Cool, practical tech gifts for your grads heading to college

by | May 6, 2023 | Gear + Hardware | 83 comments

Cool, practical tech gifts for your grads heading to college

If you’re looking for a cool but practical tech gift for your favorite grad, we’ve got you covered. Better yet — all online! (Hey, we’re busy!)

Whether you’re shopping for your own first-time freshman, or a lucky niece, nephew or grandchild, we’ve scoured the web and picked some of our very favorite tech gifts for grads, to send them off for what they need. And of course, keep an eye out for sales online — there are so many this time of year.

We think anything on this list will make an amazing high school graduation gift  — or hey, a perfectly practical back-to-school gift for college students of any age.

Updated for 2023

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The best Sony noise cancelling headphones we've tried are also our top high-end pick for teensFor blocking out the roommate with a snore to wake the dead: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sony WH1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones ($399.99, Best Buy) Between the fantastic sound quality and outstanding noise-cancelling abilities of these headphones, this may be the number one most helpful purchase for any college student who’s trying to cram with a roommate four feet away — or just trying to get some sleep.

Related: Our guide to the best headphones for students, from kids to teens 

For the student who doesn’t get a pair of fancy noise-cancelling headphones until those first 4.0’s start rolling in: Slightly more affordable options.

JBL – Live FreeNC+ True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbuds ($67.99, on clearance) Hey, it gives them something to work toward.

For the student adapting to life in a room the size of the bathroom back home: A solid portable mini speaker

JBL Flip4 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ($79, Amazon with frequent price drops) When shelf space is at a premium, this little speaker packs a nice punch in a small space, whether your kid is more inclined to rock out to the local college station on Saturday night, or chill to NPR on Sunday Morning. It comes in cool colors, too.

For the student with the professor who talks faster than anyone can type: A smartpen that records sound

Livescribe Symphony Digital Smartpen ($87.99, Amazon) It not only takes notes, it records everything you hear or say while linking that audio recording to the notes on the Livescribe Paper. In other words, when you can’t read your own scribbles, you can play back exactly what the professor was saying at that very moment with a tap of the pen, or through your computer or mobile device.

For the dorm room that never has enough outlets: A top-rated surge protector

Belkin Powerstrip Surge Protector ($27.99, Amazon) We own this surge protector and it’s perfect for college dorms — and roomies with tons of devices that need charging. Plus it will protect those super expensive new laptops. Note that it does not include USB ports, but you can always add an affordable USB dual port charger.

For the student who’s always texting…er, studying on the go: A portable power bank
Zendure portable battery for phones/tablets: top-rated, affordable, and so tiny! Lots of cute colors too | gifts for college students

Zendure Portable Power Bank ($59.99, Amazon) A portable battery is a must, if you’re even thinking about taking notes on your tablet, recording a lecture hall with your phone’s mic, or just staying out extra late and need to keep your phone charged. This one is great looking, gets high marks for performance, comes in great colors, and it’s the size of a credit card — clearly small enough to tuck into a backpack, jacket or handbag.

For the student who’s getting creative in class: A tablet as powerful as a laptop

Apple iPad Pro (from $799, Apple, or save some money getting a refurbished model): The new iPad Pros are something else. Between the ample storage, super speedy processor, great graphics, and durable frame, the iPad Pro (shown at very top) can be a brilliant substitute for a MacBook, especially for kids who are studying art or design, architecture, media, film. In fact, add a Smart Keyboard Folio and it’s perfect for typing notes in lecture halls, too.

For the student who’s burning the midnight oil: A coffee maker for one.

Cool college tech gifts for dorms: The Keurig single-cup brewer

Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker ($69.99 on sale, Target.com) Gorgeous colors, a convenient size, and easy to use — even on two hours of sleep. And because Gen Z is leading the way in caring about the environment,  be sure to add a reusable K-Cup ($10.99) that they can refill with their own favorite ground beans.

For the student who will know the perfect tech gift when he or she sees it.

A gift card to their favorite tech retailer : Check Best Buy, your favorite shop, or even your local drugstore or Target and grab a gift card to Target, Best Buy, Amazon…or hey, Nintendo, Playstation or Xbox. Hard-working college kids need to unwind on the weekends too.

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Written by Cool Mom Staff

We spend our time looking for cool stuff so you don't have to. Hope this one fits the bill.
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83 Comments

  1. Chris Ussery on August 12, 2015 at 11:38 am

    I would have loved to have had the
    Livescribe Echo Smart Pen. Sometimes I still have trouble deciphering my notes and it has great reviews.

  2. jenn on August 12, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    I think I’d like to play with the smart pen but for my boy? What he really needs is a printer and the very lame but very necessary surge protector.

  3. Trish on August 12, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    Would of love a pair of Bose headphones!

  5. Christina on August 12, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    Wow, I remember when I started college and sending email was a novelty. Now I’m teaching college students and have no idea how they keep up with all of the new technology! I’d definitely use a Best Buy gift card towards a new iPad.

