Upgrade Your Dorm: Everything You Need

If you or a loved one is preparing for college, it’s easy to remove the apparent dorm room essentials: twin XL sheets, a mini-fridge, a laptop, and more. What’s less likely to be obvious are the tech items you buy that will take a dorm room from basic to smart.

With so many tech products flooding the market, especially those aimed at students, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth it and which ones will go unused for four years.

Also: These 5 Gadgets Are the College Essentials You’ll Actually Use

That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite expert-tested technology, perfect for outfitting any college dorm room. From smart speakers to nifty streaming options, our expert team has handpicked the best picks for back to school, whether you’re a freshman or returning student.

A smart speaker

A speaker has been an essential part of a college dorm room for years. Luckily, we’ve come a long way from Bluetooth shower speakers. The best smart speakers from big tech brands like Amazon, Google, Apple and more make listening to music easy, liven up a movie night and are perfect homework helpers with 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. In addition to using this Alexa speaker to control your smart home, the Echo Dot offers excellent sound quality for playing your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks. Although it doesn’t have a smart display, the fifth-generation Echo Dot is 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 by controlling Alexa-enabled smart home devices triggered by built-in temperature or motion. sensors.

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Wireless charging support

As a recent college graduate, if there’s one dorm room tech I recommend everyone own, it’s a multi-device wireless charger. It makes things much easier when charging all your devices can be connected in one place, and you don’t have to worry about tangles, cords falling behind your furniture in small spaces, or charging a surge protector with chargers for everyone. your devices. Whether you’re an Android or Apple user, great charging accessories and docks make it easy and quick to charge your phone, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches.

The Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charger didn’t exist when I was a student, but I own it now at age 20 and would still recommend it. It can wirelessly charge my AirPods, Apple Watch and iPhone simultaneously and quickly. It’s more expensive for a wireless charger, but it makes sense to spend a little more to get something that can be used in so many situations.

Not only can it be used on your nightstand or desk, but it easily folds up to a compact size for travel and on the go. I can’t tell you how easy it is to pack tech for a trip now that all I have to do is fold up this little guy and go.

Also: I Found a Qi2 Charging Station That Does It All (And Apple Users Will Love It)

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A streaming key

If you’re considering purchasing a budget-friendly 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 don’t have access to cable or traditional TV services, so if you want to use a TV, you’ll likely have to do so over the Internet. Streaming sticks make it easier to manage streaming content on your TV, and you can improve what you watch and access on your TV.

Amazon’s Fire Stick is a popular streaming stick option available in several iterations, including original, 4K, and 4K Max options. I used the traditional Fire Stick option on my dorm TV, and later, while living 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 install and required no more than plugging it in and turning it on.

Also: The Best Live TV Streaming Services for Cord Cutters

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Smart devices

Dorm rooms often mean limited space and limited options for many things, including cooking. Although some college dorms may offer access to a stove and oven, many do not and it’s also not very convenient for many late-night snacks or early morning coffee. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a few smart devices to help fill the gaps that dorm rooms often create when it comes to access. Just be sure to check with your specific housing department to make sure what devices are (or may not be) allowed.

Dorm rooms often mean limited resources for traditional cooking methods, which creates an ideal environment for small appliances like air fryers. Former editor-in-chief Min Shin’s favorite air fryer is Cosori, which she says makes it easy to cook salmon, chicken, vegetables and more. She even managed to bake a cake there.

Cosori Small Air Fryer Oven has four cooking functions: air fry, bake, roast and reheat. This model also has a noise level below 48 dB, the quietest level of all Cosori models. Just keep in mind all the rules regarding small appliances in a particular dorm environment. They can vary from college to college and sometimes even from dorm to dorm; some devices may require approval.

Also: Too hot to cook? Forget the oven

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You may also need:

Of course, depending on your budget and dorm features, you may need additional smart technology options to fit your lifestyle. Here are some other devices we recommend.

Ultimately, any smart technology you buy for a dorm room is up to you, and most of it is considered non-essential. Of course, the most essential technology for college is the daily necessities you’ll need to keep up with your classes.

The technology you or a student you know may need to pursue college or university will vary due to many factors such as degree programs, what the college offers, individual budgets and more. In my experience, the bare minimum for college tech includes a laptop and headphones (wired or wireless). Of course, you’ll need a charger for your computer (included with the purchase of one). Still, most of the other items beyond these two are nice to have as a luxury or great suggestions to have on hand for those who want to make the stress of college a little easier.

Also: These 5 Gadgets Are the College Essentials You’ll Actually Use

Other popular tech purchases among students include TVs, tablets, iPads, phones, headphones or earphones, chargers and accessories, gaming systems, smart watches, electric scooters, speakers, etc.

What is allowed in each dorm varies from campus to campus. Many colleges do not approve the use of small appliances like toasters, but coffee makers and microwaves are often allowed. The best way to determine which appliances are allowed in your or a loved one’s dorm is to check with the university’s housing department. Most of the time, the housing department specifies online what is approved and what is not.

Additionally, some dorms offer common kitchen areas with ovens and stoves to reduce the need for cooking appliances in personal rooms, and others are more lenient than other institutions about which small appliances are allowed in a room. dormitory.