Studying can be hard work. Give yourself a helping hand with tech that does the job right the first time, including the best laptops for uni students, best tablets, headphones, printers, smart watches and tech accessories, no matter your taste, needs or budget.

The Top Tablets and Best Laptops for Uni Students 

Starting uni soon or in need of a laptop upgrade? This will be your most essential buy for the year. You’ll use your laptop or tablet for absolutely everything, from writing assignments to accessing videos and online textbooks, so it’s important to choose the right one. 

Take the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i: it’s lightweight and stylish, and boasts a battery life that will see you through those busy days on campus. Another good option is a HP Pavilion Notebook Core i5: with its 16GB RAM and an Intel Core i5 processor, it performs lightning fast, even when you’re got multiple apps (or a screen full of browser tabs) open. It’s also a worthy contender if you’re going to be using design or programming software in your studies, or will be gaming in your downtime. Others might love the versatility of a HP Pavilion 2-in-1 Notebook because the screen swivels into tent mode for presentations or tablet form for watching movies. 

Then there’s the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. With its detachable keyboard and OLED touchscreen, it combines all the best aspects of a laptop and a tablet. Chromebooks are great for students because, since they don’t have as many hardware or processing requirements as a standard laptop, they’re a more affordable option – you can pick one up for just shy of $300 (a MacBook, in comparison, will set you back at least four times as much). Simple and efficient to use, they provide access to Google’s web browser and suite of apps, plus utilise cloud storage (internet connection is essential though). The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is another value-for-money option: it’s light and compact, yet offers the power and usability of a standard laptop. Switch to tablet mode and enjoy the benefits of the clever touchscreen. 

For tablet lovers, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a comfortably large LCD screen that’s ideal for reading documents. It also comes with the S Pen, which is handy for drawing, editing and taking notes. Art and design students could also consider investing in a Wacom tablet, such as the Wacom One. It’s a top choice for sketching, digital painting and editing photos and videos.

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What To Try

If looking for the best budget laptop, also consider a Chromebook or a tablet, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Why Multifunction Printers Are Useful Tech for Uni Students

As a student, you’ll have endless things you’ll be needing to scan, copy and print out, from essays and assignments to reading material, colour photos and other important documents. An affordable Canon Pixma Home printer that’s compact, speedy and WiFi compatible could be the right tool for the job and, since it’s an inkjet model with the option to print in colour, will be a more versatile choice than most laser options, which are best suited to black and white documents. 

Alternatively, there’s the Brother DCP-J1200W inkjet printer, which makes printing a breeze. Use the Brother Mobile Connect app to print from anywhere, as well as order replacement ink straight to your door. The Epson WorkForce WF-2930 is another good all-rounder or you could opt for the eco-friendly Epson EcoTank ET-2811. It’s more expensive, but it’s cartridge-free, so may save you money in the long run. 

The HP Envy Inspire 7921E printer is not only another all-in-one printer, copier and scanner, it also produces amazing quality colour photos for assignments, presents or decorating the halls of residence.

What To Try

Having your own multifunction printer as a uni student can be a useful investment.

SEE ALSO: Let The Geek Guide You: Pick the Best Home or Office Printer

Set the Mood With the Right Headphones and Speakers

Don’t leave home without a pair of trusty headphones or earbuds. You can literally tune out the world around you and press play on podcasts, playlists, videos and audiobooks with these ergonomic and voice-assistant in-ear Moki Mokibuds. 

Are you more of a headphones person? Beats headphones, particularly the wireless Solo 3 model, feature cushioned ear cups and up to 40 hours of battery life to play tunes through those long revision sessions. Or get in the study zone with classic Sony noise-cancelling headphones, which reduce ambient noise by up to 95%, thereby aiding your ability to concentrate. 

Studying at home? A spot of music could help with focus (classical music, in particular, can help stimulate our brains), so you may want to consider a set of speakers. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 easily connects to your phone or computer via Bluetooth and is waterproof and dustproof so, if you fancy taking your study session to the park or into your backyard for a change of scenery, you can take it with you. It even floats, if you’re hitting the books by the pool. Carbon neutral and boasting a 125% plastic regenerative construction, the Our Pure Planet Bluetooth speaker is good for the environment and, as a bonus, it’s affordable and stylish.

What To Try

Attention uni students: a great pair of headphones or earbuds can boost performance and mood.

SEE ALSO: Which Speaker Is Right for You?

The Best Tech Accessories for Uni Students

Here’s a good idea: keep a power bank in your backpack to ensure your tech stays charged at all times. The Cygnett ChargeUp Reserve can charge multiple devices simultaneously, and it takes just 30 minutes to get your device’s battery from dead to 50%. Another great option is the Comsol power bank, which powers both Mac and Windows devices and can be recharged more than 500 times. 

Nothing is more irritating than spotty WiFi, especially if you’re cramming for an exam. Make your internet connection strong and reliable with a TP-LINK WiFi Range Extender or the NETGEAR Orbi WiFi 6 System 2 Pack for fast data (and smooth streaming if you need a gaming break).

A smart watch is useful for many reasons: it’ll help you get to class on time and encourage you to walk there to meet your daily step count, all while keeping you in the loop with emails and messages. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 can even track your heart rate, sleep and stress levels, or the water-resistant (up to 50 metres) Fitbit Inspire 2 comes preloaded with a bunch of exercises for you to try, so you can work out or swim off those student pressures. 

A digital voice recorder can be super convenient, too. Try the Philips VoiceTracer is small enough to slip into your pocket but really packs a punch. Use it to record your own thoughts and reminders, or capture your lectures and tutorials so you can listen back to them later. (Check with your university for rules and guidelines about recording lectures.)

What To Try

Reliable WiFi is a must for uni students and a power bank keeps your devices going all day.

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