Best Back-to-School supplies and tech for students

As the school year begins for some families and looms for others, it’s the perfect moment to focus on the tech that supports both productivity and peace of mind.  Let’s dive into my top picks for this school season.

Tablets and laptops

iPad Air for Apple AI

Credit: Apple

The iPad Air is a versatile device equipped with the M2 chip, making it ready for future Apple Intelligence updates. With its sleek design and impressive performance, the iPad Air is perfect for both classroom learning and creative projects, ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed. Ideal for students and educators, it comes with educational discounts and a limited-time $100 gift card offer at the Apple Educational store. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $551, and the 13-inch iPad Air is $749.

Get iPad Air for Apple AI

Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet

The newest Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is a great back-to-school product, featuring a vivid 11-inch display that’s perfect for online classes, reading assignments, note-taking, and unwinding with games or streaming after homework. With up to 14 hours of battery life, 128 GB of storage, and support for an optional stylus and keyboard, it’s built for both productivity and creativity. This model comes without lockscreen ads, ensuring a distraction-free experience for students.

Get Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet 

M4 MacBook Pro

The Apple 2024 MacBook Pro, featuring the powerful M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, is designed for peak performance and seamless Apple integration. It boasts a stunning 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB SSD storage, all encased in a sleek Space Black design. Ideal for professionals and creatives alike, this laptop redefines efficiency and visual excellence.

Get Apple M4 MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ AI Laptop 

Credit: Dell

The 2025 Dell XPS 13 9345 is a premium, ultra-portable laptop built for speed, efficiency, and all-day performance. It features a 13.4-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth visuals in a compact frame. Powered by an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor and 16GB of high-speed RAM, it handles everyday tasks, AI tools, and multitasking with ease. A 512GB solid-state drive provides fast storage, while Windows 11 Pro supports productivity and security. With up to 27 hours of battery life, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, an IR webcam for facial recognition, and a sleek design, the XPS 13 is ideal for professionals and power users who need performance on the go.

Get 2025 Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ AI Laptop

Acer Aspire 16 AI Copilot+ PC

The Acer Aspire 16 AI Copilot+ PC is a solid everyday performer built for students who need reliability and speed. Its 16″ WUXGA 120Hz display with 100% sRGB delivers sharp visuals, while the Snapdragon X processor with integrated AI features powers smooth multitasking and light creative work. With a long-lasting battery, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and a thin aluminum design, it’s ideal for back-to-school, class projects, streaming, and study sessions without breaking a sweat.

Get Acer Aspire 16 AI Copilot+ PC

In addition to these laptops, we found that ASUS has basic back-to-school laptops starting at around $217 on Amazon, though prices can fluctuate depending on sales and availability.

Keep your Info safe this school year with Incogni

Heading back to school isn’t just about new books and tech. It’s also a good time to protect your personal information online. Data brokers collect and sell details like your home address, phone number, and even family connections. That info can be used for targeted scams and unwanted marketing.

Why it matters for students and parents

• Stops strangers from easily looking up where you live or go to school
• Reduces risk of identity theft and phishing scams
• Helps keep your digital footprint as small as possible

How Incogni helps

1. Sign up and confirm the info you want removed
2. Incogni sends removal requests to dozens of data broker sites on your behalf
3. They monitor and repeat the process when your data reappears

Good to know

• You’ll start seeing results within a few weeks
• Works for both students and family members
• No impact on school accounts, portals, or services you use

Get Incogni here

Get Incogni for your family (up to 5 people) here

Back to school essential: Strong antivirus software

TotalAV Pro won our top choice for 2024 Antivirus protection and rightfully so.  It has the leading ransomware protection, and antivirus protection, detects and eliminates malware, and protects against phishing scams, adware & spyware, and more.

Best is that it works on all devices including Mac, PC, Android, and iPhone & iPad. Special deal $19 first year up to 5 devices (save $80 off today)

TotalAV Pro offers robust antivirus protection, including ransomware protection and malware detection. It supports multiple devices, ensuring comprehensive security for students’ digital activities.

