Feb 01, 2024
28 Helpful Tech Accessories And Gadgets For Students
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
This reusable smart notebook that lets you send yourself digital copies of your notes is simply ✨ genius ✨.
BuzzFeed Staff
You'll get the notebook (with 36 dotted pages), a Pilot Pen, and microfiber cleaning cloth. There's another version of Rocketbook that includes a planner!
Promising review: "I absolutely love these books. It’s so easy to take notes and upload them to the Rocketbook app and view them later. It also allows for me to only use one notebook for all my classes. Given that I can upload my notes — it makes it so much easier to study. Personally, I have a habit of losing the notes I take in class so having them uploaded to the app makes it easy and convenient to look at them when I need them. Overall, Rocketbook has really changed my academic life. I’m definitely going to continue to buy their products. I highly recommend this brand and the Pilot Frixion pens. It’s well worth your money!" —Justice A.
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two sizes and 16 colors/patterns).
Promising review: "My college roommate had 8 a.m. classes last semester and very little concept of how much noise they constantly made. My cousin recommended a similar product which helped her deal with HER roommate. I bought these in a desperate attempt to sleep in later and they did the trick! They aren't actually noise canceling, but that is expected at this price point. They get plenty loud and are comfy. I didn't struggle to fall asleep wearing them and they never fell out (though they did mess up my hair a bit as head bands tend to do). They saved me lots of sleep and helped me cope with a difficult situation. My mom borrowed them to try and help her sleep with my dad's snoring, and she wasn't a fan because they didn't actually block the sound. I think the volume of the annoying noise is important and so is personal preference. But overall, I would recommend!" —Wes M.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 16 colors).
Promising review: "I don't eat over my laptop but somehow it picks up crumbs, dust, etc. during my daily use. Before finding this keyboard cover, I was regularly cleaning my keyboard with canned air. That, however, is a thing of the past. This keyboard cover fits perfectly, sticks so that I don't have to shift it over the keys EVER, and most importantly keeps the keyboard clean. A quick swipe with a cleaning cloth is all it needs, if ever. Love it." —BVES
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 29 colors).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord says: "I (begrudgingly!!) got these for my Mac charger, because apparently the journey from my bedroom to the living room was just too much for my fragile cord's heart to bear, and it was starting to get worn at the charger end. This spiraled on in less than 10 seconds and has been great in terms of making sure the charger is still flexible and has some give, but isn't bending itself backward and daring me to let it break, either. Also loved how affordable it was compared to a $30 replacement charger."
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $4.45+ (available in gray or multicolored as well as packs of five).
The set includes a wireless keyboard and mouse with a USB receiver for a 2.4GHz connection. Pick up some AA batteries — both will need them! And if you use a MacBook and don't already have a USB-C hub, you'll need one of those as well.
Promising reviews: "Great keyboard! Fits really well on my desk and makes online classes wayyy easier. Love the additional accessories for customization as well as cleaning." —Kindle Customer
"So cute! Not gonna lie, this got me through my winter finals in college; the tapping noises from the keys are so soothing. Works very well, and color scheme is amazing! Planning on buying the yellow one as well. 👀" Samantha
Get it from Amazon for $28.79+ (available in 11 colors).
Pssst... If you're looking for a compact version (i.e. without the numeric keypad), Amazon has that too! Check it out for $35.99.
The Lepow Z1 is a 15.6-inch IPS monitor with a mini HDMI port, a USB-C port, and dual speakers. Psst — This would also be great for playing games in a dorm room (where you may not have room for a TV or full-sized monitor), since you can connect a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and more to it.
Promising review: "Being a student on the go and needing dual screens, I needed something that was portable, good screen quality, and USB-C friendly. I looked at a few different portable monitors and others were either too expensive, not compatible with Mac, and screen quality was not up to par. However, with Lepow's portable monitor, you get all of that and a little more. This product has features that make it easy to get your work done on the go: a nice cover to protect the screen, a USB-C dual cord, a charging cord and block, and a USB-C to mini HDMI. Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase and I am sure you will be as well. :)" —Angelina T.
Get it from Amazon for $129.99.