  6. Maggie on August 12, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I would have loved to have had an iPad! Heck, we barely even had computers back then! The Echo Smart Pen is pretty cool too!

  8. Barbara on August 12, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    it’s a tie between the smart pen and the Surface tablet!

  12. Carie W-F on August 13, 2015 at 12:50 am

    Apple Air Pad 2 would be sweet for my cousin’s daughter starting her Freshman year at Indiana U!

  15. Hazel on August 13, 2015 at 1:52 am

    The HP printer would have saved me in college!

  17. Rebecca Weinberg on August 13, 2015 at 8:49 am

    I would have loved an I pad when I was in college!!
    But when I was in college my cellphone was the size of a Victor Hugo novel!!! And I thought I was so cool for having it!! 🙂

  19. Jackie on August 13, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    I would have loved some good noise canceling headphones!! Those Bose headphones look perfect!

  22. Sara on August 13, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    I remember using a typewriter for my papers because the computer lab halfway across campus and was only for those writing a thesis. So the HP wireless printer would have been a dream come true (along with a laptop)!

  23. Erica on August 13, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    Wish I had a Surface then and now

  24. kim on August 13, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    THe ipad would have been wonderful!

  25. szkent on August 13, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    The printer definitely.

  26. Julie on August 13, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    That smart pen is fantastic! I would have loved that!

  30. Rebeca Burnett on August 13, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    That mini speaker is pretty cool!

  34. Amy K on August 13, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    Definitely the noise-cancelling headphones!

  35. Diana Ware on August 13, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    When I was in college I wish I had an iPad

  36. Kelly on August 13, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    Wish I had an ipad in college!

  39. Deb P on August 13, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    What a great list! I don’t think I could decide. Thanks!

  44. Capi Lynn on August 13, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    You can never have enough outlets, so I’d have the Belkin power strip high on my want list!

  45. julie on August 13, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    tablet!

  49. Bonnie on August 13, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    I would have loved a GoPro camera back in 1995. Each day a different person would wear it, sitting in our (way too early) 8:00 am Chem101 class and livestream it back to our dorm so the rest of us could watch the lecture right from our beds. It would be a win/win situation for all! #RealGenius2015

  52. Jeannie on August 13, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    The smartpen! My major had 3 hour long lecture classes.

  55. Allison on August 14, 2015 at 7:32 am

    While all of these would be awesome for college – that belkin mini outlet/surge protector is a MUST for dorm rooms!

  58. Kristina on August 14, 2015 at 8:16 am

    Bose headphones!

  61. Abigail on August 14, 2015 at 8:35 am

    That Echo Smart Pen looks amazing! A tablet would have come in handy too!!

  62. Quinn Smith on August 14, 2015 at 8:39 am

    The myCharge Portable Power Bank is PERFECTION! I would love that for my device loving teen – and myself!

  63. Beth on August 14, 2015 at 8:52 am

    That smart pen would have been super helpful. So would a Microsoft surface!

  65. Liz O'Brien on August 14, 2015 at 9:16 am

    iPad Air!!! With the HP printer! Would’ve made life SO much easier back then!

  67. Jrseygrirl in VA on August 14, 2015 at 10:47 am

    I wish I had the Livescribe Echo Smartpen back when I was in college in the 80’s. I used to record my lectures as I couldn’t usually write fast enough. However back then I had to use a bulky walkman or actual tape player/recorder that looked like this:

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/44337451@N00/6259212212

    There was always background noise and shuffling of feet (as I would put it under my desk) and if I used the cassette tape too many times it would break or play too slow and then I couldn’t use it for re-writing my notes. Boy would I have loved to have that pen. It would have saved me so much time and aggravation.

  68. L Boyd on August 14, 2015 at 11:20 am

    Definitely that smart pen!

  69. Holly on August 14, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Id love the My charge portable power bank for my son so he can never use the excuse that his phone was dead when I try to reach him!

  70. Julie E on August 14, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I wish I had an iPad in college. Would have been so helpful. My son definitely needs a iPad and HP printer. We will most likely need an iPad for my husband too since he’s going back to college as well!!

  74. Tina M on August 14, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    It would have been awesome to have the noise cancelling headphones or the iPad Air 2 when I was in college. It was my sony walkman back then. No cellphones or tablets when I went to college back in late 80s early 90s.

  77. Helen on August 14, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    Definitely the headphones, especially the noise cancelling. Dorm rooms can be way too loud!

  79. Colleen McCaffrey on August 14, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    I would LOVE to buy my daughter the smart pen. Thanks.

  80. Micheline on August 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    The iPad would have been great. No piles of notebooks & binders to lug around!

  83. Laura on August 16, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    The Pen would probably have been the most useful, but I’d probably have enjoyed the iPad the most ;).