Back-to-school tech under $50
Anker 622 MagGo portable charger
Most students have at least one or two devices that constantly run out of juice. This MagSafe power bank is one of our favorites of 2025, thanks to the integrated phone stand. It has a 5,000-mAh capacity and delivers 7.5 watts of power wirelessly or via USB-C. Plus, the strong 9N magnet keeps your phone securely in place.
Solo Duane Hybrid Briefcase Backpack
Trying to decide between a shoulder laptop bag and a backpack for college? Hybrids like this Solo Duane Hybrid Briefcase Backpack have both options, with detachable backpack straps that stow in a pocket on the back when you want to ditch the shoulder strap and wear it like a backpack. The dedicated laptop compartment has room for up to a 15.6-inch laptop, and there's plenty of room for all your other stuff. Available in multiple color options (price varies slightly by color), it's a great laptop bag with a budget-friendly price that's on our list of the best laptop backpacks for 2025.
If you don't want to dole out the cash for AirPods, these Anker Soundcore P40i buds are arguably Anker's best value earbuds, which is why they're at the top of our list for the budget earbuds of 2025. They've got a comfortable fit, decent sound quality and good battery performance -- all for less than $50.
Anker 735 3-Port GaNPrime 65W USB-C charger
Anker's upgraded compact 735 65-watt charger can charge a MacBook Pro at full speed. Not only is it quite small for how much power it can deliver (it has foldable prongs), but it also has three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A) that allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time (though that 65 watts of power is split between the ports if you charge more than one device). It uses the next-generation GaN 3 technology.
Back-to-school tech under $100
As is typical for a Logitech "S" product update, the compact MX Anywhere 3S wireless "mobile" mouse doesn't look any different from its predecessor. It offers some performance upgrades, notably quieter operation and an upgraded 8,000 DPI optical sensor that Logitech says tracks on most surfaces, including glass and offers faster workflow with high-resolution monitors. While those with larger hands may prefer something a little bigger, the MX Anywhere 3S is an excellent mouse for both at-home and travel use. It comes in three colors.
Earfun has made some very solid budget earbuds, and now it's entered the full-size ANC headphone space with its new-for-2024 Wave Pro headphones. They list for $80, but they're down to $64 on Amazon right now if you apply the on-page coupon. While they may not sound as good as premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose or Sony, they're comfortable to wear, feature decent sound with punchy bass (they're a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models), and they offer respectable noise canceling (you can toggle between two levels of ANC) and voice-calling performance. I found them to be a step up from the Soundpeats Space headphones, which sometimes cost a little less.
They're rated for up to 80 hours of battery life with noise-canceling off and 55 hours with it on, and they support multipoint Bluetooth pairing as well as Sony's LDAC audio codec for Android smartphone and other compatible devices. I also like that they come with a hard case and a cable for wired listening (though noise-canceling is disabled when you go wired, which is a bit of a bummer).
Know a student who's always losing stuff on campus? In the locker room? Or just around the house? If they own an iPhone, gifting them a set of AirTags could be just the ticket. Once slipped into a backpack or a jacket, those items become trackable thanks to the AirTags using every nearby Apple device as a rangefinder. Grab a four-pack for just $75 at Amazon.
Tribit's StormBox Flow is another Bose SoundLink Flex knockoff for less that shares some similarities with the Soundcore by Anker Motion 300, including the same list price. The Tribit may actually sound slightly better than the Motion 300, edging it out for bass performance by a tad. But the Anker speaker wins on design.
Like the SoundLink Flex, the Tribit StormBox Flow can be laid down flat with its speaker facing up. You can also wirelessly pair two of the speakers together for stereo sound.
It has an IP67 water-resistance rating, which means it's dust-resistant and fully waterproof. Tribit says it delivers up to 30 hours of audio at moderate volume levels, which is impressive.
Logitech's MX Keys was one of our favorite everyday Bluetooth keyboards, so we're glad it now comes in two smaller versions that leave off the number pad and some other keys: MX Keys Mini and MX Keys Mini for Mac. The colors include rose, pale gray and graphite.
Logitech says that its minimalist design "aligns your shoulders and allows you to place your mouse closer to your keyboard for less hand reaching, resulting in better posture and improved ergonomics." From our tests, we agree with that assessment.
Backbone One on-phone game controler
After a long day's work, setting down to play some games might just be what your student needs. The Backbone One controller easily snaps onto either side of your phone, making it a convenient way to get a console-like experience from your smartphone.
Google Nest Hub (2nd-gen)
Yes, Amazon's Echo Show 8 is a fantastic smart display and a great gift for anyone with an Alexa household, but some of us prefer the Google Nest Hub. It's less likely to push Amazon products on the screen, for one thing. Plus, the voice assistant is a bit more intuitive, and there's no camera, so it feels more comfortable in the bedroom. It's a great addition to a college dorm room or any student's room.
Back-to-school tech over $100
M4 MacBook Air (13-Inch, 2025)
With its combination of powerful performance and a light, sleek design, it’s little wonder that the M4 MacBook Air is a top choice among students. At less than $1,000, the 13-inch version is cheaper than its bigger, 15-inch cousin. It's also easier to fit into a backpack or tote.
A lot of students opt for Chromebooks as their laptop of choice since they're more budget-friendly than Macs. Our CNET editors rated the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 as the best overall Chromebook for 2025, making it a good choice for school. It has a 14-inch touchscreen display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
AirPods are a student staple, especially for those who are already dedicated to the Apple universe. Apple's latest AirPods offer active noise cancellation. They're also dust-, sweat- and water-resistant, perfect for a busy school day.
If you're looking to maximize your student's visibility while riding a bike or scooter, the Lumos Ultra is a great gift idea. It makes sure they're noticed with both front and back LEDs that you can customize via an app -- the helmet is Bluetooth-enabled.
The helmet includes a small remote that allows you to activate a turn signal (on the back display), letting those behind you know what your next move is. It comes in a variety of colors and also is available in a step-up MIPS version that offers added protection.
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