Back-to-school season is nearly here, and if your tech is due for an upgrade, now’s a good time to look at Apple. A handful of Apple products are currently up to 34 percent off, which is notable given how rarely Apple gear gets marked down outside of huge events like Amazon Prime Day and Cyber Monday.
Whether you need a new laptop for lecture halls, a tablet for note taking or earbuds that can survive commuting, study hall, workout and more, here are a few deals worth grabbing before the new school year starts.
The best back-to-school Apple deals
If you own an iPhone, these are the earbuds to get. On-ear swipe controls make volume adjustment easy, and built-in heart rate sensors let you track workouts straight from your iPhone — no separate device needed. They’re also great for school, with a noise-cancellation feature helping you focus while studying, and transparency mode letting you stay tuned in during class. The included five ear tip sizes help ensure a comfortable fit.
One of Apple’s latest smartwatches, the Series 11 tracks health, sleep and workout data while syncing with the iPhone to mirror apps and notifications. The battery life is a standout upgrade on this watch, reaching up to 24 hours compared to 18 hours on previous Series models. It comes in 42- and 46-millimeter sizes, three colors, and dozens of watch band options.
“I just got this watch for my sister who has heart issues and needs to do monitoring. We’re both really pleased with how easy it was for her to set up and use,” says NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans. “It gives me peace of mind that maybe this little gadget will be able to let her know when there’s something amiss with her heart health even before she feels it.”
NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown was tired of constantly having to charge and pair her wireless headphones, so she bought these and loves them. And she’s not alone. The wired EarPods offer clear, reliable sound in Apple’s iconic design. And they’re so simple to use: No batteries, no charging, no pairing hassles—just plug them in and start listening.
While this may not seem like a big discount, even 11 percent makes a dent when you know how rarely Apple iPads go on sale (or consider how expensive everything seems to be this academic year). This 11-inch iPad now runs on the A16 chip, making it fast enough for multitasking, editing 4K video and running demanding apps without slowdown. The Liquid Retina display makes it a good screen for streaming, drawing, reading and beyond. With up to 24-hour battery life on one charge, 12MP front and rear cameras and USB-C charging, it’s a solid pick for students, creatives or anyone who wants an iPad.
This power adapter delivers efficient, simultaneous charging for two Apple devices from a single compact outlet. Its foldable prongs and space-saving design make it ideal for travel or minimalist desk setups. Smart power-sharing dynamically balances output between ports, ensuring fast, reliable charging without needing two separate adapters.
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 keep the same design as the originals, with the changes happening internally via the new H2 chip. Noise cancellation is up to 1.5 times stronger, with a more natural-sounding transparency mode, according to Apple. New features include live translation and adaptive audio, which adjusts noise cancellation based on your environment, detects when someone’s speaking to you, and better isolates your voice on calls. They also support a wired connection for high-fidelity audio on compatible devices and streaming services.
A 15-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB unified memory and a 1TB SSD make this laptop fast enough for video editing, coding and on-device AI tasks. It also features a sharp 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and all-day battery life. For college students, that combination of power and portability is ideal — it handles everything from note-taking to demanding coursework like video production or data analysis, with enough battery life to skip the outlet hunt between classes and enough performance to last through an entire degree. And while a 10 percent discount may seem small compared to other back-to-school deals, $300 back into your pocket for books, bedding, and other supplies is nothing to scoff at.
More back-to-school tech deals
- 60% off Lenovo 15.6-inch Laptop
- 51% off Beats Studio Pro Headphones
- 50% off HP New Everyday Laptop
- 33% off Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker
- 27% off Samsung Galaxy 8 Watch
- Up to 65% off laptops at HP
- Up to 52% off headphones at Best Buy
- Up to 40% off laptops at Dell
- Up to 40% off laptops and printers at Target
- Up to 40% off Bluetooth speakers at JBL
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I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected who covers various topics, including lifestyle, home and wellness. I’ve covered sales and major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday for more than a decade.
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