Any college student would want one of these perfect Apple gifts!
- jul
- 31
As the new semester begins, its time to break out the backpacks, pencils, and pop-culture-themed lunch boxes. We know it can sometimes be difficult to navigate the world of online shopping, so iMore is here to help. We're constantly scouring the internet, testing products, and figuring out our absolute favorite Apple and related products so you can find the perfect gift for the student in your life as they head back to school.
iPhone XR
These days, students can't get by without a smartphone and the iPhone XR is the best you can buy for less than $500. It's sleek. It's slim. It comes in six different colors! With a 6.1-inch LCD display and A12 Bionic processor chip, there's no way your student is missing your text messages. When they're away at college, kids can use the XR for research, watching cartoons before class, and a whole lot more. With Face ID, it's also much harder for your kids' information to get into the wrong hands (or face). That amazing TrueDepth camera will make their selfie soch feeds the envy of all their friends.
from $479 Buy Now
iPad
The 32GB Wi-Fi-only iPad is perfect for any student. It's got everything you need to research and write papers, build class presentations, edit video clips, and binge watch TV late at night when you should be studying. At only $329, it's even cheaper than the iPad mini, but does it all on a bigger screen.
from $329 Buy Now
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is the least expensive, lightest laptop in the Mac lineup and in 2018, it was given a overhall. It has a Retina screen with True Tone display and Touch ID for more secure log in and online purchases. Students from participating schools get $100 off, making the price even sweeter.
from $1099 Buy Now
Apple Watch Series 3 GPS
The name says it all. The third-generation Apple Watch has many of the amazing features that the latest model does, but without the hefty price tag. The student in your life can send and receive text messages, get reminder alerts about when projects are due, and download audiobooks to listen to while out for a morning run.
from $279 Buy Now
Apple TV HD
If your college kid is moving into the dorms, the best gift you can get them is the gift of friendship in the form of Apple TV. The entire floor will be hanging out in their room all semester long watching TV. Your student will be everyone's favorite coed.
$149 Buy Now
AirPods
Apple's AirPods are unique in that they instantly connect to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more thanks to the H1 chip inside. You can also trigger Siri for a little help with your listening activities and to control playback. If the student in your life doesn't like in-ear headphones, try Beats Solo3 for on-ear style or Beats Studio3 for over-the-ear listening.
from $159 Buy Now
HomePod
If the student in your life is a music fan, nothing beats the beautiful sound of HomePod. They can have a dance party every night, and with any HomeKit connected devices, Siri can set the lights, lock the doors, and control playback on Apple TV. It fills any room with amazing depth and sound without taking up too much space on the countertop. It's the perfect gift for anyone that has a subscription to Apple Music. Now that AirPlay 2 is available, you might just want to get two!
$349 Buy Now
Apple Music
An Apple Music subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. With a subscription, you have access to thousands of albums across all genres of music and can download and listen to tunes offline if you're saving your data. There's a free trial, and after that, it's just $9.99 a month for a standard subscription or $14.99 for the whole family! Students get a special discount of only $4.99 per month!
from $5/m Buy Now
Philips Hue Starter Kit
Whether living the dorm life or shacking up with roommates off campus, any college kid would love smart bulbs they can turn on and off with just a word. With Philips Hue, you can tell Siri you want to study lighting or set up a geofence to turn the lights off when you leave. Schedule the lights to wake you up in the morning and you might not miss your early class.
$165 Buy Now
Anker Powercore+
Make it through the night and into the next morning with Anker's portable battery pack. It's small, lightweight, and has adds more than 46 hours of battery life to your iPhone. It's perfect for when your students are bearing down for an all-night study session in the library (or the nearby frat house).
$110 Buy Now
Tile Sport
If the student in your life tends to lose their keys, wallet, hat ... mind ... all of the time, they need a Tile thing finder. This little ditty can be attached to just about anything and pairs with your iPhone so when you lose it, your iPhone can help you find it. It also works in the reverse. If you can't find your iPhone, you can press a button on the Tile and it'll send a signal to make your iPhone beep until you find it. The sport model is great for tossing into the bottom of a backpack, but there are different models and even decorative skins.
$20 Buy Now
Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II
Bose makes a darn fine set of headphones. It's not just about the audio, which is impeccable, I might say. It's also about the comfort and these noise-canceling puppies are the most comfortable on the market right now. The second-generation model lets you adjust the amount of noise you want to be canceled without needing to use the app. It's a fantastic gift for music-loving students that want to block out unwanted noise, but also want the option of letting some sound in.
$349 Buy Now
Prynt Pocket
Prynt Pocket is the pocket printer that lets you turn your digital memories into fun keepsakes. College life comes and goes, but those memories will last forever. Print out your favorite class trips, weekends away, and study group sessions and share them with others. Prynt's unique technology lets you create mini-movies that can be scanned and viewed right on the picture. Your college kid will love this fun photo accessory.
$150 Buy Now