Buying new tech for school can be an expensive but necessary expense for students heading into their freshman year of college. Luckily, Walmart offers back to school tech essentials at great prices to start the semester off right. You’ll find laptops, earbuds, smart alarm clocks, and wireless chargers are just some of the college tech essentials you can find.
To save you both time and money, we held a late night study sesh to comb through page after page of tech goodies and read through hundreds of reviews to find the 15 best back-to-school tech essentials at Walmart to help your students gear up for success this year.
Note: We are a reader-supported site and may receive compensation from purchases made through these links.
Our Top Picks
- Best Laptop: Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch Laptop – $649 at Walmart
- Best Light Strips: DAYBETTER Led Strip Lights – $11.99 at Walmart
- Best Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – $199 at Walmart
- Best Air Purifier: Levoit Air Purifier Plasma Pro Core 300S – $149.99 at Walmart
- Best Over-Ear Headphones: Beats Solo4 Wireless Headphones – $129.95 at Walmart
The Best Back to School Tech Essentials at Walmart
1. Best Laptop: Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch Laptop
This laptop is probably on every college student’s list, as it combines power and portability. Its slim design and lightweight 2.8-pound build make it easy to carry around campus, while up to 18 hours of battery life ensure it lasts all day. It’s easy to carry from class back to the dorm room and is powerful enough for most student’s needs. The 13.3-inch Retina display offers sharp text and vibrant colors, so those late-night study sessions are a bit easier on the eyes.
2. Best Light Strips: DAYBETTER Led Strip Lights
LED lights can spruce up any dorm room, and these ones are 100 feet of pure fun! The app makes them pulse to the beat of music, and you can customize the colors to fit your mood or schedule. Plus, the strips are cuttable to fit any shape or size, and the adhesive backs stick to surfaces without causing any damage, so they can easily be removed at the end of the year.
3. Best Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
This budget-friendly tablet with a 10.4-inch vivid display and facial recognition doesn’t skimp on performance. It boasts dual speakers, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera that works great for video chats. It’s lightweight with a battery that lasts all day, plus it comes with an S pen, so it’s great for notetaking without having to bring an entire laptop along!
4. Best Air Purifier: Levoit Air Purifier Plasma Pro Core 300S
If allergies from a dusty, old dorm room are a concern, an air purifier is definitely a back-to-school tech essential. This one from Levoit has a comprehensive filtration system, including a HEPA filter, and smart functionality with app control and air quality monitoring. It’s effective at removing allergens, dust, and pollutants, making the air you breathe that much cleaner. Just be sure to remind them to change the filter every so often!
5. Best Over-Ear Headphones: Beats Solo4 Wireless Headphones
Block out the noise and get into the study zone. These popular headphones come with ultra-plush on-ear cushions that are seriously comfy for long-term wear! They offer fantastic sound quality with deep bass and clear highs, and their exceptional passive noise isolation helps block out distractions—like that noisy roommate.
6. Best Budget Earbuds: VEATOOL Wireless Earbuds
If you can’t swing AirPods, the VEATOOL Wireless Earbuds offer fantastic value with reliable wireless performance and solid sound quality at an affordable price. Waterproof, sweatproof, and easy to pair with any Bluetooth device, they’re a great choice for those on a budget looking for dependable headphones.
7. Best Surge Protector: DEWENWILS 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip
This power strip with built-in surge protection is a college tech essential! With minimal outlets in a dorm room, this has six outlets and protects your student’s tech essentials from potential power surges. It’s compact enough to not be in the way but provides a ton of value in small spaces.
8. Best Portable Chargers: Anker Nano Portable Charger and Anker MagGo Power Bank
Staying charged while bopping from classes, campus events, and club meetings Our readers love Anker Nano Portable Charger because it’s compact enough to carry around and connects directly to the bottom of an iPhone with the built-in lightning connector. There’s no fussing with cords and it supports fast charging for a quick jolt of up to 70% of battery.
