The Absolutely Essential Gadgets that Every College Student Needs

By Ian Donnelly

Everyone wants the latest and greatest gizmos and gadgets, but the fanciest new tech rarely takes priority—especially on a student budget. There are some devices that are just too important to do without, and while these uninspiring electronics may not be as flashy or exciting as that top-of-the-line VR headset you’ve been eyeing, you’ll be sorry if you skimp on any of these absolutely essential, not-so-hi-tech tools.

Bluetooth Speaker

We’ve all felt the urge to draw the shades, grab a hairbrush, and belt out an impromptu karaoke performance of our favorite songs. That’s why every college student should own a Bluetooth speaker—it’s the perfect backing band for your sold-out living room show. There are plenty of affordable, portable, and powerful options out there that allow you to charge up their battery life for a few days, wirelessly connect to your smartphone or computer, and blare that perfect Spotify playlist as you leave the aux cord in the dust.

While most Bluetooth speakers aren’t loud enough to get the cops called on your housewarming party, they’re miles ahead of your laptop’s sound range and your smartphone’s output. They’re the perfect investment for everyday listening in your room or in the kitchen, and will definitely pack enough punch to drone out your own voice when that sing-along starts tugging at your vocal cords—and that alone is worth it, for the sake of your neighbors’ sanity.

HDTV

Whether you’re using it to watch movies or play video games, the center of any students’ living space is almost always the TV. Sure, you watch things on your phone and computer, but a TV is vital for friendly get-togethers—and all your friends are counting on you to host those Game of Thrones viewing parties since you have access to your parents’ HBO subscription.

You may not have the space or the budget for a theater-sized, retina-massaging screen, but you don’t have to settle for a pathetic and grainy relic you find at the thrift store, either. There are plenty of HDTVs that come in reasonable sizes and price ranges, and they all feature HDMI ports so you can plug in your favorite devices. You won’t find any cutting-edge smart TV capabilities like apps or streaming services built into the smaller HDTV models—those are usually reserved for larger, more expensive TV options, but you can always supplement these types of features with a streaming stick, gaming console, or laptop.

Flash Drive

I know what you’re thinking—flash drives are a dime a dozen; they’re as common on campus as loose change is on the sidewalk, and if you ever actually need one of those obnoxious bits of plastic, you’re pretty confident that one will find you before you ever start looking. While I totally agree that these pocket-sized pieces of technology are a little archaic, you have to be prepared for everything in college, and keeping your files safe and mobile is a must.

Dropping one of those infinitely available flash drives in your backpack is worth it to avoid a handful of “what if” scenarios. Just one night of spotty Wi-Fi, one tragic computer freeze, or one mad dash to the library’s printer can mean the difference between meeting a deadline just in time or not at all. As long as you keep that flash drive handy, you can research, revise, and rest easy.

Printer

Just like a flash drive, shelling out for a printer sounds about as hi-tech as buying a sun dial. There are plenty of printers on campus, so getting your own is a total waste, and that money would be better spent on a Go Pro for you and your friends to make awesome videos with, right?

Again, I’m right there with you—Go Pros are awesome. But you have to keep in mind that those campus resources aren’t your own little secret. When finals and deadlines roll around, every student is thinking the same thing, and your go-to campus printer could be occupied, overloaded, or even out of ink as you attempt to print the last revision of your final paper. Ink can get expensive, so you don’t always have to use your personal printer, but having one for dire deadline emergencies is essential for any college student.

Surge Protector

A surge protector is definitely the most boring product on this list, but it’s also the smartest investment you can make for protecting all your electronics. It might feel like magic whenever you flick the light switch and the lamp turns on, but that trick is always subject to blackouts, heat waves, downed power lines, big storms, and a slew of other reality-checks that could mean disaster for your most cherished gadgets.

Even manufacturers recognize how unappealing surge protectors are and have spiced things up with some new, eye-pleasing designs. There are a wide variety of inexpensive and space-saving surge protectors that come in a smaller casing that are easy to stow out of the way, and some even feature USB charging ports for your smart devices in addition to the run -of-the-mill, three-prong plugs. They will all keep your gizmos safe from electrical surges, and for something that costs roughly 20 bucks, it’s way more manageable than having to replace a fried laptop, smartphone, or TV.

If you’re missing any of these tech essentials, that brand-new tablet or top-of-the-line aerial drone will have to wait. Make sure you have your tech basics covered with uCribs’ fundamental, not-so-hi-tech gadgets!

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