Collection: Holiday Gift Ideas for College Students

Finding gifts that a college student will actually use

College life moves fast—classes, part‑time work, clubs, and late‑night study sprints. The best gifts lighten the load: reliable devices, long battery life, and accessories that make everyday tasks easier. Laptops, tablets, headphones, and phones are campus essentials, and going refurbished often means you can step up a tier for far less than new.

Quick checklist before you buy

Portability: under ~3 lbs for laptops; 10–11" sweet spot for tablets

Battery: aim for a true all‑day device (8–12 hrs)

Storage: 256GB+ for laptop majors; 128GB+ for tablets/phones

Durability: add a case, screen protector, and spare charger

Refurb confidence: pro tested, data‑wiped, graded, with warranty

Shop student favorites:

Refurbished MacBooks (all)

Refurbished iPhones

Refurbished Tablets & iPad

1. MacBook - an all purpose gift for the student that needs it all

A MacBook covers lectures, research, coding, creative work, and internships—without the spinning beach ball.

Why students love it

Smooth performance for docs, design, and video calls

Excellent battery life & build

Tight integration with iPhone/iPad and campus apps

Smart picks

MacBook Air 15″ (2024, M3) — portable power; often seen around $899 on Techable (example config). → Shop the model. 

MacBook Pro 16″ (2019) — bigger screen for creators/engineers; configs up to i9/64GB/8TB. → See options. 

All MacBooks → Browse Air & Pro. 

2. iPhone - for the college student in need of an upgrade

A modern iPhone helps with maps, two‑factor login, group chats, and better low‑light photos for projects and socials.

Shop picks

Refurbished iPhones (all) → Collection. 

iPhone 12 (value sweet spot) → iPhone 12 collection. 

3. iMac - for the savvy student

For majors who need a big, color‑accurate display (design, media, sciences), an iMac gives a clean, all‑in‑one desk setup.

Shop picks

Refurbished iMacs (27″ 5K and more) → Browse the iMac collection. (E.g., 2019 27″ often listed starting near $799.)

iMac 24″ (M‑series options) → 24″ iMac collection.

4. iPad - for the college student that avoid paper

An iPad + Pencil replaces stacks of notebooks and makes annotating PDFs a breeze.

How to choose & shop

Best overall: iPad (10th gen/2022) — great for notes and split‑screen. → iPad 10 (2022) page (frequently under $400 depending on stock).

Step up: iPad Air (more power for multitasking/creative). → iPad Air 4 (2020) collection

Browse all tablets → Refurbished Tablets.

5. AirPods - a gift for music lovers and student-athletes

Perfect for commutes, focus in the library, and workouts. Look for ANC, multipoint, and sweat resistance.

Shop picks

AirPods Pro (2nd gen) USB‑C — frequently listed around $169.95 (example listing). → Product page. 

More earbuds (AirPods/Sony/Samsung) → In‑Ear Earbuds collection. 

6. Smartwatch - for students who like to stay active

Keep notifications, timers, and health tracking on‑wrist—great for juggling labs and deadlines.

Shop picks

Refurbished Apple Watch (all) → Collection. 

Apple Watch Series 7 (bigger, brighter screen) → Series 7 collection. 

7. Noise Cancelling Headphones - a gift to keep students focused

Dorms and libraries get noisy. Solid ANC helps lock in during reading and problem sets.

Shop picks

Beats Studio Pro (wireless ANC) — frequently seen around $139.99 when in stock. → Wireless headphones.
AirPods Max (over‑ear ANC) → Wear collection highlights. 

8. Film Camera - photography students rejoice!

A real camera encourages portfolio work and intentional shooting.

Shop picks

Photography (cameras & accessories) → Collection.

9. Radio Alarms - for college students who seem to miss class too often

Help rebuild healthy routines with a bedside alarm that supports charging and gentle wake options.

Related

Sound & audio accessories → Soundbars & audio.

10. Video Games - a reward for 4.0 students

A console or a couple of titles can be a great stress valve after exams.

Tip: If space is tight, consider compact consoles or cloud‑friendly handhelds.

11. Scooter or Hoverboard - for off-campus students

For commuters, a foldable e‑scooter cuts travel time between classes and work.

Safety first: lights, brakes, and a helmet.

12. Tech Accessories - to give students that extra edge

Sometimes the best gifts are the little upgrades they’ll use daily.

Shop picks

Apple accessories (mice/keyboards) → Apple Accessories.

Power & audio (AirPods Max, HDDs, peripherals) → Wear / Peripherals. 

13. Samsung Products - for non-Apple lovers

If they’re Android‑first, Galaxy phones, buds, and watches deliver excellent value.

Earbuds to watch → In‑Ear Earbuds (Galaxy/Sony options). 

14. Kindle - for college students lugging around 50lb backpacks

An e‑reader lightens the load and encourages distraction‑free reading (great during finals).

Making more room in your Holiday budget

You don’t have to overspend to give something meaningful. Refurbished tech is pro‑tested, cleaned, and data‑wiped—often at a significant savings vs. new—so you can choose better specs or add accessories without breaking the bank.

Trade in your old tech

Start here → Trade‑In