It seems like the summer was over in the blink of an eye. It’s already almost time for kids to head back to school. This means shopping for all the gear they’ll need for both their studies and downtime. Tech is a big part of this, and here, we highlight fantastic new tech worth adding to the list.
Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 Gaming Headset
Once homework is done, kids love gaming to unwind. The new Skullcandy PLYR 720 gaming headset boasts an open back design, THX spatial audio with head tracking, and Skullcandy’s Crusher multi-sensory bass technology for a fully immersive audio experience. Since the bass drivers fire directly into your head and ears versus around them, Skullcandy says you get a more natural, more visceral sound that the brand compares to “4D gaming.” Stream dual audio, like content from the game and audio from another source, such as chats with friends via a second app. Get up to 48 hours of battery life per charge with breathable memory foam ear cushions and a weight dispersing suspension headband for a secure and comfortable fit. Control them through the Skull-HQ app. It works with PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, and mobile with both a wired and wireless version available, both of which sell for $300.
Kensington Multi-Device Dual Wireless Compact Keyboard & Pro Fit Ergo TB550 Trackball
Kensington is a fantastic brand, offering all the computer accessories you need for a kids desk to help them get their homework done. The Kensington Multi-Device Dual Wireless compact keyboard and Pro Fit Ergo TB550 Trackball mouse is a perfect combination that you can snag for just over $100. The compact keyboard fits nicely on a smaller desk and boasts 128-bit AES encryption for added security. Kids can connect it to up to three devices at once, like a desktop, laptop, and tablet. Affording peace of mind, it’s certified for Wipe Down Protection, so it’s resistant to cleaning and disinfectant solvents. The keyboard works with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Chromebooks, the latter of which are popular among grade school students. It runs on a pair of AAA batteries and comes with two in the box.
Pair it with the Kensington Pro Fit Ergo TB550 Trackball, which boasts a sculpted, ergonomic design that offers a 45° tilt for improving wrist and forearm alignment and reducing strain. There’s also an enhanced 4D scroll wheel and dual wireless connectivity using Bluetooth Low Energy and 2.4GHz. The rechargeable battery lasts up to four months per USB-C charge.
Want to win both? We’re giving away a package valued at $150 that includes both the $40 keyboard and $110 mouse. Enter for your chance to be the lucky winner.
Motorola moto g power 2025 Smartphone
Your student might be clamouring for the latest and greatest smartphone while your wallet suggests otherwise. Consider an affordable option like the Motorola moto g power 2025 that sells for just $450 yet has impressive specs that rival some of the more premium devices on the market. It has a massive 6.8-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate to keep up with multitasking, even mobile gaming. The 5,000mAh battery lasts all day while 30W TurboPower charging ensures kids are back up and running quickly. It’s also rugged, meeting MIL-STD-810H certifications as well as both an IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance rating. You get a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip versus Snapdragon, but the phone can keep up with the basics that students need. With a decent camera system and features like Face Retouch, students will love this phone, even if they initially begged for a more expensive iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device.
Epson EcoTank ET-2980 All-in-One Printer
While much of what students will do is digital nowadays, there’s still a need to make prints. This might be for study notes, reports, presentation hand-outs, and work they want to go over with a red pen. Epson EcoTank printers cost more than traditional inkjet printers, but that’s because they are refillable ink in design, which saves you money in the long run. The newest Epson EcoTank ET-2980 comes with a three-year supply of ink in the box (based on average use), which is equivalent to about 80 individual ink cartridges. Do the math and you can see that even with the about $400 price tag, you save both money and time in the long run, using this printer for the duration of their schooling. It has features like fast printing (15 pages-per-minute in black and eight in colour), 100-sheet paper tray, auto duplex printing, a 1.44-inch colour display, built-in USB and Wi-Fi with direct printing from the Epson Smart Panel app. Enter our contest for the chance to win one for your student.
INIU Pocket Rocket P50 Power Bank
A power bank is useful to keep in a student’s backpack so they can never use the excuse “sorry, my phone died” when the parental units try calling to see why they aren’t home from school yet. The INIU Pocket Rocket P50 is super small and lightweight so it won’t add any bulk to the backpack. Yet it still boasts a 10,000mAh battery and 45W PD power, and supports Samsung Super Fast charging 2.0. Charge both a phone and pair of earbuds or smartwatch at the same time. It can get a phone from the red to about three quarters full in just 25 minutes. It’s powerful enough to recharge a MacBook Air, too! With built-in protection against overheating, overcharging, and short circuits, the charger is perfect for a student. Did we mention it also ships with a detachable, ultra-durable lanyard USB-C cable for charging? It sells for $45.
Motorola Moto Watch 40 Smartwatch
If you’re looking for an entry-level smartwatch for a young student, check out our top picks for students. Another model worth considering is the Motorola Moto Watch 40, which is designed like a smartwatch/fitness band hybrid with a smaller, 1.57-inch rectangular screen. It’s narrower than a traditional square smartwatch face but larger than your typical strip-style fitness band screen. Durable and compatible with Google Fit, students can track their basic fitness and activity metrics and view smart notifications, like class schedules, calendar appointments, and even assignment deadline reminders. Lasting up to 10 days per charge, kids don’t need to worry about charging it nightly. It would make a great gift for a student ages 12+ and the price is right at just $80. Want to win one? We’re giving you the chance with our contest, which runs through September 9, 2025.
Crosley Miles Record Player
GenZ-ers are fascinated with vintage and retro tech, and this includes items like record players. The Crosley Miles record player is a great first one for them to test the waters after visiting that hip, local record shop and picking up a few vinyl discs. The great thing about it is that along with playing 33, 45, and 78pm discs, the Miles also has built-in Bluetooth so kids can play their Spotify and YouTube playlists, too, leveraging the player’s built-in speakers. With the headphone jack, college students with a roommate can switch to private listening when their roommate needs quiet to study or sleep. At US$99, it’s a steal and will be a welcome addition to the bedroom or dorm, educating kids and grandkids on how you listened to your music “back in the day.”
DJI Osmo 360 Camera
I’m a fan of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera, and the DJI Osmo 360 camera is a new model that’s also the brand’s first 360 camera. Kids will love being able to shoot 360° images and videos to share via their social channels. Compact and lightweight, kids will love bringing it along to capture footage while they enjoy downtime and might even find it useful for filming school projects, too. It runs for 100 minutes when shooting 8K video at 30 frames-per-second, more than enough time for several TikTok- or Instagram Reel-friendly vids. Grab them the Osmo Invisible Selfie Stick as well so they get a third person view as if they had their own cameraman. They can easily switch between the front and rear lenses while recording, ideal for travel vlogs and other cool social videos. It’s US$430 but there are several combo options as well that include all types of accessories.
Win the Ultimate Laptop Essentials Pack
Think you have gotten everything you need? Check off the last-minute odds and ends with the Ultimate Laptop Essentials Pack we’re giving away to one lucky winner. It includes the Kensington Universal 3-in-1 combination laptop lock ($70) and the 100W USB-C GaN power adapter ($100).
These two items will become invaluable to students, especially college and university kids. The lock fits any laptop security slot, including standard, nano, and wedge-shaped and features a resettable four-number dial and carbon steel cable. To keep their laptop, tablet, and smartphone sufficiently powered all day, the adapter offers 100W power for high-speed charging. The two-meter cable is long enough to get to those hard-to-reach spots in the student centre or coffee shop, too. Enter our contest, which runs through September 15. 2025, for your chance to win.
Happy back-to-school shopping!
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