Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The cool tech that’s great for back to school (or work) life

These back to school tech gadgets will get you excited for class

back to school tech supplies group working laptops
Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 / Unsplash

Whether you are going back to school or returning to the office, we all want to get through our day with as few blips as possible. Tech gadgets have been an answer to many a student’s prayers when it comes to taking notes, surviving a hard class, or vegging out in between lectures. We have a few back to school tech supplies to make your day a little easier and possibly more entertaining that could pull double duty as work besties.

Tech gadgets to add to any back-to list

Two people studying a computer in a classroom.
Lagos Techie / Unsplash

MagicMount Flask

MagicMount Flask.
Scosche

Between sitting through class after class or surviving a possibly horrible commute, staying hydrated is key, and your phone is basically your only friend who understands what’s going on. It shouldn’t matter what container is holding your water — we just want you to drink your daily recommended amount. The MagicMount Flask is a way to get your ounces in without forgetting where you put your phone. This insulated bottle will keep those iced coffees cold for up to 24 hours (if they last that long) and whatever you drink hot for up to 12 hours. While the MagSafe lid only works with iPhone models 12 or later, it will be a handy tool to keep your phone playing music while you study or watch as many TikTok videos as you can before the professor walks in.

Recommended Videos

ProLED Bi-Color Panel

ProLEDs Bi-Color Panel.
ShiftCam

Ring light, who? We have all seen how messy we can look on a Zoom call, so to look picture perfect when taking a class online or calling the fam back home so they don’t try to visit too often, a ProLED Bi-Color Panel light is the way to go. Sure, you could use it for selfies for dating apps, but it’s best to get as close to an in-person class experience as possible if you take your classes remotely. Adjust the brightness, adapt the color temperature according to whether it’s night or day out, and don’t worry about keeping it charged with a 15-hour battery life. It works with a phone, laptop, tablet, or camera, so no matter where or how you jump on a call, you’ll be in the best light.

Modular Reusable Smart Notebook

Modular Reusable Smart Notebook.
Modubooq

Not everyone wants to bring a laptop to every class to take notes. Some still admire the old-school way of putting pen to paper. But an easier and cleaner way to do that now is with a Modular Reusable Smart Notebook. You don’t need one for every class, just erase your day’s notes after snapping a pic and sending them off to the cloud and you can keep your backpack light with this one tool. We love to see old traditions given new life with a tech twist.

Nordace Smart Backpack

Nordace Smart Backpack.
Nordace

If you bring gadgets and electronics to school or work and want to be hands-free, stuff it all in a Nordace Smart Backpack. With padded pockets and hidden slots to store items the way you want, RFID protection to know your information will stay safe, and zippers that won’t let you down and dump your items, a smart backpack is a must.

If you can’t wait to get back to school to try out the newest gadgets and technology, add these back to school tech supplies to your list. Sure, they are made for school, but could be a whole support system for work, as well. Technology is supposed to streamline and simplify things, and starting class with these at your side will at least make it more fun. 

Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
Donnie Yen is in talks to star in and direct a ‘John Wick’ spin-off
The movie is just one of several expansions of the 'John Wick' universe.
Donnie Yen in John Wick Chapter 4

Keanu Reeves might be done with John Wick, but that doesn't mean the universe is over. We have Ballerina coming in 2025, and now, Collider is reporting that Donnie Yen is in talks to return as the master assassin he played in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Yen played a blind assassin named Caine in the film, and in a new interview, he suggested that Caine will be back.

Read more
The Last of Us season 2: Everything we know so far
What's next for The Last of Us?
Joel and Ellie drive the narrative of The Last of Us

The Last of Us bombarded television screens like a post-apocalyptic virus in January 2023. The thrilling adaptation of the PlayStation classic resoundingly recaptured the dark, foreboding storytelling of the video games while giving star performers Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey a platform to show off their fantastic acting skills. The first season didn't sway far from the source material, neatly ending the ninth episode right where the maiden game concluded.

Joel and Ellie escape from the hospital where Ellie's brain is going to be harvested in an effort to end the undead pandemic worldwide. Joel's loyalty and selfishness propelled him to slaughter the doctors who were going to attempt the surgery, and his lies and deceit seemed to raise Ellie's eyebrows at least a little bit.

Read more
Could Ryan Gosling’s upcoming sci-fi movie be one of 2026’s biggest blockbusters?
The movie is being directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who previously helmed The Lego Movie.
Ryan Gosling in First Man

The space movie remains one of the most popular genres of big-budget filmmaking, and Ryan Gosling is no slouch either. Put the two together, and you might have a recipe for success (or you might have First Man, which was admittedly not aimed at a massive audience).

Project Hail Mary, Gosling's next sci-fi movie, has officially wrapped filming according to its writer Drew Goddard. The film is adapted from an Andy Wier book of the same name and will follow Gosling Ryland Grace as an astronaut who wakes up alone in space without his memory. Eventually, as he puts the pieces of his memory back together, he begins to realize just how vital the mission he's on is to the people of Earth.

Read more