Best Back-to-School Sales on Laptops, Headphones, and More
Save now on tech essentials to start the school year right
By Samantha B. Gordon
Whether you or your children are heading back to the classroom or a dorm room, you can find savings on plenty of items you may need for school. This year, parents are contending with inflation as well as some residual supply chain disruptions that have impacted shipping times and inventory levels, so finding ways to save and still get everything your kids need will be paramount.
Consumer Reports is monitoring sales and deals available on computers, headphones, coffee makers, and other items for the school year that have done well in our extensive lab testing. We’ll be updating this post through the start of the school year, so check back often to see the latest deals and discounts available.
Back-to-school sales come and go, so you’ll want to be strategic about when you shop. Comparing prices at different retailers can help you save upfront, especially if you look to more than big-box retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Dollar stores, office supply stores, and wholesalers are also great options. You may even be able to hold off on buying some items now if your kids won’t need them right away.
Viewing on a mobile device? Click on the links below to skip to each section:
• Laptops, Chromebooks, and Tablets
• Headphones
• Bluetooth and Smart Speakers
• Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
• Coffee Makers
• Luggage
• More Deals
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Laptops, Chromebooks, and Tablets
LG Gram 16 (Core i7)
This is quite the deal on a laptop that always does well in our ratings. The LG Gram 16 Laptop has an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of solid-state storage. The model we tested is very similar (we added a bit of extra storage space when we bought it), and it more or less aced all of our tests. Worth highlighting is its light weight (3.2 pounds) and a battery that lasts more than 18 hours while under a light load.
Why it’s a good deal: The sale price has dropped $20 in the last few weeks. But the laptop cost only $900 for Prime Day, so it could be cheaper again during the next big sale.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go (64GB)
Microsoft has several Surface devices to choose from, but the relatively inexpensive Microsoft Surface Laptop Go could be a good option for consumers looking for a smaller laptop, especially at this hefty discount. It has a 12.4-inch display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory, and a sparse 64GB solid-state drive, which you can supplement with cloud storage.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go scores well in many of our tests, though the performance is a bit sluggish compared with other options. The model is lightweight (2.5 pounds), offers decent battery life (just under 12 hours in CR’s web-browsing test), and has a bright, color-accurate display. There’s a touch screen for flipping through those photo galleries.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a decent discount on the typically $400 laptop, but it was $50 less during Prime Day. So you may want to wait to see if the prices fall again.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (128 GB) Wifi
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is our top recommendation for the average person who wants an affordable Android tablet, making it ideal for students. The screen looks good, and the device will handle just about any task unless you’re playing a graphics-heavy game or doing something like editing video. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite also gets solid battery life. At this price, it’s a steal.
Why it’s a good deal: The price of this tablet rarely drops this low, and usually swings between $280 and $350. It was recently as low as $250, so it may be worth waiting to see if the price drops again.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 (128 GB, Wifi)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 is a great option for people who want an Android tablet with a little extra performance. Just keep in mind that’s probably not necessary for simple tasks such as reading email, watching movies, and surfing the web. This is an impressive price for a high-performance tablet.
Why it’s a good deal: It’s been on sale for a while, but just dropped $10 compared to last week, putting it just $5 higher than the lowest price we’ve seen.
Headphones
1MORE PistonBuds
Here’s a great option if you’re looking for inexpensive true wireless earbuds. The 1More PistonBuds deliver great sound quality for the price, beating out competitors that cost far more. They have an advertised 3.5-hour battery life—fairly standard for a true wireless model—and come with a charging/carrying case that will recharge the earphones almost five times before it needs to be plugged in again.
The PistonBuds feature water resistance and touch controls, and they plug in with USB-C. 1More boasts the highest owner satisfaction rating, based on surveys of CR members.
Why it’s a good deal: The on-page coupon provides a decent discount.
Bose SoundLink around-ear headphones II
The Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Headphones II don’t have noise-canceling tech like Bose’s best-known models, but they get a high rating for sound and cost a bit less than other options. They aren’t cheap, but they’re lightweight, portable, and beat almost every Bluetooth over-ear model we’ve tested. According to Bose, they have a 15-hour battery life.
