Time flies when you’re having fun. Before you know it, camping trips and lazy mornings watching TV will be over and school will be right around the corner (if it hasn’t already started). We’ve scoured the internet for great deals on school supplies and classroom essentials. These days, school supplies and classroom essentials go beyond backpacks and glue sticks. Discounts on headphones, tablets, and other gadgets are available for everyone.
Be sure to check out our guide to the best dorm supplies for additional recommendations and gift ideas, the best student discounts, and the best teacher discounts.
Special offer for Gear readers: obtain Wired Only $5 (Save $25)This includes unlimited access WIRED.comcomplete Gear info, and exclusive newsletters for subscribers only. Your subscription helps fund the work we do every day.
Technology
Our guides on the best laptops, best tablets and best earphones can help you decide.
Photo: Brenda Storrier
This model, from March 2024, is our favorite MacBook for most people. The latest MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommended) isn’t all that different from previous models, but it’s stable and reliable when it comes to everyday tasks like doing school assignments and catching up on work. House of the DragonIt’s not the best for graphics-intensive tasks, but if you’re looking for a laptop that can tackle your daily to-do list, this is a solid option at the lowest price we tracked, and the 15-inch version is also discounted.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro can come with either an M3 Pro or M3 Max chip. This version has the M3 Max, which is overkill if you’re primarily just using the web browser. But if you’re a content creator, our reviewer Christopher Null says the performance is noticeably better. Make sure you have 32GB of integrated memory, though; 16GB isn’t enough.
The Asus ZenBook 14 (7/10, WIRED review) is a very affordable and practical ultralight laptop, and it’s our favorite cheap laptop. It’s very affordable, has great performance, great battery life, and an OLED screen.
Photo: Nena Farrell
The Google Pixel Tablet (7/10, WIRED Recommended) is our favorite combination tablet and smart display. The 11-inch LCD screen is crisp, and the operating system is a joy 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 cast music and shows from your device. It also supports multiple users for up to eight, which may be useful for large families or small classrooms.
The 9th generation iPad (8/10, WIRED Recommended) isn’t the newest or most powerful model, but it’s still a great value iPad with great basic features. It still has a home button with Touch ID and is compatible with older accessories like the first generation Apple Pencil. If you want an iPad but are on a budget, this is a good option.
Photo: Rain Design
While the discount may not be huge, this price is within $4 of the cheapest price we’ve seen, and this stand usually sells for $60. This is our pick for the most portable laptop stand: It’s sturdy, lightweight, and folds up when you’re done using it.
A word here about Sony’s Linkbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommended). These earbuds have always sold for $178 or $128 with little fluctuation, a pattern that’s been going on since last June. But they’re currently at $128, so it’s a good time to buy rather than wait until the next price rises or falls. These earbuds are great wireless earbuds, thanks to their design that lets you hear the sounds around you.
Only Really The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones (9/10, WIRED Recommended) have a downside: the name. They offer great noise cancellation, 30-hour battery life, a comfortable (if a little plain) design, and top-notch audio and mic quality. They’ve since been replaced by the newer, more premium XM5, but the XM4 remains one of the best headphones you can buy. We’ve seen these bargains a few times in the past, but they rarely drop much below this price.
This little power bank isn’t featured in our best portable charger guide, but we love Zendure’s products and they’re really affordable. This charger comes in a variety of cool colors and is small enough to easily take anywhere. It has pass-through charging, so you can charge two devices at the same time via the USB-A and USB-C ports, and it charges your devices quickly.
Backpack & Tote Bag Deals
Photo: The North Face
The North Face Jester is our favorite backpack for school. It comes in a variety of colors and sells for around $20, some not so much. We love the exterior bungee and the spacious interior. It’s also made from recycled parts, which is always handy. This bag also stays balanced no matter how much stuff you stuff inside.
This bag is featured in our Best Backpacks guide and Best Recycled Bags guide. This bag saves 22 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills and comes with a removable insert that allows you to make the interior of the bag roomier and add extra pockets. I’ve previously seen this bag for about $10 less, but this bargain still makes it a steal.
The Rains Backpack Mini is a stylish, waterproof backpack with a grown-up vibe and plenty of space for a 13″ laptop and other essentials. Its 8.5 litre capacity means it’s not ideal for kids who carry a lot of stuff, but it’s definitely worth considering for teachers and older students.
Home Office and Dorm Deals
Photo: Staples
The Hyken is our most affordable office chair. It often goes on sale, but it’s rarely this cheap. It reclines and has a breathable mesh back. It also has extra lumbar support and a headrest. If your child is heading off to college and wants a wider seat, check out our other picks.
Nest Wifi Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommended) is easy to set up, has a cute, discreet design, and lets you customize settings in the Google Home app. A three-pack can cover up to 2,200 square feet of your son’s dorm, but you can also buy smaller packs if your space isn’t quite as big. Check out our best mesh routers guide for more information.
The Deco X20 is our favorite low-cost mesh Wi-Fi system. It’s easy to set up and has great parental controls. While it doesn’t have the best coverage speeds, this system is reliable and affordable, especially with these great plans.
All other deals
Photo: Ember
We’ve featured this mug in past winter-themed gift guides. There’s nothing more frustrating than brewing a cup of coffee, getting distracted from work, taking a sip, and realizing your coffee is cold. The Ember Smart Mug solves that problem. It keeps your drink hot for up to 80 minutes on a full charge, or all day if you leave the coaster plugged in. It even has an auto power-off feature for peace of mind.
Disinfectant wipes, glue sticks, dry erase markers, and lots of other supplies are on sale thanks to this promotion from Amazon. If you spend $50 on eligible school supplies, you’ll automatically get $10 off at checkout. This is an especially good way to save on your teacher supplies list.
Join Target Circle for free and get 20% off eligible purchases when you show your student or teacher ID. All eligible items in your cart qualify. Some exclusions apply, but most school supplies and classroom essentials qualify.
This Happy Planner sale has a ton of products on sale, including planners covering the years 2024-2025. Planner prices are hovering around the $10 mark, making this a great time to grab a top-notch weekly planner for much less than usual. Other discounted products include desk organization tools and stickers that make great teacher gifts.