Every student of any grade or college level should have antivirus protection on their computer, tablet, and smartphone. Strong antivirus protection is essential, in addition to keeping all technology updated with the latest operating systems.

Special for CyberGuy Readers:  My #1 pick is TotalAV, and you can get a limited-time deal for CyberGuy readers: $19 your first year (80% off) for the TotalAV Antivirus Pro package.  

As a bonus, here are answers to our most popular questions regarding Total AV

• our easy-to-follow guide making it easy to know how to install antivirus protection.
• Does my iPhone need antivirus protection?
• How to run a virus scan on your computer (Mac | PC )
• Free Antivirus Software: Should you use it?

Back-to-school security essentials

AirTag for your backpack

Credit: Apple

The AirTag is a handy device for tracking personal items like keys or backpacks, making it a must-have for students this school year. Using the Find My app, you can easily locate misplaced items, ensuring your child never has to stress about lost belongings. Plus, it can be shared with up to five family members, making it a practical tool for busy households. Available for $24.99 each or $79.99 for a pack of four, this simple yet effective tracker adds a layer of security to your back-to-school preparations, giving both parents and kids peace of mind.

Get AirTag (1 pack)

Get AirTag (4 packs)

Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0-Find My Sneaker

The Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 – Find My (Little/Big Kid) is a sporty, comfortable sneaker with a hidden compartment for an Apple AirTag, so parents can easily track their kids. It features breathable cushioning with the Air-Cooled Goga Mat insole, an easy-on design with stretch laces and an adjustable strap, and a durable mesh and synthetic build for everyday wear. This shoe is available for both boys and girls.

Dont’ forget to get AirTags for these shoes.

Get Sketchers Go Run Elevate 2.0

Silent Beacon Panic Button

The Silent Beacon Panic Button is a safety device that is especially beneficial for back-to-school, empowering students to send alerts and GPS locations during emergencies. It features two-way phone call capabilities and can connect to any phone number, including 911. This innovative device not only transmits your location in real-time but also allows students to customize the contacts they wish to alert, ensuring that help can reach them quickly and efficiently. With an impressive battery life of 42 days on a single charge, this reliable personal safety device is available for $59.95, making it an essential tool for students and parents seeking peace of mind as the new school year begins.

Get Silent Beacon Panic Button 

Smartwatches

Apple Watch Series 10

The Apple Watch Series 10 is a perfect back-to-school must have, offering students a larger, brighter display and a slimmer design for comfortable all-day wear. Its new water sensors and Tides app support active lifestyles, while enhanced performance and features like on-device Siri and iPhone Precision Finding help students stay connected and organized. With advanced workout tracking and Apple Fitness+ integration, the Series 10 keeps students motivated and healthy throughout the school year.

Get Apple Watch Series 10

Garmin Fenix 7

The Garmin Fenix 7 smartwatch, originally launched in 2022, remains a highly capable wearable despite being overtaken by newer models like the Fenix 7 Pro and Fenix 8. The Fenix 7 includes Garmin’s latest training analysis features, accurate sports tracking, navigation tools, music storage, and NFC payments.

Get Garmin Fenix 7

Headphones

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max are high-fidelity over-ear headphones that deliver exceptional sound quality and immersive listening experiences. Featuring advanced noise cancellation, spatial audio, and seamless integration with Apple devices, they offer a premium audio experience for music, movies, and calls. The AirPods Max combine elegant design with cutting-edge technology for unparalleled comfort and performance.

Get Apple AirPods Max 

Wireless earbuds

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds are top-rated Bluetooth headphones featuring active noise cancellation, a hearing aid function, transparency mode, personalized spatial audio, high-fidelity sound, and an advanced H2 chip. They also come with USB-C charging. These earbuds are a popular choice on Amazon, with over 10,000 units bought in the past month. More: Apple transforms AirPods Pro 2 into low-cost hearing aids

Get Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with USB-C

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