Image: Michael Crider/Foundry
So you’ve got your college student hooked up with a laptop and a backpack. They’re all set to take on the world, right? Well, yeah, but they’re going to need a few accessories to really make the best of that dorm space. Hunching over a laptop screen for hours of studying isn’t exactly ideal.
Fortunately, we’ve got everything they’ll need to make the most of their setup in a one-stop shop. Kit them out with some or all of these extras, and they’ll be a studying, class-taking, test-passing machine. Or possibly just play a lot of League of Legends. Don’t judge, college is stressful.
I’ve ranked this list starting with what I consider the most essential additions to a standard laptop. If you’re on a budget, go for the top items first.
USB-C Monitor: Dell S2722DC
Dell
Dell
Dell
I think the number one thing you should equip your student with to maximize their productivity with a laptop is a monitor. Not only is it far bigger than their portable screen, the laptop becomes a secondary monitor when connected, giving them a serious boost in real estate and window management.
Dell makes super-reliable monitors at great prices, and this model has everything you could want. With a 27-inch display and a boosted 2560×1440 resolution, it’s bigger and sharper than a standard budget screen, and the IPS panel is color-accurate enough for photo or video editing and other media work. And with a USB-C connection, students can connect and charge their laptop with a single cable.
Dell 27-inch USB-C monitor$279 on Amazon
Mouse: Logitech Marathon M720
Logitech
Logitech
Logitech
Your student is probably used to using a laptop touchpad, but for maximum productivity they really need a separate mouse. And this Logitech model is one of my favorites: big enough to be comfy for extended use, small enough to travel easily, and multiple years of battery life from a single AA. It’s also a fantastic deal at just forty bucks, and compatible with multiple machines at once thanks to a quick-switch button. For a student who’s constantly on the go, it’s the whole package.
Logitech travel mouse$40 on Amazon
Keyboard: Nuphy Air V2
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
As a keyboard nut, I’m usually prepared to recommend a huge, clacky keyboard for long typing sessions. But there’s a pretty good chance that your student will have to share a living space with someone in a dorm or an apartment…and that being the case, something a bit more unobtrusive is ideal.
So I’d say go with a Nuphy Air V2. This low-profile board has plenty of padding for quieter typing, and it’s easy to slip into a bag for longer sessions on the go. Once again multi-device pairing comes in handy, and you can go with the Air 60 for maximum portability or the Air 96 if your student does a lot of data entry.
Nuphy Air V2 low-profile mechanical keyboard$150 on Amazon
Noise-canceling headphones: Sony WH-CH720N
Sony
Sony
Sony
So you’ve picked a keyboard that won’t annoy your student’s roommate. What if said roommate isn’t so conscientious? This set of noise-canceling headphones from Sony should take care of that, and its Bluetooth connection will work with their phone for mobile music sessions, too. With an integrated mic that’s better than the usual headphone pack-in, it’ll be great for the occasional remote class.
Sony WH-CH720N noise-cancelling headphones$98 on Amazon
USB-C dock: Anker 555
Anker
Anker
Anker
Being able to pick up their stuff and head to class with a minimum of fuss is a big deal for a student — I would have killed for a USB-C laptop when I was in college, constantly unplugging a charger, monitor cable, and USB hub. Thankfully you can do it all with one cable now, and this Anker hub can handle it on the cheap.
With USB-C power, video-out, Ethernet for a reliable and fast wired internet connection, and multiple card readers, everything your student needs to connect to is just one cable away. It can handle up to 100 watts from a laptop charger without issue.
Anker 555 USB-C hub$50 on Amazon
Monitor Arm: Monoprice Single Monitor Adjustable Gas Spring Desk Mount
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
Matt Smith/Foundry
Odds are pretty good that your student won’t have a massive desk to work with, so space will be at a premium. There’s no better tool to free up space than a monitor arm, raising the screen to a more ergonomic position at the same time. This Monoprice model is a fantastic deal, and it can clamp onto the back of most desks, so there’s no drilling required. The all-metal construction with two swivel points and a gas spring should last well beyond graduation.
Monoprice Single Monitor Adjustable Gas Spring Desk Mount$66 on Amazon
Laptop stand: Metal Laptop Riser
Gogoonike
Gogoonike
Gogoonike
If your student needs even more space for books and other school materials, consider adding on this laptop stand to the setup. With plenty of lift and clearance it’ll make it easy to set up and break down, and that’ll put the laptop screen even with the monitor and make plenty of room for a mouse and keyboard.
Metal laptop riser stand$15 on Amazon
Monitor lamp: Melifo Monitor Light Bar
Melifo
Melifo
Melifo
Dorm lighting isn’t always great, and we’ve already covered the space crunch. You can address both of those problems with this LED work lamp that sits right on top of your student’s monitor. With adjustable lighting temperature it’ll cut down on eye strain, and you can power it right from one of the monitor’s standard USB-A ports. It even has a handy wireless controller. I use this model on my own desk, and highly recommend it.
Melifo Monitor Light Bar$39 on Amazon
USB drive: SanDisk 512GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C
SanDisk
SanDisk
SanDisk
Your student will probably be transferring most of their files wirelessly, but sometimes you can’t beat good old sneakernet. This 512GB SanDisk USB drive is massive, able to hold just about anything a student could throw at it (including high-definition video) at a super-fast speed. And with both USB-A and USB-C connections in the same tiny, metal housing, they’ll never be hunting for an adapter cable even for a phone or tablet.
SanDisk 512GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C$45 on Amazon
Desk Mat: Topographic Contour gaming mat
Siski
Siski
Siski
For the finishing touch on this student setup, add a nice, big desk mat. It’s a mouse pad that doubles as a food tray, because you know they’ll be snacking at the same time. I’ve bought this exact model for myself and I like it a lot, but you can find literally hundreds of different designs all over Amazon at low prices.
Topographic Contour gaming mat $13 on Amazon
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
Recent stories by Michael Crider:
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