Amazon is offering steep discounts on tech ahead of the new school year
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As summer comes to a close, it's time to start thinking about back-to-school shopping. Beyond school supplies, essential and non-essential tech products can help students succeed academically.
Many of these items don't come cheap, but you're in luck — Amazon's back-to-school sale features impressive discounts on tech. We rounded up the best back-to-school deals on laptops, tablets, headphones, smartwatches and more.
Note that the roundup of deals provided are geared more toward Amazon US shoppers. These deals were last updated on 8/23/24 at 9:45 a.m. EST.
Many educational institutions now require students to have a laptop starting in middle school. If the school does not provide one, parents have various options to consider.
Chromebooks are a good choice for middle school and high school; they're often more affordable than traditional laptops and can handle the typical word-processing and researching tasks. Depending on program requirements, college students may need to invest in a more advanced laptop.
Tablets are now used in many schools as early as the elementary years. Even if it's not required, a tablet is a worthwhile investment across age groups. Younger kids can play educational games and practice writing and drawing. Older students can use a tablet for note-taking, reading digital textbooks and online research.
Tablets provide even more functionality when paired with tech accessories such as styluses, keyboards, and mice. Some models can even replace a laptop, offering a more portable and affordable alternative.
A pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help limit distractions for students and keep them focused on their schoolwork. On-ear headphones typically offer the most effective noise cancellation, although not all students prefer to wear them.
Noise-cancelling earbuds are another option. Compared to on-ear headphones, these fit easier in a school bag. However, they're also more easily misplaced.
Smartwatches can be a useful gadget for students of all ages. For younger students, a smartwatch can delay the transition to a smartphone. Parents can communicate with kids via texts and calls during the school day and keep tabs on their walk home through GPS tracking.
With a smartwatch, older students can set reminders to study, submit assignments or attend extracurricular activities. Smartwatches with fitness tracking and mindfulness apps encourage a healthy lifestyle.
There are a variety of other tech products and accessories to consider for students, including:
If you're looking to splurge on a laptop for a soon-to-be college student, the Macbook Air is a solid option. It's slim and weighs under 3 pounds, so it's easy to tote around campus. A powerful M2 chip offers fast processing, and the 8GB of RAM is enough for typical student usage.
The Macbook Air has a bright, clear Liquid Retina display, an HD camera, a four-speaker system with spatial audio and 18 hours of battery life. It's available with 256GB or 516GB of solid-state drive storage in four finishes.
This Lenovo Chromebook is a cost-effective choice for students. The Intel Celeron N4500 processor and 8GB of RAM are sufficient for typical student usage. The IdeaPad 3i is slim and portable. It's got a 15.6-inch FHD display, an HD camera, 64 GB of hard disk storage, and a 10-hour battery life.
The Acer Aspire 3 is a step up from the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U Processor that offers faster processing. While pricier, it's still budget-friendly as far as laptops go.
This Acer model has a 14-inch FHD display, an HD camera, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of solid-state drive storage. It's nearly as light as the MacBook Air, but its battery life is 5 hours shorter.
The Apple iPad is one of the top tablets on the market. It has a powerful A13 Bionic chip and fast Wi-Fi connectivity. It's got a 10.2-inch Retina display, a 10-hour battery life, and front and back cameras. The iPad (9th Gen) is available with or without cellular data, in 64GB and 256GB versions, and in two finishes.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a slightly larger 10.4-inch LCD display and a longer 13-hour battery life than the iPad. However, there are no cellular options available, and there's only a rear-facing camera. It's equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound for a superior listening experience.
This Samsung tablet is equipped with Wi-Fi and comes with a stylus that students can use for note-taking, annotating textbooks and more. It's available in 64GB and 128GB versions, with or without a cover/stand in four finishes.
This Lenovo tablet is a more affordable option for students. It features Wi-Fi connectivity, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and front and rear cameras. It's got a larger 10.6-inch FHD display and a longer 14-hour battery life than the iPad and Samsung tablets.
However, the 32GB and 64GB storage options are limited in comparison — students looking to use their tablet as a laptop would do better with more storage.
These Bose headphones have superior noise-cancelling technology to help students stay in the zone. The sound quality is great, and there are two listening modes: Quiet mode features full noise cancellation, and Awareness mode lets you stay alert to your surroundings.
They offer wired and wireless capabilities. You can use them with Bluetooth or plug them in without Bluetooth or when the battery is depleted (battery life is up to 24 hours). The plush earcup cushions are comfortable to wear for extended periods. These headphones are available in four finishes.
These Beats headphones offer solid noise-cancelling capabilities and quality sound. Students can toggle between two listening modes: Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency. They're designed for wireless or wired use and feature support for Dolby Atmos and personalized spatial audio.
The Beats Studio Pro wireless headphones have an extended battery life of up to 40 hours. They have convenient on-ear controls for answering calls, controlling music and activating Siri. They're comfortable to wear, too, and come in four neutral finishes.
Students who prefer earbuds over on-ear headphones will appreciate the Apple AirPods Pro. These wireless earbuds are small and easy to stow in a pocket or backpack. They have Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes.
The stem has controls for playback, volume adjustment, pause and play, and other functions. Personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking create an immersive listening experience. Plus, you can listen to select songs, shows, and movies in Dolby Atmos.
These Apple AirPods are conveniently dust-, sweat- and water-resistant. They offer up to 30 hours of listening time and come with four pairs of silicone tips for a custom fit.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is great for keeping older students healthy and on track to succeed. Students can schedule study sessions, track their fitness, practice meditation, check the weather before heading to class, ask Siri homework questions and more. Users can answer calls, dictate text messages, control music, and access other smartphone functions when synced with an iPhone.
Other notable features include a built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor, water resistance down to 50 meters, and a customizable watch band for style-conscious users. The Apple Watch Series 9 is available with a 41mm or 45mm case in six sizes and nine styles.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is a more affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Series 9. It features fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, GPS navigation and water resistance.
Users can stay connected to incoming calls, texts and notifications from their smartphone. This smartwatch comes in Bluetooth and LTE versions, available with a 40mm or 44mm case in three styles.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a great choice for athletes and active students. This smartwatch offers advanced health and fitness features, including over 40 exercise modes, personalized sleep profiles, heart rate monitoring, stress management scores, and more.
The Fitbit Sense 2 has a 42.9mm screen, built-in GPS, Alexa voice control, and water resistance down to 164 feet. When synced with a smartphone, users can take calls, receive texts, and receive phone notifications. It's available in three band colours and finishes.
This wireless printer can print, copy, and scan documents in colour. It also supports mobile and wireless printing. This HP printer is compact and won't take up too much space on a desk.
It's ideal for printing 100 to 400 pages per month, which should be more than enough for a student. Three month's worth of ink is included with purchase.
This sleek LED desk lamp is packed with modern features. It's dimmable with 10 brightness levels and five lighting modes. It also has a touch sensor and a USB port for charging devices.
Considering the low price, user-friendly features, and lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, this lamp offers a lot of value.
This backpack will be useful for students who bring their laptops to class. It has a laptop compartment, a spacious main compartment, and a front compartment with various pockets to keep smaller items organized.
There's an external USB port for charging your phone (power bank not included), a mesh pocket for a water bottle, and a strap that attaches to luggage for easier travel. The backpack comes in 30 colours and four sizes, accommodating a 14-, 15.6- 17-, or 18-inch laptop.
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