Why it’s a good deal: We saw these headphones for $143 last week. so you may want to wait and see if the price drops again, but this is still a good discount if you want to buy now.
Apple AirPods Pro
The Apple AirPods Pro aren’t the best-scoring noise-canceling headphones in our ratings, but they might be the most popular, especially among students. And unlike the earlier generations of AirPods, the Pros deliver when it comes to performance, with solid sound quality and fantastic noise cancellation.
Why it’s a good deal: If you’ve been thinking about picking up a pair, these are now just $10 more than the Prime Day price.
Sennheiser PXC 550-II
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is such a great deal that we could almost call it the best and the bargain pick. It’s one of the highest-scoring headphones in our ratings, and it costs hundreds less than many competitors. In our tests, the PXC 550-II outperforms flagship models from manufacturers such as Beats and Sony, and gets almost the same score as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, one of our other top picks, priced at almost $400.
The PXC 550-II has appealing features, such as adjustable levels of noise cancellation and an ambient sound monitoring mode that lets noise from your environment back in, so you can hear your surroundings when necessary. Sennheiser says this model will run for up to 20 hours with both Bluetooth and noise cancellation turned on.
Why it’s a good deal: With this discount, this model costs over $100 less than the very similar Bose 700s.
Bluetooth and Smart Speakers
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
The Google Nest Mini is the least expensive way to get Google Assistant into your life. But the sound quality is marginal at best, neither loud nor particularly clear. The Nest Mini is, however, a solid option if you want to add smart speaker functionality to another speaker.
Why it’s a good deal: You won’t find a better price for an entry-level smart speaker right now.
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)
The Echo Show 5 is Amazon’s smallest smart screen. Our testers report that the sound is subpar for a music-listening device, but that’s not why you should consider this one. It’s a utility machine that works well on a night table or desk. You get all the Amazon Alexa functionality featured in other Echo devices, plus some added value thanks to the small screen and camera.
Why it’s a good deal: The Show 5 was $5 less at Amazon for Prime Day, but this is still a significant discount.
Sony SRS-XB13
For less than $50, the pocket-sized Sony SRS-XB13 is a bargain. It’s a take-anywhere speaker that you can bring to the park or the beach without fear of an expensive piece of electronics getting lost, stolen, or destroyed. The Sony’s bass isn’t very strong and it lacks the smoothness and detail of more expensive speakers, but the speaker’s sound can fill a small room.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a great value for the quality and portability, but it was $10 less on Prime Day. So you may be able to save a bit more if you’re not in a hurry and can wait for Labor Day or holiday sales.
Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches
Fitbit Versa 3
If you’re looking for a versatile smartwatch under $200, the Fitbit Versa 3 may be a good option. It has built-in GPS, which allows you to go for a run or ride without taking your smartphone along, plus a blood oxygen sensor, which enhances its sleep-tracking capabilities. It also has a mic and a speaker that allow you to take calls via a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. Our testers found the Versa 3 to be a solid performer when it comes to counting steps and tracking heart rate, and it’s easy to pair with a smartphone.
Why it’s a good deal: This model has been on sale for weeks, but the price just dropped another $10, marking the best deal we’ve seen all year.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (44mm)
The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 has a bright, round 1.3-inch AMOLED display that can showcase a variety of interesting watch faces. The model has a mic and speaker for handling phone calls. It offers a robust suite of health and fitness options, including a blood oxygen sensor, ECG monitoring (which could detect irregularities in heart rhythm), and even a sensor that is claimed to measure body fat. It works best if you have a Samsung Android phone because that gives you access to all the Samsung Health features.
Why it’s a good deal: This model was $30 less at Amazon and Target last week, so you may want to wait and see if the price drops again before you buy.
Coffee Makers
Keurig K-Elite K90
Pod coffee makers are great for busy college students, and the Keurig K-Elite K90 Pod coffee maker is the best Keurig-branded pod brewer in our ratings. Its first-cup brew speed is a tad slow, but this Keurig makes up for it with great temperature and size consistency. It packs plenty of features, too, including programming, auto-shutoff, an iced-coffee brewing mode, a removable reservoir, and a height-adjustable drip tray.
Why it’s a good deal: The price for this model has fallen steadily in recent weeks, and the latest drop in price of $10 marks put the deal at just $10 more than the best we’ve seen.
