The Best Things to Get for Your New Laptop
This effortlessly cool, feature-packed bag excels in both form and function.
Every laptop needs a good bag. Elegant form and utilitarian features (such as a magnetic top closure and a plethora of pockets) make this wear-anywhere bag look more pricey than it is. Read more about it in our guide to the best laptop backpacks. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
This waxed-canvas messenger has a distinctive vintage aesthetic, and its smooth nylon shoulder strap is extra-comfy. $119 from WaterField Designs
At once stylish and sturdy, this bag transitions seamlessly between the office and more casual settings. Read more about it in our guide to our favorite messenger bags. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
This versatile case is roomy, waterproof, and sharp-looking—plus, it has lots of handy pockets.
The Cary is comfortable to tote, has an impressive capacity, and looks good dressed up or down. Read more about it in our guide to the best briefcases. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
This simple, soft sleeve comes in an almost limitless number of designs, and it's constructed with stiff canvas-style polyester, which protects against dust, scratches, and impact.
A sleeve offers more protection for your laptop and allows you to carry it in any bag that lacks a dedicated computer compartment. Featuring the designs of countless artists, laptop sleeves sold by Society6 have a sturdy construction that should protect your laptop from bumps. Read more about it in our guide to the best laptop sleeves. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
This affordable sleeve fits laptops better and offers more protection than most other similarly priced options. It has thick, cushioned corners and a plushly protective interior that protects your laptop from most drops, spills, and scratches. Read more about it in our guide to the best laptop sleeves. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
If you have data on your laptop, you need to back it up, and not just to the cloud. This portable hard drive has the largest capacity available among portable drives, and it's one of the most affordable drives we considered with this much storage. It works with both Windows computers and Macs, and it comes with USB-C and USB-A connectors and a three-year warranty. Read more about it in our guide to the best external hard drive. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
This portable SSD is the best because it's reliable, fast, and reasonably priced, and like most of the portable SSDs we tested, it's compact enough to partly hide under a stack of sticky notes. Read more about it in our guide to the best portable SSD. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
With its flexible pricing options, IDrive lets you back up essential files for a low price or an enormous collection of large files for more. $70 from iDrive
(per year, 5 TB)
If you have only one backup, you don't have a backup. IDrive is easy to set up, and it backs up your files quickly. It offers flexible pricing, so you don't overpay for storage you don't need. Read more about it in our guide to the best online cloud backup services. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
A good pair of headphones sounds better than the speakers on your laptop, helps you focus by blocking outside noise, and keeps your study music, plane-movie dialogue, or game sounds private. These headphones deliver customizable sound, impressive noise cancellation, stellar call clarity, and long battery life. Read more about it in our guide to the best Bluetooth wireless headphones. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
Our favorite wireless earbuds provide a great fit and excellent-sounding drivers that keep up with high and low frequencies alike. Read more about it in our guide to the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter
This inexpensive, neutral-sounding pair of headphones is perfect for music, recording, or film students, performers doing session work, podcasters, videographers who need to monitor sound, and folks building up their sound booth — or, really, anyone who wants great-sounding headphones for less than $100. Read more about it in our guide to the best audiophile headphones. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
These earbuds have a neutral sound profile and a sturdy, detachable cable with no built-in remote or microphone.
This is a comfortable pair of earbuds with a neutral sound that should have broad appeal. Read more about it in our guide to the best wired earbuds. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
With a sound that's neither too trebly nor too bass-heavy, the Linsoul Tin HiFi T3 Plus set is a great entry point for the discerning music fan who prefers wired earbuds.
Pleasing sound, comfortable fit, and a replaceable cable make this affordable pair a great entry point. Read more about it in our guide to the best wired earbuds.
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