White desk with desktop computer, laptop, table, and phone with same apps

6 Cool Gadgets to Get for Your Dorm or Workspace

Learning is enhanced by the technology we use. Take studying to the next level with these cool tools and resources, ranging from expensive to affordable.

Whether you’re in a traditional dorm room or your bedroom in your childhood home, it’s crucial to set up a dedicated workspace for college so you can achieve high levels of productivity. Regardless of your major, your coursework likely takes up most of your time. That’s why you should look into some must-have gadgets for your homework setup. 

Research shows that the environment you work in can affect your productivity and output, so adding certain gadgets and tools to your study space can help you remain focused. Things like temperature, air quality, lighting, and noise all play a role in your environment. If you’re looking for cool gadgets for your at-home workspace or dorm room, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of six must-have gadgets for your dorm room that'll bring your workspace to the next level so you can be more productive during those late-night study sessions.

1. Apple AirPods Pro

If you don’t already have a pair of Apple AirPods Pro, you’re missing out on great sound quality for your background study music. AirPods come with active noise cancellation, and they’re one of the best pairs of wireless headphones on the market. You can accept calls, skip forward or backward while listening to music, switch between Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency mode, and even ask Siri questions hands-free while you work. All it takes is a couple of clicks to perform any of these tasks.

2. Apple MacBook Air

You likely need a laptop to do research and homework, attend online classes, hop on Zoom for a call with your advisor, and many other things. The Apple MacBook Air is a perfect option for college students. The Air model is even included in Apple’s education pricing, meaning you can receive a discount for being a student when purchasing one. The laptop is light yet durable, only weighing 2.8 pounds. It has plenty of space to store all your assignments and contains essential internal technology to power you through your coursework. While Apple products tend to be more expensive, it’s okay to splurge as a college student every once in a while when it’s something reliable you need for school purposes.

Related: When Is It Appropriate to Splurge as a College Student?

3. KwikBoost EdgePower Clamp-On Desktop Charging Unit

The KwikBoost EdgePower Desktop Charging Unit comes in handy when you need it most. The last thing you want is for any of your devices to run out of battery, especially when you’re finishing up and turning in any assignments at the last minute. Consider purchasing this desktop charging unit to have easy access to all your charging necessities without leaving your workspace. Its clamp-on feature allows you to attach the unit to most tables or desks, so you can bring it to your college’s library or keep it in your dorm room.

4. Readerest Blue Light Blocking Glasses

You’re likely spending a lot of time on your laptop, phone, or tablet—we all do. Readerest’s Blue Light Blocking Glasses will help you prevent eyestrain. Many Readerest glasses are affordable, so you won’t have to worry about spending a ton of money on them. And there are plenty of designs that will suit any type of college student. Some of the top-selling glasses are the Duran, Feisty Sister, and Spring Hills models. Consider purchasing a pair of blue light glasses to keep you on top of your game and protect your eyes while you’re working.

Related: How to Take Care of Your Vision as a Student–Athlete

5. Avantree Neetto Lapdesk

You’d be lying if you said you’ve never done homework from your bed. It’s understandable, considering how busy you are and how much cozier it is than sitting at your desk! While it’s best to get your homework done at a designated workspace, your bed is the place you can feel most comfortable, and sometimes you need that. For when you do your work in bed, you’ll need the Avantree Neetto Lapdesk. It’s a laptop bed table equipped with adjustable legs so you can change the height for your needs. The lapdesk is foldable, portable, and serves multiple purposes, such as eating breakfast in bed or watching your favorite Netflix show.

6. RocketBook Core Smart Notebook

Note-taking plays an important role in your everyday life as a college student. You likely take notes for every class you are in, and the RocketBook Core Smart Notebook can bring your skills to the next level. The smart notebook works similarly to traditional pen and paper, except it’s endlessly reusable and connected to the cloud. When you write on the Core notebook with pens from RocketBook’s Pilot Frixion line, you can easily erase what you’ve written with a drop of water. These notebooks come with one Pilot Frixion pen and a microfiber cloth for easy erasing.

Related: 5 Tips for Focusing and Note–Taking in Online Classes

College can be stressful and overwhelming. To stay on top of your coursework and achieve high productivity levels, consider looking into some of these cool, must-have gadgets for your workspace. All these tools are great gift ideas to help you perform well academically and have an amazing school year!

For more cool ways to upgrade your work area, check out our article How to Make Your Dorm the Perfect Study Space.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Ginger Abbot

Ginger Abbot is an education, learning and student life writer, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of Classrooms.com. Read more of her work for college students on her Classrooms author page.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT


Kelly Nogueiro

Kelly Nogueiro

Counselor

For me, CollegeXpress has given me a valuable tool to use with my students to explore colleges easily beyond objective data. It helps me find colleges for students that fit their needs and wants that aren’t quite so black and white. It's a wealth of knowledge, and the Type-A side of me loves all the lists and the fact that I know they're coming from folks who know what they're talking about. I share it with colleagues and students alike, and it's always well received.

Rana Slosberg

Rana Slosberg

Slosberg College Solutions LLC

My favorite part of CollegeXpress is the 800+ lists which have all kinds of hard-to-find information. These lists are helpful when I’m creating college lists, and I also use them to give students a feel for a particular college or university.

Jessica Rinker

Jessica Rinker

Student, Fairhaven High School; CollegeXpress Student Writer

My high school counselor introduced me to CollegeXpress freshman year. It has made such a difference in high school, and I plan to continue relying on it in college. CollegeXpress is my go-to because it addresses each aspect of being a student. There are the articles you’d expect regarding college applications and financial aid, but you will also find advice on things like de-stressing and maintaining relationships while balancing a heavy course load. CollegeXpress will also keep you updated on current scholarships through e-mails each Saturday. (They don’t harass you with any product promotion like so many other sites do.) CollegeXpress is a lot like an older sibling who has already conquered the challenges you are facing. Now, they are reaching out a helpful hand. I say take it.

Heather McCarty

Heather McCarty

High School Class of 2020

CollegeXpress has helped me with the college application process. The tips and tricks for important essays were so helpful. I also gained useful knowledge about college life. Even though I’m fully online, CollegeXpress has helped me develop a sense of how college is in person. The experiences from college students that were featured on their Instagram page have shown the good, the bad, and the “secret” life on campus from a reliable perspective. Not to mention, they relieved my feelings of anxiety about the workload. I can now understand how it can be stressful, but it takes self-control and willpower to get assignments completed on time and with quality.

Heaven Johnson

Heaven Johnson

Back to School Scholarship Winner, High School Class of 2023

I’d like to thank everyone on the CollegeXpress team for their generosity. Not only have I been awarded this scholarship, but CollegeXpress makes it easier to apply and gives amazing tips for schools and scholarships. I am extremely grateful as this will help with my schooling and allow me to be able to enter into the field I’ve been dreaming of all my life.