The Verge's 2025 back-to-school shopping guide

The Verge

14 hours ago

Back-to-school season is closer than you might realize, especially for college students, many of whom are set to return to campus in a matter of a few short weeks. And while school can be a challenging time on many fronts, regardless of the grade, there are tools that can help you better prepare for life both inside and outside the classroom.
With that in mind, we've compiled a selection of dorm-friendly recs from the larger Verge staff, as well as a few essentials suitable for high school and beyond. Apple's AirPods 4 and Roku's latest smart TV, for instance, are two entry-level upgrades designed to help students make the most of their downtime, while board games like Codenames can help break the ice with new roommates. There are also practical pieces of everyday carry to consider — including tumblers, chargers, and backpacks — as well as a variety of sleep accessories that are designed to help you or someone you know get some much-needed rest.
If you're going to invest in a new laptop for the new school year, why not spring for one of the best? Apple's newer M4 MacBook Air deftly balances performance and battery life, culminating in a 13-inch machine that's as suitable for streaming as it is for banging out that first-year composition paper.
Chuck Taylor All Stars have been a staple of student fashion for decades, and their design has remained largely unchanged for over a century. The sneakers are available in both high-top and low-top styles, as well as in dozens of attractive colors. Converse's neat customization tool even lets you choose between 20 different design elements, so you can make a bespoke pair of Chucks.
The Wonderboom 4 is a cute, compact Bluetooth speaker you can use to provide background music while studying or take to a friend's place for a post-test shindig. Its IPX4 durability rating means it can handle the occasional spill without missing a beat, and its battery can last up to 14 hours. It also has an 'Outdoor Boost' button for those times when the standard bass mix just won't cut it.
Wearing an uncomfortable backpack can lead to shoulder, neck, and back strain — which is precisely why we recommend Eastpak's Padded Double backpack. It offers ample padding in the back panel and shoulder straps, a main pocket that can house a 13-inch laptop, a water bottle holder, and several zippered compartments for stowing notebooks, texts, and other accessories.
Root is a game that's best described as Game of Thrones meets Disney's Robin Hood — yes, the one with the animals. The four-player game has you vying for control of the forest on behalf of one of four factions, each represented by adorable wooden creatures and brought to life by remarkably evocative board art and illustrations. Root's expansions only add to the mix, providing you with more woodland factions.
Anker's aptly titled Laptop Power Bank is a lifesaver for anyone who works or studies on the go. With an impressive 25,000mAh capacity and a total output of 165W, it can quickly charge a beefy MacBook Pro to 50 percent capacity in under 30 minutes. Plus, with three USB-C ports and a USB-A port, you can power multiple devices at once, including phones, tablets, and handheld consoles.
Fixing a broken laptop is a frustrating (and expensive) experience, which is why it's important to keep your computer in a case. Mosiso's inexpensive laptop sleeve has soft inner padding, a dense sponge, and a moisture-resistant outer layer. It also features a zippered pocket on the front, which is convenient for holding cables, chargers, and other everyday essentials.
Amazon's Echo Spot is a smart alarm clock that can also show you the weather, play music, and set timers. It features a bright, 2.83-inch touchscreen, but you'll primarily interact with it using your voice, which lets you carry out all sorts of Alexa-based commands. If you move into off-campus housing (or create your own network), you can even use the speaker to control various smart home gadgets.
Looking at images of your family and friends can help with homesickness, which is where the Aura Carver comes in. The frame's 10.1-inch HD display is relatively large, and it can showcase both photos and videos. The kicker is that it's all managed via an easy-to-use mobile app, which lets you (or others) constantly swap memories in and out.
The latest noise-canceling AirPods offer the perfect blend of audio quality, comfort, and battery life, making them the right choice for iPhone users. They work with Apple's Find My app — meaning you can locate them if lost — and they have better mics than previous models, allowing for clearer audio when calling home or creating voice notes.
Roku's 32-inch Select Series TV is one of the few sets that makes sense for a dorm room. The 1080p LED TV is big enough that you and your friends won't have to sit a couple of feet away to see everything, yet it won't take up an entire wall. It also runs Roku OS, meaning you'll be able to access popular streaming services like Netflix and Roku originals, such as The Great American Baking Show.
It's easy to forget to drink water when you're running between classes and knee-deep in homework, but staying hydrated is important. Owala's insulated bottle can keep drinks cool for up to 24 hours and features a leak-proof, push-button lid that prevents it from accidentally popping open. Best of all, you can either sip through its built-in straw or use a wider spout, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
An external monitor gives you a larger digital workspace, which is helpful when you're juggling dozens of research tabs or want a dedicated screen for playing back video edits. Asus' VG249QL3A is a 24-inch 1080p monitor with a height-adjustable stand, built-in speakers, and a speedy 180Hz refresh rate, which comes in handy when it's time to put the schoolwork aside and link up virtually with friends.
