These Back-to-School Tech Gifts Are Student Approved
I am a father of five and grandfather of two. My children range in age from 21 to 29, so over the past few years I have done a lot of school-aged kids, first apartments, and school supplies picking up. I am also a full-time digital nomad, meaning I work remotely while traveling to see the world.
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Because I often only talk to my kids via Zoom or FaceTime, I miss those daily IRL moments where a parent overhears some small talk or notices what items the kids use and leave around the house. Luckily for me, my kids are techies like me and are more than happy to tell me what items are most useful in their lives as they navigate early adulthood.
If you’re looking for a small (or extravagant) gift for the young adult in your life as the new school year begins, these tech gifts are top picks for me and my family.
Working as a digital nomad means spending a lot of time on airplanes. One experience I haven’t had on a plane is using wired headphones for the entertainment system.
Since I bought an AirFly Bluetooth adapter, I haven’t looked back. This wireless Bluetooth audio transmitter and receiver works with AirPods or wireless headphones. You plug the gadget into the entertainment center of a plane or train, so you can pair your wireless device. It creates a Bluetooth connection anywhere there’s a regular headphone jack.
Chances are your graduate will want to travel at some point (or better yet, travel with you!), so this is a gift he or she will be happy to receive.
When it comes to my kids, 3 out of 5 prefer an Apple laptop. I bought a 14-inch MacBook Pro, a 15-inch MacBook Air, and a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
My 22-year-old daughter likes the 14-inch MacBook Pro, pictured here, because it’s the happy medium of the three devices. She’s a programmer, but because she travels a lot, she doesn’t want a larger screen. My 24-year-old son prefers the 16-inch MacBook Pro because he does both programming and graphics work, so he wanted a larger screen. And my 21-year-old daughter likes the 15-inch MacBook Air because the screen is big but the laptop is light.
Although I travel with headphones, I often use a Bluetooth speaker when watching shows and listening to music. I like the JBL Flip 5 portable Bluetooth speaker because it’s small enough to fit in my travel bag and easy to use.
This is a middle of the road speaker in terms of price. The audio quality is good enough for me, and the product is both durable and waterproof.
Two of my kids are gamers, so they prefer PCs over Apple computers. For them, I bought the Alienware x16 R2 gaming laptop. They both love this laptop because it is fast, has an impressive Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card, and a good refresh rate for gaming.
I know from personal experience that surprising your gaming-loving child with an Alienware laptop is a huge compliment.
Battery life Suitable for up to 20 hoursNoise reduction Yes (ANC)Multiple point YesHeadphone type Wireless over-ear headphonesWater repellent No IP rating
Oddly enough, when my kids bought headphones, they all opted for over-ear headphones instead of earbuds.
I found the Bose Headphones 700 to be a great travel companion, and as it turns out, my kids love them too. The sound is great, they fit comfortably over the ears, and they’re wireless. Some of my kids in college are Apple fans, while others prefer Android, but they’ve called a truce and come together over their mutual love of Bose.
Read our review of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
I’m an Apple user, so the Apple MagSafe Portable Charger is a natural fit for my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it’s small and light enough to fit in my pocket. I’ve purchased Apple’s MagSafe chargers for three of my kids; they appreciate being able to keep their phones charged by simply setting them down instead of having to search for cords all the time.
A tablet is a great gift because it’s a device that can do most of the work of a laptop, but in a portable way. I personally use my iPad on flights and in hotels because it’s much easier to handle than my laptop. All five of my adult children prefer Apple products when it comes to tablets, especially for taking notes or streaming shows from a comfortable spot.
Tablets have come a long way in terms of speed, screen clarity and the powerful processors built into them. I can now perform business tasks on my iPad while on the go, which is more convenient than pulling out my laptop.
I bought this Bluetooth speaker for myself and a few of my kids because it’s cheap, yet fun. This portable speaker is great for watching movies in hotels and Airbnbs (and let’s not forget blasting my favorite Taylor Swift songs).
My kids also love this affordable speaker and say they actually use the gift, which is always a plus.
Read our Anker SoundCore 2 review.
To keep my gadgets powered on the go, mobile power is essential. There isn’t always an outlet available when I’m on a plane, train, bus, or in a taxi. Anker’s MagGo power bank is my go-to mobile power supply for my travels.
Luckily, my kids agree. They like the Anker MagGo because it’s portable and not too bulky. Being able to power gadgets while you’re at school, work, or on the go is a gift your older kids will appreciate.
Some of my kids want the best audio quality in an external speaker, so we go back to Bose. They told me they like this Bose Bluetooth speaker because it is small, yet powerful in its audio output. It can handle the room for a party, but also fits easily in a backpack or carry-on.
Technical gifts are a win-win situation
Tech gifts are an easy way to treat your kids to a higher quality of life if they don’t have the paycheck to do it themselves. They’ll appreciate it, and you’ll appreciate giving them a gift they’ll actually want and use. You can’t go wrong with any of these gifts as you send your young adult off on their next adventure.
