Summer is in full swing, but school will be starting before you know it. That means it's time to start thinking about back-to-school supplies. Shopping for school supplies can quickly add up. But Amazon Prime Day is here, offering a way for savvy shoppers to score savings on laptops, notebooks, backpacks, water bottles, dorm essentials and everything in between.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Don't forget that it helps to have a Prime membership to take advantage of many of these deals on school supplies. If you're not a Prime subscriber, it's worth it to sign up for Amazon's free 30-day trial. And college students can sign up for Prime Student, which lets them use Prime at half the cost after a free six-month trial.
Back-to-school supplies deals
Pens always come in handy for school, whether you need to label items like notebooks or are taking notes during class. This pack of comes in a variety of colors, which kids will appreciate.
If your student will be in middle school, high school or college, chances are they'll need a scientific calculator. But if you've ever shopped for a scientific calculator, you know how expensive they can be. This Texas Instruments model is reasonably priced and does the job. It's easy to use and a great size that fits nicely in your hand.
- Crayola colored pencils (36-pack): $5 (save $5)
- Sharpie permanent markers, black, 12 count: $8 (save $2)
- Bostitch compact electric pencil sharpener: $12 (save $8)
- Mr. Sketch Scented Markers, Chisel Tip Marker, assorted colors, 22 count: $13 (save $7)
- Five Star spiral notebook, 3-subject, college ruled paper: $5 (save $5)
- Five Star spiral notebook, 5-subject, college ruled paper: $7 (save $5)
- Mead Composition notebook, 3-pack: $5 (save $1)
- Post-It sticky note pads, 24 pack: $14 (save $3)
- Amazon Basics 3-ring binder, 4-pack: $11 (save $5)
- Amazon Basics stapler with 1,000 staples: $6 (save $4)
- Sharpie S-Note Creative Pastel Highlighters, assorted colors, 24 pack: $11 (save $11)
- Amazon Basics Woodcased No. 2 pencils, pre-sharpened, 150 pack: $11 (save $5)
Back-to-school tech deals
The M4 MacBook Air is the most recent model in Apple's lightweight lineup and our overall favorite laptop on the market right now. The basic model comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there are plenty of more advanced configurations also on sale -- including the 15-inch model for people who prefer a larger display. Keep in mind that you can also get a student discount through the Apple Store.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is CNET's pick for the best overall Chromebook, making it a smart choice for school. It has a 14-inch touchscreen display, an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Apple's AirPods are a school staple these day. The latest AirPods with active noise cancellation are dust-, sweat- and water-resistant, so you won't have to worry about your water bottle leaking on it. The non-ANC model is also at a discount, for $89.
- Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones: $193 (save $155)
- Apple MacBook Air M4 (15-inch): $1,049 (save $150)
- HP Chromebook 14: $200 (save $190)
- Anker 622 MagGo portable charger: $30 (save $18)
- Apple Pencil Pro: $99 (save $30)
- Hatch Restore 3 sunrise alarm clock and sound machine: $140 (save $30)
- Apple iPad 9th-Gen: $224 (save $105)
- Apple iPad Mini 6th gen: $380 (save $120)
Backpacks, lunch boxes and water bottles
The Stanley IceFlow is even better than the Quencher because it's got a cool flip-top lid so that it doesn't leak. CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti appreciates its sleek design and its ability to keep water cold for hours on end.
This classic backpack is durable, comfortable, and has enough space to fit plenty of supplies without becoming too unwieldy. A nice-to-have feature is the front utility compartment, where you can store pencils and accessories. Plus, there's a handy side pocket for your water bottle.
- Under Armour Hustle unisex backpack: $39 (save $16)
- Adidas Excel backpack: $30 (save $17)
- Amazon Exclusive Kids Backpack: $17 (save $8)
- Bentgo Kids lunch bag, multiple patterns: $20 (save $20)
- Bentgo Kids Bento-Style 5-compartment lunch box: $21 (save $19)
- Thermos Funtainer 16-ounce insulated bottle: $14 (save $6)
