The 25 Best Deals on Backpacks, Tablets & Other Back-to-School Supplies for Students on a Budget
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Class is almost back in session! As students get ready to head back to school in the coming weeks, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy are slashing prices on big-ticket and low-cost items.
With a number of back-to-school sales circling the web, you’ll have even more opportunities to shop and save. To help you get started, we put together a list of affordable items and back-to-school deals for students (and parents) on a budget.
Below, find a roundup of backpacks, tablets, laptops and computer accessories, earbuds and other essentials to help you get back to school.
See more below.
No sale needed! This protective cover is made with durable materials to protect against dust, dirt and debris and scratches and it’s only $18. The laptop cover is available in red, black, blue or pink and features a polyester foam padding layer with fluffy fleece fabric lining. Click here for more laptop bags and laptop covers.
Keep your schedule on track with a personalized academic planner from Papier! The 7-inch x 9-inch planner comes in multiple colors including hot pink, baby pink, black and orange and can be used to track grades, finances, deadlines, plan activities and more. Looking for something cheaper? See more academic planners here.
Don’t forget your earbuds! These Bose QueitComfort II True Wireless Earbuds are discounted 10% at Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers.
Apple Airpods are back on sale too! These 2nd generation Airpods are $99 at Walmart, Amazon and other retailers. The AirPod Pros are on sale for $199. Click here for over-ear headphones.
Make your space retro with this Bluetooth typewriter keyboard. It’s incredibly cute, up to 40% off at Amazon (when you apply the instant coupon) and available in sweet mint, baby pink, ivory butter, midnight and snow white.
Stay cool while you study with this cute little fan/lamp/pencil holder. The rechargeable, three-speed fan is equipped with a flexible goose neck and a small LED lamp (with three speeds of brightness). The fan can work for up to 14 hours, depending on the speed, and can be recharged with an adapter, PC, power bank, car charger, laptop and more.
The Anker portable charger reigns as one of the best-rated portable charging devices under $25. Save an additional 20% when you apply the instant coupon at checkout. For more options, read our roundup of best portable chargers for iPhones and Androids.
Buy: Under Armour unisex-adult Hustle 5.0 Backpack , Black (002)/Black , One Size Fits All $41.25
Under Armour’s Hustle 5.0 backpack is a bestseller on Amazon and currently with over 9,000 customer reviews (rated 4.8 out 5), plus it’s 50% off. The water-resistant bag is equipped with adjustable shoulder straps, nylon lining, a breathable air-mesh padded back panel and a soft lined laptop sleeve that holds up to a 15-inch laptop.
Jansport started as a small family business in 1967 and has become one of the most popular backpack brands around. The Right Pack featured above is an update on a classic design and while it may be hard to find on sale, the durable backpack pays for itself after a few wears. It features the signature straight-cut/padded shoulder straps and suede bottom, a side water bottle pocket, a padded laptop sleeve designed to fit a 15-inch device and is available in 20 different colors. You can find Jansport backpacks at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kohl’s, WSS etc.
This extra-large backpack scored a 4.8 out of 5-star rating, with over 16,000 customer reviews. Perfect for school and travel, the large-capacity bag (available in blue and black) has three spacious compartments with hidden pockets, plus 20 independent pockets for large and small storage needs, an external USB port to charge your phone and other devices and conveniently placed, side elastic net pockets to hold umbrellas, water bottles and more gear such as travel accessories, stationery, notebooks, cord organizers and clothes. Click here for a longer list of backpacks to shop.
Looking for a deal on iPads? Get a ninth generation iPad for 15% off at Amazon. The iPad has a 10.2-inch display screen and its powered by an A13 bionic chip. If you’re looking for an Android option, save $100 on this Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 at Best Buy.
Buy: Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet $99.99
Need a more affordable gadget? Amazon’s Fire 8 HD tablet is just $99.99 (save 20% with eligible trade-in). The budget-friendly tablet is equipped with an 8-inch display screen, Wifi, 2MP dual cameras, 16-32 GB of ROM, 2GB of RAM and the battery lasts up to 10 hours.
Buy: Bentgo Classic – All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunch Box (Blush Marble) $16.99
Bring your lunch to school in a Bentgo lunch box, which offers multiple, leak-proof compartments and built-in portion control. The lunch box is available in blush marble, coastal aqua, blue, gray, purple and khaki green. For a heated option, check out this electric lunch box ($39.97).
