Best gifts for students — 25 gadgets they won’t be able to live without

The Surface Pro 12-inch is a great holiday pick for anyone who wants one device for work, streaming, and everyday browsing. Powered by Snapdragon X2 Plus, this compact 2-in-1 gives you the flexibility of a tablet with the power of a Windows laptop. The 3:2 PixelSense touchscreen gives you more room to scroll, sketch and multitask, while the built-in kickstand reclines up to 165 degrees for easy viewing, typing or note-taking. Add the optional Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard and Slim Pen to complete the setup.

Display - 16 inches
Processor - Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB

This powerful and versatile HP OmniBook Flip offers impressive performance for the price, with powerful components such as a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a healthy 16GB of RAM to boost performance, and a decent 1TB SSD for storage. You can comfortably handle everyday tasks, demanding work, video calls, media streaming and more with this laptop, all with the option to flip it around to a 16-inch touchscreen tablet when needed, too.

I've bought this very listing for a photography-inclined friend, and it was extremely well received. The Charmera is a fantastic little keychain camera that's very much a gimmick, but a fun one nonetheless. It comes in a blind box, meaning that you don't know which of the six versions of the 1.6MP digital camera you'll get. A microSD card is NOT included. There's a 1 in 49 chance of getting the limited edition version.

A truly great, budget mini-LED TV, the TCL QM6K delivers vibrant picture quality along with solid gaming features for a price that won't break the bank. Upgrades here include support for 120Hz refresh rates at 4K resolution, which is perfect for gamers. This deal knocks a decent $300 off the 55-inch model, making it an appealing option for those who want a premium display at a mid-range price.

Nintendo Switch 2 bundles have been a rare sight in recent months, so it's good to see this customisable option available at Best Buy. As well as a console, you can also choose between a downloadable copy of either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia, for a saving of up to $29.99.

Even if you don't have a house full of smart devices, this handy little gadget from Amazon can add smart capabilities to attached tech such as timers, schedules and voice controls. It also works great with other Alexa devices, such as the Echo Dot or Echo Show. At just $25, this is a super useful and cheap addition to your basket.

Amazon's best-selling smart speaker offers an improved audio experience, plus a new temperature sensor and all the handy features from Alexa, like playing music, answering questions, and checking the weather, completely hands-free.

Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is a great choice for any dorm room. Since it's only a few bucks more than the cheaper HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade and get higher-resolution streaming—as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but that is more than enough for everyday use.

The latest in Samsung's well-received budget tablet range, the A11+ picks up where the A9 left off, and at the same price too. This is the base model, with just Wi-Fi connectivity and 128GB of storage, but you can expand that easily up to 2TB via a microSD card. If you need an Android tablet for daily use like web browsing, watching videos, and maybe playing a few games, this one's well worth considering.

I use this Owala water bottle daily because it holds a large 24 ounces and offers two easy ways to drink. It has a spout when you want to hold and pour, or a built-in straw that is really handy. At 20% off in a trove of colors, it's an easy pickup.

This convenient wall charger is a must-buy for all your gadgets, and it's on sale for just $8.99 at Amazon's Black Friday sale. The three-sided charger features five outlets, four USB charging ports, a fireproof shell, and surge protection.

Apple's second-generation AirTag, with louder sound, a 50% improvement in range for Precision Finding, and the rest of the features that made the first-gen such a great item tracker is a super handy little gadget. Right now, Amazon has a single AirTag for just $24, which makes it an easy cart addition or gift option.

With an ultra-compact design and up to 45 watts of charging power, this Anker wall plug balances portability and power effortlessly. It can fast-charge most modern phones, including the new iPhone 18 Pros in (almost) a flash. This is a reliable charger that will last a few good years, so it's a wise investment in our books.

The Keurig K-Express is a cheap, convenient coffee maker that can quickly brew coffee using your favorite K-Cup Pods. It can brew 8, 10, and 12oz cups depending on your preference. The 42oz reservoir holds enough water to brew up to 5 8oz cups per refill. While not a super high-end appliance, this one is perfect if you want something compact for the dorm room.

If you're looking for a slightly bigger coffee maker for a communal kitchen or dorm room, then check out this Bella Pro at Best Buy. It's a basic, no-frills drip filter coffee maker that can brew up to 12 cups at once, has a programmable timer so you can wake up to a fresh pot, and has dishwasher-safe components that make it easy to clean.

JBL's latest small speaker was released in summer 2026 and instantly became our new favorite cheap option. It comes in loads of colors, and is pretty much perfectly designed. The Go 5 is a small, tough, waterproof Bluetooth speaker. In our full JBL Go 5 review, we gave it five stars for simply being as good as Bluetooth speakers get when they're this small.

The JBL Flip 7 is one of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers, scoring a perfect five out of five in our review. It's a device that really manages to pump out surprisingly decent audio, despite still being relatively small. It's a little bigger than the Grip, but it's more feature-laden, including not just IP68 water resistance, but also featuring USB-C passthrough for better audio quality.

An air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with less oil, and this Ninja Pro model is ideal for families who want a big but budget-friendly option. The five-quart capacity drawer is enough to make meals for the whole family, and preset functions allow for easy air frying, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating.

We highly recommend these excellent buds if you're looking for a lively pair of earbuds that don't break the bank. We think they're the best you can buy for under $100, with excellent sound, noise cancellation, and a rather fetching design. Although they aren't the fanciest, these are exceptional value so don't miss them.

Bissell portable carpet cleaners are an ever-popular listing on Amazon, and quite frankly, it's easy to see why. The top-rated Little Green Mini model is an absolute bargain at just $86. Perfect for dorm room accidents, the portable carpet cleaner can magically erase spills and stains from carpets, couches, auto interiors, and more.

The Ninja Blast Max is a great buy for the health-conscious student - or anyone looking for easy convenience. The large 530ml container features a leakproof lid and a detachable base so you can blend, twist, and take your smoothie on the go. The Blast can blend ice and frozen fruit, as well as liquids and powders, so you're covered for all kinds of smoothies and shakes.

Wired earbuds are rising in popularity right now, and this is a great low price for a solid pair from Sony. You get excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, a small and lightweight design, and an integrated microphone on the wire for making calls. All for under $10 is a bit of steal.

Best Buy's latest sale has the previous-generation AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation available for $119.99 — that's just $20 more than the record-low price. These AirPods 4 feature a new comfortable design, handy controls, and Apple's H2 chip, which supports personalized spatial audio and voice isolation — alongside that all-important ANC.

Apple's newest premium buds feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, outstanding audio, a comfortable in-ear design, and new features such as live translation and heart-rate tracking. These do-it-all buds really are 100% flagship audio and the noise-cancelling quality is outstanding. Today's deal at Best Buy is the best price you can find on Apple's newest AirPods, and just $10 more than the record-low from earlier in the year.

This convenient wall charger is a must-buy for all your gadgets, and it's on sale for just $8.99 at Amazon's Black Friday sale. The three-sided charger features five outlets, four USB charging ports, a fireproof shell, and surge protection.

The JBL Tune 530BT are a value-packed pair of headphones, on sale for just $49.95. They last up to 76 hours on a full charge and add up to five hours of playback in just five minutes with USB-C charging. The foldable body, one-size-fits-all headband, and earcup controls make them even more convenient. It's an excellent buy if you're looking for long-lasting wireless headphones to take with you on the go.