The reality is, this back-to-school season looks a little different than most. What used to warrant a strange combo of excitement and nerves now has college students across the country feeling confused and uncertain. Whether your school year looks mostly remote or you’re getting back into your classroom groove, — as all fun uncles say to their incoming freshmen nephews — “the best is yet to come.”
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The most necessary smart home devices for any type of student
Everything you need for the upcoming year, whether you’re decking out a dorm room or taking over your parents’ basement.
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Walmart is outfitting students of all situations with top-tier tech for whatever space they find themselves in this school year — on and off “campus.” Maybe you’re settling into a combo office/guest room, or you’re figuring out the exact square footage of your dorm room for activity purposes. No matter the home base, we know that environment is everything, especially when winding down after class. Read on to browse our top picks from Walmart for how to tech-out your personal space. And when you’re done interior decorating, check out our favorites for in-class tech, like tablets and laptops.
$17
Especially in smaller spaces, a little goes a long way. The Mainstays White Grab and Go Stick Lamp is a simple, sophisticated light solution for bedside tables, desks, and more. It comes with a USB plug-in feature for charging capabilities, and its sleek design fits in with basically any interior. Besides, nobody has the time (or the mental capacity) for a fluorescent overhead light.
$126
If you’re struggling to find another surface in your small space, invest in a tidy but utilitarian table. The Nantucket End Table is ideal when it comes to both relaxing or schooling from the comfort of your couch. With two high-efficiency USB charging ports and two 110-volt AC power outlets, this table screams convenience. The classic design and variety of colors doesn’t hurt either.
$36
We’ve all suffered from PTSD due to a blaring alarm clock at an ungodly hour. This La Crosse clock not only lets you choose from seven colors for the glow base, but it also has an ascending alarm option that gradually increases intensity to ease into your morning. Wake up on the right side of the bed (a.k.a. the one closest to this alarm clock).
Google Nest
$49
$49
It’s not a smart home without a Google device. Use the Google Nest Mini to play music, check the weather, set reminders, or even ask Google the burning questions you’re too embarrassed to ask your friends. The best part? The Nest Mini is compatible with thousands of smart devices — like lights, thermostats, and TVs — so you can control the ambience of your space, all with the sound of your voice.
$129
A solid speaker can make a space. When you’re entertaining, it’s the DJ. When you’re busy cooking and mom calls, it’s a speaker phone. The Bose SoundLink Color II easily connects through Bluetooth pairing and allows up to eight hours of play time with its long life battery. And for those who love an outdoor soundtrack, it’s water-resistant.
ONN Sound Bar
$129
$129
Did somebody say movie night? The ONN Sound Bar has a built in Roku streaming player, so you get easy access to more than half a million movies and TV episodes, plus millions of songs across free and paid channels. This is one your guests (maybe...your dorm crush?) will praise you for, with an immersive sound quality and sleek design.
$139
Gamers, rejoice. The HP 24” IPS Micro-edge Monitor provides a full HD display with IPS technology and ultra-wide viewing angles that combine for an amazing view up to 178°. There’s only one wall connection, so you can avoid clutter and save room for the rest of your plug-ins.
$55
When planning your ideal wind-down space, invest in an all-in-one media player. This one acts as an all-you-can-stream plug-in for your TV, so you can easily stream all your favorites from one place — including but not limited to live shows, news, sports, and hit movies. (After all, it’s not the weekend without a few solid hours of binging.)
$196
With a prime media player comes the need for a prime TV. The VIZIO 40” not only delivers excellent picture performance but also has built-in Chromecast, so you can stream more than 200,000 TV shows and movies and over 30 million songs. This TV already screams “party” and it’s not even in your cart...yet.
$99
Wi-Fi can truly make or break an experience. Skip the disappointment in your average router speeds and opt for the NETGEAR AC1750, with the speed and reliability needed for heavy-duty applications — lag-free, multiple HD video streaming and multi-player gaming, for example. If you happen to be living large in your university abode, the external antennas provide improved Wi-Fi coverage for bigger spaces.
Samsung A51
$400
$400
Laptops are great for inside the classroom, but every good student deserves the latest mobile masterpiece for after school. The Samsung A51 has all the dream features of a smartphone, with a selfie-approved quad camera, Super Steady OIS mode for videos, and super-fast charging. Sure, you can talk and text like any other phone, but we think you’ll be too distracted by the rest of its features to do any of that.
$16
You might think this is just an ordinary sheet set. But the truth is, it’s not just a sheet. The Mainstays Microfiber Fitted Sheet provides what most sheets fail to: storage. Pockets are sewn into the side of the sheet for easy access to your phone, headphones, remote, or anything you want by your side. The price is right, and it comes in a variety of colors.