It is the season that parents both love and dread in equal parts, BTS. And no we are not talking about Bangtan Sonyeondan, it’s Back-to-School. We love the idea of the kids going back to school and their routine, but dreading the cost of it.
Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the classroom, as well as helping parents stay connected to children for broader peace of mind. And with life continuing to be more expensive by the day. Over here in DRN HQ, our Chief Unboxing Officer is starting high school along with all the on costs of “going to the big league”.
But it is not all doom and gloom with some affordable yet high quality options that will enable parents to still give their kids everything they need for a great year of schooling – without breaking the bank.
TCL NXTPAPER 10s | RRP $499 | Available from Mobileciti and Target ($100 RRP at Target from Jan 19 – Feb 1)
Focus on your and your child’s eye health this 2023. The TCL NXPAPER 10s is a feature-rich sub $500 tablet for the classroom designed specifically with a focus on eye protection, its paper-like display design utilises 10 layers of protection to retain natural colours, setting an industry standard. The display is TÜV certified and reduces blue light through the screen by over 73%. Users will also enjoy clear viewing from any angle due to the display’s anti-glare finish. With a PC Mode built-in, a Folio Keyboard included as standard and an 8000mAh battery, it results in more than a full day of learning, working or entertainment.
Matt was impressed by the TCL TAB10s when he tested it out.
BoostCharge Power Bank 20K | RRP $79.95 | Available from Target
Perfect for starting school or work in the new year, the power bank has 15W of total power to charge up to three devices at the same time with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. An included USB-C to USB-A cable charges devices out of the box and recharges the power bank faster via USB-C for added convenience. Compatible with iPhone 14/13/12 series. Kevin tested it and it keeps his devices charged up on the go.
TCL 30 5G & S600 True Wireless Headphones Bundle | RRP $599 | Available from Target and JB Hi-Fi ($539 at JB H-Fi from now to Jan 18)
Built for 5G performance the TCL 30 5G’s innovative design and technology allow for vivid visuals in real-time, making it an affordable purchase for back to school supplies for your kids. Inside the box comes the standard inclusion of TCL MOVEAUDIO S600 True Wireless Headphones, offering an amazing value bundle for your kids starting the new year! Weighing only 184g, the strikingly sleek 7.74mm design on the TCL 30 5G means the device easily nestles in the user’s hand, a small bag, or pocket. The device has an incredibly slim design when compared to others with the same battery capacity, so there are no compromises to the battery or the screen, making it an ideal purchase.
Read about Lis’ thoughts on them.
TCL 306 with Bonus S150 True Wireless Headphones Bundle | $229 (RRP $229) | Available from Target from Jan 13-18
Equipped with TCL’s NXTVISION technology and a 6.52″ V-notch display, the TCL 306 is an ultra affordable smartphone option for back to school supplies for your kids. Inside the box comes the standard inclusion of TCL MOVEAUDIO S150 True Wireless Headphones, offering an amazing value bundle for your kids starting the new year! Integrating a 13MP triple camera and 5000mAh of power for better than day-long battery life, the TCL 306 has all you need whether you’re at home or on the road.
Belkin SoundForm Mini Wireless On-Ear Headphones for Kids | RRP $49.95 | Available from Big W
Keep your kids’ ears comfortable and protected with premium wireless on-ear headphones designed just for them. Whether they’re doing schoolwork online or watching videos in the back seat, easy pairing and intuitive controls are perfect even for young kids, while a volume cap of 85dB keeps them safe during longer listening sessions. A battery life of up to 30 hours means kids can spend more uninterrupted time with their favourite sounds, and durability testing up to 2 years keeps them safe from spills and accidents. Designed to work with popular distance-learning devices and apps, and includes an optional wired connection.
Check out what Kevin thought of these.
V-Fitness Momentum 2.0 Smart Watch (Black, Purple or Blue) | RRP $59.95 | Available from Harvey Norman and Big W
Make sure your kids are getting enough sleep and exercise with the V-Fitness Momentum 2.0 Smartwatch. Even as they are back to school, track their movement and health using extra features such as Heart Rate and Sleep Monitoring. There is beauty in its simplicity, with its slim and lightweight design that won’t slow them down while undertaking activities. Pair it with their smartphone and the HitFit Pro App to open up more features (such as alarms), and should the need arise, it will enable them to go into greater detail on their exercise routines to customise workout to the max! A host of included games, will help your kid relax and wind down, while call and message notifications from the paired smartphone helps your kid stay connected with you even when they are in class.
Laser 5-in-1 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Set Black | RRP $ 99.95 | Available from Officeworks and Harvey Norman
The Laser 5-in-1 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Set features everything you need to maximise the productivity of school assignments from home. The keyboard is slim for a space-saving design and the mouse is contoured for comfort. This set also features a webcam, cushioned headset, and mouse pad for enhancing your everyday productivity.
SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe | from RRP $99
For students with a lot of content, photos and notes on their phone, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe allows you to quickly and easily move photos and videos from your phone to your laptop. You’ll never have to worry about transferring data via email again.
- A stylish swivel design protects the connectors when you toss the drive in your bag or pocket, and a keyring hole makes it easy to take it with you on the go
- Once files are on your drive, you can use the high-speed USB 3.0 connector to transfer them to your USB Type-C computer
- 2-year limited warranty
SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 | from RRP $399
The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD lets you access your files from anywhere and at any time. The device boasts lighting-fast transfer speeds (2000MB/s2 read/write speeds), IP55 water resistance and drop protection so you can safely transfer files and edit straight from the drive.
- Forged aluminium chassis that also acts as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds
- Up to two-meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance
- 5-year limited warranty
My Passport HDD | from RRP $79
Make sure all of your work has a safe and secure storage unit with the My Passport hard drive. Made to safely store up to 1TB the My Passport is a work and life essential Featuring a sleek and durable design, this hard drive is immediately ready for use out of the box.
- Designed to be portable, so you can take your files with you to work, school or university
- Built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection helps keep your digital life’s contents secure.
- Compatible with both Windows and Mac
- 3-year limited warranty
My Passport SSD | from RRP $189
The My Passport SSD is the ultimate portable office/school accessory. Delivering read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s, write speeds of up to 1000 MB/s, capacity of up to 2TB and a stylish design, studying remotely and on the go has never looked so good.
- Bold, metal design that is tough enough to handle whatever comes your way.
- Shock and vibration resistant. Drop resistant up to 1.98m
- Keep your data safe with password-enabled 256-bit AES hardware encryption and simple backup