5 must-have devices to make a smart dorm room

Heading off to college this semester? Asurion Experts share dorm room ideas that will help transform your dull dorm room into a smart one. Get ready to be the envy of everyone else on your floor.

Meet your new favorite study buddy

Smart speakers like the Echo Dot and Google Home Mini are perfect for the dorm, as they take up little space, and can shout out answers to you or read aloud on the topic you’re looking up for your research paper. They’re also helpful to have around for downtime—you can listen to your latest playlist or have Alexa order Chinese takeout. With several smart speakers now on the market, it’s easy to find one that fits your needs and that’s affordable on a college student’s budget. Check out our Amazon Echo vs Google Home comparison to decide which is right for you.

Freshly brewed coffee, straight from your phone

Smart plugs automate the different electronics in your life—from your TV to your coffee pot—and allow you to control them from your smartphone or other smart devices. With a simple click of a button on your phone, set a timer so you can get your morning caffeine fix brewing before you even get out of bed. Smart plugs are also great for checking to make sure you turned all of your appliances off when you rushed out the door to get to your 8AM lecture.

Set the mood with smart bulbs

It can be a challenge to make your dorm room feel more like home when you’re dealing with harsh overhead lights. That’s why smart lighting is a dorm room essential. Smart bulbs help to set the right mood in your room, and they can be dimmed or change colors with the touch of a button. They’re super simple to install and can be controlled either via Wi-Fi or a companion app, depending on which model you purchase. Learn more about cool things you can do with smart lights.

Clean your room… with a robot

With all of the studying and socializing in a college student’s calendar, it’s hard to make time to clean your room—especially when your parent isn’t there to make you do it, right? Sounds like a job for a robot vacuum, like the iRobot Roomba. Just turn Roomba on from your phone or other compatible smart device and watch it clean up all the crumbs leftover from last night’s pizza.

Keep (smart) tabs on your stuff

Having roommates can be fun, but it can also mean that your personal property may become communal if someone gets a little too free with the term “borrowing.” Using iOS and Android-compatible Bluetooth trackers, such as those made by Tile, you can use your phone to locate items that seemingly got up and walked away on their own. Attach them to your keys, wallet, backpack – any important things you want to keep tabs on.