To the extent that your shoebox of a dorm will be your home for the next nine months, you should do whatever you can to make it feel cozy and inviting. To that end, we've included some home-theater items in our back-to-school guide, and we've ensured everything is reasonably compact (you can hold off on your first 65-inch set until you have your very own pad). From media streamers to speakers to a handful of small- to medium-sized TVs, you have options if you want to upgrade from watching Netflix off your 13-inch laptop.
1 / 11
55-inch E-Series 4K HDR (E55-E2)
Vizio - $530+
Buy Now
When you’re not knee deep in homework, a gaming or movie session is always an affordable way to relax. Luckily, top-notch sets can now be had for affordable prices. Vizio’s latest E-Series displays boast 4K Ultra HD resolution along with High Dynamic Range (HDR) for explosive colors, starting at just $470 for the 50-inch model.
Even if your dorm or apartment is strapped for space, it’s worth pushing the limits to 55 inches (hell, even 65) if you can, so you can soak up the rich color and even brightness, courtesy of the full-array LED design. The black levels here are also some of the deepest you can get short of a pricey OLED set. There are HDMI inputs for all your gaming and media streaming devices, so you and your friends can enjoy high-res gaming and movie nights. Plus, the TV is both WiFi and Bluetooth ready, and even has built-in Chromecast support.
