Our Favorite Back-to-School Picks for 2025

CNET

08-07-2025

Somehow, it's that time of the summer again: back-to-school season is on the horizon. That means it's time to start shopping. Whether you have a kiddo heading to kindergarten or college, they'll need a few key supplies to get the year started off right. To help you avoid last-minute scrambling, our editors have hand-selected some school essentials for you.
From top-rated laptops, durable water bottles, smart notebooks and everything in between, these finds cover gear, gadgets and services that will help students stay productive and engaged in the classroom. A smooth start can help set your scholar up for success the whole year. Check out our favorite finds to get ready for the school year now.
Best back-to-school tech
Kadams Pomodoro Visual Timer Cube
It can be tough for everyone to transition from the freedom and fun of summer to the structure and homework a new school year brings. To help students stay focused while doing school tasks, try a visual timer. This handy, easy-to-use device can help with time management and reduce procrastination for scholars of all ages. You can set it for any time between 1 and 99 minutes, and the LED ring display then gradually fills as the time progresses. There's also a stopwatch mode that can be used for timing other activities -- like workouts and cooking. Fun for the whole family! $17 at Walmart
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Rocketbook Core reusable spiral notebook
Taking notes is a whole lot easier -- and smarter -- thanks to Rocketbook's reusable notebooks. Students can write on pages like they're regular paper, then scan and upload their notes to a cloud platform of choice (like Google Drive, Dropbox and more). Once their notes are safely stored, they can wipe the page clean with a damp cloth and start fresh.
Other features include the ability to bundle pages together and search for handwritten text -- no more flipping through pages to find that one note they took in history class last week. They can also choose between classic lined, custom dot grids or blank pages to suit their needs. Genius, right? $32 at Amazon
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Apple MacBook Air M1
This isn't the latest MacBook Air in Apple's lineup, but it's hard to beat the price. For just $649, you get a solid laptop that features Apple's M1 processor with an eight‑core CPU, seven‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Engine. It also has Touch ID, Apple's Magic Keyboard, a Force Touch trackpad and a 13.3-inch Retina display.
Read our MacBook Air M1 review. See at Walmart
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Anker Zolo portable power bank
Most students can't go one second without their phones, whether they're texting friends or looking up homework assignments. If you want to make sure their phone never runs out of juice, get them a power bank for easy charging on the go. The 10,000-mAh Anker Zolo is CNET's favorite power bank. It's fast-charging, easy to slip into a pocket or backpack and you can use the USB-C cable as a lanyard when it's not plugged into a device.
Be aware that Anker recently issued a global recall of several products, so double-check the model number of the Anker charger you select before finalizing your purchase to make sure you're not buying a faulty product. $26 at Amazon
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Speck phone case
Not only do you need to keep their phone juiced up, but you'll need to make sure it stays protected and can withstand the rigors of being thrown into a backpack or left on a gym floor. Speck makes a variety of stylish cases for various models. Prices start as low as $9 for a clear polycarbonate case and go all the way up to $50 depending on the model. See at Amazon
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Apple AirPods 4
Apple's got a pretty solid grip on kids and teens, which is why AirPods remain a top choice among students. While you could pay a bit more for the AirPods Pro 2, we suggest going with the excellent but less expensive fourth-gen AirPods, winner of a CNET Editors' Choice Award. They offer active noise cancellation, the same H2 chip found in the Pro 2 and the design fits smaller ears a bit better than the Pros.
Read our AirPods 3 review. $159 at Amazon
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Acer Chromebook Plus 514
If you don't want to plunk down a ton of cash for a new Apple laptop, a Chromebook is the way to go. They're almost always less expensive and simpler to use than a laptop running Windows or MacOS. This Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is durable, lightweight, and offers a long battery life and good webcam performance, which is why it landed at the top of our list of the best Chromebook of 2025.
Read our Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review. $650 at Walmart
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Jall Wake Up Light sunrise alarm clock
Getting up for school in the morning is hard. Make those morning a little more peaceful with a sunrise alarm clock. According to a study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, exposure to simulating light in the mornings can improve cognitive performance throughout the day. This Jall Wake Up Light is our favorite budget pick for the best sunrise alarm. For less than $40, you get seven colors and 20 brightness levels, along with seven natural sounds to accompany the light. $39 at Amazon
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Best back-to-school backpacks and water bottles
Make It Mine backpack
