Tech Essentials for ASU | Freshman Essentials

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products we recommend. How we choose →

0 of 8 packedCheck items off as they go in the cart. We’ll remember your progress.

★ Top pick · if you only buy one thing

ComputingUsually $899–$999 (dips to ~$799 on sale)

Apple MacBook Air 13" (M4, 16GB/256GB)

All-day battery, feather-light

Every ASU course assumes a working laptop. It's the purchase that everything else on this list supports.

Why it matters at ASU

The fanless M4 Air runs ~18 hours on a charge, so you can cross ASU's 642-acre campus and get through back-to-back classes without hunting for an outlet. At 2.7 lb it disappears into a backpack, and Canvas, ASU Sync, and Office all run flawlessly.

Packed

See our top pick on Amazon ↗

Usually $899–$999 (dips to ~$799 on sale) · opens Amazon in a new tab

01.

Audio

2 picks

AudioAbout $127 (dips to ~$100)

Soundcore Space Q45 (Active Noise Cancelling)

Flagship silence, budget price

Why it matters at ASU

Adaptive ANC cuts up to 98% of ambient noise, so a loud dorm floor or packed lecture hall fades into the background for studying. A 50-hour battery means charging about once a week, not every night — and at ~$127 it leaves budget for the rest of your kit.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $127 (dips to ~$100) · opens Amazon in a new tab

AudioAbout $80 (often ~$56–$60 on sale)

Soundcore Sport X20 by Anker

Locked-in, sweatproof campus buds

Why it matters at ASU

The extendable, rotating ear hooks keep them planted while you e-scooter or power-walk between far-flung Tempe classes, and the IP68 rating shrugs off the sweat that pours in Arizona heat. 48-hour total battery and ANC mean charging once a week, not once a walk.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $80 (often ~$56–$60 on sale) · opens Amazon in a new tab

02.

Power

2 picks

PowerAbout $50 ($40–$46 on sale)

Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W, Retractable USB-C)

Cool-running, cable built in

Why it matters at ASU

The built-in retractable cable means one pocket-sized brick refills your phone twice on a 20-minute cross-campus trek — no loose cable to leave in the dorm. Its thermal design stays cool even fast-charging in triple-digit Tempe heat.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $50 ($40–$46 on sale) · opens Amazon in a new tab

PowerAbout $29 (dips near $25 on sale)

Anker 351 Power Strip (2100J, 12 Outlets + USB-C)

Storm-proof power for your desk

Why it matters at ASU

Tempe's monsoon lightning makes real surge protection non-negotiable, and this Anker packs a 2100-joule rating plus a $200,000 connected-equipment warranty. Twelve outlets and USB-C keep a laptop, monitor, and phone all powered from one desk-friendly strip.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $29 (dips near $25 on sale) · opens Amazon in a new tab

03.

The small stuff that matters

3 picks

AcademicAbout $95 (scientific TI-30XS ~$17)

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Graphing Calculator

The exam-legal STEM standard

Why it matters at ASU

ASU requires a handheld graphing calculator like the TI-84 for courses such as College Algebra (MAT 117) and allows it on nearly every STEM/business exam, while banning CAS models like the TI-89. Its rechargeable battery and color screen make it the one calculator you'll use from freshman math through graduation.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $95 (scientific TI-30XS ~$17) · opens Amazon in a new tab

AccessoriesAbout $30

Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1)

One port becomes five

Why it matters at ASU

Turns a single USB-C port into a full workstation — 4K HDMI for a monitor, two USB-A ports for lab gear and drives, plus up to 85W passthrough charging so your laptop stays powered while docked. Compact enough to live in a backpack and backed by Anker's warranty.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $30 · opens Amazon in a new tab

StorageAbout $140

Crucial X9 1TB Portable SSD

Cheap insurance for years of work

Why it matters at ASU

Four years of ASU coursework, group projects, and portfolio work pile up fast, and a backup drive protects your student from losing it all to one crashed laptop.

PackedSee it on Amazon ↗

About $140 · opens Amazon in a new tab

Just as important

What we’d skip

A curator who never says “don’t buy” isn’t curating. These are the things ASU makes unnecessary.

Printer

ASU offers printing on campus, and a dorm printer mostly eats desk space and ink money.

Desktop gaming rig (at move-in)

First-years live between the dorm, the library, and the lecture hall, so portability wins. A desk setup can wait until they know their routine.

Smart speaker

A phone does the same job, and shared rooms plus always-on microphones rarely mix well.

How we chose these 8

Every pick starts from ASU’s housing policies, residence halls, and climate. If we can’t explain an item in one sentence, it doesn’t make the list. No filler, no padding.

Read exactly how we build each list → · All ASU guides