Time flies when you’re having fun. Somehow, summer camp and lazy mornings in front of the TV are almost over, and school is just around the corner (if it hasn’t already started). We’ve been hunting for deals on school supplies and classroom essentials, which these days are about more than just backpacks and glue. Everyone can benefit from these deals on headphones, tablets, and other gadgets.
Be sure to check out our Best dorm supplies Guide for more gift ideas and recommendations, along with Best student discounts And Best Discounts for Teachers.
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Technology Promotion
Our guide to Best Laptop, Best TabletAnd Best headphones can help you decide.
Photo: Brenda Stolyar
This iteration from March 2024 is Our favorite MacBook for most people. The latest MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED recommends) isn’t much different than older versions, but it’s stable and reliable when performing everyday tasks like doing schoolwork or keeping up with House of the Dragon. It’s not the best choice for graphics-intensive tasks, but if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle your daily to-do list, this is a solid option at the lowest price we’ve tracked. The 15-inch version is also discounted.
You can pair the 16-inch MacBook Pro with either an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. This version has the M3 Max, which is overkill if you mostly just use it for web browsing. But if you’re a content creator, our reviewer Christopher Null notes that its performance is significantly betterJust make sure you have 32GB of unified storage—16GB isn’t enough.
This Asus ZenBook 14 (7/10, WIRED Rating) is an affordable, no-frills, ultra-light laptop. our favorite cheap laptops. It has great performance, long battery life, and an OLED display at a very reasonable price.
Photo: Nena Farrell
Google Pixel Tablet (7/10, WIRED recommends) To be tablet-smart display-our favorite combo. The 11-inch LCD screen is sharp and the operating system is a pleasure to use. The included charging dock doubles as a speaker, turning the tablet into a smart display. The Pixel Tablet also supports Chromecast, so you can stream music or shows from your device to it. It also supports up to eight users, which could be useful for large families or small classrooms.
iPad ninth generation (8/10, WIRED recommends) is not the newest or most powerful model, but it is still a Great and affordable basic iPad. It still has a Home button with Touch ID and is compatible with some older devices. accessory like Apple Pencil first generationIf you want to buy an iPad but are on a tight budget, this is the right choice.
Photo: Rain Design
The discount may not seem that impressive, but this is only $4 off the best price we’ve seen, and this store usually sells for $60. This is our pick for most portable laptop stand. It is sturdy and lightweight, and can be folded up when you are done using it.
Here’s the thing about the Sony Linkbuds (8/10, WIRED recommends): They’ve been selling for either $178 or $128, with very little difference between them. This has been a pattern since last June. But right now, they’re at $128, making this a better time to buy than the next time they swing back and forth in price. They great wireless headphonesPart of it is because the design allows you to hear what’s going on around you.
Only really The bad thing about Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones (9/10, WIRED recommends) is what they’re called. They have great noise cancellation, 30 hours of battery life, a comfortable (if a bit dull) design, and great sound and mic quality. They’ve been replaced by the newer, more premium XM5, but the XM4s are still some of the best. best headphones You can buy it. We’ve seen this deal a few times in the past, but headphones rarely drop much more than this.
This tiny power bank is not listed on our list. Best portable charger guide, but we generally like Zendure’s gear, and the price is absolutely insane. This charger comes in a variety of beautiful colors, and its compact size makes it easy to take anywhere. It has pass-through charging, and can charge two devices at once via its USB-A and USB-C ports. It also charges your devices quickly.
Backpacks and Tote Bags Promotion
Photo: The North Face
The North Face Jester is our favorite backpacks for school. A variety of colors are on sale for around $20, some of which don’t go on sale very often. We like the exterior bungee cord and spacious interior, and the bag is also made from recycled materials, which is always nice. The bag also holds its weight well no matter how much stuff you stuff in it.
This bag is in us Guide to the Best Backpacks and ours Guide to the best recycled bags. It saves 22 plastic bottles from landfills, and it has a removable insert to convert the inside of the bag into a roomier bag or one with more pockets. We’ve seen it drop to around $10 before, but this deal is still a good one.
Rains Backpack Mini is a Great backpack, stylish, waterproof. It has an adult aesthetic and enough room to hold a 13-inch laptop as well as a few other essentials. The 8.5-liter capacity won’t be ideal for kids with a lot of stuff to carry, but for teachers and older students, it’s definitely worth considering.
Special Offers for Home Offices and Dorms
Photo: Staples
Hyken is best cheap office chairs. It’s often on sale, but rarely at this low a price. It reclines and the seat back is made of breathable mesh fabric. There’s extra lumbar support and a headrest. If your college-bound child wants a wider seat, check out Our other recommendations.
Nest Wifi Pro (7/10, WIRED recommends) is easy to set up and has a cute, discreet design, and the Google Home app lets you customize the settings. The trio will cover up to 2,200 square feet of your son’s student housing, but you can buy smaller packages if the space isn’t too big. Read more about this in Best Mesh Router instruct.
Deco X20 is Our favorite cheap mesh Wi-Fi systems. Easy to set up and has great parental controls. Coverage speeds aren’t top-notch, but the system is reliable and affordable—especially given this deal.
Deals on everything else
Photo: Ember
We’ve featured this mug in a few of our winter-themed gift guides before. There are few things more frustrating than pouring yourself a cup of coffee, getting distracted by a work-related task, and taking a sip only to find your drink has gone cold. The Ember smart mug solves that problem. It will keep your drink warm for up to 80 minutes on a full charge, or all day if you plug it into the coaster. It also has an auto-off function for peace of mind.
Disinfecting wipes, glue sticks, dry erase markers, and more are on sale thanks to this Amazon sale. If you spend $50 on qualifying school supplies, you’ll automatically get $10 off at checkout. This is an especially good way to save on a teacher’s supply list.
Join Target Circle for free and verify with your student or faculty ID to get 20 percent off a qualifying purchase. That includes everything in your cart that qualifies. There are some exclusions, but most school supplies and classroom essentials are eligible for the discount.
This sale at Happy Planner has a lot of products, including some planners covering the 2024-2025 year. With planner prices hovering around $10, this is a great way to score best weekly planner at a much lower price than usual. Other discounted items include desk organizers and stickers that make great teacher gifts.
