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Back to school and college tech guide 2022
The GearBrain guide to the tech you should be taking back to school, college and university this fall.
Summer is behind us, and along with plenty of fun under the sun over, there's an upcoming school year upon us. And with this year, we expect technology to play a bigger role in learning, particularly as the pandemic changed the course of teaching from classroom to kitchen table last year. Thankfully, the 2022-23 school year should be closer to "normal," but that doesn't mean technology will take a back seat.
These 10 tech items below comprise some of the base level technology high school and college-age students are considering must-haves this year. If you are the parent of a student who'd benefit from some tech gear and want to get a jumpstart on the school year, or you're a student yourself, check out these products. They will make school more productive this year.
Laptops
Laptops are an essential tool for every student, whether you are in high school or college. Every student needs a reliable machine to help them get through a bunch of school years. GearBrain has listed below two products we tested that are powerful machines for either high school or college students:
Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch)
The Apple MacBook Pro with a 13-inch Retina display is the perfect on-the-go (or stay-at-home) machine for classroom notes, after-school studies, and everything in-between. Super speedy and more powerful than ever, along with an impressive battery life, the MacBook Pro notebook operates on a unique chip (M2), making the device astonishingly efficient.
Sleek and stylish, in silver or "space gray," the lightweight MacBook Pro is remarkably responsive, full of memory and storage space, and securely protects your personal data. Starting at $1299.00, it's an investment, but well worth it, especially when it comes to school. The MacBook Pro also comes in a 16-inch version.
Save $200 when you buy on Best Buy
Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus with Google Assistant (2nd Gen)
The Lenovo Smart Tab M10 HD tablet can also work as a child's entertainment device
Lauren Barack
Tablets are super convent for students, keeping them up to speed with their schoolwork or on top of the latest "binge-worthy" television series. The Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus with Google Assistant (2nd Gen) is a modern machine any student will love, with a large display screen, whip-fast Wi-Fi speed, and MediaTek octa-core processing.
Whether they're studying or streaming, this education/entertainment tablet for students is not only useful, but universal. Google Assistant allows for voice operating commands and the facial-recognition login keeps things private and protected. GearBrain reviewed this product; check out our write-up, pros, cons, and overall assessment of the Lenovo Smart Tab M10 FHD Plus with Google Assistant.
Buy: Lenovo $174.99 (with $10 off web coupon)
Portable Backup Drives and Power Chargers
Other essential devices for this coming school year are portable backup drives and power chargers. These devices will come in handy when your smartphone loses power or you don't have any more room on your hard drive to store your term paper. Check out these devices we recommend from Samung, Belkin and Anker.
Belkin BOOST CHARGE Plus 10K USB-C Power Bank with Integrated Cables
Belkiin's Boost Charge Plus USB-C Power BankAmazon
The perfect addition to any student's backpack this coming school year is a portable charger that powerful enough to keep their smartphone or tablet charged all day. We like Belkin's Boost Charge Plus 10k USB-C Power Bank. It comes with 10,000 mAh of power which is strong enough to keep an iPhone up and running for an additional 31 hours.
Boost Charge Plus 10K Power Bank is availabe in two colors, black and blue. It also comes with Lightning and USB-C cables which you can use to power up smartphones or a tablet. Its costs only $69.99 and is available on Amazon or Belkin's site.
Buy Boost Charge Plus here.
Samsung T5 backup drive
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 is $169.99 for the 1TB versionSamsung
Having a backup drive makes a lot of sense while in school, ensuring you have a place to store that important research paper, or a project you're working on that you just don't want to lose — no matter what. There's a lot to consider when picking a backup drive, but we do think one of the smallest, and most portable, is the Samsung Portable SSD T5. You can pick up a 1TB version for just $169.99 or spring for 2TB (which we honestly don't think you'll need for school reasons) for $299.99.
Buy Here
Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank
The Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank can charge your smartphone seven times and an iPad twice.Anker
When it comes to an extra boost, a power bank is almost a necessity. You can use it to charge your smartphone, laptop — or any device that needs a charge. Deciding on what you need means considering your surroundings. We're big fans of ToughTested's line of solar batteries, which can also be charged the regular way, by plugging it into an outlet, as well. But for dorm room life, you probably don't need something that rugged.
