It’s the holiday season, and here are the five tech gadgets you need for the new year.

Bose QC 35 II  — Best wireless headphones on the market.

Every college student needs a great pair of headphones. The best headphones on the market — and the pair that earns a spot on my wishlist — is Bose QC 35 II. These wireless noise-canceling headphones are Alexa-enabled, meaning that you can access both your music and useful information. These headphones are a bit pricey at $349, but they make a great gift if multiple family members pitch in. If you had been on the fence on deciding whether to buy a pair of headphones, Bose QC35 II is one of the best options out there.

Sceptre 27” IPS Ultra 4K LED Monitor — A great display for video editing and gaming.

Having a 4K monitor makes a huge difference when watching the same video or movie and makes your experience revolutionary. For content creators, it’s important to also have color-accurate displays that shows the most detail when editing photos and videos. Recently, Spectre came out with this 4K monitor for only $180.

4TB Hard Drive — Secure and efficient way of storing your data.

For college students, it’s good to have the mobility to access your files wherever you go. Having a 4TB is even more essential when you’re working on media projects such as a 4K video. If you’re looking for a budget 4TB hard drive, Western Digital’s $99.99 4TB hard drive might be the best choice.

Phillips Hue — Customizable light bulbs for your off-campus apartment.

Phillips Hue is a fun way to create an interactive environment at your off-campus apartment. If you are watching Syracuse football on TV, the Phillips Hue can change its light bulb color to a bright orange. You can get the Phillips Hue 2-Pack Premium Smart Light Starter Kit on Amazon Prime for $89.99.

Orbi Wifi  — For your off-campus housing WiFi woes.

If AirOrangeX does not reach your off-campus apartment, ask for a WiFi system for you and your roommates this holiday season. Good WiFi is the gift that keeps on giving. Orbi is a NETGEAR Whole Home Mesh WiFi System and it supports speeds up to 2.2 Gbps over 6,000 sq. feet. It supports more devices than traditional WiFi and allows a smoother internet connection compared to traditional all-in-one home routers. Orbi Wifi is also something that you might want to consider adding to your wishlist.

Eldon Tsoi is a sophomore information management technology and accounting major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at eltsoi@syr.edu.

Published on December 5, 2018 at 9:52 pm