Back to school sales 2023: all the best deals

Back to school sales 2020
(Image credit: Future, HP)

Back to school sales are fully underway and there are some particularly fantastic discounts available. Whether you're on the hunt for new desk accessories, a whole new laptop, or just a pair of headphones to see  you through the semester you'll find plenty of tech and essentials on the shelves right now. 

We're rounding up all the biggest back to school sales right here, placing a particular emphasis on the tech and accessories you'll need to get the school year started off right. We've scoured the web for all the biggest discounts and brought all that treasure right here. 

Just below, you'll find all the retailers with back to school sales live right now, and further down we're rounding up our top picks across laptops, backpacks, headphones, tablets, and more. 

The best back to school sales:

Back to school sales: Laptops

HP Stream 14-inch laptop | $209 $179 at Walmart
Save $30 -

HP Stream 14-inch laptop | $209 $179 at Walmart
Save $30 - It's a smaller saving, but this HP Stream was already a particularly cheap laptop. Walmart's back to school sales have the 14-inch model down to just $179 right now, a great price for a budget Windows laptop. 

Specs: Intel Celeron N4020 | 4GB RAM | 64GB eMMC

Price Check: Amazon: $279 | Best Buy: $249.99

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6-inch laptop | $329.99 $199.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 -

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6-inch laptop | $329.99 $199.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 - You're saving $130 on this excellent Lenovo IdeaPad in Best Buy's latest back to school sales. The 128GB SSD is particularly strong at this price, and offers up plenty of speedy storage for everyday studying. 

Features: AMD Athlon Silver 7120U | 4GB RAM | 128GB SSD

Price Check: Amazon: $289.99 | Walmart: $344.99

Asus Vivobook 14-inch laptop | $429.99 $299.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 -

Asus Vivobook 14-inch laptop | $429.99 $299.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 - The 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD inside this Asus Vivobook will comfortably see you through everyday school work. If run through more demanding workflows you might need something a little more considerable, but for $299.99 this is looking like an excellent buy. 

Specs: Intel 11th Gen i3 | 8GB RAM | 128GB SSD

Price Check: Walmart: OOS | Amazon: OOS

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop | $629.99 $399.99 at Best Buy
Save $230 -

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop | $629.99 $399.99 at Best Buy
Save $230 - This Lenovo IdeaPad packs an incredible 512GB SSD and Intel i3 processor into a $399.99 sales price. We would have been happy to see this configuration at $500 this time last year. 

Specs: Intel i5-1135G7 | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD

Price Check: Amazon: $559.99 | Walmart: $504.93

Dell Inspiron 14 14-inch laptop | $699.99 $449.99 at Dell
Save $250 -

Dell Inspiron 14 14-inch laptop | $699.99 $449.99 at Dell
Save $250 - Dell's own back to school sales have slashed $250 off this 14-inch Inspiron model, kicking the Ryzen 7 configuration down to $449.99. That's a considerable step up in processor for the price, especially considering you're also picking up 512GB of SSD storage space. 

Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD

Price Check: Walmart: $609.39 | Amazon: $749.99

Apple MacBook Air M1 | $999 $749.99 at Amazon
Save $250 -

Apple MacBook Air M1 | $999 $749.99 at Amazon
Save $250 - This is the cheapest we've ever seen the powerful M1 Macbook Air go at Amazon. This is the older 2020 model, but you're still getting some solid power under the hood and all that Mac OS swagger as well. 

Specs: Apple M1 | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD

Price Check: Best Buy: $749.99 | Walmart: $979

Dell G16 16.1-inch RTX 3050 Ti gaming laptop | $1,249.99 $899.99 at Dell
Save $350 -

Dell G16 16.1-inch RTX 3050 Ti gaming laptop | $1,249.99 $899.99 at Dell
Save $350 - If you're looking to double up your school laptop for some gaming time, the Dell G16 is particularly cheap right now. There's $350 off this RTX 3050 Ti configuration today, dropping the $1,249.99 spec down to $899.99. 

