With the 2021-22 school year just around the corner, students, teachers, and parents are leaning into tech more than ever—even as some schools prepare for a full return to the classroom. For others, remote and hybrid learning may still be a reality. To add to that, the Federal government in handing out an additional $122 billion to schools for COVID-19 recovery. Some states will doubtless put those funds toward additional technology.
Here are our picks for the best student-friendly tech products to invest in this year.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook
A 2-in-1 notebook with a 360-degree hinge, this under-3-pound Chromebook is ideal for students looking for all-day battery life and flexibility. Price TBA.
Viewsonic VG1655
A portable 15.6-inch monitor that plugs into a USB-C port, it’s intended to operate as a second screen for a laptop or tablet and promises to boost productivity. $255.99
Link: https://www.viewsonic.com/us/vg1655.html
Netgear Nighthawk AXE11000 Wi-Fi Router (RAXE500)
The latest and fastest in home networking performance, this Wi-Fi 6E router delivers up to 10.8Gbps of throughput for smooth streaming and can handle up to 60 devices. $599.99
Samsung S21 Ultra 5G
More devices like the affordable Samsung S21 are supporting the faster Wi-Fi 6E networking standard. Starting at $499.99.
Verizon 5G Internet Gateway
Paying too much for broadband, especially of the gigabit variety? As of June, Verizon has expanded its blazingly fast gigabit millimeter-wave 5G service to more than 40 cities in the U.S. This striking all-white gateway — and a compatible address — are all you need to tap into Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband unlimited, no-cap data plans, which are $50 per month for existing Verizon subscribers and $70 for everyone else — but you can get up to $500 in credit to offset termination fees from your existing Internet provider (and, if you’re a new subscriber, you can get a free Samsung Chromebook).