Technically, utility carts qualify as school supplies. This rolling cart features three, deep baskets for storing your pens, pencils, books, notepads, small electronics and more.
Every dorm room needs a mini refrigerator, but here’s a way to keep your cookwear organized when you don’t have much space. The shelving is ideal for a small fridge, microwave, single-cup coffee maker and still have room left to store a few cups and utensils.
Buy: Logitech M240 Silent Bluetooth Mouse, Wireless $24.00
Need a portable mouse? Logitech M240 bluetooth mouse has earned high reviews for being easy to use with a compact design. Aside from being available in rose, graphite and off white, the mouse is ultra-quiet and tracks fast and accurately on most surfaces, making it great for school, gaming, work, etc.
This Jumper laptop is a No. 1 new release on Amazon. The Jumper Laptop EZbook S5 has a 14 inch, full HD display screen, 12GB RAM, 256GB SSD, dual speakers and the battery lasts up to eight hours at a time (480 hours on standby).
Clearance deal! Save $300 on this HP Envy 2-in-1 Laptop. The Envy is a convertible laptop with a 15-6-inch display, high-definition screen and dual speakers with crisp audio courtesy of Bang & Olufsen. The laptop has a battery life of about 11 hours (fast charge the battery half way in just 30 minutes) and an AMD Ryzen 5000 Series processor with Radeon graphics. Click here to shop MacBooks on sale.
Stay connected to the world you love with the Beats Flex earphones. These earbuds are available in yellow, blue, black and white, and feature 12 hours of battery life, with rich, powerful sound, accurate bass and low distortion. Magnetic earbuds make listening even easier with Auto-Play/Pause2 that plays music when they buds are in your ears and pauses when they’re connected around your neck. When you’re not wearing them, the magnetic earbuds easily coil up into your pocket or purse for easy, tangle-free storage.
Looking for a portable speaker? The Bose Soundlink Flex is a waterproof, Bluetooth speaker with exclusive technology and a custom-engineered transducer to deliver deep, clear, and immersive audio — whether you’re at home or on the go. You can buy the Bose Soundlink Flex in multiple colors including stone blue, white smoke, carmine red and black (the battery lasts for 12 hours). For a smaller speaker option, check out the Marshall Willen speaker ($119).
Bluelight blocking glasses are designed to protect your eyes from harsh blue rays and high energy blue lights. They’re also supposed to reduce eye strain, fatigue, blurred vision and headaches brought on by staring at your device for too long. The glasses pictured above are available in 12 different colors, including the transparent design pictured above and if you’re looking for a basic pair of glasses, they retail for only $7.
Going away for school? Video chat with friends and family, set timers, stream music and more with the Echo Show 5. The all-new, third generation Echo Show 5 features Alexa voice technology and a 2MP camera.
Need a new desk? The Rolanstar Computer Desk offers a no-frills design at a great price. The 39-inch desk has a built-in power strip with dual outlets and USB ports, built-in wire-management, a cup holder and headphone/VR headset hook. Want something cheaper? This Mainstay desk is on sale for $65 at Walmart.
This Choo Choo computer desk measures 40-inches long and can also be used as a makeup vanity or console table. Ideal for a dorm room, bedroom, living room or home office, this double-drawer desk is made from MDF board with an x-frame to ensure stability and durability and available in multiple colors including black and white.
Buy: NEO CHAIR Office Chair Ergonomic Desk Chair Mesh Computer Chair $59.97
Need an affordable chair? Save 33% off the Neo ergonomic desk chair features a breathable mesh back, integrated lumbar support and the seat height can be adjusted.
Buy: Hiboy S2 Electric Scooter – 8.5″ Solid Tires – Up to 17 Miles Long-Range $349.99
An electric scooter is a cost-effective way to get to school. The Hiboy S2 electric scooter is quipped with a powerful motor and high-capacity battery. Thanks to the 350W electric brush-less hub, this scooter can reach speeds of up to 19mph. It has a maximum travel range of up to 17 miles and a maximum load of 220 pounds. For more variety, check the Segway Ninebot ES1L Electric Scooter ($369.82), the Razor E100 Electric Scooter ($94.06), and our picks for the best electric scooters under $600.
Latifah Muhammad
Billboard