Hamilton Beach Programmable Alexa Smart 49350
If you like the idea of being able to brew your morning joe with just a simple “Good Morning” to Alexa, then check out the Hamilton Beach Programmable Alexa Smart 49350 coffee maker. It performs decently in our brew tests and its carafe is very easy to hold and pour. In addition to WiFi connectivity for Alexa, this brewer features programming,
Why it’s a good deal: It’s not the best discount we’ve seen for this model, which cost $65 during Prime Day, but $20 off is still solid savings.
Luggage
Herschel Novel Duffle (Mid-Volume)
Sending a kid to college or have any athletes in the family who travel for games? Get them this reasonably priced weekender that comes in fun, youthful colors and patterns (tie-dye! florals!). It’s water-resistant, light and easy to carry, and simple—no confusing bells and whistles here. A separate compartment for shoes keeps your clothes clean, but other than that, this is a straightforward bag to get you from point A to point B.
Why it’s a good deal: This is already a great low price for the quality, and the 30 percent discount makes it a great budget buy.
Away The Everywhere Bag
When we tested weekenders, we liked the good-quality construction of this leather bag in a versatile, work-to-weekend design. It’s too small, however, to work for trips longer than a few days. We didn’t evaluate its nylon version, which is in a sand color with black straps.
Why it’s a good deal: The $50 discount makes a big difference in the cost of this trendy bag.
Label Makers
Brother P-Touch Cube Label Maker
We found the Brother P-Touch Cube to be the best charger-free label maker in our evaluations. It’s been on sale for a few weeks. but just fell from $60 to half off.
The device runs on six AAA batteries and a quick push of the cutting button makes a clean, precise cut each time. We also found that its high-quality labels should stay well-adhered to your spice jars. The corresponding Brother app itself is well-organized and intuitive and saves templates you might want to use again.
Learn more about the Brother P-Touch Cube.
Phomemo D3 Label Maker
The Phomemo D30 Label Maker was the choice label maker in our evaluations. Using the app, you can produce labels in under 10 seconds and alternatively, you can connect it to your printer for more elaborate jobs. The Phomemo offers extensive font options and a preview of what it will look like as well. The lithium battery comes charged and ready to print, and you can even print pictures, bar codes, or date and time stamps. The easy-tear labels can be separated with just one hand, and the device is smart enough to calibrate the paper roll to the proper position if you don’t align it perfectly. Apply Amazon’s on-page coupon for additional savings.
Learn more about the Phomemo D30 Label Maker.
More Deals
Champion The Everyday Sport Bra
This Champion adjustable sports bra is almost like a T-shirt bra with its defined, lightly padded cups, and indeed, it can double as a T-shirt bra if desired. It has adjustable, convertible straps and three sets of hooks in the band, and comes in sizes XS to 2XL. It’s on the plain side stylewise, but it’s an affordable, versatile bra that one Consumer Reports evaluator still wears regularly.
Why it’s a good deal: This is a great price for such a versatile sports bra.
Gaiam Performance Yoga Mat
Consumer Reports tested 19 different yoga mats to find out how each one holds up to regular use. Gaiam’s mat aces the drying and grip tests CR put it through but offers somewhat less cushioning. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; a firmer mat can provide more stability for standing poses and can be easier on the wrists.
Why it’s a good deal: This is nearly the same price we saw during Prime Day.
GoWise USA GW22731
A CR Best Buy, the GoWise GW22731 air fryer has a measured capacity of 4.9 quarts. Its touch buttons and programmed settings are among the easiest to see and use. And this is one of the quietest air fryers we’ve tested. But the exterior’s crevices and the basket’s nooks and crannies take some effort to clean.
Why it’s a good deal: This model is already a good price, but a discount on top of that makes it even more appealing.
Hot Tools 24K Gold Professional
This curling iron from Hot Tools stood out in our trials for its ability to turn out loose curls for a more beachy style. That said, the curls didn’t hold for very long, so you’ll definitely get a more relaxed look with this gold-barreled iron. It’s worth noting that the old-school kickstand gets in the way sometimes.
Why it’s a good deal: This curling iron has been on sale for around $30 since Prime Day.
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