The new academic year is rapidly approaching - and with it, the prospect of sending your teenager off to university. Of course, they’re going to be spending plenty of time making friends and socialising - but, they (should) also be studying. In which case, what are the essentials they need to get the best possible results? Keep reading to find out…
Laptop
Top of the list should be a good-quality laptop. No matter what subject your teen is studying, they’re going to be spending time researching, writing, and browsing the Internet. Plus, most courses require students to submit their work through online platforms like Turnitin. And, doing that is so much easier on a fast laptop.
So, what are your options? The key is to answer the following questions:
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Does your teen prefer Apple, Windows, or Google?
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Will they be carrying their laptop around campus a lot? Or will it be staying in the room most of the time?
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How much processing power do they need? If they’re going to be using processor-heavy software (e.g. CAD), then they’re going to need a laptop with a powerful processor (e.g. Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 7 etc).
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Do they need a high resolution screen? This can be an important consideration if your teen is going to be studying design-heavy subjects like architecture.
- Will they be using their laptop for leisure activities like gaming? If so, that will have a big influence on what type of laptop they need. In particular, they’ll likely need a laptop with a GPU.
Give some thought to those questions, and you’ll be able to buy the perfect laptop for uni.
Talking of which, here at Comet, you’ll find some unbeatable deals on uni laptops. We’ve got Windows, Apple and Chromebooks - all available with Klarna Pay in 3 and an express delivery option.
Tip - don’t forget those all important laptop essentials. Using a laptop can be much easier with a dedicated mouse. If your teen is going to be studying a text-heavy subject (e.g. law or history), then a separate keyboard can be handy, too. And, remember to pick up a laptop bag to make their campus commute much easier.
Headphones
Have you ever been in a university library? They’re not always the quietest of places, which is why it's a good idea to invest in a set of quality over-ear headphones for your teen.
Not only can headphones cancel out unwanted noise, but they can also help many people engage in ‘deep work’ and get into the sort of flow state that gets dissertations completed!
What then, do you need to think about if you’re going to be buying some headphones for uni?
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Noise cancellation. This is arguably the most important point to consider, especially if you’re buying headphones with the intention of using them as a study aid. If you want to buy the best type of noise-cancelling headphones, make sure you buy ones that feature active noise cancellation. This is a type of technology that uses inbuilt microphones to detect and proactively cancel out external noise.
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Wired or wireless? Will your teen be bothered by a wire? If so, choose wireless headphones with Bluetooth - this will allow them to wirelessly connect the headphones to their phone/laptop etc.
- Over ear or in ear? Not everyone likes over ear headphones (for one thing, they can look quite prominent). However, bear in mind that in-ear headphones aren’t as effective at blocking out external noise.
No matter what type of headphones you’re looking to buy for uni you’ll find some great options for you here at Comet. Our headphone collection includes both over ear and in-ear headphones from leading brands such as Apple, Skullcandy, JLab and more.
Television
Whilst your teen might not spend a massive amount of time in their accommodation, they’ll want to keep themselves entertained when they are in it - which is why a television is arguably another ‘uni essential’.
What’s more, in addition to keeping them entertained, most TVs these days will connect to a laptop - providing a large display where students can analyse documents and spreadsheets etc.
What should you think about then if you’re buying a TV for uni?
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Size. If your teen is moving away for uni, the chances are, you’re going to be lugging quite a bit of stuff in the back of your car. Likewise, most student accommodation isn’t exactly massive, so give some thought to the size of the TV you’re buying. Here at Comet you’ll find plenty of TVs in the 32-inch to 43-inch bracket.
- Smart features. Today, online streaming and video services like YouTube receive more views than many TV channels. If your teen loves to stream or browse YouTube on their TV, then make sure you select a smart TV that is able to connect to the Internet.
If you’re going to be buying a TV for uni, then Comet is the place to get it. Why? Because we have some of the Internet’s best deals on TVs from Sony, LG, Toshiba, and Samsung.
And, with the ability to spread the cost of your new TV with Klarna Pay in 3, why would you buy from anywhere else?
Smartphone
Undoubtedly, if this is your teen’s first time living away from home, you’ll want the ability to contact them. In a similar vein, your teen is likely going to want the ability to give you a call, especially if they’ve run out of cash…
Of course, there’s also their peers to consider. If they’ve all got smartphones, you don’t want your teen to be left out.
That’s why here at Comet, you’ll find a massive range of smartphones, stretching from bargain burner phones through to the latest Apple iPhones. Let’s take a look at some of the things to think about when buying a smartphone:
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Is it sim-free? With a sim-free smartphone you’re free to choose the telecom provider of your choice. You don’t want to be tied into costly, expensive, long-term contracts and can choose a sim and plan that works best for you and your teen. All of our smartphones at Comet are sim free.
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Price. This is an all-important one. Given that your teen is likely to be going out a lot during freshers week and socialising, do you really want them potentially losing a phone with a £1,000+ price tag? If you’d rather err on the side of caution, then at Comet you’ll find a wealth of phones under £50.
- Apple or Android. Does your teen have a preference when it comes to a phone’s operating system? It can make a big difference in terms of the apps you can download etc.
No matter what type of smartphone you want to buy for your soon-to-be uni student, you’ll find something that’ll help you make the right call at Comet.
Our smartphone collection includes models from Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, and TCL. All the stars of the smartphone world!
Tip - don’t forget to pick up some smartphone essentials including phone cases and chargers.
Ready, set, study with Comet!
We hope you’ve found our guide both useful and interesting. If you want to give your teenager the best possible chance of leaving uni with the results they want, make sure you pick up those study essentials from Comet.
Not only do we have amazing deals and discounts on everything from laptops to headphones, but we can help you spread the cost with our flexible finance options.
We also offer an express delivery service, so if you need some essentials in a hurry, choose Comet!
Shop laptops, headphones, televisions, and smartphones at Comet now.
For more news, product buying advice, and inspiration, check out the Comet blog…
