The Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guide

From necessities to nice-to-haves, we’ve gathered 28 products that will make this year at school the best it can be.

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Knowing exactly what your student needs for the school year ahead is next to impossible. Sure, you’ll probably nail the essentials, but there will likely be a few items you forgot to buy, or didn’t think they’d need to have. We’re pulling our weight during the back-to-school season with a new shopping guide that’s a mix of practical and aspirational products for students to use in and out of the classroom.

We’re covering items that make writing easier and more satisfying , alarm clocks that can rattle even the most sleep-deprived students from a deep slumber, bags that are just as great for the gym as they are for the weekend away, and more. We wish the students in your life (or you , if you’re the student in question) a prosperous year, and we hope that our curation makes things a little easier during your studies and your downtime a lot more fun.

Shark TurboBlade Bladeless Tower Fan

The Shark TurboBlade Bladeless Tower Fan pivots, twists, and oscillates to keep the air in your room from feeling stale. It has 10 power levels, and its bladeless design can move air up to 80 feet away at full power. Its filter can be cleaned, so you don’t have to worry about buying replacement parts.

Apple MacBook Neo

When it comes to simple laptops for notetaking and essay writing, it’s hard to beat the value of the MacBook Neo. Its iPhone-grade CPU and 8GB of RAM mean this isn’t a powerhouse meant for engineering students. But it’s a better choice than a similarly priced Chromebook or Windows laptop.

Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS

Canon’s PowerShop ELPH 360 HS will make your memories really pop better than smartphone pictures. It has a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor that works well in low light, plus 12X optical zoom and optical image stabilization. It features a 3-inch LCD screen so your crew can review photos before posting them. I dig its hybrid auto mode that can take videos to go along with each photo, like behind-the-scenes footage for your antics.

Anbernic RG Rotate

Whether you’re trying to catch a quick game between classes, or you need a distraction on the bus ride home, the Anbernic RG Rotate gaming handheld is worth considering. Its aluminum design is slick and durable, and the 3.5-inch IPS LCD swivels away to cover up the buttons when it’s not in use. The device runs Android, which means you can install and play a compatible emulator of your choice.

Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo Graphing Calculator

As math classes start to ramp up in complexity, you’ll need a calculator that can hang. The Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo is the latest edition, with a lot of improvements to make it feel more modern than the old TI-83 you might’ve used. The color screen lets you see multi-equation graphs in a new light, and USB-C charging means no more hunting for batteries in the middle of an exam.

Blackwing Pencils Audition Pack

Blackwing pencils make a great gift for the stationery nerd or journaler in your life. They feel luxurious to write with, leaving rich strokes across the page. It’s obvious that a lot of thought went into the design, one example being its square eraser to keep them from rolling away (they’re easy to replace, too). They’re available in four different core hardness ratings, with frequent collaborations and special editions to collect.

Igloo Retro Square Lunch Bag

You’ll be the coolest kid in class if you show up with this 1990s-inspired cooler bag from Igloo, no matter how old you are. Its 108-ounce capacity is enough for your whole lunch or up to nine 12-oz cans, and the side pocket is great for holding an extra little treat, or some sunscreen. While it isn’t technically collapsible, I’ve found mine squishes down nice and flat for storage when it’s empty.

Razor A5 Air Kick Scooter

Looking for a low-stress way to get around campus? The Razor kick scooter is a convenient method of traveling to and from school or zipping around between classes. It folds up for storage in your locker or under your desk, and they’re available in a variety of colors and sizes. Some even include features like air-filled tires and suspension that would have made me jealous in middle school.

Owala FreeSip Sway (32-ounce)

The 32-ounce Owala FreeSip does a good job of keeping your favorite beverage cold or hot for an entire day at school, with the option to drink through a straw or straight from its mouth. All the pieces come apart for easy cleaning, and there are a number of color combinations to choose from, as well as different sizes to accommodate different levels of thirst.

Loop Quiet 2 earplugs

The Loop Quiet 2 earplugs aren’t as isolating as simpler, cheaper foam options, which makes them a great choice for finding a bit of solace while studying in a crowded library. They have exterior loops that signal that you’re busy, and which make them easier to remove quickly. They come with a handy carrying case and a selection of different tip sizes to make sure you get a comfortable fit.

Kindle Paperwhite (2024)

The waterproof Kindle Paperwhite lets you carry thousands of titles in a slim, lightweight device, so you won’t have to stuff your backpack with books or fill up precious shelf space in a tiny dorm room. It also can last for over a month on a single charge, making it one less thing to constantly charge during a busy semester.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 13

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 13 is a fun gift for students starting a new chapter. It prints credit card-sized photos in seconds, and the new self-timer makes it easier to snap group photos with friends. The prints make great decorations for dorm walls and scrapbooks, giving them memories they’ll treasure during breaks and long after graduation.

Pusheen 10-in-1 ballpoint pen

If you or someone you know is the type of student who color-codes everything in journals, the Pusheen 10-in-1 Ballpoint Pen is a cute gift. With 10 colors, it’s easy to organize notes and planners without carrying around a handful of pens, and the adorable 3D Pusheen topper is just fun.

Midori paintable stamp pre-inked calendar

The Midori Paintable Stamp is a useful gift for students who like to use paper planners, bullet journals, or scrapbooks. The pre-inked stamp quickly adds a monthly calendar to any page, be it in a notebook or a sticky note, and its oil-based ink won’t bleed when colored in with water-based markers or highlighters.

