1. A Reliable Laptop

While I initially hesitated to place this at the top of my list, a dependable laptop is undeniably vital. It will serve as the primary device for completing most of your coursework. Fortunately, unless your field of study demands high-end specifications, a student laptop doesn’t have to break the bank!

During my Computer Science studies, I bought a second-hand Toshiba Tecra Z50 for just over £100. It came equipped with an Intel i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. I took the initiative to upgrade it to 8GB of RAM, a 500GB SSD, and installed Windows 10, bringing the total cost to around £160—a fantastic deal!

That laptop proved to be quite durable! For those in search of a student laptop today, I recommend selecting one with at least 8GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD. Recently, I purchased a Huawei Matebook D15, featuring 8GB of RAM, a 500GB SSD, and an Intel i5 processor, and it has consistently exceeded my expectations!

The Huawei Matebook D15 is a prime example of a solid student laptop, capable of handling video editing and writing blog posts. I even managed to install Ubuntu on it effortlessly for those interested in using Linux.

2. Noise-Cancelling Headphones or Earbuds

Next on my list is a good pair of active noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds. They can significantly enhance your study sessions, especially if you reside in a bustling student hall and need to focus.

Currently, my top recommendation is the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, which I’ve reviewed recently. After using them extensively on a trip to Poland, they have become my go-to headphones. Priced at £79.99, they offer exceptional sound quality and effective noise cancellation.

If you prefer over-ear headphones, consider the Edifier WH950NB, which I reviewed a few months ago. They have been my choice for working from home, allowing me to concentrate better.

3. An iPad

I’ll admit, I was once a loyal Android user, but my perspective changed after I experienced the advantages of an iPad. While Android tablets have their merits, I found the app ecosystem and the seamless Apple ecosystem incredibly appealing.

I first acquired a second-hand iPad Mini for under £100, which served me well, before upgrading to a new standard iPad (2018 model) and eventually to my current 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation). The iPad became my primary note-taking device, especially with the Apple Pencil, enabling me to take handwritten notes and annotate academic materials without damaging physical copies.

With my iPad as a portable library, I carried fewer books to lectures, and now that I’ve completed my degree, I continue to use it as my main device for various tasks, thanks to its portability and versatility. It was undoubtedly one of the best investments I made during my university years.

Final Thoughts

University can be challenging, but the three tech gadgets mentioned above significantly enhanced my experience as a student. While it’s true that most universities provide computer access in libraries, and inexpensive headphones or earbuds can be found, investing in quality equipment can make a notable difference, especially considering the tuition costs involved.

While these are just three recommendations, based on my IT support experience at the university, I also suggest acquiring a portable hard drive and a USB flash drive for backing up your work. It's crucial to ensure that your work is secured across multiple storage solutions: the cloud, a USB drive, and weekly backups to an external hard drive.

For long-term storage, I’ve relied on a basic 1TB Toshiba Canvio Basics portable hard drive, which has served me well. These drives are often available at discounted prices. In my experience, USB flash drives can be prone to failure and are easily misplaced, so I wouldn’t recommend using them as your primary storage.

USB drives like the SanDisk Ultra 128GB are excellent for daily backups, which you can later transfer to your portable hard drive. It may seem excessive, but avoiding the nightmare of file corruption is worth the precaution, as I've witnessed it happen too many times.

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