The Micro Center 2025 Back-to-School Guide: Essential Tech for Students

It may feel like prime summer vacation time, but the truth is we're also right in the middle of the back-to-school shopping season.

I've been covering back-to-school tech trends for longer than I care to admit, but the core philosophy has always been about finding the right tool for the job -- a laptop that solves problems, a mouse that's comfortable enough for all-night sessions, a gadget that sparks creativity. 

A great example of technology sparking creativity is a recent NVIDIA AI showcase I attended in New York, where NYU students showed off projects they were working on, from real-time AI analysis of soccer videos to building a motion-controlled virtual rollercoaster, all powered by slim laptops with new mobile 50-series GPUs. 

Photo: Dan Ackerman 

While you might not necessarily need a laptop with a high-end graphics for school, it's true that every student, from grade school through graduate school, needs a personal computing device, and the trend is moving away from Chromebooks and tablets and more towards full-fledged laptops. 

Below you'll find a curated selection of back-to-school products, including many that are in my current person tech stack because they're so universally useful. That includes laptops, computer accessories, maker and science picks, and a few more gamer-friendly items for unwinding after class.

As the summer progresses, we'll update this guide with new suggestions, so check back for new picks. More back-to-school deals and sales are here. All prices are current as of this writing, but subject to change. 

Laptops

For everyday use and an AI edge
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition (13.8"), starting at $899
I'm a long-time fan of the Surface Laptop line as an example of great design at a reasonable price, and the latest models add Snapdragon X Elite chips with an NPU for on-board AI chops. 

For freshman year through senior year
Apple MacBook Air 15" (Early 2025), starting at $1,079
Probably the most common laptop you'll see in school, and with a larger 15-inch screen option, this makes all-night study sessions a little easier on the eyes.

For content creation and developers
Dell 16 Plus, $1,449
This step-up 16-inch has a Core Ultra 7 CPU and Intel Arc graphics, making it good for photo and video editing and even some dev work, but the real star is the HDR 600 mini-LED display.  

For schoolwork and gaming
HP Omen Max 16" Gaming Laptop, $2,799
Investing in this multi-use beast will keep you covered for everything from gaming to engineering software. It's got an NVIDIA 5080 and an OLED display, but still looks buttoned-down enough for the school library.

Accessories

For comfortable all-day study
Razer Pro Click Vertical V2, $119
This vertical take on Razer's Pro Click mouse is one of the only ergonomic mice that can double as a gaming mouse, with up to 30,000dpi sensitivity and (of course) 18-zone underglow lighting.  Just note, it's for right-handers only right now. 

For no-hassle printing
Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Laser Printer, $179
This is the default printer for just about anyone these days. It's inexpensive, easy to set up and use, and just does one thing -- printing -- really well.

For low battery anxiety
Anker 737 GaNPrime 24,000 mAh Power Bank, $119
Smaller power banks and backup batteries are fine for phones, but for laptops, you should always carry a backup like this, which outputs a laptop-friendly 140W. 

For productivity (and gaming)
Logitech MX Master 3S, $119
Probably the world's best-selling overall mouse, the MX Master 3 has something for everyone. Ergonomic grip, multiple scroll wheels, and it even works on glass surfaces. If you need a mouse that works for school, art, gaming, and everything in between, this is it.

For noise-canceling concentration
Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Headphones, $449
Sony's latest flagship headphones, the WH-1000XM6, adds a faster chip for better on-board active noise cancellation and even has a six-mic array for making calls. 

For backing it all up
Crucial X9 1TB External SSD, $79
I've got one of these tiny Crucial drives hooked up as expanded storage for my M4 Mac Mini, and it's a great way to add SSD capacity, without adding bulk or weight.  

For when you need an extra screen
Dell P1424H 14" Portable Monitor, $249
I never knew how much I needed a portable monitor until I tried one of Dell's 14-inch versions. It's got a built-in stand with USB-C ports and I've used this for everything from desktop PC troubleshooting to a second monitor to park my Zoom and Teams meeting windows on. 

Maker/Science/DIY

For dorm-room-friendly 3D printing
Bambu Lab A1 Mini Combo 3D Printer, $359
This dorm-room-sized version of the iconic A1 printer keeps the bigger version's most important feature -- it works with the Bambu AMS Lite (included with this combo), which allows for four-color printing. 

For single-board experiments
Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Ultimate Kit, $159
Take control of your smart home, build a retro arcade machine, or even a NAS server for your files, all while learning the basics of single-board computing. 

For fixing it yourself
iFixit Essential Electronics Toolkit, $25
If you're going to open, repair, upgrade, or replace anything, you'll need a solid toolkit, such as this iFixIt one, which should help you open up any device. 

After Class

For high-end gaming
Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 Gaming Laptop, $3,299
Besides being one of the most powerful big-screen gaming laptops you can buy, this new take on the classic 18-inch Alienware design tones down the alien look and programmable lights, so it can pass for a school-worthy laptop. 

For visiting virtual worlds
Meta Quest 3 (512GB): $499
Escape from class for a while in Meta's flagship VR headset, which continues to push the envelope with new interactive experiences and a color pass-through camera.