If you or a loved one is prepping for college, it’s easy to knock out the apparent dorm room essentials: twin XL sheets, a mini fridge, a laptop. What’s less obvious are the tech items that can level up a dorm room from basic to smart.
With so many gadgets flooding the market, especially those catered to college students, it can be hard to know which are worth it and which will sit unused for the next four years.
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That’s why we rounded up our favorite smart home gadgets we’ve actually tested, perfect for outfitting any college dorm. From smart speakers to nifty streaming options, our team of experts has curated the best picks for back-to-school season, whether you’re a first-time freshman or a returning student.
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A smart speaker
A speaker has been an essential part of a college dorm for years. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since Bluetooth shower speakers. The best smart speakers from top tech brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, and more make it easy to listen to music, amp up a movie night, and serve as the perfect homework helpers thanks to Alexa, Siri, and more.
Amazon’s flagship Echo Dot is a great place to start if you’re looking for a smart speaker. It has Alexa built-in and is a perfect budget-friendly option at $50. Aside from using this Alexa speaker to control your smart home, the Echo Dot has excellent sound quality to play your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Though it doesn’t have a smart display, the fifth-generation Echo Dot makes a great bedside companion.
Smart home expert Maria Diaz, who awarded this speaker ZDNET’s pick for best budget Amazon speaker, says it lets you easily set alarms by asking Alexa or using the Alexa app and controlling Alexa-compatible smart home devices triggered by the temperature or built-in motion sensors.
A wireless charging stand
If there’s one piece of dorm tech I recommend everyone owns, it is a multi-device wireless charger. It makes it so much easier when all your device charging can be docked in the same place, and you don’t have to deal with tangles, cords dropping behind your furniture in small spaces, or loading up a surge protector with the chargers for all your devices. Whether you’re an Android or Apple user, some great charging accessories and docks make it easy to boost your phone, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches quickly.
The Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charger did not exist when I was a student, but I own it now as a 20-something and would recommend it just the same. It can wirelessly charge my AirPods, Apple Watch, and iPhone simultaneously and quickly. It is pricier for a wireless charger, but spending a little more to get something that can be used in so many situations makes sense.
Not only can this be used on your nightstand or desk, but it easily folds up to a compact size for travel and on-the-go use. I can’t tell you how easy it makes packing up tech for a trip now that all I need to do is fold this little guy up and go.
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A streaming stick
If you plan on buying a budget TV for your dorm room (and there are plenty of great options), an easy way to upgrade it is with a streaming device. Most dorms won’t have access to cable or traditional TV services, so if you want to use a TV, it’ll likely have to be done over the internet. Streaming sticks make it easy to manage streaming content across your TV, and you can level up what you watch and access on your TV.
Amazon’s Fire Stick is a popular streaming stick option available in several iterations, including the original, 4K, and 4K Max options. I used the traditional Fire Stick option in my dorm TV, and later, while I lived in an apartment, it did a great job of streamlining and managing my content, even though I already had a smart TV. It was also easy to set up and didn’t require more than plugging it in and turning it on. The Fire Stick HD is the newest base model option, and it’s budget friendly, too.
Smart appliances
Dorm rooms often mean limited space and limited options for a lot of things – including cooking. While some dorms at certain colleges may offer access to a stove and oven, many do not and its also not that most convenient for many late-night snacks or early morning coffees. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in a few smart appliances to help bridge the gaps dorms often create when it comes to access. Just be sure to check with your specific housing department to ensure what appliances are (or maybe aren’t allowed).
Dorms often mean limited resources for traditional cooking methods, which creates great environments for small appliances like air fryers. Former associate editor Min Shin’s personal favorite air fryer is this Cosori one, which she said made it easy to cook salmon, chicken, vegetables, and more. She’s even successfully baked a cake in it.
The Cosori Small Air Fryer Oven has four cooking functions: air fry, bake, roast, and reheat. This model also has a noise level of less than 48 dB, the quietest level of all the Cosori models. Just keep in mind any rules about small appliances in a particular dorm environment. They can vary from college to college and sometimes even from dorm to dorm; certain appliances may need approval.
You might also need:
Of course, depending on your budget and dorm features, you might need additional smart tech options to outfit your lifestyle. Here are a few other devices we recommend.
Ultimately, any smart tech you purchase for a dorm is up to you, and most of it is considered non-essential. Of course, the most essential tech for college is the day-to-day necessities you will need to complete coursework.
The tech you or a student you know may need for their tenure in college or university will differ due to many factors such as degree programs, what the college provides, individual budgets, and much more. Based on my experience, the bare minimum items for college tech include a laptop and earbuds (either wired or wireless). Of course, you’ll need a charger for your computer (included with a purchase of one). Still, most other items beyond those two are nice to have luxuries or great suggestions to have on hand for those interested in simplifying the stress of college just a little.
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Other popular tech purchases for college students include TVs, tablets, iPads, phones, headphones or earbuds, chargers and accessories, gaming systems, smartwatches, electric scooters, speakers, and more.
What is allowed in each dorm will vary from campus to campus. Many colleges don’t approve of using small appliances like toasters, but coffee makers and microwaves are often permitted. The best way to determine which appliances are allowed in your or a loved one’s dorm is to check with the university housing department. Most of the time, the housing department will specify online what is approved and what isn’t.
In addition, some dorms offer communal cooking areas with ovens and stoves to decrease the need for cooking appliances in personal rooms, and others are more lenient than other institutions regarding what small appliances are allowed in a dorm.
