5 essential tech gifts for graduates, according to students and professors

Classroom technology is constantly evolving, which can make it challenging to know what devices an incoming college student may need as they transition to campus life. To help sort it out, this guide to tech gifts for graduates is based on input from college professors and students alike. Here are the five tech items they consider essential, with insights about how they’re used both inside and outside of the classroom.

1. An updated smartphone

Smartphones have become essential for their student IDs, checking grades, for use as a mobile hotspot to power research, for reviewing assignments  for joining class discussion boards. Recent studies show that courses run through phone apps—whether language drills or AR lab modules—often keep students more engaged and can even lift their grades compared with traditional lectures. Beyond academics, smartphones also play a crucial role in a variety of on-campus events. For these reasons, a new phone tops the list of gifts for graduates.

What professors say:

“At career fairs, students need a phone to scan QR codes in order to access employer websites and event registration information,” says Ray Pastore, Ph. D., Professor of Instructional Technology and Director of Esports at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (and a paid writer for this website). “I run my university’s esports club, which has its own Discord community as a way for students to stay engaged … and all that discussion happens on a student’s mobile device.”

Gifts for graduates: Shop Verizon smartphones.

2. On-the-go charging to expand their options

The transition to campus life comes with plenty of challenges, but scrambling to charge a laptop or tablet shouldn’t be one of them. With a portable charger, students can keep their devices running whether they’re taking notes in the lecture hall or writing a paper outside on the quad. And a portable battery booster means they can charge their device even if they can’t find a wall outlet.

What students say:

“Portable chargers allow students to study anywhere, rather than being tied to a specific location or places with wall sockets,” says Mercer Brady, a history major.

Gifts for graduates: Shop portable chargers and batteries here.

3. A smartwatch to help them stay organized

A smartwatch can let students know when it’s time to head to class or other activities, which is especially useful if they don’t have their phones nearby.

What professors say:

“Having a smartwatch is nice for all the situations where students don’t—or shouldn’t—have their phones,” Pastore says. “Some professors dislike it when students bring a phone to class, but with a smartwatch, they can quickly check an incoming text to determine if there’s an emergency.”

Gifts for graduates: Shop smartwatches and accessories here.

4. Headphones to boost their focus

Whether students are listening to focus-boosting music or blowing off steam at the campus gym, a quality pair of headphones can help set them up for success in all their activities. Wireless earbuds offer a great way for students to listen to podcasts and other course materials on the go, while a wired pair of noise-canceling headphones makes an excellent gift for graduates who plan to live in university residence halls.

What students say:

“Noise-canceling headphones are a must. Being able to focus only on whatever I’m listening to is helpful for staying on task, whether it’s studying, cleaning or working out,” says Jillian Newmyer, radiation health physics graduate student, class of 2025.

What professors say:

“Especially for gamers living in the dorms, noise-canceling headphones should perform two different functions: They should cancel out background noise while also making sure your noise doesn’t bother anyone else,” Pastore says.

Gifts for graduates: Shop headsets and earbuds here.

5. A tablet to make note-taking easier

Laptops remain a necessity for many students, such as those who are studying engineering, computer science or multimedia development. But when it comes to bringing a device from class to class, tablets offer a convenient and highly portable alternative. More students are showing up to class with tablets and note-taking accessories, such as a keyboard or Bluetooth pen.

What students say:

“[My tablet] made taking notes in class extremely easy. I was able to use a Bluetooth pen to annotate slides during lectures … and taking handwritten notes is proven to be effective at increasing understanding of a subject,” says Grace Mayer, nursing major.

Gifts for graduates: Shop tablets here.

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