12 Back-to-School Essentials You'll Actually Use - CNET
$17 at Amazon
Mosiso keyboard cover and laptop case
Excellent value laptop accessory bundle
$32 at Baggu
Baggu Puffy laptop sleeve
Stylish and sustainable laptop sleeve
$150 at Target
Sony CH-720N headphones
Best budget noise-canceling headphones
$99 at Amazon
AirPods (2nd Generation)
Solid earbuds for walking on campus
$60 at Anker
Anker 735 charger (GaNPrime 65W)
Triple-device charger
$7 at Amazon
Life-Mate Badge Holder
Easy-access to your key to everything (including your student ID)
It’s August, which means back-to-school shopping season is in full swing. With so many products out there, it can be hard to know what you actually need.
I graduated college two years ago. During my time at university I compiled what is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate list of tech, tech accessories and more to make your academic life easier. So from one recent student to another, here are the back-to-school essentials I’d recommend.
Watch this: Back-to-School Essentials You Actually Need
Best laptop for students
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="1" edition="us" superlative="Ultimate back-to-school essential" imagegroup="{"alt":"Apple's M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Air","caption":"
Apple’s 2020 13-inch MacBook Air was one in the first crop of computers to be powered by the company’s M1 processor.
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Apple’s 2020 13-inch MacBook Air was one in the first crop of computers to be powered by the company’s M1 processor.
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Apple’s 2020 13-inch MacBook Air was one in the first crop of computers to be powered by the company’s M1 processor.
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Apple’s 2020 13-inch MacBook Air was one in the first crop of computers to be powered by the company’s M1 processor.
” overridecredit=”Stephen Shankland/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__6ebe0b6a-1a4f-47e3-963e-a4a8b927cae2″ position=”1″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
If you’re only going to get one thing from this list, I’d recommend the 13-inch M1 MacBook Air. It works well for standard tasks like research, writing essays and taking Zoom calls. Plus, starting at $1,000, it’s currently the most affordable MacBook Air at Apple.
Best laptop accessories
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="2" edition="us" superlative="Excellent value laptop accessory bundle" imagegroup="{"alt":"mosiso.png","caption":"
MOSISO keyboard cover & laptop case bundle
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MOSISO keyboard cover & laptop case bundle
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MOSISO keyboard cover & laptop case bundle
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MOSISO keyboard cover & laptop case bundle
” overridecredit=”MOSISO” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__3c8628e9-5f70-4651-9f53-920f14814126″ position=”2″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
Protect your laptop from scratches, dents, liquids, crumbs and other hazards with this keyboard cover and laptop case bundle from Mosiso. The set includes a laptop case, keyboard cover and a screen protector. I don’t love the screen protector because I prefer to clean my screen with a microfiber cloth, but the laptop case and keyboard are definitely worth the money.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="3" edition="us" superlative="Stylish and sustainable laptop sleeve" imagegroup="{"alt":"baggu.png","caption":"
BAGGU Puffy Laptop Sleeve in color ‘Clouds’
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BAGGU Puffy Laptop Sleeve in color ‘Clouds’
","size":287842,"width":1188,"height":668,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-08-21 19:47:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-08-21 19:48:20","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/png","deleted":false,"credits":"BAGGU","alt":"baggu.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"4cca6681-a1e6-4e4f-b2d0-12a0a49ee961","imageAltText":"baggu.png","imageCaption":"
BAGGU Puffy Laptop Sleeve in color ‘Clouds’
","imageCredit":"BAGGU","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"baggu.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/08/21","imageWidth":1188,"imageHeight":668,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
BAGGU Puffy Laptop Sleeve in color ‘Clouds’
” overridecredit=”BAGGU” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__e514f9f0-1d57-42ae-be5c-eca15a6cf27a” position=”3″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
Add some personality to your laptop with Baggu’s colorful sleeve. This laptop sleeve provides extra cushioning when you’re on the go, and it comes in fun patterns. I also love the fact that it’s made of recycled materials.
