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The leaves are turning and the Pumpkin Spice Lattes are out in full force, which means Back to School season is officially here. If you are a college or university student, you may be preparing for the upcoming semester, which will almost certainly include lectures.
When I was a student, I spent way too much money on stationery and notebooks, which were often unnecessary because I couldn’t read my horrible handwriting. Now, with more than five years of tech journalism under my belt, I know of many products that would have been on my desk if I was still a student to make lectures easier to digest and think about.
I’ve included a range of items at different prices so that everyone can benefit, even if this season’s loan is already sold at Freshers Week. With that in mind, here are the tech products you should seriously consider purchasing for your lectures.
Don’t forget that in the US and UK you can often get big discounts on tech products if you’re a student, so always check the store before you buy to see if you can save some.
iPad Air6
In 2014 I bought an iPad Mini 2. But I certainly didn’t get the most out of it: I mainly used it to watch silent videos on YouTube in my student house. Moreover, that tablet simply did not have the capabilities that the current iPad Air 6 does.
There are two sizes available (11 inches and 13 inches) and four colors. Both have support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, which will be essential for note-taking. Moreover, the new M2 chipset ensures that the performance is fast, in case you are using software to help you with your training.
Petter Ahrnstedt
Petter Ahrnstedt
Petter Ahrnstedt
There’s a 12MP rear camera that lets you take photos of slides, and support for Live Text on the latest operating system, which you can use for further research on photos or videos that you find related to your topic. Its slim and lightweight construction makes it easy to transport to and from lectures with minimal effort.
The iPad Air 6 starts from £549/$549 for the 128GB Wi-Fi only variant with an education discount, you can also get an £80/$100 gift voucher. You can save some money by opting for the latest generation iPad Air 5 (from £439/$399).
If you’re an Android user, we have a list of alternatives in our best tablet review.
Microsoft OneNote/Apple Notes/Google Keep
Even if you don’t have the space or money for a laptop or tablet, a note-taking app is essential for college classes. Because they’re cross-device compatible, they sync your work to the cloud, so you can quickly take notes on your smartphone and edit them later on a more powerful device – even if it’s in a PC library.
I’ve added options for Windows, Apple, and Android users, although OneNote and Google Keep can be used for all three. Plus, they’re all completely free to download and use. Better save that money for a beer.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
All of these apps also include recording software so you can get an audio copy of your lectures. Google Keep, Apple Notes and OneNote even include a transcription option, which is very useful if you struggle to take quick notes from fast-talking teachers who bombard you with information.
Google also offers more advanced transcription AI software, although it isn’t embedded directly into the Keep Note apps at the time of writing. Other third-party options include Otter AI and Evernote.
Acer Aspire3
Most universities and colleges offer Microsoft 365 for free (including OneNote), so a cheap Windows laptop can be a worthwhile investment – I had one myself, although I quickly overloaded it by installing far too many expansion packs for The Sims 3 .
Robert Strohmeyer/Foundry
Robert Strohmeyer/Foundry
Robert Strohmeyer/Foundry
If you avoid that, an affordable laptop is a great companion for your lectures. You can keep your note-taking apps, documents, slides and email all in one place – and this may be preferable to those who don’t like the smaller keyboards that come with tablets.
The Acer Aspire 3 meets all the requirements for a student. It has a roomy keyboard, all-day battery life, and impressive performance for the price. It’s definitely a bit heavier than a tablet, but that’s the trade-off for a more versatile device.
It is currently available for as little as £369/$329.
Charmast 10,400 mAh power bank
It’s all well and good having this technology, but sometimes you forget to charge it. Although some lecture halls offer USB connections and power sockets, many are quite old and basic (I’m speaking from experience here).
Simon Jary / Foundry
Simon Jary / Foundry
Simon Jary / Foundry
Fortunately, you can prevent a dead battery by keeping a power bank on hand. This model from Charmast is one of our favorites and comes in a price of € 4.95 very affordable price from £18.99/$22.99. It has two full-size USB slots, plus a USB-C PD port that can act as both input and output. All three support 18W fast charging technology, but only one device at a time.
Don’t forget to charge your bank first! This takes approximately 3.5 hours with a Quick Charge/PD adapter and approximately 5.5 hours with a standard 10W charger. In addition, there is an LED display so you know how much juice you have left.
Trust Lisboa backpack
Once all your notes are transcribed and/or written down (coherently or not), you’ll need a comfortable bag to carry everything safely, whatever the weather – with room for extra items like your lunch, your varsity hoodie and the three million freebies collected on campus.
I reviewed this Trust Lisboa backpack and was very impressed with its capacity, number of compartments (including a 16-inch laptop sleeve), and hours of comfort. Moreover, it is available in three colors, so you can always find the option that suits your preferences. Not to mention it’s water resistant, so safe from the elements.
Best of all, it’s a bargain at £34.99, although it’s not available in the US at the time of writing. If you want more alternatives, including more premium options, check out our list of the best laptop bags.
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