It has a built-in kickstand for easy viewing and can last 12 hours on a single charge. You can also pair it with a keyboard to use as a laptop for taking notes and working on papers while on the go!
Promising review: "I love this tablet! I got it for my digital textbooks for college. Easy to use, battery life is great, and it’s not so expensive that I’m terrified I’ll accidentally break the tablet. I’m clumsy, so expensive technology is terrifying." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available with or without ads, with 32GB or 64GB of storage, and in four colors).
Promising review: "This product eliminates having to carry around a separate device to project sound (Wi-Fi speaker). My wife is always carrying around a water bottle, and a Wi-Fi speaker. My wife loved getting this as a gift as our daughter is always asking to listen to tunes when we are out, and when we are out with friends this adds a bit of entertainment for us." —Kev
"I take my speaker everywhere. The sound is awesome. It is loud enough to even leave it in another room. It paired very easily with my iPhone 11. I hid it in a bowl of fruit for ambient sounds at the table. I even sleep with it in my bed playing white noise." —Memaw
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $40 (available in two colors).
Electronic devices emit a lot of blue light, which your eyes do a terrible job of blocking. Computer glasses that filter blue light can help reduce the amount of blue light you're exposed to, plus you don't need a prescription to wear them and they work even if you're already wearing contacts.
Promising review: "I work in front of a computer 40+ hours a week and then I go home to do school work online for most of my evening. I started to develop headaches on a daily basis and I couldn’t figure out why and then one day on the radio they were taking about the effects of blue light. I got to thinking and did some research and how it can lead to headaches, etc. I hopped on Amazon to find some glasses and I came across these. I have to say I am shocked, total game changer. The very first day no headaches. I thought to myself OK just a coincidence. Second day no headaches, third day no headaches, and so on and so forth. I am amazed! I will never go without these glasses again! I am so happy with this product. I can focus more and get through my day without taking medicine! Just do it, buy the glasses." —Amy
Get them from Amazon for $7.92+ (available in multiple colors and in packs).
These have 11 levels of ANC (active noise canceling) so you can let in as little or as much noise as you want. They also have a built-in microphone so your audio will sound ~crisp~ to others, and with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, they're more than capable of handling your commute too.
Promising review: "I love these headphones; I use them every single day and they have served me extremely well. I'm a college student and spend a lot of my time studying and listening to music. I live in a dorm and have three other roommates with desks within 5 feet of mine. Sitting and studying at my desk usually means that there is background conversation in the room or others playing music at a decent volume on their speakers. Putting these headphones on completely blocks that out. Turn noise cancellation up to 10 and play music at about 50–70% volume and I can't hear a word of what anyone in the room is saying. The battery life is great; I get the full 20 hours out of it even half a year later.
"One thing that I found surprisingly convenient is the included aux cord. Odd to purposely use Bluetooth headphones cabled, I know, but it does have its benefits. When traveling you can connect it to on-board entertainment. I love the case; the hidden compartment is nice for housing the cables. I have a fairly large head already and big ears, yet these fit perfectly." —Aaron B.
Get them from Amazon for $379 (available in two colors).
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 45 hours of playtime when you're on the go — it'll fully recharge the earbuds in less than two hours.
Promising review: "After losing my pair of Apple AirPods, I needed an alternative. As a college student I'm always moving around and fretting from place to place so I wanted something wireless. I already had Beats so I considered AirPods, but the expense was a deal-breaker. I found these and was highly impressed. The sound is nearly as good as my Beats over-the-ear headphones; they fit very well in my ear, are comfortable, and connect flawlessly to my phone each time I use them." —CJ
Psst — BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly also swears by these! Check out her review here (#5).
Get them from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five colors).
Promising review: "Wish I had bought this years ago. Saves my neck from looking up and down while typing. Bought two for the office computers. Mounts easily. Holds a few pages at a time. Clip holds paper firmly. Easy to open clip. Doesn't feel flimsy like it would fall off. I like that it mounts anywhere on your monitor with a removable Command strip, and comes with two Command strips. Simple and clever contraption. Wish I had invented this." —Hawaii Gal
Get it from Amazon for $10.08.
