The prospect of the new school year is approaching and is finding the right equipment to start this new year proving difficult? Don’t panic, Frandroid has selected the best products for you: PCs, tablets, smartphones and accessories.
The moment so feared by parents and their children begins to trot in all heads. The beginning of the school year is, for many, a source of stress, but also a source of excitement. For students in particular, it is a question of finding the most suitable equipment at a bargain price. Unfortunately, finding the right deal online is sometimes a little tricky. You can already get started by checking out our selection of the best student PCs.
It is at this time that Frandroid enters the scene: not to save you the day, but to accompany you in the best possible way. Throughout the year, our journalists test PCs, smartphones, tablets and other technological devices. We are therefore in a better position to give you an objective opinion on the best products corresponding to a particular use case. Here is a selection of products to better prepare for the return to school.
If you are over the age to fear going back to school, you are not excluded. Go to our guide to teleworking equipment.
A good laptop for working and improving everyday life
The main work interface for a student must be both economical and efficient. If you have a little more means, go to our selection of the best laptops of 2022. Otherwise, here are some interesting machines both for their use and for their price.
Honor MagicBook 14: an affordable laptop for studies
The MagicBook 14 is our recommendation for laptops under $ 1,000. First of all thanks to the good performance. The MagicBook 14 is built around the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB of storage. It incorporates a 56 Wh battery and charges via USB-C using the PowerDelivery standard. Being an ultraportable, it is not lightning, but it offers a good autonomy of 14 hours. It can therefore be used anywhere without risk. Only one real drawback, its webcam offering an unpleasant angle.
If you are interested, we recommend that you read our Honor MagicBook 14 review.
MacBook Air M1: to choose Apple
If you want to invest in the best MacBook possible, go to our selection. Frandroid I recommend the MacBook Air M1 2020. The new M1 chip developed by Apple works wonders in terms of power and is not put off even by editing software. With 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, it’s an ideal device for studies. Especially since the autonomy allows you to use the product for a day without a charger. However, you have to invest 1099 euros for such a machine.
Our MacBook Air M1 review is available for more information.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514: bigger and more powerful
Chromebooks are always a good choice for students, especially since they are cheap. ChromeOS PCs are easy enough to get started. Among the interesting models is the Acer Chromebook Spin 514, a device with AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. You are also entitled to a beautiful 14-inch touchscreen capable of Full HD display. This is swivel for a little more versatility. This Acer PC is available for less than 500 euros.
Lenovo Legion 5: a gaming laptop, but not only
Recommending a gaming PC to you in the heart of a back-to-school selection may seem surprising to us. Not so, because these machines are often well equipped and are ideal for students looking for power for jobs that require resource-intensive software (for example for 3D modeling or editing).
The Lenovo Legion 5 is a high-performance machine with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800 H processor, but above all an RTX 3060 graphics chip. It offers fairly high computing power, ideal for running demanding software. As a bonus, you are entitled to a beautiful 15.6-inch screen capable of displaying Full HD content with a refresh rate of 165 Hz. A machine capable of combining business with pleasure, at an affordable price.
Or a mobility tablet
The other trick to having a nice work device is to invest in a cheap touch pad and add accessories. Here we offer you one template for iOS and another for Android.
The iPad 9 2021: our recommendation
Once again, Apple shines with a good job on its iPad. The Apple A13 Bionic processor inside helps deliver top-notch operating power. With a 10.4-inch Retina display and 64GB of storage, you’ll have a device that can help you in everyday life. Its price of 389 euros and our iPad test are also present to convince you to give in.
A keyboard for the iPad: the Logitech Slim Folio
In our selection of iPad keyboards, we have chosen this keyboard case, which is ideal for the aforementioned iPad. It acts as a protection and offers useful shortcuts on the keyboard for taking notes in progress. The set connects via Bluetooth and the brand promises 4 years of use. It is powered by button batteries. For 70 euros more, you can add a stylus to the set.
