8 Gadgets Every Student Needs: Uni Tech Essentials
Depending on which university you’re studying at, term might be well underway… or just around the corner. Either way, there are a number of tech essentials that will be required to get the most out of your degree. You might not need them all, but a couple of these might be cornerstones of your studying, that get you from fresher’s week to graduation.
We’ll dive into tablets, Macs, and other nifty tools that will make revision a breeze and get coursework over quickly.
Without further ado, here’s are the 8 gadgets you should consider as a student.
1. A MacBook
They’re sleek, stylish, and incredibly powerful. If you’re a student and you’re working on campus, chances are a good number of the laptops you’ll see are MacBooks.
If you have an iPhone, you’ll know how reliable Apple products are. They might have less functionality than other gadgets, but the fact of the matter is Apple stuff just works!
With an iPhone, the integration is seamless. The way devices within the Apple ecosystem work seamlessly together makes a MacBook an incredibly appealing option for anyone who already owns an Apple phone – especially as you won’t need to learn an entirely new OS.
One worry with MacBooks might be the price. With Apple, you typically pay a premium. Even if that premium price is worth it, it’s still often a lot to fork out at once, especially for a student.
Well, with Mazuma, you could offset the cost of a new MacBook by selling some older tech you’ve got lying around.
2. A Table
Maybe you’re not much of a laptop person. And that’s understandable. After all, for some people, unless you’re doing work, you’re probably not opening it up or spending much time on it.
Most tablets will handle word processing and other tasks that are at a similar levels of intensity. In this case, a tablet with a large screen and an attachable keyboard might be a cost-effective alternative to a new laptop or MacBook.
Tablets are also a great option for those more interested in a portable media hub. If you were just planning to use a MacBook for streaming, listening to music, and the occasional game – a powerful MacBook might be overkill. A tablet with a good screen, speakers and storage will have your back in most situations.
If you’re looking to get a new tablet for uni, why not sell an old tablet for quick cash towards your upgrade!
3. Good, noise cancelling headphones
This next option will be essential for a few different types of students. Active noise cancelling can really help cut out background noise to help you get into the groove whilst revising in challenging situations.
If you’re living in shared dorms, you’ll find these particularly useful, as you’ll be able to easily cut out any distractions – whilst listening to your own tunes, of course. Oh, and if you commute to campus every day, the ability to cut out the sound of trains, busses and general chit chat cannot be understated. For some students, these will be an absolute must. For others, they can probably get by with a cheaper pair of ear buds. We’ll leave that decision up to you.
4. A reliable power bank
For extended study sessions when you’re out and about, you might find the battery on your various devices a little low. You won’t always have a power outlet available, and it’s probably not all that convenient to bring several bulky chargers around with you.
Because of this, a power bank is a must. As most devices these days are USB-C compatible, one power bank and wire can get you pretty far and provide a much-needed backup for most of your devices.
5. A streaming device
Uni doesn’t have to be ALL work. You’ll have times where you’ve finished your work, there are no socials planned, and there’s nothing else to do.
In those moments, having access to something that lets you stream your favourite films and TV is a must! That device might be your laptop, iPad, games console, or even something like a Fire TV Stick.
Fire TV Sticks can be great as they are incredibly portable and make the perfect choice for movie nights on a big screen if you can find one.
Oh, and now your Fire Stick can function as an Xbox through cloud streaming. So, if you have an old Xbox lying around, why not sell it with Mazuma and use the cash to pick up some of the other gadgets mentioned here.
6. A printer
Depending on your Uni, or whether you’re on campus or in town, you might not always have access to a printer. And even if you do, it might not be free to use!
Many unis still require coursework to be printed physically, and if you’re close to a deadline, you might not have time to scramble around town looking for a place to print. Having your own printer available can be a life saver in these situations, for you and your friends.
7. A Wi-Fi extende
Dorms and student housing aren’t famous for fantastic Wi-Fi, so if you’re someone who relies heavily on the internet, which we all are these days, then a Wi-Fi extender might be for you.
For example, if you’re doing any group work that requires the use of teams or similar software, you might struggle to get a good connection if you’ve been given the loft room that’s approximately 500 meters away from the router. A Wi-Fi extender won’t revolutionise your Wi-Fi speeds, but it can be a useful tool to help in particularly difficult situations.
8. A phone
Yes, you probably, well…DEFINITELY have a phone. The reason for mentioning this is that it cannot be understated how much of a social hub your phone can be during your time at uni. Whether it’s group chats for join projects, organising socials or simply staying in the loop with your university’s updates, a phone and relevant social media accounts is a must!
And that’s it. You probably have a number of these already, in which case, get them packed. However, if you don’t, selling old tech can be a great way to pick up all of these for a discounted price. So, sell your old tech, and get ready for uni for less with Mazuma.