Eight Budget-Friendly Gadgets and Tech Essentials for the School Season

Remember when getting ready for school just meant buying crayons, pencils, notebooks, and folders? Nowadays, prepping for a budget-friendly back-to-school season often involves looking for the latest tech gadgets. Whether these gadgets are designed for learning or not, you can now find them without spending too much.

Even though remote learning isn’t as common as it was a couple of years ago, spending on electronic devices is still seeing the biggest rise among all school supplies. To help you out, here’s a list of eight affordable tech devices for the new school year.

**LENOVO CHROMEBOOK DUET**
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 stands out as one of the most versatile Chromebooks and is regarded as one of the best ChromeOS tablets in the market. It’s affordable and great for students using cloud-based tools or just surfing the web, playing games, or watching videos. It’s also perfect for the whole family. Currently, it’s priced at $299 at Best Buy.

**SAMSUNG GALAXY A32**
Having a mobile phone has become almost essential for modern students. The Samsung Galaxy A32 is not only budget-friendly but also features Android 5G, a 6.5-inch display, 64 GB storage, and both front and rear cameras. With its sturdy plastic design and Gorilla Glass screen, it’s built to last. You can get it for just $204.99, offering great value without hurting your wallet.

**iPAD AND TABLETS**
Tablets are incredibly handy for students. They’re lightweight and portable, perfect for reading, taking notes, attending online classes, or even creating digital art. They also let students browse the internet and stream their favorite shows. While tablets can be a bit pricey, there are often discounts available on popular models from Apple and Samsung. You can grab an Apple iPad 9 or Samsung Galaxy Tab for under $300, and a high-rated Amazon Fire tablet for only $75.

**AMAZON KINDLE**
For students who need to do a lot of reading this year, Amazon’s latest Kindle might be the perfect e-reader. It comes with an adjustable front light for comfortable reading whether you’re indoors at night or outdoors during the day. The Kindle has a 6-inch 167 PPI display for e-books and supports Audible audiobooks. It’s available for $89.99.

**KEYBOARD AND MOUSE COMBO**
The portable K380 Multi-Device keyboard and M350 Pebble mouse connect via Bluetooth, so you can use them anywhere. They’re a great deal, priced between $24.99 and $69.98 on Logitech.

**NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES**
Headphones are now a must-have for any school supply list. Good quality noise-canceling headphones can be costly, but the Buddyphones Cosmos Plus offers a more budget-friendly option. They come in different colors, have volume-limiting and noise-canceling features, and their battery lasts up to 24 hours. Plus, they work even if the battery runs out. They’re available on Amazon for $99.99.

**LENOVO SMART CLOCK**
The Lenovo Smart Clock, powered by Google Assistant, is perfect for students who struggle to wake up on time. It features soothing alarm tones and automatically adjusts the brightness of its 4-inch display based on the time of day. It’s on sale for $39.99 at Best Buy.

**ROUND-UP**
With families expecting to spend 30% more on school electronics this year, saving money is more important than ever. But you don’t have to compromise on quality or brand names to stick to your budget. By choosing refurbished laptops, tablets, phones, or headphones, you can save 30 to 60% off the usual retail price. Check out places like Best Buy for open-box and remanufactured tech, or browse websites like Newegg, eBay, and Dell Outlet for certified refurbished gadgets. Just ensure they are certified and come with a warranty for extra protection.

What affordable back-to-school tech are you planning to buy?