Specs: Intel 12th Gen i7 | 16GB RAM | Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti | 512GB SSD

Back to school sales: Backpacks

Fortnite backpack | $19.99 $15.99 at Target
Save $4 -

Fortnite backpack | $19.99 $15.99 at Target
Save $4 - It's a smaller saving, but if you're after a Fortnite kids backpack you can shave that $19.99 MSRP down a little at Target. This 18-inch bag is fully padded, with a main pocket, additional pouch on the front, and a top handle.

Matein 15.6-inch laptop backpack | $39.96 $23.99 at Amazon
Save $15.97 -

Matein 15.6-inch laptop backpack | $39.96 $23.99 at Amazon
Save $15.97 - This is our favorite laptop backpack for students, and it's just over $15 off in Amazon's back to school sales. That means you're picking up plenty of pockets and all the protection your 15.6-inch laptop needs for just $23.99.

Ugrace 15.6-inch laptop backpack | $41.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Save $12 -

Ugrace 15.6-inch laptop backpack | $41.99 $29.99 at Amazon
Save $12 - If you're going for more of a vintage look, this Ugrace laptop backpack is 29% off at Amazon right now. Not only does it offer six compartments for all your gadgets, but there's a built in USB charging port in here as well.

Pikachu backpack + pencil case + lunch bag set | $49.99 $20 at Amazon
Save $30 -

Pikachu backpack + pencil case + lunch bag set | $49.99 $20 at Amazon
Save $30 - This Pikachu set is $30 off at Amazon right now, perfect if you want to set a little one off with all the right kit in one go.

Kipling Seoul small backpack | $109 $63.99 at Target
Save $45 -

Kipling Seoul small backpack | $109 $63.99 at Target
Save $45 - These backpacks are pricey, but if you're just transporting your tablet to and from class, and you want to do so in style, this $45 discount is working hard for you at Target.

Back to school sales: Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (128GB) | $349.99 $249 at Walmart
Save $100 -

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (128GB) | $349.99 $249 at Walmart
Save $100 - With the S Pen included, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is the cheapest way to pick up a solid tablet for handwritten notes. Walmart has a $100 discount on this 128GB model in its latest back to school sales as well.

Price Check: Amazon: $309 | Best Buy: $249.99

Apple iPad 9th generation (64GB) | $329 $269 at Amazon
Save $60 -

Apple iPad 9th generation (64GB) | $329 $269 at Amazon
Save $60 - If you're going down the Apple route, you'll find a $60 discount on the 9th generation iPad at Amazon right now. While we have seen this tablet down at $249 in the past, that's still an excellent discount.

Price Check: Best Buy: $269.99 | Walmart: $279

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (64GB) | $529.99 $429.99 at Amazon
Save $100 -

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE (64GB) | $529.99 $429.99 at Amazon
Save $100 - The 64GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE has been cheaper in the past, but not since Black Friday last year. Today's $100 discount represents an excellent saving over the $529.99 MSRP. 

Price Check: Best Buy: $529.99 | Walmart: $429

Apple iPad Air (64GB) | $599 $499 at Amazon
Save $100 -

Apple iPad Air (64GB) | $599 $499 at Amazon
Save $100 - You're getting the Apple iPad Air for its lowest ever price at Amazon right now, thanks to a fantastic $100 discount. This has been jumping in and out of stock over the last couple of weeks so we wouldn't take it for granted.

Price Check: Best Buy: $599.99 | Walmart: $559

Back to school sales: Headphones

Skullcandy wireless noise cancelling headphones | $54.99 $34.99 at Amazon
Save $20 -

Skullcandy wireless noise cancelling headphones | $54.99 $34.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - Amazon has the lowest price going on these Skullcandy wireless headphones - just $34.99. That's an excellent price considering the $54.99 MSRP. 

Price Check: Walmart: $42.99

Apple AirPods second generation | $129 $99 at Amazon
Save $30 -

Apple AirPods second generation | $129 $99 at Amazon
Save $30 - It's not the cheapest they've been, but the classic second generation AirPods are available for under $100 at Amazon right now. They've only ever dropped down to $79 in previous sales, so there's not too much in it.

