Elevate Your Back-to-School Game With These Essential Tech Accessories

$37 at Amazon Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub $37 at Amazon Price alerts on for Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub $32 at Walmart Logitech Keyboard K380 $32 at Walmart Price alerts on for Logitech Keyboard K380 $28 at Amazon Boyata Laptop Stand $28 at Amazon Price alerts on for Boyata Laptop Stand $89 at Amazon Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) $89 at Amazon Price alerts on for Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) $168 at Amazon Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Canceling Headphones $168 at Amazon Price alerts on for Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Canceling Headphones NEW! CNET Shopping Extension Get the lowest price on everything Add CNET Shopping

The new school year is right around the corner, so it’s time for the all-important back-to-school shopping. As a recent grad, I know that a good Chromebook or laptop can be helpful with classwork. Even having a reliable tablet or iPad can make going back to school a bit less painful. And a few carefully chosen accessories to go with your tablet or laptop can make a huge difference.  

I’ve listed a handful of back-to-school tech accessories I’ve found to be the most useful during the school year, particularly if you’re still remote all or part of the time. The picks here are ones I’ve used as a student. Consider this list solid suggestions for accessories to make the return back to school a bit easier.

For more, here are our picks for heading back to school and essentials to keep in your college backpack.

Anker

Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub

$37 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub

There were countless times when I needed to save large documents or make copies of important assignments to save in case of emergencies. Since my Mac only had USB-C ports, I needed an adapter hub to use flash drives with my computer. Enter the Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub. While I bought this with the intention of only using the two USB 3.0 ports, I ended up using almost all of the ports and readers on the hub during my time as a student. This attachment also allowed me to connect to most TVs and monitors, which was super helpful for presentations or even goofing off with friends.

$37 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 5-in-1 USB-C Hub Logitech

Logitech Keyboard K380

$32 at Walmart$33 at Amazon$34 at Target

When learning moved online at the beginning of the pandemic, this little Logitech keyboard served me well and has continued to ever since. One feature I really love is that the keyboard can be paired with up to three devices, and you can switch between these devices with keys at the top of the keyboard. It’s most helpful when using Apple’s Sidecar feature with an iPad. Pair the keyboard to a MacBook and then, whenever you want to switch to working on an iPad, you can physically move the keyboard in front of your iPad, hit a button and start typing. The K380 is lightweight and portable, meaning you can throw it in your backpack and bring it to all of your study sessions. 

$32 at Walmart$33 at Amazon$34 at Target Boyata

Boyata Laptop Stand

$28 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Boyata Laptop Stand

Much like the Logitech K380, I bought this at the beginning of online schooling to build out my home classroom setup. However, even as online schooling for me came to an end, this stand still proved super-useful. Being able to put my laptop a bit higher up off the table and moving it a little further away from my face takes some of the strain off my eyes and neck. This stand is also relatively portable. It is a bit on the bulkier side, but if you have a larger backpack it should fit without any trouble. 

$28 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Boyata Laptop Stand Apple

Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)

$89 at Amazon$89 at Best Buy$129 at Apple

In all honesty, I was an Apple Pencil hater for a long, long time. It seemed like another nonsense accessory Apple was trying to convince everyone they needed. Eventually, I succumbed to the hype, and I am so glad I did.

Read more $89 at Amazon$89 at Best Buy$129 at Apple Bose

Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Canceling Headphones

$168 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Canceling Headphones

I’m a long-time Bose fan, and I further entrenched myself in my Bose fandom this year by buying the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 Noise Canceling headphones. I knew I had wanted a new pair of headphones, so I began shopping around. I loved Apple’s AirPod Max, but the headphones were way out of my budget as a college student. So I turned to a brand I knew would deliver quality sound, have the noise-canceling capabilities that I needed and would be within my budget.

Read more $168 at Amazon You’re receiving price alerts for Bose QuietComfort 45 Noise Canceling Headphones

More back-to-school recommendations

• 8 Back-to-School College Essentials to Keep in Your Backpack
• Our Favorite Back-to-School Picks for 2023
• Great Back-to-School Gifts for Your Teacher
• Free Apps You Need to Download Before Starting College
• Best Back-to-School Gear for $100 or Less
• Best Deals, Discounts and Freebies for Students 2023