10 Under $50 Back To School Tech Gifts For 2020

It’s that time of year. Back to school, or maybe back to distance learning in some cases. Whatever your situation may be, it’s nice to start fresh with a little something new and different. We’ve compiled ten back-to-school tech gifts that will kick-start the school year, whether at home or in person. Our picks are under $50 to keep it relatively easy on the wallet.

1. Anker Soundsport Headphones and Earbuds

Whether your child is attending remote learning classes, or trying to stay in touch with their friends, a set of good headphones will ensure your kids are up to the task. These headphones are an excellent gift to keep things quiet around the house when you have your calls to deal with. We picked out two of our favorites. There is one model for wireless earbuds and one pick for over the ear headphones.

Anker Soundcore Life P2 True Wireless Earbuds

Anker Soundcore Life Q10 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Over Ear, Foldable

What we like – These two are popular, highly rated, and are great for teens. For both headphones and earbuds, you get top-notch sound quality. Also, since we all know kids have a high tendency to break things, these two picks are just at the right price point. We recommend going with the over the ear headphones if the kids tend to misplace things. Both picks are just under $50.

2. Tile Mate (2020)

Speaking of losing things, the Tile Mate (2020) is the perfect solution to the common question, “where did I put that again?”. It pairs with your phone to help you find things you hook it to. Tile makes them in of different sizes, from squares to even cards. If only you can attach this to homework.

What we like – Tile is a cheap and straightforward solution to help find commonly misplaced things. You can even buy multiple ones and connect them to the same app. What we also like is that the battery is replaceable and has a lifespan of one year. For the most bang for your bucks, we recommend getting for 4-pack for a little over $50.

3. Sunrise Alarm Clock from HeimVision

Is it always a struggle to wake up for school in the morning? Maybe reminding the kids to go to sleep during school nights is a chore. The HiemVision Sunrise Alarm has a gradual brightening to mimic sunlight. It also has nature sounds to “lull” you to sleep. This clock might be the tech gift to help with at least one of those challenges.

What we like – Whether you believe in the benefits or not, the gradual brightening reportedly makes it easier for the body to break out of the sleep cycle. With multiple programming slots, you can schedule the lights to be dim, which reminds your kids its time to head to bed. On top of that, it packs an FM radio and includes Alexa integration.

4. Adjustable Laptop Stand by Boyata

Ergonomics is just as important at home as it is in the office or school. It’s often an overlooked aspect when we’re lounging at home. We spend most of our time in front of our digital devices and owe it to ourselves to create a healthy environment. Especially for kids spending more time on remote schooling, it’s essential to set up an excellent ergonomic environment. We recommend this laptop stand to help adjust the viewing level to a comfortable level. For further reading into ergonomics and children, Cornell has a good in-depth write up of ergo pointers for children.

What we like – This stand is easily adjustable and portable. It allows you to take it wherever your kid wants to set up the “classroom.” Construction is also solid and stable. It fits most laptops, including MacBooks and Chromebooks.

5. QIAYA Selfie Light Ring

For kids aspiring to be the next YouTuber, or maybe they want to look good in online classes, the QIAYA Selfie Light Ring answers that call. As parents, we can also use these for our Zoom calls.

What we like – The light is USB rechargeable and has a lot of placement options. You can clip this to the edge of your laptop or your phone for that quick selfie. There are also three brightness settings.

6. Wyze Band Activity Tracker (HR and Sleep Monitor)

Physical activity and wellness is an essential factor in students’ focus and concentration. Whether they are attending video classes or playing endless video games, kids are spending more time sitting. This Wyze band activity is a perfect tracker to monitor your little one’s activities and hours of sleep.

What we like – At 25$, it almost seems too good to be true. It has a color screen with HR tracking and is Alexa enabled. It is also waterproof for that added durability. Wyze is a reputable brand, and this offers the same features as a more expensive “fit-bit”.

7. Amcrest 1080P Webcam with Microphone & Privacy Cover

With the trend of remote learning becoming ever so popular, a good webcam is essential. A dedicated webcam has a larger and higher quality lens than those built into the laptops. This Amcrest wide-angle 1080p webcam ensures everyone gets to see you in HD.

What we like – We like that this has a 1080p resolution and works well in low light. There is a privacy cover built-in if you’re worried about hackers or the accidental click of the “show my video” button.

8. XP-Pen StarG640 Drawing Tablet

Distance learning has introduced new struggles, such as trying to draw or write with a mouse. The XP-Pen Star G640 Drawing Tablet is the answer to that struggle. This writing pad is a cost-effective way for users to create hand-drawn images or to write on the screen. It uses a pen and translates your precision movements directly to the computer.

What we like – We like that this drawing pad creates a cost-effective way for kids to communicate in a virtual learning environment more easily. It’s compatible with popular e-learning applications such as Zoom, Udemy, Twitch, and Scribblar. We also like that the XP-Pen requires no batteries and won’t take up significant space on the table.

9. TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

We wanted to create a comfortable working space with the extension of remote schooling. We were looking for a minimal space-saving desk light for the kids and came across the TaoTronics LED desk lamp.

What we like – We initially thought this TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp was a bit pricey at $39, but we fell in love with all the features. The LED temperatures are adjustable to create warmer tones during the night. Additionally, there is a point for USB charging and multiple angles that the light can tilt.

10. Logitech MK550 Wireless Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Are your kids always on the go, even at home? The wireless ergonomic keyboard and mouse set is perfect for students. With no wires to hold you down, it’s easy to move your setup from room to room and have an ergonomic setup.

What we like – The keyboard and mouse is ergonomically shaped to be comfortable during long use. Battery life is impressive and advertised to last at least two years. The laser mouse also reduces the need for a mouse pad.

Takeaways

Back to school is an exciting and stressful time for both parents and students alike. We’ve come across these picks to help our little ones ease back into the routine.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.