August 2024
Olivia | Author
UNIVERSITY ESSENTIALS GUIDE
Not sure what to take to university? We’ve got you covered.
Your university essentials guide
Read our essential guide to some of the gadgets you may need.
The thought of heading to university can be both nerve-wracking and exciting. And that’s totally normal. But if you’re prepared and have everything you need, it can make moving that little bit less stressful. You may already have some of the tech you need to optimise your studying, but there’s no harm in an upgrade. Whether you’re a first-time fresher, or you’re getting ready to head into your final year to tackle all those final assignments, there may be some essentials in here that you didn’t know you needed.
Plus, we have 0% interest free for 4 months on everything over £99 with PayPal Credit as we understand the student budget may not stretch to all the gadgets featured below. But they’re worth noting if you want to save up some cash or pop it on the Christmas list.
Laptops
Laptops are an essential. Even if you want to keep it old school and take notes in lectures rather than typing, it’s handy to be able to look back at presentations, create presentations, type-up notes, and more. And laptops don’t have to be work only. Laptops have the capability of letting you stream your beloved services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime. Because let’s be honest, having a TV will be highly unlikely in halls. We can dream though.
We recommend:
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chrome Core i3 8GB 256GB 14"
The IdeaPad 5 (15", AMD) boasts an enticing list of standard and optional features, so you can make it as streamlined or powerful as you want without breaking the bank.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 Core i5 8GB 256GB - Platinum
A sleek design that sets you apart from the crowd. It’s ultra-portable at under 2.5 pounds with a vibrant 12.4" touchscreen for work or play, wherever you are. Seamless productivity; work smarter with AI-powered search built into the task bar and use your voice to launch actions with AI-functionalities that recognise voice. Handle whatever the day throws at you, wherever you are, with faster performance, all-day battery life, and Windows 11.
Headphones & Earphones
Often, we just want to focus. Deadlines are due and we can’t waste time having a natter and listening in to your peers’ conversations (though it can be very entertaining). This is where a good pair of headphones come in handy. You want some that deliver exceptional sound and cancel out any other distractions.
We recommend:
Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Wireless Headphones
Custom acoustic architecture with upgraded drivers to deliver powerful, balanced Beats sound. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking immerses you in your music, movies and games, tracking the motion of your head for an interactive surround-sound experience.
Apple AirPods Pro
I couldn’t write this guide without mentioning my lifesavers. True, I don’t know any different to these, but quite frankly I feel I don’t need to. The noise cancellation and music quality are top-notch, and transparency mode is perfect if you still want to listen to your surroundings (i.e., the gossip). They fit comfortably in my ears so I can wear them all day. I highly recommend (even though technically this isn’t a review).
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Pixel Buds A-Series bring you rich, high-quality sound for a lot less than you’d expect. Their beamforming mics help make your calls crystal clear. The flush-to-ear design is stylish, and the stabilizer arc keeps them in place so you can wear them even during the sweatiest workout. Talk to Google to get important messages and notifications hands-free – just say, "Hey Google."
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Fitness
Sitting in lectures all day. Sat in a library studying. Winding down on the sofa. All vital experiences at university. However, it wouldn’t hurt to move your body a little. Even if that means dancing in the club until 3am. It would be great to be able to track your fitness. Get motivated with the best fitness tech. Plus, most fitness trackers now focus more on stress management and how exercising, mindfulness and sleep can contribute.
We recommend:
Fitbit
Take control of your routine and turn your daily decisions into healthier living. Helping you understand how your body reacts to stress with the daily stress management score, ideal for those tight university deadlines. It’s also water-resistant, has 20 exercise modes, 24/7 heart rate tracking, sleep mode and Do Not Disturb. What can’t it do?
Apple Watch
To wear it is to love it. Receive and respond to notifications in an instant. Track your daily activity. Control your music using only your voice. Pay for groceries just like that. With this smartwatch, important information and essential features are always just a raise of the wrist away. Not to mention music, maps, and phone calls, smart watch lets you do the things you do every day, more easily and conveniently.
Gaming
University shouldn’t be all work and no play. Having time to wind down, re-charge your social battery, and get lost in another world, can be necessary for most people. Lucky for you, we’ve got your favourite brands across PC and Console, so you have everything you need.
We recommend:
Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)
Nintendo is a classic. You can’t deny the best games played with friends and family were often those on the Wii. But now we’re older, we’re switching it up (see what I did there). With a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, feast your eyes on vivid colours, and crisp contrast. It fits comfortably in your hand, or, you can have it in Tabletop mode with the wide and adjustable stand. You can also share with a friend. Just flip the stand to share the screen, then share the fun with a multiplayer game.
Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Drive Console
The PS5™ console unleashes new gaming possibilities that you never anticipated. Experience lightning-fast loading with an ultra-high-speed SSD, deeper immersion with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and 3D Audio, and an all-new generation of incredible PlayStation® games.
Accessories
PC accessories can be a huge help. Having a good set up at home can make working much easier. If you have a monitor, an external keyboard and mouse may be ideal to improve your home working. I personally love to have a keyboard and mouse, but that's just me.
We recommend:
Storage
Hard drives and USB sticks are a necessity for university. Trust me, you don’t want your laptop or PC crashing and all your files being lost. Nothing worse than the day before a deadline your essay being lost into the void. If you’re a media student, you’ll need a hard drive. Trust me, I’m a film production graduate. Your laptop won’t handle all the digital content you’ll accumulate.
We recommend:
LaCie 1TB Rugged Mini USB 3.0 2.5" 5400RPM Hard Drive
Small and convenient. A sleek, pocket-sized, solution with plenty of storage capacity for the growing amount of photos, videos, music and documents you’ll acquire at university. Simple. Portable. This really is the go-to hard drive. It also has features like shock resistance, drop resistance, and a rubber sleeve for added protection as well as rain-resistant, and pressure-resistant!
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