High School Graduation Gifts for 2023

Graduating high school is the first step towards adulthood. If your grad is getting ready to head off to college, there are plenty of things they'll need. Early mornings, long study sessions and making new friends means there's plenty of gift-giving potential. Whether it's great tech or something to make dorm life more enjoyable, our top high school graduation gifts have something for everyone.

A laptop is essential for every college student, no matter what school they're attending or what they choose to study. Of course, not all laptops are created equal. The Asus ZenBook Flip 13 is at the top of our list of high school graduation gifts because it's incredibly thin, incredibly lightweight but also incredibly powerful. It can function as a laptop or a tablet with a responsive touchscreen display that can adapt to a variety of assignments from creative projects to class presentations. With up to 14 hours of battery life on a charge, your grad won't have to worry about their laptop dying in the middle of an important essay.

A great pair of earbuds is essential for just about everyone, but they're also one of our favorite high school graduation gifts. Entering college means walking around campus, long study sessions in the library and staying healthy at the on-campus gym. The 2nd generation Apple AirPods Pro have a convenient wireless design with a charging case so they can easily recharge, meaning no dead battery in the middle of an important study session. They're also water resistant so they can listen to the newest episode of their favorite podcast while walking to class on a rainy day. Whether they're focusing on a term paper or relaxing after a tough exam, these AirPods have plenty of battery life to support your favorite graduate through every collegiate moment.

If your grad is listening to music in a group, whether for leisure or for coursework, the right device is a must. The JBL Clip 4 is great for students on the go because it can easily clip to their backpack or tote bag for secure, hands-free listening on the quad. Tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand, this JBL speaker is easy to bring anywhere while also boasting impressive JBL Pro Sound. It's also waterproof, meaning it can accompany your grad to the gym or to the beach, making it a gift idea for student athletes. If campus is in a rural area or near a hiking trail, this Bluetooth speaker is the perfect companion.

If your high school grad isn't a coffee drinker yet, college will probably transform them into one. This Cuisinart 14-cup coffeemaker tops the list for high school graduation gifts for the student that has 8 a.m. classes or is pulling an all-nighter the night before an important exam. Its compact design won't take up too much space in a tiny college dorm and the programmable features mean they can wake up to fresh coffee or schedule a pot to be freshly brewed when they come home from classes. This fully-automatic Cuisinart coffeemaker takes the guesswork out of brewing coffee so they can focus on their studies while enjoying piping-hot yet perfectly balanced java.

College isn't just all-nighters and 20-page papers—it's also about having fun and getting to know new people. This Nintendo OLED is one of our favorite high school graduation gifts because it's the perfect excuse to make new friends; it comes with a carrying case so your grad can easily bring their console to their new friend's dorm room for a Mario Kart tournament; just detach the Joy-Cons from the console to play with two people. The Switch can be played as a handheld console or connected to a TV, making it the perfect companion for all kinds of gamers. The OLED display produces great visuals and bright colors so they can enjoy the latest releases in stunning quality, too.