Tech Essentials for University Students
Whether students are heading to university for the first time or returning for another year, they need to make sure they are armed with the latest technology essentials.
Smartphones, laptops, mobile phones and tablets will be high on the list of must-haves, while tech such as headphones and kitchen tech are also hugely popular.
Knowing which type of tech to buy is a difficult task, with the marketplace flooded with thousands of different quality products.
However, we’ve worked hard on your behalf to try and narrow down the field, so read on as we look at some of the best tech essentials for university students.
Laptops and Notebooks
Apple’s MacBook Air and Microsoft’s Surface Pro are well worth checking out, although we quite like the look of the Dell XPS 13.
The Dell machine is more competitively priced than its two main rivals, making it a sensible choice for university students.
The basic XPS 13 is powerful enough to handle most day-to-day study tasks, with its 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor perfectly adequate for university work.
It boasts an impressive 13.3-inch Full HD InfinityEdge display, 4GB of 2,133MHz DDR3 memory and a 128GB PCIe solid state drive (SSD).
A new 2.25mm webcam has also been included in the XPS 13, adding a further touch of quality to what is an excellent all-round product.
Tablets
If money is no object the iPad Pro 11 is undoubtedly the best tablet you can buy for university. Apple has pushed the boat out design-wise and the company’s efforts shine through.
The Pro offers a range of storage capacity options and a stunning 11-inch Liquid Retina display that is one of the best in the industry.
The tablet feels much more solid than some of its competitors – certainly a handy feature for students to utilise in everyday university life.
Improved speakers will appeal to gaming and music fans, although the removal of the headphone jack is a minor irritation.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S4 is a competitively priced alternative to the iPad Pro 11, but the Apple product’s sturdier nature makes it a far more appealing proposition.
Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Sony WH-1000XM3 are ranked amongst the best headphones in 2019.
The Quiet Comfort 35 II uses innovative noise cancellation technology to deliver a stunning listening experience.
Google Assistant is built-in, allowing you to listen to online notifications and text messages while you are on the move.
However, the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are more than a match, offering superb sound quality and noise cancelling for a fraction of the price.
The ‘Quick Attention’ feature is a great idea, allowing you to talk to other people without having to lift the headphones off your head.
Kitchen Tech
Many students don’t want to spend hours on end cooking meals when they live in university accommodation.
The Instant Pot is a handy ‘all-in-one’ kitchen tech solution that operates as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker and more.
The pressure cooker function is great for students, giving them the perfect tool to make fresh and healthy meals quickly and efficiently.
If soups and smoothies are more to your liking, the Breville Active Personal Blender is the answer to your culinary prayers.
Simply throw in your favourite ingredients, add some liquid, press the ‘on’ button and you’ll have some simple food in a matter of moments.
Mobile Phones
The mobile phone industry is one of the most competitive tech markets around, with thousands of different options available to consumers across the world.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 remains one of the best around and is a sensible buy for university students who aren’t bothered by the arrival of the Note 10.
It boasts a host of features including a large screen, a stylus with Bluetooth connectivity and a rear 12-megapixel dual-lens camera.
A viable alternative to the Note 9 is the Xiaomi Mi 9 which features Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 processor and a triple-lens camera.
With a choice of storage options, wireless charging and improved audio from the integrated loudspeaker, the Mi 9 is well-worth considering.
External Hard Drives
If your university course requires you to keep a large number of files you may need to consider buying an external hard drive.
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 is one of the best products on the market, offering high performance in a compact and durable case.
The T5 improves on its predecessor by including a USB Type-C connection that speeds up the solid state drive.
If cost is an issue, the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive offers an excellent mix of capacity and speed for a much lower cost than some of its competitors.
It is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, although you would need to specify which version you require at the point of purchase.