Xiaomi Mi Pad 5: the accessible Android version
On the Android side, the market is recovering and even if Samsung remains the benchmark, Xiaomi is back in vogue. With the Mi Pad 5, the Chinese manufacturer offers a touch pad for less than 500 euros. It has an 11-inch LCD screen and 120 Hz refresh. The internal power allows you to multiply the uses without overcharging the battery. This is able to last a day without batting an eye. Our full test of the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 is at your disposal to find out more.
A stylus to complete the use of the Mi Pad 5
If you want to easily improve the use of your Xiaomi tablet, the brand also offers a stylus compatible with the Mi Pad 5. There are two physical buttons for taking notes and screenshots. As for charging, all you have to do is place the device on one of the magnetic edges of the tablet. The stylus is available for 99 euros.
Choose a low-priced smartphone
Throughout the year, Frandroid test multiple smartphone references. Among our tests, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 emerges as a good investment. Of course, it does not rank among the best smartphones of 2022, but it remains excellent at less than 200 euros.
The Redmi Note range is already recognized for its good value for money. This is the case with the Redmi Note 11, first with a nice grip, but above all a superb screen. It features a 6.43-inch 90Hz OLED display. It’s simply the best proposition on the market for this price range.
For the rest, this Xiaomi smartphone offers a balanced technical data sheet with a nice 5000 mAh battery, for two days full of autonomy. 33W charge allows you to quickly fill the battery. The internal configuration also offers good daily nutrition. Finally, the photography is good without being dazzling.
Also check out our selection of the best student plans to go with this smartphone.
Our full review of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is available for reading for those interested in this model.
An interface for work, but not only
Do you already have a car, but lack an interface for the job? Buying a good enough monitor will prove as useful for the studio as it is for entertainment.
Samsung Smart Monitor M7: both at work and off
The Samsung Smart Monitor is a 32-inch screen in 16: 9 format. You are entitled to good connectivity with three USB-A ports, one USB-C and two HDMI 2.0 ports. Above all, you are entitled to a remote control for the multimedia aspect.
In fact, it also integrates the TizenOS ecosystem to put services like Netflix, Disney + or Apple TV. Something to keep you entertained once the reviews are finished … However, you have to pay the price, at 399 euros.
The Cassim Smart Monitor M7 test can help you make a choice.
Huawei MateView SE 2022: the PC screen at an affordable price
In a more sober register, the Huawei MateView SE offers good performance at an attractive price. The 23.8-inch panel is capable of offering Full HD definition. Beware though, the recorded peak brightness is quite low at 220 cd / m². The screen also has a connection that includes the HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.1 port. Sold for less than 200 euros, it is attractive to students. Our MateView SE review is available to learn more.
How to improve your daily use
The following items are not necessarily essential, but they will greatly improve your daily life if you are already well equipped.
The combination of keyboard and mouse: Logitech MK470
If you need a good keyboard for office automation, complemented by a mouse as well, Logitech’s offering is interesting. In terms of connectivity, it connects to the PC via a USB receiver. Typing on the keyboard is pleasant although we find the travel to be a bit short. It is therefore necessary to get used to your keyboard. This is accompanied by a small Logitech Peeble m350 mouse.
A compact USB flash drive: SanDisk Ultra Fit
SanDisk Ultra Fit has a pretty simple promise: It’s an ultra-compact USB flash drive, barely bigger than its USB-A connector. However, be careful with its conservation as its appearance does not allow you to fully protect it. Its read speed of 130 MB / s is quite average, but to be highlighted with its attractive price.
The printer: the Canon Pixma TS5351
Despite being an increasingly overlooked object, the best printers are useful on a daily basis. The Canon Pixma TS3531 is a good camera with one important argument: it’s compact. It works with only two cartridges: one black and one color. Scan her too. It has a Wi-Fi connection to facilitate everyday use.
A 4G router: Netgear AirCard 797
Among our selection of the best 4G and 5G routers, the Netgear AirCard 797 is an interesting model, especially for young students. This will allow you to have a good internet connection compatible with the 4G LTE network. In terms of duration it is able to last 11 hours without batting an eye and the LCD screen will allow you to manage the parameters directly.
Our other guides for finding high-performance technology products
Smartphone guides
Audio guides
The other guides
To follow us, we invite you to download our app for Android and iOS. You can read our articles, files and watch our latest YouTube videos.