Buying gadgets as a student using your savings or allowance money can be an uphill battle that you need to find. On one hand, you have the temptation to get the best gadgets that are out there while the funds or the lack thereof, holding you back. So, there is a very fine line that you need to walk here. There are two paths that you can go down – resist temptation and go for the budget alternative of your dream gadget, or get your hands on used gadgets or hand-me-downs from your seniors.
If you are planning on buying new gadgets, then we have compiled a list of some essentials that we believe you’ll need. However, if you are looking for used gadgets, there are some tips that you should keep in mind. Listings on the internet can be misleading. We are not saying that everyone is out there to scam you, but there’s a good number of people that are out there to make a quick buck by passing off their junk as useful stuff. So, whenever you are planning on getting a used gadget, make sure you get some hands-on time with it. I understand that you might not be able to test the gadget that you are buying thoroughly, but at least you can vet out any glaring issues which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. And, remember – If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Headphones
1. KZ – EDX PRO
The KZ EDX Pro is a beginner audiophile-friendly wired pair of earphones with a 10mm driver. The earphones have a frequency response range from 10Hz-20kHz. The earphones come with a 5N oxygen-free, 2-pin upgradeable flat cable that can be detached from the earbud with ease. It also has an HD microphone and an inline multifunction button. The impedance is 24ohms, so mobile phones can also drive these IEMs easily.
₹1,199
2. Realme Buds Air 3
Realme Buds Air 3 have a pleasant sound signature that works well with most popular genres of music. That aside, what makes the Realme Buds Air 3 stand out is its colossal feature set. The Realme Buds Air 3’s feature set can rival not just mid-range TWS but also high-end ones. Equipped with IPX5 water resistance, customisable controls, multipoint connectivity, Dolby Atmos support, and 30 hours of playback time, the Realme Buds Air 3 is easy to recommend to those who want top-of-the-line features without breaking the bank.
₹3,999
3. OnePlus Buds Z2
The OnePlus Buds Z2 are one of the most complete all-rounders you can find under 5K with a plethora of features, excellent battery life, and good ANC. If you have a OnePlus device, you get access to even more features such as Dolby Atmos support and low latency gaming mode. However, the sound quality is extremely bass-forward and will only appeal to bass lovers.
₹4,999
Laptops
1. Infinix X1 Slim
The Infinix X1 Slim is a 14-inch thin and lightweight laptop powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processor. It comes with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and weighs only 1.24 kg. The laptop offers a 14-inch IPS panel with 300 nits of brightness. The I/O ports in this laptop include a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-C data transfer port, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a dedicated SD card slot and a separate microphone and headphone jack. The laptop also provides a stylish look keeping performance in mind. It comes with a 65W Type-C fast charging support that can charge the battery up to 60% in just 55 minutes. The brand claims that this laptop charger can also charge your phone as well which eliminates the need to carry a separate charger.
₹29,990
2. RedmiBook 15 Pro
The RedmiBook 15 Pro comes with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) Resolution 15.6-inch display that should serve you wel l for some light gaming and content creation needs. Plus, the size of the display means that you will be able to fit in a lot of content when completing assignments. Powering the machine is 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-11300H which comes with Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics, coupled with a 8GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM. This means that almost all the work that you have as a student should not be a problem. The port selection and build quality is solid for the price, and it weighs 1.8 KG, which means that lugging it around campus will also not be that big of an issue for you.
₹41,999
3. Acer Aspire 5 Gaming
The combination of Intel 12th Gen Core i5-1240P and the Nvidia RTX 2050 makes the Aspire 5 a highly affordable gaming machine as well. In addition to adding gaming prowess, the Aspire 5 is also a great everyday work laptop thanks to a good keyboard and trackpad combination. As a result, the Acer Aspire 5, priced at around ₹60,000, is a great value-for-money portable gaming laptop.
₹59,999
Smartphones
1. OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a well-rounded smartphone that offers excellent performance in key areas such as battery life and camera quality. The Snapdragon 695 is also a reliable chipset that can be used without a hitch for tasks such as gaming, web browsing, social media, and more. However, its camera setup is limited since it doesn’t offer an ultrawide lens that many of its competitors do.
₹19,999
2. iQOO Neo 7
The iQOO Neo 7 performs well on all aspects it was expected to. It’s a super performer. Almost too good for a mid-range smartphone, it has a vibrant and responsive AMOLED display, and you get a pretty decent set of cameras. The battery drains a bit too quickly in some cases, but the super-fast charging more than makes up for it. The design of the smartphone doesn’t stand out as such, but then again, those who will buy this smartphone won’t care much about the design.
₹29,999
3. Moto G40 Fusion
Powered by the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G chipset, the Motorola Moto G40 Fusion is adept at handling gaming with ease. The Snapdragon 732G is known for being one of the best gaming chipsets in this budget segment. Add to that a massive 6.8-inch display with 120 Hz refresh rate, and you’ve got a phone that feels smooth to use whether you’re gaming or simply scrolling through apps. Plus, you’ve got a long-lasting 6,000 mAh battery for those marathon gaming sessions.
₹12,999
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Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile
