We meant it when we said it: the expenses of school are nothing new to us. So, take our sage advice: don't spend too much on tech if you can avoid it. Whether you're a general studies student still figuring out your major or simply can't swing for the primo stuff, you're in good hands.
Below, you'll find some of the best budget options from what we've recommended throughout this expansive buying guide. You have all of the essentials: a laptop, tablet, printer, headphones and a gaming gadget.
Picking up the following five pieces of tech would run you about $700 (or around £450, AU$950) – or just 500 bucks if you're not much of a gamer. That's not too shabby for everything you'll need to get you through a few more years school.
Laptop: Toshiba Chromebook 2
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The MacBook Air of Chromebooks
This is quite a statement to make, and we stand behind it. At just over $300 (or £200), this isn't only the best Chromebook you could buy, but likely the best budget laptop you could buy.
For the general student looking to save, this is the laptop for you regardless of whether you're neck deep in Google services. With a vibrant, 1080p screen and the latest Wi-Fi tech, this notebook rocks for both work and leisure (i.e. binging Orange is the New Black instead of studying).
Read the full review: Toshiba Chromebook 2
Tablet: Amazon Fire HD 6
The cheapest tablet we can recommend
Are you looking for an affordable, yet fully functional tablet for under 100 clams? Like with everything else on your Back to School list, Amazon has come through with just the right deal.
Its $99 (or £79) Amazon Fire HD 6 is a miniature version of the online retailer's pricier Fire tablets, yet it runs the same apps and streams all of the same content. Its 6-inch display has its advantages, too – it can fit into nearly any handbag or most back pockets with a little squeeze.
Read the full review: Amazon Fire HD 6
Entertainment: New Nintendo 3DS XL
Portable, powerful play time by Nintendo
Doesn't it feel like just yesterday you were on the playground playing Game Boy? Play is still important, you know – it stimulates the brain, I read somewhere.
Nintendo's New 3DS XL has tons of great new games from the Mario house and packs plenty of classics to feed that nostalgia. There's nothing like stomping Goombas to remind you that this whole "being an adult" thing won't be so hard after all.
Read the full review: New Nintendo 3DS XL
Printer: HP Deskjet 1010
A bare-bones, inexpensive printer
If you need a printer and money is tight, the DeskJet 1010 is your go-to device. It'll produce black and white text-based documents in 17 seconds. And, if you need to shuffle it from workspace to workspace, you'll be happy to learn it weighs just more than 4.5 pounds.
Unfortunately, this model won't produce gorgeous images, and it won't connect to anything wirelessly. But if you just need something to print out your book reports, this will more than suffice.
Read the full review: HP Deskjet 1010
Portable Audio: Skullcandy Grind
Punchy headphones for a tiny price
These on-ear headphones totally nail the blend of design, useful features and incredible sound. Whereas most headphones of this style typically cost more than 100 bucks, these knock the competition out of the way for just $59 (£39, AU$79).
A few qualities makes these special: the street-savvy style, premium comfort and, last but not least, the TapTech multi-function button and microphone built right into the earcup. All together, the Grind make for a smart buy for students.
Read the full review: Skullcandy Grind
