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Our Favorite Back-to-School Picks for 2024 [CNET]

Desiree DeNunzio

View Article on CNET

$45 at Amazon

stanley quencher tumbler in cream
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState 40-ounce tumbler

The Lexus of water bottles

$15 at Amazon

infinitylab

InfinityLab InstantGo 5000 power bank

For easy phone charging

Summer has whizzed by, but believe it or not it’s already time to start back-to-school shopping again. Whether your student is spending the school year on a college campus or in a middle school classroom, they still need the right supplies to get the year started. And these are our favorite back-to-school picks that won’t leave you scrambling at the last minute.

From the best laptops and water bottles to everything in between, we’ve compiled a list of our top back-to-school picks for the gear, gadgets and services that will help students stay productive and engaged in the classroom, study lounge, library and anywhere else their education takes them this year. Have a look and keep checking back since we’ll update this list periodically.

Read more: Sales Tax Holidays: 16 States Will Pause Sales Taxes for Back-to-School Shopping

Stephen Shankland/CNET

Battery Life/Runtime 1,026 minutesWeight 2.8 poundsDisplay size/type 13-inch, 2560 x 1600 IPS LCDProcessor tested Apple M1 8‑coreGraphics tested Apple M1 7-core

This isn’t the latest MacBook Air in Apple’s lineup, but it’s hard to beat the price. For just $649, you get a solid laptop that features Apple’s M1 processor with an eight‑core CPU, seven‑core GPU and 16‑core Neural Engine. It also has Touch ID, Apple’s Magic Keyboard, a Force Touch trackpad and a 13.3-inch Retina display. 

Read our MacBook Air M1 review.

The North Face

A good backpack not only should be able to hold all your student’s supplies, but it also needs to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. That’s what you’ll find here with North Face’s Recon Backpack. It’s durable, with ample space for a laptop, books, water bottle and more. Bonus: It has a padded laptop compartment to protect your device from bumps and falls.

Stanley

While the Stanley is close to outliving its cool factor, it’s still got a pretty tight hold on the Gen Z and Alpha crowd. This 40-ounce tumbler is actually pretty great for school since it holds so much water and keeps it cool all day long. Its size makes it a bit unwieldy to carry around, and it’s not leak-proof, so you probably shouldn’t toss it into a backpack, but that hasn’t stopped its devotees from singing its praises. 

Hydro Flask

It’s not a Stanley, but it’s still a popular choice among students. And unlike the Stanley Quencher, the Hydro Flask won’t leak and is tough enough to survive being shoved into a backpack. While the bigger, wide-mouth version was popular a few years ago, now more students go for the standard-mouth version since it’s easier to fit into backpacks and cup holders.

See more of the best water bottles of 2024.

Harman

Most students can’t go one second without their phones, whether they’re texting friends or looking up homework assignments. If you want to make sure their phone never runs out of juice, get them a power bank for easy charging on the go. The InstantGo 5000 is CNET’s favorite power bank. It’s fast-charging, easy to slip into a pocket or backpack, and it comes with an integrated USB-C cable.

Amazon

So much for desks. My kids both end up doing the majority of their homework in bed or on the floor. This faux fur reading pillow offers a perfect blend of comfort and support. And it comes in a variety of colors so it will suit any decor.

Speck/CNET

Not only do you need to keep their phone juiced up, but you’ll need to make sure it stays protected and can withstand the rigors of being thrown into a backpack or left on a gym floor. Speck makes a variety of stylish cases for various models. Prices start as low as $9 for a clear polycarbonate case and go all the way up to $50 depending on the model.

David Carnoy/CNET

Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 — splash-proof)

Apple’s got a pretty solid grip on Gen Z and Alpha, which is why AirPods remain a top choice among students. While you could pay a bit more for the AirPods Pro 2, we suggest going with the still excellent but less-expensive third-gen AirPods since the design fits smaller ears a bit better than the Pros.

Read our AirPods 3 review.

Urban Outfitters

A tote bag is a great option for students who lug their notebooks or laptops to school every day but don’t want to use a backpack. This nylon bag is spacious enough for a laptop, lunch and water bottle. It has an interior pocket so you don’t lose your phone and pencils, and the cushy quilted strap is adjustable. Bonus: It’s machine-washable.

Walmart

No matter which grade they’re in, students go through a lot of pencils — so it’s important to have at least a 12-pack of them on hand before school starts. While Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils are a classic, if you want to make your student feel special, get them an upgrade with these Palomino Blackwings. Yes, they’re much pricier than Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, but the quality of these pencils can’t be beat. Once you try them, you’ll never want to go back.

Amazon

Even if you buy pre-sharpened pencils, you’ll need a pencil sharpener on hand for when they start going dull. PowerMe’s electric pencil sharpener does the job and comes in a variety of colors. We like that it’s battery-operated and compact so it doesn’t take up much desk space.

Josh Goldman/CNET

If you don’t want to plunk down a ton of cash for a new Apple laptop, a Chromebook is the way to go. They’re almost always less expensive and simpler to use than a laptop running Windows or MacOS. This Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is durable, lightweight, and offers a long battery life and good webcam performance, which is why it landed at the top of our list of the best Chromebook of 2024.

Read our Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review.

Decomposition

Not everything requires a Chromebook or MacBook. Sometimes you just want to jot something down with a good old-fashioned pencil and paper. The timeless Decomposition Notebook is a classic and comes in a variety of patterns, starting at $6 on Amazon. It’s lightweight and perfect for tossing into a backpack for your next brainstorming session.

Jall

Getting up for school in the morning is hard. Make those morning a little more peaceful with a sunrise alarm clock. According to a study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, exposure to simulating light in the mornings can improve cognitive performance throughout the day. This Jall Wake Up Light is our favorite budget pick for the best sunrise alarm. For less than $40, you get seven colors and 20 brightness levels, along with seven natural sounds to accompany the light.

Sephora

Don’t forget about skincare. As kids get older, cleansers and acne treatments take center stage. Set them up for skincare success with a Sephora gift card. Cards can be loaded at any increment between $10 and $250.

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