The Anker line of power bank are great backups. The Anker PowerCore 20100 is more than enough juice, 20,100 mAh, to get your smartphone up and running seven times over, and an iPad two times. You're not going to need that over a day on campus, but you can be a friend and offer someone else a boost — there are two charging ports on the device. And you'll pay just $49.99 for the entire set-up.
Headphones and Earbuds
JBL Charge 5 - $179.50
JBL Charge 5 waterproof Bluetooth speaker
JBL
What's a college kid's dorm room without a decent sound system? And for the students still at home, they need some time off from studying to listen to their favorite songs too. The JBL Charge 5 is a waterproof, portable small speaker, which provides powerful sound despite its petite size. Wireless Bluetooth streaming can connect to 2 smartphones or tablets at a time.
With 20 hours of battery life and a built-in power bank, the entertainment won't end abruptly. Of course, we want our students to succeed in school, but a break for a good beat now and then is the perfect way to decompress. The JBL Charge comes in 6 different colors/patterns to match any dorm room décor or a student's signature shade. (Use The GearBrain to find the right color JBL Charge 5 Speaker for your dorm room.)
Buy on Amazon
Apple Airpods Pro
A nice set of in-ear headphones is a student's personal getaway, where they can drown out school stressors with soothing sounds or time-off tunes. The Bluetooth-connected Apple Airpods Pro are waterproof and wireless, with active noise cancellation, delivering a crisp, clear sound. Choose the transparency mode to hear outside sounds for safety on campus or curiosity about nearby conversations.
Cute and comfortable, with a customizable, tapered design, and three size options for in-ear silicone tips, students can wear these earbuds all day without cramping their style. You can even get them personalized with an emoji, numbers, or text (no additional charge), which makes for a great gift idea, and they come with a wireless charging case.
Buy on Amazon - $169.81
Skullcandy Crusher Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
The Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones hold 24 hours of battery charge, and a Tile tracker built insideGearBrain
It's hard to believe we finally feel this way, but we do — we've turned our Bose headphones over for the Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones. Time and time again, these are the ones we want for listening to music, watching news, or just blotting out ambient sound as we crack through our latest story.
At $318.99, the headphones are not budget-friendly. But they're great. They connect both over Bluetooth and through a cable if you want, and have an adjustable sensory bass (which you really do feel). They hold 24 hours of battery charge, and have a Rapid Charge option, and keenly there's a Tile tracker built inside — which means if you leave these in the library, you can find them again.
The Haymaker Wireless ANC Bluetooth Headphones
The Haymaker over the ear headphones come with ANC and 7.1 surround sound built-in.\u00a0 You also use touch controls to adjust your sound levels and the lights on the headset.
GearBrain
The Haymaker wireless headphones were the first pair of over-the-ear headphones we tested that came with 7.1 surround sound built-in to provide an immersive sound experience. Its the perfect headphones to help you tune-out the world around you so you can concentrate on your school work. They are also great for gaming and listening to music in HD. And come with a very long battery life, ANC and touchscreen controls.
You can pick up a pair on Amazon for $329.95.
Read GearBrain's review of The Haymaker wireless headphones here.
Webcams
Since remote learning is still an options for students, you need to make sure you have a reliable webcam with good video resolution and easy setup. Listed below are a few webcams we have tested or are in the process of testing that would be a good addtion to your child's work station, whether it be in their room or dorm room.
Logitech C922 Webcam
The Logitech C922 webcam works with both Mac and PC computersLogitech
If 2022 is anything, it's the year of the webcam. And this school year, it's going to be near impossible to join up with classes without one. Most computers, it's true, have a camera built inside. But a webcam adds that little bit extra, the ability to know you're being seen at your best, perhaps even a little bit less exhausted after an all-nighter as you join your fellow students in a discussion.