Note-taking essentials
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="4" edition="us" superlative="Best E Ink tablet for writing and note-taking" imagegroup="{"alt":"ReMarkable 2","caption":"
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","size":1649624,"width":5020,"height":2823,"dateCreated":{"date":"2022-04-25 23:21:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2022-04-25 23:23:03","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/jpeg","deleted":false,"credits":"Sarah Lord/CNET","alt":"ReMarkable 2","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"3dda3f40-bf88-4c55-bd94-9a498350f4fb","imageAltText":"ReMarkable 2","imageCaption":"
","imageCredit":"Sarah Lord/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"remarkable-2-2022-06.jpg","imageDateCreated":"2022/04/25","imageWidth":5020,"imageHeight":2823,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
” overridecredit=”Sarah Lord/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__61000c1c-2420-48b5-b2f9-5a9184043527″ position=”4″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
The Remarkable 2 is an E Ink sketch tablet. You can use it to handwrite notes and annotate PDFs, and you can transfer your notes to the cloud or your computer. Handwriting can help with retaining information and doing it digitally means you can keep your notes backed up and save some trees. I prefer writing on it to the more expensive iPad because the Remarkable 2 has a more paper-like feel.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="5" edition="us" superlative="Affordable way to digitize handwritten notes" imagegroup="{"alt":"rocketbook.png","caption":"
Rocketbook Core reusable notebook
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Rocketbook Core reusable notebook
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Rocketbook Core reusable notebook
","imageCredit":"Rocketbook","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"rocketbook.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/08/21","imageWidth":1188,"imageHeight":668,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
Rocketbook Core reusable notebook
” overridecredit=”Rocketbook” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__4087484e-3b1d-477f-84b7-312e633ee435″ position=”5″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
The Rocketbook Core notebook allows you to digitize your handwritten notes without breaking the bank. Write in it with the included Pilot Frixion pen, scan your notes with the Rocketbook app and send them to the cloud. Then just dampen the included microfiber towel to erase the page and dry it to reuse it. The Rocketbook looks like a regular spiral notebook. The pages feel like matte photo paper, so the pen glides on them more than it would with regular paper. But overall, the experience is pretty similar to writing in a normal notebook.
Audio essentials
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="6" edition="us" superlative="Best value headphones" imagegroup="{"alt":"The Sony CH-520 is are budget on-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good","caption":"
","credits":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageData":{"id":"d0751638-e074-4693-a8fa-11d6865689c8","title":"sony-ch-520-blue-background","filename":"sony-ch-520-blue-background.png","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7f178da2f277bce8e5eee321b9619ca9dcfe2443/2023/04/20/d0751638-e074-4693-a8fa-11d6865689c8/sony-ch-520-blue-background.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg","caption":"
","size":2072214,"width":1596,"height":898,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-04-20 16:27:34","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-04-20 16:28:35","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/png","deleted":false,"credits":"David Carnoy/CNET","alt":"The Sony CH-520 is are budget on-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":true,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d0751638-e074-4693-a8fa-11d6865689c8","imageAltText":"The Sony CH-520 is are budget on-ear headphones that sound surprisingly good","imageCaption":"
","imageCredit":"David Carnoy/CNET","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":true,"imageFilename":"sony-ch-520-blue-background.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/04/20","imageWidth":1596,"imageHeight":898,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
” overridecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__9e9b8acc-0e7b-465f-adb9-6700d6c3e703″ position=”6″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
A good pair of headphones can help you get in the zone while studying. If you can go without noise-cancellation, the Sony CH-520 headphones are a solid budget option. They’re lightweight and comfortable and they have decent sound and great battery life. I’ve even seen the black pair drop down to as low as $38 at retailers like Amazon.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="7" edition="us" superlative="Best budget noise-canceling headphones" imagegroup="{"alt":"The Sony CH-720N headphones fold flat but not up","caption":"
The Sony CH-720N is also available in black.
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The Sony CH-720N is also available in black.
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The Sony CH-720N is also available in black.
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The Sony CH-720N is also available in black.
” overridecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__4b749532-a2a4-458b-bb35-47dadd3efdb2″ position=”7″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
If noise-cancellation is a non-negotiable for you, the Sony CH-720N headphones are a good pick. They’re lightweight, comfortable and have good audio quality with great noise cancellation and ambient sound modes. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t as premium as the Sony WH-1000XM5’s, but they’ll do what you need them to do. And if you can find them on sale for less than the $150 retail price, you’ll get an exceptional bang for your buck.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="8" edition="us" superlative="Solid earbuds for walking on campus" imagegroup="{"alt":"2nd-gen-airpods2.png","caption":"
2nd Gen Apple AirPods
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2nd Gen Apple AirPods
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2nd Gen Apple AirPods
","imageCredit":"Apple","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"2nd-gen-airpods2.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/08/21","imageWidth":1188,"imageHeight":668,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
2nd Gen Apple AirPods
” overridecredit=”Apple” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__db1da3e3-8689-42ed-b928-4d4998dc2084″ position=”8″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
Product details
Battery Life Rated up to 5 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)
I liked wearing earbuds as I walked around campus because they’re less bulky and let in a bit more sound so I could stay aware of my surroundings. I used the original AirPods in college and still recommend them. More specifically, I’d get the second-gen version because the sound quality is great and because, starting at $130, they’re currently the most affordable AirPods at Apple. I’ve even seen them drop down to $100 at retailers like Amazon.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="9" edition="us" superlative="Tiny speaker, solid sound" imagegroup="{"alt":"jbl-go-3-eco2.png","caption":"
JBL Go 3 Eco speaker
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JBL Go 3 Eco speaker
","size":628007,"width":1188,"height":668,"dateCreated":{"date":"2023-08-21 20:26:32","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"dateUpdated":{"date":"2023-08-21 20:26:42","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"needsModeration":false,"mimeType":"image/png","deleted":false,"credits":"JBL","alt":"jbl-go-3-eco2.png","restricted":false,"startDate":null,"endDate":null,"preferred":false,"watermark":false,"doNotCrop":false,"doNotResize":false,"primaryCollection":null,"vanityUrl":null,"notes":null,"crop":null,"cropGravity":0,"preservedRegion":null,"isNew":false,"keywords":[],"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false,"typeName":"content_image"},"uuid":"d8bfc6bf-6282-4776-baeb-2f7f111c36a5","imageAltText":"jbl-go-3-eco2.png","imageCaption":"
JBL Go 3 Eco speaker
","imageCredit":"JBL","imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageFilename":"jbl-go-3-eco2.png","imageDateCreated":"2023/08/21","imageWidth":1188,"imageHeight":668,"imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}” overridecaption=”
JBL Go 3 Eco speaker
” overridecredit=”JBL” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__a2cd01b5-9d6d-4712-b362-2927534e3d73″ position=”9″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
Aside from getting a degree, what is college for if not sitting on the grass in between classes, vibing to music with your friends? Here’s the speaker I’d recommend for that: the JBL Go 3 Eco. It’s water- and dust-proof and has surprisingly good sound quality for how small it is. And it’s largely made of recycled materials to make it more sustainable.
Lifestyle essentials
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="10" edition="us" superlative="Triple-device charger" imagegroup="{"alt":"Anker 735 USB-C Wall Charger","caption":"
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You can charge all the tech I’ve mentioned in this article with this Anker 735 charging brick. I was constantly looking for outlets at once in school when I should’ve just used this. There are two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, meaning you can charge three devices at once. It’s a game-changer.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="11" edition="us" superlative="Easy-access to your key to everything (including your student ID)" imagegroup="{"alt":"lifemate2.png","caption":"
Life-Mate badge holder for your student ID
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Life-Mate badge holder for your student ID
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Life-Mate badge holder for your student ID
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Life-Mate badge holder for your student ID
” overridecredit=”Life-Mate” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__d9f83fc3-c6df-430a-a3e7-fe781cb843cf” position=”11″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>
Aside from a laptop, this $7 Life-Mate Badge Holder may be the most important thing you buy for school. In college, my student ID was my key to everything — dorms, dining halls, libraries, you name it — so I needed easy access to it. Having it on a lanyard like this is what worked best for me.
<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="12" edition="us" superlative="Excellent value backpack" imagegroup="{"alt":"matein.png","caption":"
MATEIN Backpack
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MATEIN Backpack
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MATEIN Backpack
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MATEIN Backpack
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I’ve used this Matein backpack for over six months and it’s maintained its shape and has lots of pockets, which I love. Another cool feature? It can act as a charger. Start by plugging the backpack’s internal USB-A cable into a power bank. Then plug another USB-A cable into the backpack’s external USB port and you can start juicing your devices up. This backpack lists for $40 but I’ve seen it as low as $24 at retailers like Amazon, which is amazing.
