Back-to-school UAE guide: How to choose the right laptops, tablets and headphones for your child
Walk into any electronics store this month and the sales pitch is the same everywhere: newer, faster, more. But a child heading into Grade 3 does not need the same processor as a video editor, and a school laptop's job is to survive a backpack, not win a benchmark test. The real back-to-school question isn't which device is best, it's which one actually gets used. We spoke to parents navigating…
Back-to-school season in the UAE brings with it a flurry of sales pitches from electronics stores, all promising newer, faster, and more advanced devices. However, when it comes to purchasing laptops, tablets, and headphones for children, the real question is not which device is the best but which one will actually be used. Parents, upon speaking with each other, have found that buying according to what their child actually needs for schoolwork rather than following the newest gadgets on the shelf is the key rule to follow.
When selecting laptops, it is essential to focus on the syllabus requirements rather than the spec sheet. For most schoolwork, an 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD or more, paired with a recent processor like Intel Core i3/i5 or AMD Ryzen 3/Ryzen 5, would suffice. Battery life and weight should also be considered since the laptop will be carried in a backpack throughout the day. Avoiding gaming laptops is crucial, as they often come with expensive hardware that goes unused for basic school tasks.
Tablets can be beneficial for younger students or schools that incorporate tablets into their lessons. However, overspending should be avoided. Determine the school's requirements first, then prioritize screen quality, storage capacity, battery life, and most importantly, an operating system that will receive regular updates. An outdated tablet, regardless of its price, is not a good investment.
Headphones are an essential accessory for online classes, recorded lessons, and multimedia assignments. They should be comfortable for long wear, feature a reliable microphone, and be durable enough for daily use. Look for volume-limiting features and simple controls, as gaming headphones are generally unnecessary.
Power banks can come in handy for students commuting or attending after-school activities. However, it is better to match the power bank's capacity to the actual device being charged rather than opting for the biggest possible battery. Quality and safety should be prioritized when selecting a power bank, along with ensuring that the charging cable and port match the child's devices.
Bags offer protection for the investment made in laptops and tablets. Look for a padded technology compartment, sturdy zippers and stitching, and water-resistant material. Comfortable straps and sufficient room for books without crushing the device are also important factors to consider.
Accessories such as keyboards and styluses should only be added if they will be used. A keyboard can be beneficial for writing essays or long reports, while a stylus may be useful for handwritten notes, drawing, or PDF annotation. If a child mainly reads textbooks and watches videos, these accessories may not be necessary and could go unused.
Lastly, when it comes to mobile phones, there is no need to upgrade simply because a new model has been released. If the current phone still receives software updates, has sufficient storage, and runs the necessary apps, it should be kept. For older children, a phone may be needed for contacting parents, school communications, transportation logistics, emergencies, or parental controls.
Battery life, software support, storage, durability, connectivity, and parental controls should be prioritized over the newest camera or fastest chip when choosing a new phone.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