Price Check: Best Buy: $99.99 | Walmart: $99

Sennheiser HD 450BT wireless noise cancelling headphones | $199.95 $149.95 at Amazon
Save $50 -

Sennheiser HD 450BT wireless noise cancelling headphones | $199.95 $149.95 at Amazon
Save $50 - Sennheiser produces some incredible headphones, and this mid-range 450BT model is no different. With a 30 hour battery and smart features built in, there's plenty to love - especially at $149.95.

Price Check: Best Buy: $179.99 | Walmart: $159.99 

Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless noise cancelling headphones | $399.99 $369.99 at Walmart
Save $30 -

Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless noise cancelling headphones | $399.99 $369.99 at Walmart
Save $30 - Walmart has the best price going on the industry leading Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, with other retailers either sticking to that $399.99 MSRP.

Price Check: Amazon: $398 | Best Buy: $399.99

Back to school sales: Desk Tech

Govee RGB Strip Lights | $17.99 $11.99 at Amazon
Save $6 -

Govee RGB Strip Lights | $17.99 $11.99 at Amazon
Save $6 - Perfect for building a little dorm room ambience, This Govee strip light set is available for just over $11 at Amazon right now. That's excellent considering other less known brands are well over that price.

Belkin 10W Qi wireless charger stand | $34.99 $17.99 at Walmart
Save $17 -

Belkin 10W Qi wireless charger stand | $34.99 $17.99 at Walmart
Save $17 - Keep your phone on charge and in full view with this Belkin wireless charging stand. This is a highly recognized charging brand, going for a fantastic price at Walmart.

Price Check: Amazon: $23.99 | Best Buy: $25.99

Logitech G305 wireless gaming mouse | $49.99 $39.97 at Amazon
Save $10 -

Logitech G305 wireless gaming mouse | $49.99 $39.97 at Amazon
Save $10 - Even if you don't need a gaming-specific mouse, the Logitech G305 is still a bargain. Those extra programmable buttons come in just as handy for productivity as they do gaming, and you're still getting that fantastic battery life.

Price Check: Best Buy: $49.99 | Walmart: $39.99

Melifo monitor light bar | $44 $34.99 at Amazon
Save $9 -

Melifo monitor light bar | $44 $34.99 at Amazon
Save $9 - A monitor light bar saves space on your desk and makes for a much more pleasant working environment. This Melifo model comes with a wireless remote control and is widely regarded as the best budget alternative to the much more expensive BenQ Halo. 

Price Check: Walmart: $39 | Best Buy: OOS

Logitech C930s Pro HD webcam | $99.99 $59.99 at Best Buy
Save $40 -

Logitech C930s Pro HD webcam | $99.99 $59.99 at Best Buy
Save $40 - It's an older model, but if you're after a solid 1080p webcam to back up the 720p model on your laptop, this Logitech model is still an excellent shout. Best Buy has a $40 discount right now, dropping that $99.99 MSRP down to $59.99. 

Price Check: Walmart: $96.99 | Amazon: OOS

HyperX Alloy Origins 65 gaming keyboard | $99.99 $69.99 at Amazon
Save $30 -

HyperX Alloy Origins 65 gaming keyboard | $99.99 $69.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is one of the best gaming keyboards on the market right now, and it's down to $69.99 in Amazon's back to school sales. That's an excellent price for a speedy RGB mechanical deck.

Price Check: Best Buy: $70.99 | Walmart: $99.99

Flexispot Electric Standing Desk (48 x 30 inch) | $299.99 $179.99 at Walmart
Save $120 -

Flexispot Electric Standing Desk (48 x 30 inch) | $299.99 $179.99 at Walmart
Save $120 - If you're looking to invest a little more in your desk setup this year, this smaller Flexispot standing desk is on sale at both Walmart and Amazon. Amazon's offer comes as part of a coupon code, though, so we'd recommend heading to Walmart for this $120 discount first. 

Price Check: Amazon: $179.99 | Best Buy: OOS

Of course, we're also bringing you all the best gaming laptops and the best gaming monitors for a more Steam-friendly setup. Or, take a look at the best gaming headsets for more. 

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Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at 12DOVE, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.