is a hybrid of a low profile cap and a standard profile cap. This gives you the speed and precision benefits of low keycaps with the appearance and ergonomics of high keycaps.
Next is the switch. You can choose Halo75 V2 with NuPhy’s Lemon tactile switch. This is very comfortable to type on, allowing you to enter word counts without tiring your fingers.
The board is hot-swappable, so you can install your own switch or choose NuPhy’s silent switch if you think the noise will be a nuisance to others in your dorm. But honestly, the sound on this chunky little keyboard is so beautiful and sophisticated that I can’t see anyone complaining.
Even better, Halo75 V2 looks great, with a case design that projects an RGB halo (hence its name) onto your desk. The 75% layout is still very portable, so it easily fits in your bag, but math students may choose the 96% version with a numeric keypad instead.
Not on sale yet? Check out my NuPhy Halo75 V2 review for more details.
Keep your devices healthy with a quality USB charger
dave makeham
A high-quality USB charger that happens to be shaped like a robot. Yes, I am a huge fan and completely own it. When you go to college, you’ll probably be taking a lot of gadgets with you to your dorm. Mobile phones, tablets, and laptops all require regular charging, so a reliable fast charging block is almost a must.
That’s why the GravaStar 65W USB-C Alpha 65 charger is so easy to use. In addition to looking like a distant relative of Wall-E, the Alpha 65 can charge your MacBook Air from 0% to 51% in 30 minutes, thanks to advanced GaN technology. In the few months I’ve owned it, I’ve always been impressed with how fast the M4 iPad Pro charges. Also, look how cute it is! Your dorm room needs this awesome USB-C charger.
That’s why the GravaStar 65W USB-C Alpha 65 charger is so easy to use. In addition to looking like a distant relative of Wall-E, the Alpha 65 can charge your MacBook Air from 0% to 51% in 30 minutes, thanks to advanced GaN technology. In the few months I’ve owned it, I’ve always been impressed with how fast the M4 iPad Pro charges. Also, look how cute it is! Your dorm room needs this awesome USB-C charger.
Buy noise-cancelling headphones to save your sanity
jason england
My time in college was in ancient history. But even if these memories are on the horizon, certain traumatic memories will always come flooding back. It’s all because the average dormitory walls are very thin.
Whether it’s a dorm party, a loud game, or something I won’t talk about (but you’ve probably already thought about it), your room is surrounded by relentless noise, and it’s At best, it can be a huge hindrance to your work and can be a huge disaster. The worst case scenario is lack of sleep.
That’s why one of my must-have gadgets (and things I wish I had) for a peaceful dorm life is a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Specifically, Anker’s Soundcore Space Q45 delivers impressive ANC and great sound quality at a low cost.
In the noisy environments I find myself in these days, like gyms, cafes, and press events, this adaptive noise cancellation is unmatched by similarly priced competitors, and even makes products like the AirPods Max sweat a little.
What’s more, these 40mm drivers deliver a combination of silk and ceramic materials, delivering beautifully balanced sound with warm bass, glossy treble, and midrange that won’t get lost in the mix. This is why you get 50 hours of battery life with ANC turned on.
So these are the cans to buy when you need to focus or shut out that guy everyone in your dorm hates (looking at you, Richard).
It lights up my desk, but it doesn’t light up my entire dorm room.
Anthony Spadafora
College life can be a lot of fun, but sooner or later you have to actually sit down in your dorm room and do some work. If you’re like me and bring your PC (or Mac) and monitor to use at your desk, you may want to consider adding a monitor light bar above your display.
The monitor light bar illuminates your keyboard, mouse, and other desk areas, making it perfect for nighttime work, even when your roommate is asleep. College dorm rooms are known for poor lighting conditions and overly bright overhead lights.
You can also get a floor lamp, but it won’t be as effective at illuminating your desk as a monitor light bar. Plus, they’re much cheaper, last tens of thousands of hours, and you don’t have to worry about buying light bulbs.
You can currently get the Diirglus Monitor Light Bar with Wireless Remote for just $40 on Amazon. However, if you have a little more money and want to add some RGB flair to the sides of your room, we highly recommend the Quntis RGB Pro+ that we reviewed earlier.
It’s pricey at $60, but it uses standard AA batteries and has a nice wireless remote control with RGB backlighting in addition to the front light bar. This way you can illuminate your desk and cast colorful light on the wall behind your monitor. However, RGB backlighting is optional, so you can turn it off when you want to concentrate.