Don't you wish you'd had a fun, personalized backpack like this one growing up? This Pottery Barn Make It Mine backpack includes a trio of patches that can be ironed on, plus a fun charm that can be attached to a loop or zipper pull. You can also add your favorite student's name or initials to further customize it. Prices start at $59.50 (for small) and $69.50 (for large) and you can also purchase a matching lunch box (with two patches) and additional iron-on patches for $10. What a great way to get your little scholar excited about the school year. See at Pottery Barn Kids
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The North Face Recon backpack
A good backpack not only should be able to hold all your student's supplies, but it also needs to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. That's what you'll find here with North Face's Recon Backpack. It's durable, with ample space for a laptop, books, water bottle and more. Bonus: It has a padded laptop compartment to protect your device from bumps and falls. $109 at The North Face $109 at Amazon
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Owala FreeSip water bottle
The Stanley has officially outlived its cool factor, and the Owala FreeSip is the water bottle of choice among students now. Unlike the Stanley, it's easy to carry around and it won't leak all over your backpack or tote. It's also got a cool built-in straw that makes it easy to sip from all day long.
$43 at Amazon
$43 at Target
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Hydro Flask
It's not the Owala, but it's still a popular choice among students. While the bigger, wide-mouth version was popular a few years ago, now more students go for the standard-mouth version since it's easier to fit into backpacks and cup holders.
See more of the best water bottles of 2025. $18 at Amazon
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Best back-to-school supplies
Back-to-school elementary school supply box
You know how school supply lists usually require you loading up your cart -- in-store or online -- with a ton of items and you still inevitably forget something? This school supply box takes the stress out of that shopping experience. It's a one-stop shop for the essentials most elementary school kids will need this year. The 32-piece box includes items like a pencil box, erasers, glue sticks, pencil sharpener, ruler, notebook -- plus Crayola markers, crayons and colored pencils. Phew! $33 at Amazon
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First day of school memory board
So this isn't so much a first-day essential for kids, it's more for proud parents. Whether your kiddo is starting first grade or heading off to high school (and rolling their eyes at your photo request), you'll be glad you bought this customizable board to mark the occasion. You can fill it in with their teacher's name, favorite things, career ambitions -- even their height! Then, at the end of the year, swap in the "last day of" magnetic tag to see how much they've grown. Cue those happy tears. $12 at Amazon
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Locker accessory kit
Locker accessories have come a long way! With everything they need to stay organized and stylish, the student in your life can make their locker their own with this set. It includes a whiteboard, organizer basket, shelf, mirror and some magnets -- perfect for keeping track of class schedules, homework and more. It'll make those in-between-class book drop-offs just a little more enjoyable.
$33 at Amazon
$40 at Walmart
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A Nice Night faux fur reading pillow
So much for desks. Most kids end up doing the majority of their homework in bed or on the floor. This faux fur reading pillow offers a perfect blend of comfort and support. And it comes in a variety of colors so it will suit any decor.
$38 at Amazon
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Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils
No matter which grade they're in, students go through a lot of pencils -- so it's important to have at least a 12-pack of them on hand before school starts. While Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils are a classic, if you want to make your student feel special, get them an upgrade with these Palomino Blackwings. Yes, they're much pricier than Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, but the quality of these pencils can't be beat. Once you try them, you'll never want to go back.
$34 at Walmart
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PowerMe electric pencil sharpener
Even if you buy pre-sharpened pencils, you'll need a pencil sharpener on hand for when they start going dull. PowerMe's electric pencil sharpener does the job and comes in a variety of colors. We like that it's battery-operated and compact so it doesn't take up much desk space.
$20 at Amazon
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Decomposition notebook
Not everything requires a Chromebook or MacBook. Sometimes you just want to jot something down with a good old-fashioned pencil and paper. The timeless Decomposition Notebook is a classic and comes in a variety of patterns, starting at $6 on Amazon. It's lightweight and perfect for tossing into a backpack for your next brainstorming session. $15 at Amazon
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Sephora gift card
Don't forget about skincare. As kids get older, cleansers and acne treatments take center stage. Set them up for skincare success with a Sephora gift card. Cards can be loaded at any increment between $10 and $250. See at Sephora
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