The 5 Upgrades I Wish I Bought in My First Year of Engineering
Engineering students spend thousands of hours in front of a laptop.
Yet most of us start with the bare minimum setup and slowly realize that small frustrations add up.
A stiff neck after long coding sessions. Constantly running out of ports. Struggling with a laptop trackpad. Carrying chargers everywhere because your phone battery dies halfway through the day.
Over the last few months, I started researching ways to make a student setup more comfortable and productive. After comparing dozens of options and reading hundreds of reviews, these are the five upgrades that stood out the most.
Quick Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you.
1. Dyazo Adjustable Laptop Stand
Price Range: ₹400–₹700
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/43w6j4H
When I first started coding regularly, I never paid attention to posture.
The laptop sat flat on the desk and I spent hours looking downward at the screen. It didn't seem like a problem until long study sessions became routine.
A laptop stand is one of those products that sounds boring until you use one.
By raising the screen closer to eye level, it reduces the tendency to hunch forward. Most stands also improve airflow underneath the laptop, helping temperatures stay lower during longer workloads.
Why I Chose It Over Cheaper Alternatives
Many ultra-cheap plastic stands felt unstable and had poor reviews regarding durability.
The Dyazo stand consistently received positive feedback for stability, portability, and build quality while remaining affordable.
Best For
Coding sessions
Online classes
Long study hours
Better desk ergonomics
2. Redragon K617 Fizz Mechanical Keyboard
Price Range: ₹2,000–₹3,000
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/49ZYKH6
A keyboard is one of the few tools you physically interact with for hours every day.
If you're studying computer science, programming, editing documents, or writing reports, typing comfort matters.
The Redragon K617 stands out because it offers a mechanical keyboard experience without the premium price tag.
This model typically comes with linear red switches, which are known for their smooth keypresses and lower resistance compared to tactile switches.
Many developers prefer linear switches because they feel smoother during long typing sessions.
Why I Chose It Over Membrane Keyboards
Most budget membrane keyboards feel mushy after extended use.
Mechanical keyboards provide:
Better feedback
More durability
Faster typing experience
Improved consistency
Important Consideration
The K617 uses a compact 60% layout.
That means:
No dedicated number pad
No dedicated function row
No dedicated arrow keys
Some users love the extra desk space.
Others prefer larger layouts.
3. UGREEN USB-C Hub
Price Range: ₹1,500–₹2,000
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4eLWRiX
Modern laptops keep getting thinner.
Unfortunately, that often means losing ports.
A few years ago most laptops included:
Multiple USB ports
HDMI
SD card readers
Today many devices offer only one or two USB-C ports.
The first time you need to connect:
A mouse
A pendrive
An external SSD
at the same time, you'll understand why a USB-C hub becomes essential.
Why I Chose UGREEN
UGREEN has built a strong reputation for reliable accessories.
While cheaper alternatives exist, many suffer from:
Connection issues
Overheating
Lower build quality
For something that handles your external devices and data transfers, reliability matters.
Best For
Students using modern laptops
Presentation setups
Connecting multiple devices
4. Ambrane 25000mAh Fast Charging Power Bank
Price Range: ₹4,500–₹5,500
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4eHNjq3
This is the most expensive product on this list.
It's also one of the most useful for students who spend long hours away from charging outlets.
Most power banks can charge a phone.
What makes this one interesting is that it can also support higher-power devices, including many laptops.
A 25,000mAh capacity means you're carrying a significant amount of backup power for:
Phones
Tablets
Wireless accessories
Compatible laptops
Why I Chose It
Instead of buying the cheapest power bank available, I wanted something that could remain useful for years.
The combination of:
High capacity
Fast charging
Laptop compatibility
makes it far more versatile than standard budget power banks.
Best For
College students
Travel
Long campus days
Hackathons
5. Wireless Mouse
Price Range: ₹700–₹2,000
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4fKxrUX
I used a laptop trackpad for years.
It worked.
But once I started spending longer periods coding, navigating large spreadsheets, and working on projects, I understood why so many people recommend using a proper mouse.
A good wireless mouse:
Improves precision
Reduces unnecessary hand movement
Makes navigation significantly faster
It won't transform your productivity overnight, but it makes everyday tasks noticeably smoother.
What To Look For
Before buying, consider:
Battery life
Ergonomic shape
Wireless reliability
Weight
These factors matter more than RGB lighting or gaming branding for most students.
Final Thoughts
Most students focus entirely on upgrading their laptop.
Ironically, the accessories around the laptop often have a bigger impact on day-to-day comfort and productivity.
If I were starting from scratch and could only buy one item today, I would prioritize them in this order:
Laptop Stand
Wireless Mouse
USB-C Hub
Mechanical Keyboard
Power Bank
None of these products will magically improve your grades.
What they can do is remove small frustrations that quietly waste time and energy every single day.
And over the course of an engineering degree, that adds up.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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