Dorm decorations and essentials: Homekit lights, smart speakers, and more

Best Lights

You know those cool, triangular light patterns a lot of streamers have on their walls? Those are Nanoleafs. Each light cell is a triangular addressable RGB LED plate that interconnects with other light cells to create lit shapes. They're homekit compatible too, so you can control them with Siri. You can permanently affix them to your wall, but in the case of a dorm room, you can pop them up with non-paint-damaging sticky slips.

Best assistant

The HomePod Mini is Apple's entry into the smart speaker market, and despite its diminutive size, it packs a big sonic wallop. You can get it in a load of colors, like Blue and Red, and you can command it with Siri. great for solo listening sessions as you study long into the night, or used as a party centerpiece when louder music is required.

Best dorm-friendly iPad

The iPad is perhaps one of the most useful things a student can grab - and the iPad mini is perfect for a small dorm room. You can take notes on it, watch movies in bed or out and about on it, and you can control all those fancy HomeKit devices you've got all over the room now with it too. Pick up an Apple Pencil and a nice little Bluetooth keyboard, and you've got the perfect student portable computer.

Best speaker

This speaker is BIG. Like, really big. When I got mine I don't think I really understood quite how big it would be. What does this bigness mean? That it's very, very loud. It's not the richest or bass-heavy sounding thing (it sounds very much 'ok'), but it is perfect to get a massive party going in the dorm kitchen. Link two together and you not only get stereo sound, but it gets even louder. Nice.

Best webcam

Ever since 'you know what', more and more education and other work have moved online. Part of that is taking part in the dreaded video call - and if you're doing it everyday, then one stuck above your laptop screen isn't going to cut it. This Logitech HD webcam has good resolution, a solid mic, and it looks unobtrusive too. your video calls will have never looked, or sounded, better.

Best smart lock

No one likes being walked in on while they're in the middle of something, be they chilling out or 27 hours deep into an energy drink-fuelled paper writing session. A Smart Door lock like this one from August Home will do the trick nicely. It'll fit over most deadbolt door locks, and keep you safe while you're in, and your stuff secure when you're out.

Best alarm clock

Struggle with waking up for those morning lectures, or feel like your alarm clock is the world's most obnoxious noise in the morning? The Amazon Halo Rise uses light to gently wake you up with a light that echoes the feeling of sunlight, easing you out of slumber and getting you ready for a day of lectures and classes. It will also track your sleep and make sure you've got a healthy rhythm, so you get the most restful nights.

Best smart lamp

The Nanoleaf Umbra Cono smart lamp is a super luxurious light that can be picked up and moved around the room with little effort. With a unique "x" shape at the base, you can hold it easily, or hang it from shelves, ledges, and more. The battery life is a little on the shorter end at around 5 to 6 hours but it makes up for this with a great look. 

Best streaming box

Of course, if you're looking for something to hook into the back of your mini projector, we'd go with an Apple TV 4K streamer. It's a heavy little box that's packed with some powerful components, so it'll be more than enough to send Netflix to your screen of choice, but it will also be beefy enough to play some of Apple Arcades' best games. Connect up your HomePod Mini for some excellent sound quality, and you'll have one of the best ways to watch the Foundation series in a small space this side of Mars.

Best headphones

Not everyone can afford Apple's AirPods Max - thankfully, the equally as impressive but $150 cheaper Sony WH1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones bring some cool features for less. You'll be able to block out almost all the outside noise in your dorm when you're working with the noise canceling, and the excellent sound quality will make all your music sound amazing. Bluetooth will connect them up to your iPhone, and the Sony app will let you change key features, such as transparency mode and ambient sound control. Taking the bus to college? The noise will never bother you again.

Best monitor

You'll be taking your laptop around to all your classes to take notes, but when you're home you'll want some extra screen real estate to write out all those papers and essays. 27 inches is the perfect mix between space-saving and extra screen, and the Dell S-series are some seriously good monitors. This one is 4K, so you'll be able to watch top-quality content, and get more on-screen when you're doing your work.

Best console

You won't have room for discs at college, but you should still grab a console. The Xbox Series S is a great low-cost current-gen option, which performs well in lower resolutions. It's also a disc-free console, so you can play games directly off the hard drive. In addition, make sure you get hold of an Xbox Live Game Pass Ultimate subscription - they're about $14.99 a month, and you'll get unfettered access to hundreds of Xbox games, some as they're released.

Best backpack

When you're lugging all your gear around, the last thing you need is for someone to get their greasy mitts into your bag and all over your stuff. This backpack has a hidden main compartment, so the only one that's getting in your bag is you. Keep that laptop and schoolwork safe when you're out and about.

Best vacuum

Your space may be small, but it will get dirty quickly. All kinds of dirt and grime build up over time, and you need something to make sure it stays clean and tidy. This little robot vacuum friend scans your room with a Lidar sensor, making a map as it goes so it won't crash into anything. It'll make short work of a mucky dorm room, without you having to do anything. Just stick some goggly eyes onto it. Go on. You know you want to.

Best power strip

It may not be the most glamorous product on the list, but it is one of the most useful. pretty much everything on this list requires plugging in, and it's unlikely you'll have that many outlets at your disposal in your dorm room. One of these power strips has all the outlets you could ever need, along with a mighty six USB sockets. You'll never be wanting for an outlet ever again.