UAE parents urge families to prioritise practical, durable school tech over costly upgrades.
Back-to-school shopping can quickly turn into a race to keep up with the latest technology. New smartphones, premium tablets, gaming laptops and smartwatches may all seem appealing when preparing children for another school year. But do schoolchildren really need the newest and most expensive devices?
For Dubai-based mother and influencer Hina Saleem, the answer is largely no.
A mother of three, Hina has Ahmad, 14, in Grade 9, Haris, 12, in Grade 7, and Amal, 8, in Grade 3 at The Westminster School, Dubai. With three children balancing schoolwork and online activities, she takes a practical approach to buying technology.
“My kids usually need iPads or tablets, power banks and good headphones for their classes and online activities,” says Hina, who also runs a marketing agency.
Her approach is simple: buy technology that solves a genuine need rather than devices that are designed to impress.
“I feel unnecessary devices such as expensive gaming laptops, smartwatches, high-end tablets and the latest smartphones are definitely not worth it for school-going kids,” she says. “Parents should make sure they are getting their kids basic gadgets.”
That does not mean choosing the cheapest device available. Instead, Hina recommends focusing on the specifications children will actually use throughout the school year and selecting devices that are durable enough to last.
Here are seven tech essentials worth considering for the new school year, along with key features parents should look for before spending, based on advice from UAE mums.
1. A reliable laptop for assignments and projects
For older students in particular, a laptop can be one of the most useful pieces of school technology. Research, presentations, documents, online learning platforms and group projects are generally easier to manage on a full-size computer than on a phone.
However, parents do not necessarily need to invest in a premium laptop. A reliable model with sufficient performance for schoolwork can often meet a student’s needs without the added cost of high-end features.
Hina recommends looking for at least 8GB of RAM, with 16GB preferable if parents want the device to remain useful for longer. A 256GB SSD or more should provide a reasonable starting point for school files, applications and everyday tasks.
For the processor, recent Intel Core i3 or i5, Core 3 or Core 5, or AMD Ryzen 3 or 5 chips should be sufficient for typical schoolwork.
Other specifications may be less eye-catching, but they can matter more to students in everyday use. Good battery life, a lightweight build and a durable design can be more practical than a powerful gaming-focused machine.
2. A tablet or iPad for everyday schoolwork
A tablet can be particularly useful for younger students or children whose schools require one for specific classroom activities.
A tablet is portable, easy to carry between classes and capable of handling reading, educational apps, video lessons, note-taking and online activities.
Before buying one, parents should first check which devices and operating systems their child’s school supports. App compatibility and system requirements can be more important than choosing the largest or most expensive screen.
Look for a good-quality display, reliable battery life, sufficient storage and compatibility with the school’s required apps and learning platforms.
As with laptops, there is little reason to automatically opt for the newest model if an older or mid-range device meets the school’s requirements.
3. Good headphones for online classes
Headphones can be an easily overlooked back-to-school purchase, but they become particularly useful when children have online lessons, recorded lectures, language activities or multimedia assignments.
A comfortable pair can also help students concentrate when working in a busy household.
For school use, parents should prioritise comfort, clear and reliable audio, battery life for wireless models and a durable design, rather than paying extra for premium features aimed mainly at gaming or entertainment.
For younger children, getting the right fit is particularly important. Headphones that are too bulky or uncomfortable can quickly end up unused in the school bag.
4. A power bank for long school days
A tablet or phone is only useful if it has enough battery to last through the day.
A compact power bank can be particularly useful for older students who spend long hours at school or travel between school and extracurricular activities. It provides a backup when a device is running low on charge and there is no convenient power outlet nearby.
Parents should choose a reputable model with enough capacity for the child’s device, while avoiding unnecessarily bulky options that add extra weight to an already full school bag.
5. A sturdy laptop or tablet bag
It may not be the most exciting item on a back-to-school shopping list, but protecting a device can ultimately save parents money by reducing the risk of damage and costly replacements.
A good laptop or tablet sleeve or backpack should provide adequate padding, a secure compartment and enough room for chargers and other school essentials.
For children who carry their devices every day, durability is especially important. A stylish but fragile case is unlikely to offer much value over the long term.
6. A simple keyboard or stylus — if the child actually needs one
Accessories can make tablets significantly more useful, but parents should avoid buying them simply because they are available.
A keyboard can be worthwhile for older students who regularly type essays, assignments or longer notes on a tablet. A stylus can be useful for handwriting, drawing, annotating PDFs and using certain educational applications.
The key is to choose accessories based on the child’s actual workload.
If a child mainly watches educational videos or uses a handful of school apps, a keyboard and stylus may simply add unnecessary cost and clutter.
7. A basic smartphone, when the child is ready for one
A smartphone can be useful for communication, school-related updates, transport arrangements and emergencies, particularly for older children.
But back-to-school shopping does not have to mean upgrading to the latest flagship phone. A reliable, reasonably priced smartphone with the features a child actually needs can be more than sufficient.
If a child already has a functioning smartphone that receives software updates and supports the apps they need, there may be little reason to replace it simply because a newer model has been released.
For parents, the more important conversation may be about screen time, privacy, notifications and responsible use rather than getting the latest handset.
What school tech should parents skip?
For Hina, the biggest mistake is confusing a child’s actual school requirements with a wish list of premium technology.
Expensive gaming laptops can be excessive for students whose main needs are documents, presentations, research and educational platforms.
Smartwatches may be fun, but they are rarely essential school equipment.
High-end tablets are another area where parents could overspend when a good mid-range model can handle the required tasks.
And the latest smartphone is not automatically a better choice for school use.
The same principle applies across the back-to-school tech list: don’t buy a device simply because it is new. Buy it because your child genuinely needs and will use it.
The back-to-school tech checklist
Before buying a laptop, Hina suggests that parents focus on the fundamentals:
- 8GB of RAM minimum, with 16GB preferable for longer-term use
- 256GB SSD or more
- Good battery life
- Lightweight, durable design
- A recent Intel Core i3/i5, Core 3/Core 5 or AMD Ryzen 3/5 processor
- For tablets, a good-quality screen, reliable battery life, adequate storage and compatibility with school apps
- Software support that will keep the device usable for the coming school years
“You don’t need the latest device,” Hina says. “A good mid-range or slightly older model can easily handle most schoolwork.”
Ultimately, the smartest back-to-school technology purchase may not be the device with the most impressive specifications. It is the one that can survive a school bag, last through the school day and handle the work a child actually needs to do.
As Hina puts it, “The most important things are RAM, SSD storage, battery life, durability and software support — not having the newest model.”