Tip: Reviewers suggest turning the heat down from high to medium once your drink gets down to about the halfway point so it stays a comfortable temperature!
Promising review: "I'm a current college student, so I spend a lot of time at my desk. I tend to make a cup of coffee to drink while I do my work but I get so preoccupied with what I'm doing, by the time I take a sip of my coffee it's cold. This mug warmer works very well at keeping my coffee warm. I have forgotten to put my mug on the warmer a couple of times and had my coffee get cold. However, I just put the mug on the warmer and get back to work, then by the time I turn back to my coffee it's usually warm again. It's easy to use and fits nicely on my desk. I'm very happy with the product and I would recommend." —Kayla Nyberg
Get it from Amazon for $23.29+ (available in seven styles).
Promising review: "I basically sleep like a dead person, and I've tried EVERYTHING. I was tired (no pun intended) of sleeping through classes, work, and just about everything else, so I decided to give this one a try. I have slats under my mattress, so I had to put the bed shaker under my pillow instead — and I'm glad I did! The bed shaker feature works extremely well. If you're like me and you hit snooze while you're still sleeping without realizing it, YOU NEED THIS. The bed shaker will make you feel like you are falling off a mountain; it's very strong, and you may end up on the floor. Now on to the sound; this is the first alarm clock I have ever purchased that wakes me (and the rest of the neighborhood) up 100% of the time. I work full time on an ambulance, and honestly, I can't decide what's louder, my siren or this alarm clock! The very first time I used it, my neighbor came knocking on my door because it also woke him up. Sorry, Mr. D, but I'm keeping it." —TJ Fox
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in seven colors).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Katy Herman says, "I have this at my desk in the office (and now at my kitchen table workspace for WFH) and love it! It has a microfiber tip on one side and the WORLD'S SOFTEST retractable bristles on the other. Like, I use this thing more as a fidget toy and for petting the bristles than for cleaning. My laptop is so gross that it's a little past hope, but this has tools have definitely helped make clearing out crumbs and erasing smudges easier and cleaning my computer more fun. It's extra handy for the rest of my desk and swiping away post-lunch debris!"
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
This stand fits any laptop from 10 to 15.6 inches and can be easily disassembled into three parts for easy transportation. It's recommended to pair it with a keyboard and not try to type on the laptop directly when in the stand!
Bonus: You can store textbooks and notebooks underneath it when not in use, kicking your desk organization up a notch too.
Promising review: "Assembled this in about three seconds between taking notes during virtual lecture. It's saving me neck and back during these 8+ hour virtual school days. Beautiful look, all I needed, glad I didn't pay a ton of money for fancy versions when this one looks just fine and performs the simple function of elevating my laptop." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.64+ (available in 10 colors).
Promising reviews: "This is my second lap desk. My first one was super small and very uncomfortable. I ended up buying a 15.6-inch laptop and started college online so I was in need of a large and comfortable lap desk that I could use every day for schoolwork. I looked through tons before deciding on this one, and I am so happy that I did! Everything about this desk is high quality. It has a nice leather mousepad, very comfy arm rest, two large slots for your phone/pencils, and plenty of space for my laptop. I use this every day and it was well worth the money; I know this will last me a long time! BEST LAP DESK ON AMAZON, buy it already, you won’t regret it!" —Bre McAlister
"My daughter is starting back to school and she lives in a tiny space so a desk wouldn’t be an option. This lap desk is perfect for her. It has space for her laptop, a writing area, and a space for her phone." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $44.79+ (available in three colors).
Similar to other Alexa-enabled devices, the Echo Dot responds to voice commands and can be synced with all sorts of apps and programs, from Apple Music and Spotify to Audible and NPR. If you have smart light bulbs, you can turn them on and off remotely using Alexa voice control. Reviewers also like its package notification feature — you'll hear a little sound go off whenever an Amazon package is delivered so you can get up and go grab it from the porch right away. I have the 4th Gen Echo Dot in Twilight Blue on my office desk, and it really does pack a lot of utility for such a small gadget.
