As we approach back-to-school season, many students will be heading to college for the first time. This life-changing chapter can already be overwhelming, not to mention thinking about everything you may need for class. Luckily, technology has made things a lot easier for college students in 2025.
Also: The best laptops for college
You'll need a capable laptop to complete your assignments to keep up with your classes. When walking around campus, you need a pair of headphones to keep you entertained, or have noise-cancelling capabilities for important study sessions. For late-night work, you need a portable charger to keep your phone fueled up throughout the night, and for impromptu friend gatherings (because college is about fun, too), you need a speaker to set the mood.
Also: The best tablets for students going back to school
These are just a few of the many tech devices that are essential to survive college. Based on personal experience and hands-on testing by ZDNET experts, we have compiled a list of everything you need for the back-to-school season.
A laptop
Laptops are a must-have for college students--most, if not all, assignments will require a laptop. My laptop broke once in college, and I could not go a day without borrowing someone else's to complete assignments. The best laptops (including picks for college) include long battery life, top performance, and effective storage and RAM.
A pair of headphones
It was my first week of college when I realized the importance of headphones and earbuds as a student. Not only was everyone wearing them during their daily commutes, workouts, and study sessions, but they often helped me focus in noisy buildings. If you want full coverage and better noise-cancellation features, over-the-ear headphones may be for you. But if you want something cheaper or more convenient, earbuds may be better.
A smart notebook
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