Best back to school gear under $250

Samsung's Buds Plus look essentially the same as the original Galaxy Buds, but their battery life is rated at 11 hours for music playback (up from six hours), and they pack dual drivers for better sound and an additional microphone in each bud to help with external noise reduction while making calls. This great gift option is IPX4-rated, which means they're splash-proof.

I was impressed with the sound. It's detailed and smooth, with deep, well-defined bass. The sound is richer and more spacious than that of the original Galaxy Buds. Well-respected Austrian audio company AKG, which Samsung acquired when it bought Harman, is behind the audio. While the original Buds were also "tuned" by AKG, these are a nice upgrade over the originals -- and right there with what you get with the Jabra Elite 75t, if not even a touch better. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and support for AAC (there's now an app for iOS users) and Samsung's scalable codec, which is similar to aptX but is proprietary to Samsung Galaxy phones.

Sony's WF-1000XM3 is considered one of the best sets of true wireless noise-canceling earbuds. But to the dismay of some people, it lacked any sort of water resistance, making it unsuitable for sports. It took a while, but now we finally have a new true wireless noise-canceling sports model from Sony: the WF-SP800N.

This isn't quite the WF-1000XM3 with a water-resistant body. It's missing Sony's QN1e processor, but there's still a lot to like about it, including very good sound, solid noise canceling and good call quality. But this is definitely a decent upgrade over the WF-SP700N, which came out in 2018, and its "arcs" (sports fins) lock the buds in your ears. Just make sure you get a tight seal from one of the included ear tips or else both the sound and noise canceling will be lackluster.

Yes, the Switch you really want is the $300 "full" version that can also connect to a TV. But that one has been sold out for months. The Lite version will allow you to start playing all of the fantastic Switch-exclusive games in the meantime, and it can be had for $200. (Don't pay more.)

Students (and everyone else) are avoiding the gym in the age of coronavirus -- and that's why a gadget like the Activ5 is the perfect for times like these. Billed as "a tiny gym in your pocket," the Activ5 is about the size of a hockey puck. It's designed to create an isometric workout as you apply pressure to either side of the device -- essentially squeezing it -- using various parts of your body.

You connect your iPhone or Android phone to the device and a free companion app (pictured) tracks the amount of pressure you apply to it. With a little gamification, the app guides you through short workouts that you can do anywhere. It gives you more of a workout than you'd think, given its tiny size and simplistic shape.

Whether students are in an online class or playing Fortnite after hours, solid Wi-Fi is a must -- and for that, you can't beat the the whole-home coverage of a mesh network system. The three-piece Eero system includes a free Echo Dot, too. (Just note that this bundle is sold for as low as $170 to $200, so try to find it on sale first.)

Whether it's in the dorm, the kitchen or the bedroom, the Sonos One is a great combination of smart speaker and sound quality. It works with Alexa or Google Assistant, and it's compatible with AirPlay 2 streaming.

The AirPods Pro aren't necessarily the best-sounding true wireless headphones out there, but they integrate seamlessly with Apple devices, their noise canceling is excellent, and the transparency mode is great for listening without shutting out the world around you. And they're genuinely good for talking on the phone or during Zoom calls, too. (These are often on sale, so look for prices between $215 and $225 before buying.)

We expect new Apple Watch models this fall, but for now, the best option under $250 is the Series 3. It lacks the bells and whistles of 2019's Series 5, but it includes basic fitness and heart-rate tracking, and it will be upgradeable to WatchOS 7 later this year, too. Don't pay more than $180 for the 38mm model, or $210 for the 42mm version.

Whether you're still at home or away for school, coffee is an essential item. The Ninja makes regular coffee as well as cold brew and even tea, and it doesn't take up any more bench space than a normal coffee maker.

This 50-inch 4K TV doesn't have the best picture quality we've seen. But at this price, who cares? What it does have is the best-in-class Roku smart TV operating system, which means that every worthwhile streaming app from Netflix to Hulu and nearly everything in between is built right in. (Note that HBO Max and NBC's Peacock are still holdouts, however.) It's a great starter TV that can migrate to the bedroom or game room to eventually make way for a bigger, better set. If you need to stay under $250, go for the 43-inch model -- but spending just $40 more gets your student this 50-incher instead.