Promising reviews: "This little cute speaker is powerful and has incredible clarity of sound. We put it in our office and it has huge volume as well as no static or raspiness EVER. We love it and listen to news, music and so much more. We’re ordering several more for our home. Huge value for the price." —ginnylmom
"Great product. Bought each of my daughters one to use as alarms for school and they love it. Ordering another." —Stephanie Miller
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors). For $10 more you can get the version that comes with a clock display, which you may find useful if you don't already have a clock in your office!
You can customize this pad in several ways, including opting for MagSafe charging for Apple devices or wireless Qi charging if you have an Android, for instance.
Loma Living is a small Etsy shop based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Promising review: "It is simple and stylish and fits in perfectly with the boho accessories on my entryway bench. Great for minimalistic design as well. And most importantly, it works — which isn't always a given in the world of wireless chargers, in my experience. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a sleek solution to charging a number of devices at the same time." —Jennifer
Get it from Loma Living on Etsy for $74.65+ (originally $99.53+; available with two charger types and various additional cable options).
Promising review: "These things are amazing. I have one in almost every room of my house. The light is just enough to be able to see at night to use the restroom or navigate the house without turning every light on. I love that the USB ports are built in — no more looking for an adapter. AND the plugs are set far enough apart you can plug some of the bigger things like Google Assistant or large AC adapters and still have plenty of room!!! These are a must-have in a tech or smart home." —SeiranCrow
Get it from Amazon for $15.27+ (available with two USB styles).
Promising reviews: "At first I was a bit skeptical that a charger like this would really have the power capacity to charge my iPhone 11 and/or my iPad. It made me a believer after the first couple of days of charging on a trip out of the US. It charges our phones very quickly and can charge two iPhone 11s twice before it needs any additional charge. It can power a device while it is plugged into the wall charging itself too! This would be a great gift for anyone who travels frequently or as an emergency charger." —Dewayne R. Blair
"Perfect for keeping the laptop powered up after a long day of lecture. Super fast charge and does not get hot like some others. It's a little big and heavy compared to other wall chargers, but that's to be expected. Overall a great purchase and a must for any student!!!" —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
Promising review: "This is the perfect on-the-go charging bracelet! Wear as a bracelet, then pull apart when your electronics need charging, and connect to your power bank or laptop! Voilà! No need to fuss with bringing a cord along! Stylish and sleek." —Tiffany
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two colors).
This gadget has 24 different sounds: seven fan sounds, seven white noise sounds, and 10 classical sounds. You can relax in bed listening to anything from ocean waves to a clock ticking, even if your room faces another building or a busy street.
There is also a sleep timer you can set to 30, 60, or 90 minutes if you want to take short naps or get ready for bed a little earlier. Plug it in, set the timer, and you can *finally* tune out annoying noise. The sound machine also remembers your last timer, sound, and volume settings when you turn it on again.
Promising reviews: "I bought this during quarantine because my husband was working from home taking phone calls while I was also at home trying to go to college classes over Zoom. I bought this and put it between our study spaces. It works great! There are so many different sounds to choose from. I usually use the white noise or the fans. They are digitally recorded sounds but they sound really good and I can't tell if they loop." —Pyxidis
"Does its job! I use it for my college dorm-style apartment and it helps drown out my three suitemates, closing and opening of doors, people outside, etc." —Lexi
Get it from Amazon for $24.45.
Bliss By Babe is an Ashburn, Virginia-based small business that specializes in handmade bags and accessories in a bunch of cute designs.
Promising review: "Super cute and great quality!" —Jazmin
Get one from Bliss By Babe on Etsy for $3.50 (available in 25 designs).
DubuDumo is a small business with some of the cutest stationary and accessories imaginable. How CUTE is this washi tape?
Promising review: "Great case! Well-padded and lots of pockets. The elastic on the spine for the Apple Pencil even fits my pencil with a silicone sleeve on it! My iPad fits very nicely in the sleeve, even with a thin case on it as well. 😊" —Karen McElheny
Get it from DubuDumo on Etsy for $36.90 (available in three colors).
Promising review: "Perfect addition to my small study desk. I'm a grad student who does most of her studying at night, and I needed a lamp that could provide a bright light while taking up minimal space on my small desk. This lamp serves that function well, and I like that it has multiple intensity settings. My desk surface is smooth, but the clamp grips it very well and holds firm when I make adjustments to the neck positioning. I have had it for over two weeks, and I'm a happy customer." —Doctor Bird
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors).