Another great option is the Anker MagGo Power Bank, which juices up devices via MagSafe charging. It connects to the back of phones or you can connect a USB-C cord for fast charging for other devices.
Buy the Anker Nano Portable Charger for iPhone:
Buy the Anker MagGo Power Bank:
9. Best Best Smart Alarm Clock: Hatch Restore
While it might cost more than traditional alarm clocks, this device offers much more than just a wake-up call. It serves as an alarm clock, white noise machine, bedside lamp, sunrise simulator, night light, and relaxation device all rolled into one. It’s a great option for heavy sleepers who need a little brightness to rise.
10. Best Bluetooth Tracker: Apple AirTag, 4 Pack
It’s harder to find keys and wallets when you’re not there to help them. Help them keep track of their stuff with these trackers. They’re perfect for keeping tabs on important items like keys and wallets because they have precise location tracking through the Find My network. To attach them to keys, bikes, or backpacks, they’ll need an AirTag holder with a strap or carabiner.
11. Best Photo Printer: Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 Wireless Smartphone Printer
Since college isn’t all work and no play, grab this fun portable printer that prints pictures directly from a smartphone. It’s easy to use, offers various printing modes, and delivers high-quality, vibrant photos. They’ll be able to display photos of all their friends—both old and new!
12. Best Portable Speaker: JBL Clip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This palm-sized portable speaker has impressive sound quality and up to 12 hours of battery life. It’s waterproof and has a built-in carabiner that clips onto bags or belts—perfect for both outdoor adventures and everyday use. They’ll be able to use it for jamming in the dorm room or when they’re relaxing on the quad with friends.
13. Best External Hard Drive: Seagate 2TB External Hard Drive
Since “the dog ate my homework” is no longer an excuse, it’s time to get serious about backing up your work! This external hard drive is perfect for securely storing important files and documents, especially if you’re juggling projects across different laptops and school computers. With speedy data transfer and compatibility with both Windows and Mac, it earns an A+ for back-to-school tech.
14. Best Wireless Charger: ETEPEHI Fast Charging Station
Marie Kondo would definitely approve of this clutter-free tech gadget. Designed for Apple products, it wirelessly charges an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously in one neat spot—with just one cable! It’s helpful for keeping the Apple lover charged up without dealing with too many cords or outlets.
15. Best Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Inspire 3
Students can see exactly how many steps they’re taking as they navigate campus with the Fitbit Inspire 3! This fitness tracker monitors activity levels, sleep patterns, and heart rate, helping students stay on top of their wellness goals. Its slim design is easy to wear and won’t be too distracting as they work towards fitness goals!
16. Best White Noise Machine: Serene Evolution Big Red Rooster White Noise Machine
Make sure to pick up one of these if there’s a roomie who snores (or if you’re the one snoring)! This white noise machine creates a calming environment with multiple sound options to help you pass the vibe check. The Big Red Rooster has six sounds (rain, babbling brook, ocean, thunder, white noise, and summer night), and students can leave the sound on all night or use the timer that can be set for 15, 30, or 60 minutes.
17. Best Clip-On Light: Victsing Rechargeable Book Light
This is a great back-to-school gadget for late-night reading or studying while roommates are catching some Zs. Just clip the light to a book, choose from nine different color temperatures and brightness levels, and adjust the 360-degree flexible neck. They can read for hours on one charge—no batteries needed!
Why You Can Trust Us
Hi! I’m Belle DuChene, an award-winning digital content producer and professor of communications who has a passion for all things lifestyle, including fashion, food, and French culture. My writing and on-camera work can be seen on the Better Homes & Gardens and HGTV websites.
For this roundup, I’ve relied on previous recommendations from Grown & Flown and scoured trusted review publications. I went through hundreds of reviews to find the best back-to-school tech essentials your student needs from Walmart. My picks are based on performance and overall value, perfect for your student’s dorm room.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
