Your ultimate guide to college essentials in 2021 - laptops, bags, dorm gear, and more
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- College classes are set to resume online and in person later this month.
- We collected all our back-to-school shopping guides in one place so you can easily shop supplies like laptops and backpacks.
The 2021-2022 college season is just around the corner, with students likely to head back to campus or log on via their laptops around the third week of August. With that in mind, we've gathered together all of our relevant buying advice into one ultimate guide for stocking up on college gear.
We've revisited our investigation of whether an iPad alone can serve as your only computing device for college, overhauled our dorm room entertainment gear guide, and shared advice on how Windows 11 will affect students going into their first semester.
From classroom tech to student discounts to dorm room necessities, you'll find all our best college supply stories below.
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- The best back to school sales and deals in 2021
- The best student discounts for clothes, streaming services, tech, and more in 2021
- The best student streaming discounts
The back-to-school shopping season is an ideal time to take advantage of big deals on tech products and services for college. Whether you're in the market for a new computer, tablet, smartphone, or even a streaming subscription, there are plenty of discounts available. Some deals are even exclusive to students with proof of enrollment.
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- How to shop for the best laptop for school 2021
- The best laptops of 2021
- The best college laptops of 2021
- The best Chromebooks
- The best MacBooks
Every student in college needs a laptop these days to the point that it's essential not just for assignments but also accessing a college's administrative tools and services. With countless laptops to choose from, we've tested dozens to determine the best for a variety of needs and budgets.
You'll want to consider your area of study as well before deciding on a laptop for college. Some course loads require more power or versatility than others. For instance, we wouldn't recommend a Chromebook to an engineering student, nor would we recommend the highest-end MacBook for a political science student. Our guide linked above for the best college laptops goes in depth on this very subject.
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- The best backpacks of 2021
- The best school notebooks
- The best backpacks for students
- The best planners
- The best laptop accessories of 2021
- The best smart notebooks
- The best laptop bags for women
There's so much more to college than just which expensive logo adorns the lid of your laptop, like the bag to carry it in. We've rounded up our guides to the best bags, planners, and other accessories that you might find useful during your studies.
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- The best dorm room essentials in 2021
- 16 dorm kitchen essentials every college student needs
- 13 essential products for cooling down your stuffy college dorm room
- College dorm essentials you'll actually use — according to a recent graduate
Outside of tech gadgets and entertainment gear, no college dorm is complete without a few essential home and kitchen products. Compact fridges, microwaves, coffee makers, fans, lamps, cookware, and vacuums can all improve your college experience. We've also got recommendations for common household items and bedding, including sheets, hampers, hangers, and more.
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As we see it, quality downtime is also an important factor in the college experience, and a certain degree of (healthy) escapism is helpful for avoiding burnout. Now that we've justified your hot new TV pickup, know that we've tested numerous televisions from all manufacturers and at all price points.
We would strongly recommend considering a budget 4K TV or even budget HDTV with a screen size no bigger than 50 inches for the college experience. You likely won't have the space or time to make the potentially exorbitant cost of a bigger display worthwhile, so save that cash for post-college life.
Apple
- The best smartphones
- The best cheap phones
- The best iPhones
- Review: Should you buy a refurbished iPhone 12? We say yes
Whether you're upgrading your phone to last for at least most of your college career or getting your first smartphone for the tools it offers every student, we've tested a phone that will fit into your needs and budget. You may also want to consider a refurbished phone, which can help you save some cash on flagship-level models.
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