This laptop phone mount was created by the The Phone Mount People, a small biz based in Nashotah, Wisconsin.
Promising review: "This is one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I saw it. My phone used to lie flat next to my laptop and I was always looking away to check messages. Now it's tucked nice and upright next to my laptop screen. Never realized what a hassle it was to keep looking away at my phone! Nice setup for FaceTime calls as well. You can talk away while still be working on the laptop. Material feels nice and soft." —Annabelle
Get it from The Phone Mount People on Etsy for $19.99 (available in black and clear).
This ultrasonic humidifier can deliver cool or warm mist based on your preference, with a remote so you can easily tweak the settings from your desk or bed. There's also an auto mode that lets you select your preferred humidity level, and it'll sense the current humidity in the air to turn on as needed!
Get it from our Goodful shop for $74.99 (originally $149.99).
Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Promising review: It’s so easy to take notes and upload them to the Rocketbook app and view them later. It also allows for me to only use one notebook for all my classes.Overall, Rocketbook has really changed my academic life.Promising reviewI bought these in a desperate attempt to sleep in later and they did the trick! I didn't struggle to fall asleep wearing them and they never fell out They saved me lots of sleep and helped me cope with a difficult situationPromising review loved how affordable it was compared to a $30 replacement charger.Promising reviews:Fits really well on my desk and makes online classes wayyy easier the tapping noises from the keys are so soothingPromising review:I needed something that was portable, good screen quality, and USB-C friendlyThis product has features that make it easy to get your work done on the goPromising review:Promising review:My wife loved getting this as a gift as our daughter is always asking to listen to tunes when we are out,I hid it in a bowl of fruit for ambient sounds at the table. I even sleep with it in my bed playing white noisePromising review:The very first day no headaches. I thought to myself OK just a coincidence. Second day no headaches, third day no headaches, and so on and so forth. I am amazed!can focus more and get through my day without taking medicine!Promising reviewI live in a dorm and have three other roommates with desks within 5 feet of mine. Sitting and studying at my desk usually means that there is background conversation in the room or others playing music at a decent volume on their speakers. Putting these headphones on completely blocks that out. When traveling you can connect it to on-board entertainmentPromising review:The sound is nearly as good as my Beats over-the-ear headphones; they fit very well in my ear, are comfortable, and connect flawlessly to my phone each time I use themPromising review:Saves my neck from looking up and down while typingI like that it mounts anywhere on your monitor with a removable Command strip, and comes with two Command strips.Promising review I tend to make a cup of coffee to drink while I do my work but I get so preoccupied with what I'm doing, by the time I take a sip of my coffee it's cold. Promising review:If you're like me and you hit snooze while you're still sleeping without realizing it, YOU NEED THIS.this is the first alarm clock I have ever purchased that wakes me (and the rest of the neighborhood) up 100% of the timeMy laptop is so gross that it's a little past hope, but this has tools have definitely helped make clearing out crumbs and erasing smudges easier and cleaning my computer more fun.Promising review:Promising reviews:Everything about this desk is high quality. It has a nice leather mousepad, very comfy arm rest, two large slots for your phone/pencils, and plenty of space for my laptop. she lives in a tiny space so a desk wouldn’t be an option. This lap desk is perfect for her.Promising reviews:This little cute speaker is powerful and has incredible clarity of sound. Bought each of my daughters one to use as alarms for schoolPromising review:Promising review:I have one in almost every room of my houseI love that the USB ports are built in — no more looking for an adapter.Promising reviews:It charges our phones very quickly and can charge two iPhone 11s twice before it needs any additional charge.Perfect for keeping the laptop powered up after a long day of lecture. Promising review:perfect on-the-go charging braceletStylish and sleek.Promising reviews:. I bought this and put it between our study spaces. It works great!helps drown out my three suitemates, closing and opening of doors, people outside, etc.Promising reviewPromising review:Promising review:bright light while taking up minimal space on my small deskmultiple intensity settingsPromising review:This is one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I saw it.