Gizmodo Back to School 2023 Guide
Back to school feels different now than it did in the days before the pandemic. Today, hybrid learning is second nature to many students, and a reliable computer is critical even for elementary school students, not just high school and college students.
In addition to a laptop, Chromebook, or tablet, students will likely also need virtual meeting gear, some fun things to blow off some steam, and surprisingly, some even need a printer. As hard as we try, the need to print out papers or documents hasn’t entirely gone away.
The following expert tips are a great way to get started with back-to-school shopping.
The best laptop to get through four years of college
Apple MacBook Air
Now available in both 13-inch and 15-inch versions, the MacBook Air remains one of the most universal computers money can buy. They’re particularly popular with students who appreciate the ease of use of macOS, the sleek, sleek design, and the fact that you can get through several years of school on a solidly built MacBook.
Note that this is still a hefty investment: $1,099 for the current 13-inch version and $1,299 for the new 15-inch version.
Best budget hybrid for students
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1
Don’t fall for breakthrough laptops under $500, they will only disappoint you and have you buying a new one faster than you think. If you need a full-fledged laptop without a Chromebook and don’t want to spend more than $1,000 on a MacBook, get something practical, durable, and big enough to use your everyday computing. A good example of this is something like the AMD-powered Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1.
Starting at $799, it’s a 14-inch clamshell laptop that converts into a tablet thanks to a 360-degree hybrid hinge. This makes it good for research and writing, but also for taking notes, streaming videos, and other tablet tasks.
Best budget phone
iPhone SE or Samsung Galaxy A14
The new top-of-the-line iPhones start at over $1,000 while those from Samsung The latest snazzy folding phone costs a whopping $1,800. Fortunately, there are cheaper, decent alternatives without resorting to a no-name throwaway burner phone.
The $429 iPhone SE, while trapped in a dated hardware design, is Apple’s most affordable iPhone and will do if you need access to iOS apps, Messages, and other Apple-centric features. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A14 is a decent looking $200 phone and one of the most affordable 5G phones you will ever find.
Best E Ink Screen for Reading Textbooks or Taking Notes
Amazon Kindle Scribe
The affordable 10.2-inch Kindle Scribe is one of the larger E Ink screens you can buy, and it might not seem like a must-have alongside the basics like a laptop or printer. But for some students, it’s an invaluable tool, allowing for easy textbook storage and reading, as well as one of the most natural writing and note-taking experiences I’ve ever had on a tablet.
It costs $339, which is about the same as a basic iPad. But for a pure reading experience, it’s hard to beat, and a basic stylus is included in the price. My biggest gripe is that a nicer premium stylus and magnetic screen cover are sold separately for $60 each.
The best printer that won’t drive you crazy
Brother HL-L2370DW
This Brother model is the only printer I’ve ever owned that I didn’t want to throw out the window. In fact, I bought another one for my mom and one for my ski lodge. Even if you don’t go for this exact model (there’s a color version that’s pretty good too), my general advice is to always get a laser printer, never an inkjet printer. And always buy third-party toner refills, they’re much cheaper and generally work just fine – check out some Amazon reviews to see which toner brands get good feedback.
For me, the only exception to this rule is when you’re printing a lot of photos. Laser printers are not suitable for this, instead you are looking for a special photo printer such as an Epson Ecotank or a Canon Pixma.
Best webcam if your laptop’s camera sucks
Logitech C920S
If the Zoom meeting/distance school era has taught us anything, it’s that most people have laptops with horrible webcams. That’s true even if you have a fancy MacBook before the latest M2 models. In fact, half-decent webcams have been selling out everywhere during the pandemic, and popular models like the $70 Logitech C920 are only now becoming easy to find again.
A tip: If you have a relatively new Mac and an iPhone running at least macOS Ventura and iOS 16, you can set up your phone’s superior camera as a wireless webcam too, using a built-in feature called camera connectivity.
Best PC gaming on a budget
valve steam deck
PC gaming is experiencing a renaissance, with both indie and big-budget games being fueled by the wide range of gaming hardware available and the large number of places (Steam, Epic, GoG, HumbleBundle, etc.) to play can buy games. However, gaming PCs remain expensive, with budget models starting at around $1,000.
Try Valve’s portable Steam Deck for about half the price of a very basic gaming laptop (like Dell’s excellent G-series). It runs a custom SteamOS Linux overlay on AMD hardware and, amazingly, can play almost any game, new or old. The small, low-resolution screen means it uses less power, and there are also options to download games from providers other than just Steam.
My only tip: Skip the $400 entry-level model with just 64GB of storage and get the $530 mid-range model with a 256GB SSD. Either way, be ready to add your own microSD card for extra storage.
