I’m a laptop reviewer — 12 essential back-to-school laptop accessories under $50 I recommend

(Image credit: Tom's Guide) The best laptops are a student’s most important ally, especially now during the back-to-school season. Though you can certainly make do with a laptop out of the box, you can make your notebook even more productive with the right accessories. Best of all, you don’t have to break the bank to get everything you’d need.I haven’t been inside a classroom in decades, but I review laptops for a living and know the best items to recommend. This includes things like laptop stands, USB hubs, privacy screens, wireless peripherals, and more. Best of all, you can nab everything I’ve listed below for under $50 each, as being a student can already be pretty expensive.To that end, here are the 12 best laptop accessories I recommend right now. I've also included the two best budget laptops to get right now. Also, check out our Ultimate Back-to-School Guide 2026 for more deals. Okay, let's dive in!Quick LinksMosiso Laptop Sleeve: was $14 now $13 @ AmazonMatein Travel Laptop Backpack: was $33 now $18 @ AmazonHavit Laptop Cooling Pad: was $34 now $25 @ AmazonLamicall Laptop Stand Riser: was $35 now $29 @ AmazonLogitech Signature M650: was $39 now $30 @ AmazonSightPro Magnetic Laptop Privacy Screen: $34 @ AmazonAcer USB-C Docking Station: was $47 now $36 @ AmazonKeychron B35 Wireless Keyboard: $39 @ AmazonLapGear Lap Desk: was $49 now $39 @ AmazonUGreen 100W USB Multi-Power Charger: was $54 now $42 @ AmazonIniu Laptop Power Bank: was $50 now $42 @ AmazonMNN Portable Monitor: was $49 now $44 @ AmazonThe two best budget laptopsIf you're looking for an excellent budget laptop, the MacBook Neo and new Dell XPS 13 (2026) are both available starting at $699. So whether you're a macOS or Windows user, you won't be stuck with a subpar machine for school!12 back-to-school laptop accessories Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.