Image of a college dorm with a laptop, fan, charger, extension cord and other electronic items depicting essential electronic gadgets for an easy college dorm life
Image of a college dorm with a laptop, fan, charger, extension cord and other electronic items

It can be challenging to make your first move onto a college dorm. However, you will feel more at ease if you have most of the necessities on hand. When it comes to essentials, electronics are undoubtedly at the top of the list, since every millennial’s life is now inextricably linked to their devices. The toiletries may be forgotten, but not the electrical items. However, just in case you forget something important in a hurry, we’ve compiled a list to double check. So, if you or someone you know has dorm room days ahead of them, this list of essential electronic gadgets for college dorm will come in handy for sure.

What Should I Bring to A College Hostel?

The long list will astound you – there is a lot actually. However, we’ve decided to write a series of articles dividing them into five categories, each of which will be discussed in greater depth later in each article. The following are the categories:

  1. Essentials for The Room and Storage
  2. Toiletries
  3. Electronics
  4. Clothing
  5. Stationeries

So, as you may know, we’ll be talking about the electronic gadgets you’ll need for your college dorm room in today’s article.

What Gadgets Should a College Student Have?

Here we have listed 10 gadgets for college dorms. Carefully check out this list to make sure you don’t leave anything behind, even by mistake.

  1. Bluetooth Speaker
  2. Ethernet Cord
  3. Fan
  4. Flash Drive
  5. Headphones
  6. Laptop
  7. Mobile Phone
  8. Printer
  9. Robot Vacuum Cleaner
  10. Surge Protector
  11. Wi-Fi router

And, just in case you’re not sure what to buy in certain categories, we’ve included some suggestions for each one as well. So, let’s take a look at them as well.

1. Bluetooth Speaker | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

College student or not, who doesn’t enjoy listening to music? After all, having the right audio equipment as a college student can make those first months away from home a little less tough. After that, having a speaker comes handy whether you’re alone in your dorm room or have friends over and want to listen to music, or even at a small party! That is why you need to add a portable Bluetooth speaker for your college dorm gadget list.

JBL FLIP 4 – Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Flip 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with remarkable power. A 3000mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery powers this small speaker and provides 12 hours of continuous, high-quality audio playback. Flip 4 is the all-purpose, all-weather companion that brings the party wherever it goes, thanks to its durable, waterproof fabric materials that come in six vibrant colors.

DOSS SoundBox Pro Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

This one allows you to use a Bluetooth device to connect two Soundbox Pro speakers for maximum output. The double pairing feature provides a richer sound at high volume while also illuminating the party night with led lights. The rechargeable battery can play music for up to 20 hours at 50% volume with extra bass and the lights turned off.

2. Ethernet Cable | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

Some colleges provide wireless internet access, while others prefer wired systems for security reasons. A wireless router will come in handy if you have multiple devices and your dorm only has an Ethernet jack. However, before you move into the dorm, make sure you have an Ethernet cable. If the dorm uses a wired network, you’ll need to plug one into the Ethernet jack, and a cable will at least get your laptop online until you can pick up a router. Ethernet cables can also be useful in places like the campus library or academic halls where the wireless connection isn’t so strong.

Mediabridge Ethernet Cable (25 Feet)

This cable’s RJ45 connector works with both Cat6 and Cat5e ports. Up to 10 Gigabits per second can be carried over these Cat 6 cables (which is 10 times the bandwidth of Cat5e cables). In accordance with the “TIA/EIA 568B.2” standard, it meets or exceeds Category 6 performance. It’s also backwards compatible with current Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet.

DanYee Nylon Braided Cat 7 Ethernet Cable

Danyee Cat 7 Lan Cable supports bandwidth up to 600MHz and data transmission speeds up to 10Gbps. This will allow you to connect to LAN/WAN segments and networking equipment at top speeds. The DanYee network cable is made of a special surface braided nylon that makes it stronger and more exquisite, as well as dirt-proof.

3. Fan | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

There’s a good chance you won’t have air conditioning in your dorm, based on your dorm. You may, but only very rarely, have temperature control in your dorm. So, adding a standing or clip-on fan (or maybe both) to your dorm gadgets may be able to save your life while also making the beginning and end of your college year less stressful.

Lil’ Blizzard Oscillating Table Fan

This fan is perfect for desk or tabletop use, and it will keep you cool at your dorm desk. It has oscillation for wide area coverage and is lightweight for easy portability, making it ideal for personal or table use. You can easily direct airflow wherever you want it with the tilt adjustable head.

Lasko Tower Fan

This fan is ideal for your dorm room because of its unique space-saving design and quiet operation. The built-in timer turns off the fan after the specified amount of time has passed. In 1 hour increments, you can choose from 1 to 7 hours. Another reason why this fan is well-suited for the dorm is because of the wireless remote control. You can use it to control oscillation, fan speed, and turn on or off the fan without getting out of bed or chair.

