Yes, it is finally time to pack your bags, make sure your school shirt is pressed and get to bed early because school is starting soon. After a full academic year of online schooling, most students are eager to get back to their campuses, if only to see their friends more often. It also means that you need to rethink your setup. You didn’t need to worry about carrying your gear around last year, so battery life and weight didn’t matter much. But don’t worry, our friends at X-cite will help you pick out the right tools for you.
THE ESSENTIALS: LAPTOPS, SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS
A laptop is your most important purchase this year. You need one that won’t let you down, but is also responsive and light enough so you can carry it around school or campus without needing a chiropractor by the end of the day.
Acer Aspire 3
This laptop has all the storage space you need with its 1TB HDD, but since it also comes with a 128GB SSD it is speedy. The battery life lasts for about 6 hours and offers a lot of visual real estate with its 15.6-inch screen.
Apple MacBook Air M1
The MacBook Air with the new M1 processor is one of the hottest laptops available right now. Amazing battery life (up to 15 hours!) and only 1.27kg in weight, means you can spend the whole day outside without needing to charge it.
Your phone is not just for fun, you can make it work for you. Think of it as an alarm clock, personal assistant and time-saver. We rely on our Reminder app all the time, and have become over-zealous about the Pomodoro technique.
Samsung Galaxy A52S 5G
Super speedy 5G, a smooth viewing experience and an expansive 6.5-inch screen means you can stay on top of your emails and assignments or do some required reading on-the-go. The design is stunning and it comes in lots of fun colors to match your style.
Apple iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 is the perfect choice for people who want life to be easy. iOS has proven to be super easy to use for everyone. This phone uses the A14 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone and has a Ceramic Shield that will prevent damage to the screen in case it falls.
Apple iPad Air 2020
The Apple iPad Air is the best of both worlds. The new updates to iPad OS mean you can now use it like a laptop. Pair it with the Logitech Slim Folio Bluetooth Keyboard Case for easier typing. Alternatively the Apple Pencil will help you take quick notes or doodle to stay on track in class.
HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3788 All-in-One Printer
It’s true that we are moving towards a paperless world but you still have to print assignments or documents. The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 3788 is the printer you need, with ink cartridges at a low cost, it is an amazing compact style printer. Print, scan, and copy from virtually any mobile device.
WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
There are also some extras that can make your life much easier. Grab a SanDisk Cruzer Spark USB 2.0 Flash Drive – 64GB of space that you can use to transfer data to another machine, or “borrow” yesterday’s homework from a friend. You are going to need noise-cancelling earphones so you can avoid distractions and listen to whatever you need to. The Belkin Soundform True Wireless Earbuds in Black and the Apple AirPods 2 are great options. The Panzer Cleaning Spray will keep all your screens dust and fingerprint free. And to make sure that you never run out of batteries, keep your Belkin Magnetic Portable Wireless 10000mAh Power Bank in your bag.
Speaking of bags, the HP 15.6 inch Odyssey Backpack is funky and stylish and oh so practical. It has a full foam padded zipper pocket for laptops of up to 15.6 inches and internal organizer pockets, a side zipper pocket, key clip and an expandable side mesh pocket.
REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!
Being prepared will help you stay on track, but you need to also make sure that you are getting enough exercise and sleep too. The Fitbit Inspire 2 Activity Tracker can help you track your steps, activity, hours and quality of sleep and so many other things. Knowing how well (or poorly) you are doing physically might help you rethink your lifestyle and know exactly where to make changes.
Finally, not everything needs to be about productivity. You need to have fun too! We are loving the Nintendo Switch Lite Gaming Console. Designed for gamers on the go it is perfect for handheld play at the end of the day when all of your homework is done and you want to wind down while playing Super Mario or Animal Crossing.
For a comprehensive list of X-cite’s 42 store locations and to shop online for the latest deals visit www.xcite.com. Download the X-cite app for Android on Google Play or iPhone on the App Store. Follow X-cite social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, @xcitealghanim and Facebook XcitebyAlghanim. Call 180 3535 for further Inquiries.