Aobopar adjustable bookends

Between textbooks, planners and notebooks, a student’s desk can get cluttered quickly. Aobopar’s adjustable steel bookends expand up to 18 inches, making it easy to stay organized as the semester goes on. They’re a practical gift that’s especially handy for small dorm rooms with limited storage.

Leuchtturm1917 Bullet Journal

Leuchtturm1917’s Bullet Journal Edition 2 is great for students who want to stay organized without relying on tech. Designed with bullet journal creator Ryder Carroll, the 204-page dot-grid notebook includes essentials like a key, index, future log, and page numbers, along with a sticker sheet, and a pocket guide that doubles as a ruler.

VidaBay NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet

VidaBay’s NFC E-Paper Fridge Magnet is a fun way to personalize a dorm room fridge. Although it looks like an instant photo, its color E Ink display lets students update the image anytime using their phone. They can switch between photos of family back home, new friends, or favorite memories whenever they like, without buying packs of instant film.

Boox Tappy Wireless Page Turner

The Boox Tappy Wireless Page Turner makes it easy to turn pages or scroll around without touching your e-reader, tablet, or phone. The Bluetooth remote works with Boox tablets, Kobo e-readers, as well as iPhone and Android devices, letting you flip pages forward and backward, scroll up and down websites, or skip tracks in music, audiobooks, and podcasts all without reaching for your screen.

Uni Kuru Toga Roulette mechanical pencil

Any pencil will do for completing homework and filling out the planner, but some are better than others. One of the most clever (yet still fairly affordable) is the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette. It’s a mechanical pencil with a mechanism that rotates the lead every time you lift it up between letters and words. Sounds silly, but it ensures that you always have a pointed tip to write with.

Remarkable Paper Pure

Computers are great note-taking devices, but if you’re like me, you might learn a little more by writing down notes. Remarkable’s Paper Pure has matte-textured glass that mimics the feeling of writing on paper, and the device lets you easily import or export notes, plus search for words within your notes. You could buy many paper notebooks for the cost of the Paper Pure, but this elegant gadget can do so much more.

Aer Duffel Pack 3

The Duffel Pack 3 is a stellar bag for weekend getaways, trips back home, and adventures beyond high school, college, or post-grad life. Its suitable for schlepping school materials and a laptop, or packing in all of your gym attire, including bulky shoes. Aer’s bag has pockets on pockets, so to speak, with adjustable straps and a section that lets it easily (and securely) slide around luggage handles.

Hobonichi Techo planner

Using a planner is for more than just staying on top of homework, schedules, and extracurricular activities. It’s where you can journal how everything in your life is making you feel, jot down ideas you have for cool projects, and really anything you want to look back on. Hobonichi Techo’s planners come in various sizes and layouts, letting you look at things day-by-day or week-by-week. They’re great, and I really like that each page has a daily quote to make each day feel fresh.

Arturia MiniLab 37 MIDI controller

A MIDI controller won’t be on everyone’s back-to-school shopping list. Something like the Arturia MiniLab 37 should get added, though, if you’re a student who wants to connect to their musical side with ease. The MiniLab 37 is reasonably priced, and small enough to fit into a backpack. And yet, our reviewer found that its size didn’t come at the cost of playability. It has access to the company’s top-notch synth effects, and it includes software so you can make music right out of the box.

Xgimi MoGo 4 laser projector

As much as you may be tempted to buy a TV for your dorm, consider a compact projector instead. You won’t save money going that route, but you’ll be able to use it just about anywhere, not just in your room. The Xgimi MoGo 4 Laser projector is slick, includes Google TV software built-in with robust app support, and works well with consoles thanks to its HDMI input. It runs off a built-in battery, though you can keep it charged with a USB-C power bank or with the included power adapter.

LectroFan Classic white noise machine

A noise machine is one of those unsung back-to-school essentials that might make various parts of your school year a lot easier. The LectroFan Classic’s digital re-creation of white noise is shockingly natural sounding, without obvious start/stops that can be jarring when you’re in the flow (or trying to sleep). It’s USB-powered, includes a power brick, and comes with numerous tones of sound to suit your preferences for sleep or concentration, from deep, ocean-like brown noise to shrill white noise.

Sonic Bomb alarm clock

Most people will agree that it’s tough to get out of bed. For others, it’s on another level. Standard alarms aren’t loud enough to pierce the veil of deep sleep. If I’m describing you or someone you know, the Sonic Bomb alarm clock is the nuclear option for being woken up. The alarm can blare loudly, and if that’s not enough, the egg-shaped vibrating pod that connects to it can buzz the bed until it’s turned off. It’s extremely effective, though keep in mind that roommates will likely hear it as well.

Govee Table Lamp Classic

The cordless Govee Table Lamp Classic is easy to move from a desk to a bedside table, so it can do the job of multiple lamps without taking up much space. With adjustable brightness, support for countless colors, and customizable lighting effects, it’s also just as useful for late-night study sessions as it is for relaxing after the big tests.

Alienware 27-inch AW2726DM QD-OLED monitor

Buying an OLED... for school? I’m being serious. Alienware is among a few manufacturers making 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED monitors that are cheaper than you might expect. The AW2726DM is made for gaming (it has a 240Hz refresh rate), but it’s good for productivity and entertainment, too. Its QD-OLED panel is as good as $350 can get you, with rich contrast, deep blacks, solid text clarity, and a three-year warranty against panel burn-in.