4. Flash Drive | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

“Does anyone have a USB?” is a more common question in college or in the dorm than you could imagine. After all, what better option than having a USB with you when the shared printer doesn’t seem to be working, when you need to go to a different lab location, or when you need to continue working on your project in the library? Who can guarantee the Wi-Fi connection in your dorm, even if you prefer email or digital sharing? As a result, having a backup flash drive is a smart move.

SanDisk 32GB Cruzer Glide USB 2.0 Flash Drive

This USB flash drive comes with SanDisk SecureAccess software, which allows you to password-protect and encrypt sensitive files while still allowing access to files you want to share. Moreover, the USB connector is protected by the sleek retractable design when the drive is not in use.

Samsung BAR Plus 64GB

The Bar Plus is the perfect blend of stunning design and long-lasting durability. The reinforced metal body keeps your data safe and secure, and the integrated key ring keeps it from being misplaced or lost. The Bar Plus is a reliable drive to store your valuable data thanks to Samsung’s leadership in flash memory. With a waterproof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, magnet-proof, and X-ray-proof body, it can handle anything.

5. Headphones | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

Colleges are social, which is fantastic! But, sometimes all you need to do is shut out the world’s craziness.  That’s why noise-canceling headphones are a 100% necessity for your college life.  A good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can make a big difference whether you’re working at the library or in your dorm room. Invest in a good pair and treat them well. You can use them to de-stress, meditate, jam out on the way to class, or listen to songs before bed.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

The Life Q20 active noise canceling headphones replicate music with prolonged high frequencies up to 40 kHz, resulting in exceptional clarity and detail. It can help decrease ambient noise by up to 90%. The Life Q20’s four built-in ANC microphones and digital active noise cancellation algorithm have been perfectly fine-tuned by the manufacturers. As a result, the hybrid active noise cancellation system can detect and cancel a wider range of noises. This includes low and mid-frequency noises, such as those produced by automobiles and airplane engines.

Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones

With the Dual Noise Sensor Technology in these headphones, noise cancellation detects your surroundings automatically. With up to 35 hours of battery life and quick charging, you can enjoy long-lasting listening.  You can try hands-free calling and use it with your voice assistant, which are both possible with your smartphone.

6. Laptop | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

Laptops for college students aren’t just for doing homework and assignments in the library or in your dorm. They’re also used for surfing the web, watching movies, and playing games, among other things. There are numerous laptops available, ranging from entry-level to high-end gaming laptops. As a college student, the laptop we choose is largely determined by the budget we’ve been granted. So, think wisely about what you really need from your laptop.

Lenovo 110

Any fresh college student should be able to get by with this Lenovo laptop. Its 500GB hard drive can store thousands of songs, hours of HD movies, and all of your assignments, and its 15-inch screen is compact enough to fit into a college backpack.

HP Pavilion 14

If you’re looking for a low-cost college laptop, look no further than the HP Pavilion 14. It’s one of the best you can get for the money, running Windows 10 with an 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U CPU, Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, as well as a simple yet stylish design and crisp screen.

7. Mobile Phone | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

In today’s world, smartphones or mobile phones are a mandatory requirement. It is even more important for college students. We don’t need to go over the benefits of having a mobile phone in the twenty-first century, do we? The list goes on and on, from making a phone call to browsing a wealth of educational resources and having a variety of tools you need for college such as a scientific calculator, barometer, tape measure, etc on one device. However, if you believe your current phone is in good working order, you do not need to purchase a new phone for college. Having a reliable phone on hand can make your college life a lot easier.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is a great all-rounder. Because of the features it offers, it is one of the best smartphones for college students on a budget. The phone comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 732G chipset, stereo speakers, four rear cameras, a long-lasting battery, and a fast charger. It also has a fast 120Hz display, which is the same as top-of-the-line models.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite N770F

For college students, the Samsung ‘Note’ series is a widely known smartphone. The Galaxy Note10 Lite is a brilliant design of style and performance, with a spectacular viewing space and an intuitively housed S Pen. Its elegantly curved smooth metal frame provides ergonomic comfort and feel. The Infinity-O Display on the Galaxy Note10 Lite has a near-bezel-less 17.03cm (6.7″)1 Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen for more viewing and doing space and much less distraction.

8. Printer | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

A good printer will save you a lot of time that you would otherwise spend walking to the nearest public printer in college. Furthermore, any good printer should last you for years if used properly. Students, on the other hand, have a difficult time finding a printer that will fit in their dorm room while also providing effective service. We’ve mentioned two printers that aren’t your typical, heavy, and noisy printers, but are instead modern, compact, and packed with features.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 All-in-One Wireless Printer

Despite the fact that it appears to be a middling traditional printer, its compact and sleek design, which is infused with numerous useful features, makes it worthwhile. It’s a new HP inkjet printer for dorm rooms that can print on envelopes, cards, gloss paper, and high-resolution printers. Moreover, the 4-in-1 printer is a fantastic device that should be in a student dorm.

Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer

The Canon PIXMA photo printer is one of the most affordable printers available. This small and light printer will easily fit into your dorm room desk. It’s ideal for students on a tight budget who need a smart printer. However, you can only print on glossy photo paper, not plain paper. As a result, those looking for a printer like this Canon PIXMA can get the most out of it.

9. Robot Vacuum Cleaner | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

This isn’t necessary if you care about the cleanliness of your dorm room and aren’t too lazy to clean it yourself. However, dorm rooms are known for a variety of things, but hygiene and cleanliness are rarely among them. Having a robot vacuum cleaner to do all the cleaning for you will be a smart move. After all, it’s the roommate you’ll actually want to live with when you go to college.

eufy RoboVac 11+

Eufy’s RoboVac will keep your dorm floors free of pencil shavings, dust from footwear, hair, stray crumbs, and other dirt that piles up during the course of a week at college. You can start a cleaning session by pressing the top button. Similarly, use the included remote to program it to clean every day while you and your roommate are at lecture.

Tesvor Robot Vacuum Cleaner

This one also cleans your dorm floors and carpets of most dust, dirt, and crumbs. Moreover, it works with voice commands from Alexa and Google Assistant. To schedule and monitor cleaning sessions, set cleaning modes, and customize cleaning, you can simply use the app. Or you can start cleaning tasks with a single button press, and the device will automatically recharge when the battery runs out or the cleaning is finished.

10. Surge Protector | Electronic Gadgets for College Dorm

With all of the gadgets you’ll be bringing to college, you’ll need outlets for your laptop, lamp, and various chargers (probably all at the same time). So it seems perfectly reasonable to stock up on extension cords. Many colleges, on the other hand, prohibit cords entirely, while others will only allow them if they are surge protected, as unprotected cords can overload a dorm’s electrical system, resulting in electrical failure or other hazards.

The constant drain of power by hundreds, if not thousands, of residents in dorms, for example, can result in more frequent power surges than in other locations. Your computer or laptop will be less likely to be damaged and lose your valuable coursework, projects and assignments if you use a power surge protector. After all, a power surge protector allows you to safely connect multiple appliances to the same outlet, sometimes as many as five or six.

Witeem Surge Protector

The power strip, which has 12 outlets and is designed to power 1875W / 15A heavy-duty devices, allows you to charge multiple devices at once. It works with most phones, tablets, laptops and other devices you’ll be using at your dorm. The USB ports’ built-in smart charging technology detects your devices automatically and charges them at the fastest possible speed (up to 12W (5V/2.4A) for each port). Almost all USB devices can be charged using the four USB ports (total 6A/30W).

Bototek Surge Protector

This surge protector has ten AC outlets and four USB charging ports, as well as a six-foot extension cord. Smart circuitry with built-in voltage sensing detects and responds to your device’s power requirements, while safety features keep your devices protected.

11. Wi-Fi Router

There is Wi-Fi in the dorms, but most of the time they won’t be as fast as the Wi-Fi you are used to have at home. According to move.org, you should have at least 10 Mbps of download speed per person who may be online at the same time, but the exact amount of internet speed you require depends on how many devices are connected to the internet and how you use it. So, you can see how it’s impossible to keep up with a couple hundred people with multiple Wi-Fi devices who all seek 4K HD streaming, gaming and more in high quality. It’s therefore worthwhile to set up your own router if you want to avoid the slow speeds.

Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Wireless Router

This router covers up to 1,500 square feet with Wi-Fi and supports up to 15 wireless devices. It connects to your existing modem and is simple to set up using the Linksys App. As a result, you can watch Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, play games, and more without buffering. It has dual band Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 1.9 GHz (600 Mbps) and 5 GHz (1300 Mbps). Internet Explorer 8 and newer, Safari 5 (for Mac), Firefox 8, and Google Chrome are the minimum system requirements for this router.

TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit WiFi Router

This dual band router enhances internet speeds to 1200 Mbps (300 Mbps for 2.4GHz + 900 Mbps for 5GHz), lowering buffering and making it ideal for 4K streaming. Gigabit Router with 4 Gigabit LAN Ports is ideal for any internet plan and allows you to connect your wired devices directly to the router. Featuring WPA3, the most recent Wi-Fi security protocol, adds new capabilities to personal networks’ cybersecurity.

Gadgets for College Students 2021 | Conclusion

Soon, you’ll be off to college and settling into your new place: a small dorm room. Apart from your clothes, shoes , accessories, makeup, perfumes , stationery, and other academic materials, it may be a good idea to buy these electronic gadgets for college dorm when you arrive at the hostel to begin your new adventure happily. However, you don’t need all eleven of the items listed here. Specially if you are on a tight budget, eliminate unnecessary purchases (try to use the once you have), and focus on what matters most for a comfortable and productive college years. To sum up, we hope that this article has been/will be helpful in meeting your college dorm electronic gadget needs!