Hey, tech’s what I need for school

These are challenging times as you toggle between the physical and virtual realms for lessons, projects and discussions. What gear do you need for that seamless grab-and-go experience, wherever you are? HEY! compiles essential tech that will get you to maximum university success

by Lester Hio / Visual by Vivian Lim

1. WIRELESS EARBUDS

Nothing beats a pair of wireless earbuds for portability – no wires to untangle, and small cases that easily fit pockets or bags. Take Sennheiser’s CX 400BT True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds ($299, discounted to $179). They bring killer sound for their price range, with deep, warm bass and pleasingly clear treble. They can be paired with iPhones and Android devices, along with your laptop, and are a great alternative to take calls on too.

Audio nerds will appreciate that these earbuds support high-definition audio playback. They pack an audible punch even without active noise-cancellation found on more expensive earbuds.

2. MECHANICAL KEYBOARD

Whether you’re a humanities student churning out term papers, or a computing whiz crafting lines of code, you’re going to be doing a lot of typing as a student. Make it an enjoyable experience by switching to a mechanical keyboard.

Mechanical keyboards give tactile feedback, changing the entire experience of typing, with responsive keys, lighter touch, and oh-so-satisfying clicks. Good wireless ones cost more than $100, but you’ll be hard-pressed to go back to softer keyboards once you’ve experienced the joys of mechanical keys. Using a mechanical keyboard also encourages better ergonomics by allowing you to raise the laptop screen to your eye level while having the keyboard at desk level, so you don’t hunch over your laptop.

If you often switch between devices, opt for one that lets you pair with and switch between macOS, Windows, iOS and Android devices. A svelte “tenkeyless” keyboard without the number pad is another handy option.

3. WEBCAM

Stay in the clear with a decent webcam, instead of the dinky low-resolution one on your laptop. If you’re going to be graded on class participation, you might as well participate in style.

Decent webcams can be found for below $100. Get one that boosts your video quality up to 720p and captures a wide-angle field of view – around 60 degrees is great. Compact webcams can be easily clipped to an external monitor or the top of your laptop screen. One with an extendable cable will let you position the lens at a more flattering angle.

Other features to consider are auto light correction and fixed focus, which will make it fuss-free to set up and start rolling with clear and accurate colours.

4. WIRELESS MOUSE

Laptop trackpads have come a long way, but nothing beats the precision and comfort of a dedicated mouse. It’s also better ergonomics. Choose one with a sensor that works on a variety of surfaces, so that you can have a smooth scrolling experience whether you’re using a study bench, a lecture theatre table, or even your lap.

A small, portable mouse that can be packed in a pencil case will see you from home to campus. It’s best if it can pair via Bluetooth, so you don’t have to lug around a separate dongle. Multi-device pairing is another convenient feature to look out for, so that you can effortlessly switch between a home desktop and your laptop.

Print exclusive

Pick up a print copy of HEY! from campus stands and turn to page 27 to find out how you can win a pair of Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless earbuds.

5. FITNESS TRACKER

Keep the dreaded “freshman 15” at bay by making sure you are getting enough exercise to compensate for all the suppers and bubble tea you’ll be having. Squeezing 10,000 steps in every day is a good start, and a fitness tracker can both keep track of how active you’ve been and send you reminders to keep moving throughout the day. Exercise junkies can get more mileage with advanced features like heart rate monitors that give real-time feedback on how hard you are pushing yourself.

A decent tracker with essential fitness-tracking features in a slender, budget package should cost around $100. Get one that can be calibrated for different activities, from your gym sessions to runs and laps at the campus swimming pool. A sleep tracker is a bonus to ensure you are getting enough quality shuteye. Lastly, get one with a long battery life, so you don’t have to spend too much time without your tracker on while it’s charging.

6. SMART MASK

Masks – the hottest item of 2020, and from the looks of it, also this year. Normal cotton or surgical masks cramping your breathing style? Up your mandatory mask game with a “smart mask”.

Brands are starting to come up with hi-tech alternatives to cotton or surgical masks. Some are both a mask and an air purifier, for days where you have to combat both COVID-19 and the haze. These come with HEPA filters that can filter up to 99.95% of harmful airborne matter such as viruses, bacteria and common allergens. Such tech could set you back some $200, but that’s the price to pay for being an early tech adopter.

7. EXTERNAL BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

Laptop and phone speakers tend to leave you wanting more. Listen to your music, videos, movies and online lectures the way they were meant to be heard through speakers with dedicated drivers. A simple, portable Bluetooth speaker can be paired effortlessly to multiple devices to amp up your audio enjoyment, while not taking up much desk space.

Aim to get one with a long battery life, around 12 to 16 hours on a single charge, so you can take it with you around campus. Some Bluetooth speakers let you connect a pair of them together to get stereo speakers replicating left and right sound channels, which is an option to consider should you want to get even bigger sound in the future.

8. EARPHONES WITH MIC

No one wants to hear feedback while on a group call, and you don’t get the best audio experience from your laptop’s tiny speakers. The earphones that come with your smartphone are a slight upgrade, but you can do better without breaking the bank.

Out of the sea of earphones on the market today, there are upgrades to be had at almost every price point. Some great budget options start from $20. For best audio quality, keep an eye out for drivers that can reproduce a frequency range of 20-20,000 Hz, so that both bass and treble notes hit sharp and clear.

Earphones should be light but sturdy, and earbuds should provide a nice seal and noise isolation, and be comfortable enough to wear for long stretches at a time. Make sure the mic sits near your mouth, so you don’t have to fuss around with wires when you’re speaking.

This story was published in the Aug-Sep 2021 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.