There are a lot of considerations, and many webcams to consider, but we're pretty fond of the Logitech C922, which works with both both PC and Mac computers, and clips easily to your device. There's autofocus, a built-in stereo microphone and even a tripod. The list price for this device is $99.99 but — as you can imagine — is on sale on Amazon since it's such a popular item.
Cyber Acoustics CA Essential Webcam 1080p 5MP Super HD With integrated privacy shutter
GearBrain
Another good webcam is made by Cyber Acoustics. We recently tested their CA Essential Webcam 1080p 5MP Super HD (WC-3000)(WC-3000) and it provide exceptional video resolution during our Zoom calls and was easy to setup. The 1080p HD webcam comes with a privacy shutter, 5MP Super HD camera, Zoom Certification, HD Auto Focus & Light Correction, Dual Omni-Directional Surround Mics and Wide Diagonal Field of View. It's also easy to setup thanks to its Plug and Play USB.
The CA Essential Webcam (WC-3000) costs only $59.99 and is available on Amazon.
Smart Air Monitors and Purifiers
A popular device for dorm rooms these days are smart air monitors and purifiers. These smart devices can help keep your room's air germ free and they are easy to setup. We have tested many smart air purifiers and monitors. They are available in all shapes and sizes as well as price points. Here are a few smart air monitors and devices we would recommend for your dorm room or study room this school year.
Awair Element Indoor Air Quality Monitor, White/Grey Trim
The Awair Element air quality monitor
Awair
One of the best smart air monitors we h ave tested was Awar Element. It's an indoor smart air monitor which can notify you when the air quality in your room is bad and gives you advice on how to improve it. It can also provide the room's temperature, humidity, CO2, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and fine dust particles. Awair Elementi also seamlessly integrates with Alexa or Google Assistant enabled devices.
This smart air monitor has a list price of $299 but is on sale on Amazon for a lot less.
Read GearBrain's full review of Awair Element here.
Buy on Amazon
Air Monitor - Coway Airmega 150
The Coway Airmega 150 is an air purifier with a 3-stage filtration system including a HEPA filter, and real-time monitor in one, ideal for small rooms. The device is intuitive and easy to install and use, and students know when it's time for a filter change thanks to clear indicators which alert them as necessary.
The Coway Airmega 150 is automized, adjusting to the surrounding air quality and conditions. It is compact yet provides considerable coverage – up to 214 square feet.
Students can feel secure that airborne particles, viruses and bacteria, pollutants, odors, dust mites, and the like will be filtered from their living space, keeping things fresh and clean, leading to a healthier lifestyle. It's too bad late-night pizzas and 6-packs can't be filtered away. GearBrain's recent review of the Coway Airmega 150 provides a deeper dive into the device.
Buy: 10% off Coway Airmega $169.00 (on sale)
Note: Coway does provide a renting option on their more powerful smart air monitor and purifiers. You can learn more here about these options.
Smart Robot Vacuums
Another key smart device for a college dorm room is a robot vacuum. We know how much high school and college age students love to vacuum and keep their room clean. One device that can help them keep it clearn is a good reliable robot vacuum. They come in all shapes, sizes and price points. They can also sweep, mop and self-empty their dust bin when finished. Here are a few robot vacuum options we would recommend for this year.
Yeedi vac Robot Vacuum
yeedi vac robot vacuum unboxed.
GearBrain
The Yeedi Vac robot vacuum is a great entry-level robot vacuum. It's easy to setup and comes with 3000Pa suction power and can easily avoid obstacles on our floors with its 3D obstacle avoidance technology. And for navigation, Yeedi vac comes with advanced visual mapping technology which helps the vacuum avoid bumping into chairs and furniture. Users can edit the map when needed. This navigation along with the robot vacuum’s floor tracking sensor, allows Yeedi vac to detect what type of flooring it’s cleaning and clean it faster and easily compared to other robot vacuums. And you can easily add a self-emptying station for a little more money.
Check out The GearBrain, our compatibility find engine to see the other compatible products that work with your smart devices for school as well as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa enabled devices.
The GearBrain, First Compatibility Find Engine for Smart Deviceswww.youtube.com
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