The best back-to-school sales 2026: TechRadar’s recommendations for laptops, headphones, essentials, and more

Getting ready to head back to school or college? No doubt you’ve got a shopping list of essentials you need to check off before the semester starts. A good laptop, a decent pair of headphones, or even a new iPad are all great buys.

Of course, such tech comes with a significant outlay, which is why I’ve been scanning through all the top retailers to find the best discounts this week. Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon all have ‘back-to-school’ sales ongoing right now, but with thousands of items on sale, it can be tricky to find the true bargains.

Below, you’ll find sections for laptops, headphones, appliances, and other tech. I’ve focused on college students here (who tend to need the most tech), but there are a few great options here for younger kids too. A Chromebook, for example, is a fantastic low-cost laptop for kids just starting out.

Alongside a selection of this week’s best deals, I’ve also included an overview of today’s sales at the relevant retailers, including links. See these below.

• Amazon: cheap appliances, smart home, stationery, and essentials
• Adorama: education discounts on cameras, monitors, printers
• Apple: up to $150 off MacBooks and iPads
• Best Buy: discounts on laptops, headphones, TVs, and more
• BackMarket: cheap MacBooks, iPads, and tablets
• Dell: cheap laptops with exclusive student discounts
• HP: up to 65% off laptops, desktops, monitors, peripherals
• Lenovo: 10% extra off for students
• Staples: discounts on stationery, office furniture, supplies
• Walmart: essentials, backpacks, headphones, tablets