While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, life still goes on. That means college students are looking for the best school technology and so are younger students. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that the best school technology is really just the best overall tech products for all of us — from the stay-at-home parent and work-from-home staffer to the business executive and weekly traveler. 

This year I’ve assembled some really helpful and fun tech products that will make your life simpler. From printers and wireless headphones to vacuum cleaners and robot mops. As always, thanks for checking out (and purchasing) these 21st-century tech gadgets!

Epson EcoTank ET4760

After decades of buying the cheapest HP printers, I’ve moved on to Epson. This company boasts some dynamic new printers that last for a very long time and churn out very impressive color pages. This Eco-Tank model is a super-fast, wireless option with easy-to-fill, supersized ink tanks. You can save up to 90 percent with low-cost replacement ink bottles – costing as little as 1 cent per color ISO page versus 20 cents with ink cartridges. Plus, you can get up to 2 years of ink with the included or replacement ink set. This Epson printer is powered by PrecisionCore so you’ll get a 250-sheet paper tray, 30-sheet ADF, 2.4″ color touchscreen, voice-activated printing, and wired and wireless connectivity. www.epson.com

Dreametech Cordless Vacuum

Dyson’s are great, but they’re expensive. This cordless vacuum will give you a much better bang for your buck. This cordless vacuum cleaner generates up to 120 AW suction power and 20K PA suction force. I love the long runtime and strong battery that lasts. The 3 suction power levels can cover all your needs for cleaning. Plus, the very impressive Turbo-Mode is ideal for deep cleaning on carpet and rugs. The Eco mode is great to pick up some light dusting. The multifunction brushes are very impressive and so is the anti-tangle feature that guarantees hair won’t get tangled. They offer a 1-year warranty too. https://www.dreametech.com/products/dreame-t10

Neabot Nomo Q11 Smart Robot Vacuum and Mop

What if the Roomba were a mop too? That’s likely the question the inventors at Neabot had themselves. They created an impressive hands-free cleaning solution that students and parents will love this year. Neabot automatically transfers the dirt collected from the robot into the bag-lined dustbin without you having to touch the mess. The bonus is that you get notifications once the dust bag is full. I love that the Lidar Navigation technology and the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) literally make Neabot smarter than other robot vacuums on the market. Neabot uses a z-shaped vacuuming pattern to make sure no corner is left, avoids obstacles with ease and tackles tough terrain effortlessly. With the Neabot Home app, you can adjust cleaning settings, customize the cleaning strategy, and monitor the cleaning status and more no matter where you are. And it is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa. www.neabot.com

Diesel True Wireless Earbuds

Yes, I’m aware that you see a lot of kids with Apple’s AirPods in their ears, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives to Apple’s pricey product. These Diesel True Wireless earbuds truly will change the way you listen to music. They boast a total playtime of 32 hours, have Bluetooth 5.0, are water-resistant and charge wirelessly (or with a USB-C charger). They have an automatic power-on and led light power indicator, driven by their own sense of style and sound quality. The charging case is finished with a metal logo in the center of the lid and the rubberized ring parallel to the led lights will give you extra grip, making it easy to hold and use. The metallic finished “D” icon located on the ergonomic earbud’s multi-functional button, will become visible when opening the 360° rotatable lid. https://global.diesel.com/earbuds/45476/DP05650PHIN.html

OWC Travel Dock

If you’re like me and you travel a lot, this is a must-have tech gadget for the road warrior. This travel dock has 5 ports of connectivity with 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Type-A), 1 HDMI, 1 SD card and 1 USB-C power pass-through. For power options, there are either bus-powered or you can use the existing USB-C power adapter. It has built-in cable storage and complete compatibility. https://www.owcdigital.com/products/usb-c-travel-dock

Edifier NeoBuds Pro

If you fly, you really want earbuds that have Targeted Active Noise Cancelling. These little guys also have a built-in dual-microphone that provides better noise cancellation which enables up to -38dB. Also, there are times I like to shut off the music (or a movie) and just doze off on a plane. For those moments, these buds are great because the ANC works even when no music or movies are playing. They are dust and waterproof, have 6 Custom Sound Modes, and offer 32 hours of battery life. They will even give you two hours of listening after a quick 15 minutes of fast charging. https://www.edifier.com/product-neobuds-pro.html

Catalyst Case for iPhone 13

So you did it. You spent the money and got the latest, greatest iPhone 13. But did you remember to protect it with a high-quality case? The Catalyst cases for the iPhone 13 are the best on the market. No surprise because they have proven time and again they make sturdy protective phone cases. The new models boast 2.5X Higher Drop Protection so you will always feel secure if you drop your phone by accident. The cases are also fingerprint-proof so no annoying marks are left on the screen. Plus they make it super easy to charge when your phone is in the case. https://www.catalystlifestyle.com/collections/iphone-13

SelfSafe USB Emergency Wristband

I was a little confused when I first saw these USB wristbands, but truthfully they are on to something. SelfSafe is a stylish, sporty USB emergency identification bracelet designed to protect you and your family, wherever you are — at home, on the road, or abroad. The device’s encrypted and password-protected 8GB drive holds all your important information — medical, financial, insurance, and more. https://selfsafe.net/