A mini fridge is one of the few appliances you're allowed to keep in a dorm room, one that's essential for midnight snacking. Midea's adjustable WHD-113FB1 features a removable glass shelf, can and bottle holders, and a dedicated freezer. You can also stash fruits and veggies thanks to its built-in crisper drawer, because we're sure that's what college kids will do with it.
Yes, it's still important for students to have a printer in 2025. Fortunately for those looking to save space, Brother's wireless inkjet printer can be kept under the bed, in a closet, or any other out-of-the-way place where there's an outlet. It also functions as a copier / scanner, allowing you to digitize important forms when needed.
With its spacious 11-inch display, Apple's latest iPad makes it easy to dive into studying or unwind with your favorite TV shows. It delivers snappy performance courtesy of Apple's A16 chip, letting you send emails, take notes, or binge-watch to your heart's content. Plus, it has a solid front-facing camera this time, ensuring you can video call and stay in touch with loved ones back home with ease.
Managing the battery on multiple gadgets can be tedious, but Ugreen's Nexode 200W USB-C Charger makes it easier by allowing you to charge six devices simultaneously. It sports four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, along with enough juice to charge a pair of laptops at full speed. Just make sure to pick up some durable charging cables to go with it.
If the sun is waking you up too early every day or you're living with a roommate who uses the TV late at night, LitBear's Sleep Mask could be an absolute godsend. The comfy face mask features spacious eye pockets, a hollow nose bridge, and an adjustable strap, all of which make it suitable for both back and side sleepers.
Looking to take your entire library with you on the go? The Kindle Paperwhite features a bright 300ppi display, a battery that can last for weeks on a single charge, and 16GB of storage, which is sufficient for holding thousands of books. It's roughly the size of a paperback, too, meaning you can easily toss it in your backpack for class.
Whether you're cooking ramen or need a late-night cup of coffee to push through your next marathon study sesh, Cosori's OG electric kettle can deliver. The basic countertop appliance features five presets, each catering to a different beverage, along with a 'hold temp' button that's particularly useful when boiling water for your next meal or break.
If you're having trouble sleeping in a new environment, the cozy Cotton Napper may be able to help. The knitted weighted blanket comes in multiple sizes — Bearby recommends getting one that's roughly 10 percent of your body weight — as well as a multitude of shades. I've used this weighted blanket myself and can confirm that it makes falling asleep much easier.
Razer's Kishi V3 can transform an Android phone or any USB-C-equipped iPhone into a more capable gaming device. Its physical buttons, sticks, and triggers are more comfortable to use than their touchscreen equivalents, and your fingers won't block your view while you play. The V3's larger, curved frame makes it feel like a console gamepad, too, only without the added heft.
It's still hard believe the Amazfit Active 2 retails for less than $100. The humble smartwatch includes everything from offline navigation and voice commands to a strength training mode that can auto-detect sets, reps, and rest periods. It also features a vivid OLED display and a super stylish watchface — which isn't something often associated with affordable fitness trackers.
The latest Zephyrus G14 is a gaming laptop that moonlights as a great general-purpose PC for students. It has a high-resolution OLED display, a larger trackpad than its predecessor, and ample storage, memory, and processing power. These specs are necessary for playing games, but they also ensure the laptop is well suited for resource-intensive tasks, such as 4K video editing and audio production.
Classic team-based games like Codenames offer a good opportunity to break the ice with new schoolmates, whether you're living with them or just linking up on the quad. The collaborative game charges two 'spymasters' with connecting a series of seemingly unrelated cards via a one-word clue, which their teammates must then uncover before the opposing team finds their own. It's simple to learn but tough to master.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the best handheld gaming systems available, full stop. It plays most games released for the original Switch (in some cases at a higher resolution and frame rate), along with a growing list of exclusive titles. Plus, despite its larger 7.9-inch display, it's still small enough to carry with you for quick play sessions between classes.
Wearing earplugs makes it easier to sleep next to a snoring roommate — that is, assuming you can find the right fit. This reusable pair from Funsound comes with a smorgasbord of eartips, including both foam and silicone options. They supposedly can reduce sound volume by up to 27 decibels, which is roughly the difference between the noise of an alarm clock and a refrigerator.
Backing up your computer remains important, even though many of us now upload our files directly to the cloud. Crucial's X10 is a portable SSD that's smaller, faster, and more reliable than an external hard drive, yet it still offers sufficient storage for a full backup. The USB-C drive also works with everything from Android and Windows to iPadOS, meaning compatibility shouldn't be an issue.
Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
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