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Must-Have Back-to-School Gadgets for 2025

Essential Tools and Gadgets for High School and College Students

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As the new school year approaches, students need to ensure they are well-equipped with the right tools and gadgets to enhance their learning experience. Here’s a comprehensive list of must-have items for high school and college students, including recommended products in each category. And we provided some of the deals on recommended products to make it easier for you to find and buy the right one for your high school or college student:

Smart Lights and Plugs/Power Strips

GE Lighting
GE Lighting's Cync Reveal smart lights.

Smart lights are an essential smart device for students. Smart plugs will come in handy when you want to make a smart appliance, like an AC or coffee maker, smart. Smart surge protectors work well in rooms that don't have a lot of outlets, and you want to make your devices work seamlessly together. All of these smart devices can enhance the study environment and manage power usage efficiently.

Here are the smart lighting systems, smart plugs, and smart surge protectors we recommend:

  • Philips Hue Smart Bulbs: Philips Hue is a leading name in smart lighting, known for its versatility and extensive range of features. These smart bulbs offer a spectrum of colors and shades of white, allowing you to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. Compatible with major smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, Philips Hue lights can be controlled via voice commands, mobile app, or smart switches. They also integrate seamlessly with other smart home devices, offering advanced features like routines, geofencing, and sync with music and movies for an immersive experience.. Read our full review. See pricing on Amazon.
  • Lifx Smart Lights: LIFX smart bulbs are known for their exceptional brightness and vibrant color range. With no hub required, these Wi-Fi-enabled lights are easy to set up and control directly from your smartphone. LIFX bulbs offer advanced features like scheduling, effects, and integrations with smart home systems such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. They also boast high energy efficiency and a long lifespan, making them a sustainable choice for smart lighting. See pricing on Amazon.
  • Cync Dynamic Effect A19 Smart Bulbs: GE's Cync Dynamic Effect A19 smart bulbs combine high-quality lighting with smart control capabilities. These bulbs offer a full spectrum of colors and tunable white light to match any mood or activity. Controlled via the Cync app, these lights can be scheduled, dimmed, and set to routines. They are compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Reveal line specifically enhances color contrast and clarity, making it excellent for spaces where true-to-life color representation is important, such as in kitchens and living rooms. See pricing on Amazon.
  • TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini A15: Easily control appliances remotely. The smart plug works with Siri, Alexa, and Google Home, is UL Certified, offers App Control, and offers Scheduling and a timer. However, it works on a 2.4G WiFi connection only. See pricing on Amazon.
  • Eve Energy Strip: This smart power strip works with Apple HomeKit. It comes with a triple outlet and power meter with built-in schedules and switches. It can protect devices from power surges and provide additional USB ports. See pricing on Amazon.






Summary

Equipping yourself with these essential items will ensure you’re ready to tackle the new school year efficiently and effectively. From powerful laptops and essential software to handy portable power banks and smart devices, these recommendations will help create an optimal learning environment, whether you’re studying at home or on the go.

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.


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