The best Apple Back to School deals of 2022

Apple MacBook Pro

There’s no way the Apple MacBook Pro will escape your back-to-school gift guide. With the new M2 units now available, the M1 configurations enjoy discounts. And since the M2 iterations have just been released, you can expect M1 prices to drop quickly.

The 13″/8GB RAM/256GB SSD version of the M2 currently sells for $1,299.00 on Amazon. If you’re concerned about buying the unproven M2, know that Apple has a stellar track record of implementing new technology. You can’t go wrong with an Apple laptop. If you’ve been wanting to jump into the Apple ecosystem or upgrade your student’s older MacBook, now might be the time.

iPad Air

The new iPad Air is powered by the M1 chip, so it’s more powerful and enjoys a longer battery life than previous incarnations. This device includes a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera, 5G, a 10.9″ Liquid Retina display that supports True Tone, P3 wide color and adds an anti-reflective coating for better viewing in almost any light, works with the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, and comes with in five different colors. Base models come with 64GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. If a MacBook Pro or Air is out of your budget and your student needs an Apple device for productivity, the iPad Air is a great way to go. Connect a keyboard and mouse and there’s pretty much nothing they can do. Currently, the latest iteration of the iPad Air retails for $559.00 (on Amazon) for the base model. To step up to 256GB of internal storage, the price jumps to $679.00 .

Magic keyboard

If you want your student to use their new iPad Air as a pseudo-laptop, consider the Magic Keyboard, which includes both a keyboard and a touchpad. This keyboard has a unique design that allows the iPad Air to attach magnetically and allows for smooth adjustment of viewing angles. With backlit keys and a multi-touch trackpad, iPad becomes a much more productive device. The keyboard also doubles as a protective case, so the iPad can be carried in a backpack without worrying about damaging the screen. The Magic Keyboard retails for $299.00 on Apple.com and is available in black or white.

AirPods

Take a walk in a public place and count how many AirPods you see. It never ceases to amaze me how many people I spy on have these little white pimples in their ears. If you’re looking to give a returning student a gift they’ll use day after day, consider Apple AirPods.

With Active Noise Cancellation, your student can not only concentrate more on their music, but also block out distractions when they should be studying. For parents, these headphones can also help ensure that your happy student never misses a call from you (in theory) because they can easily answer calls with the built-in force sensor technology.

Of course, the same technology allows them to easily end calls, which means they could just as quickly hang up on you. And with up to six hours of listening time, they’ll get plenty of music and video in their ears until they need to recharge. If you’re looking to get your returning student a pair of headphones and he’s already deep into the Apple ecosystem, these $179.00 headphones are the way to go.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is one of the most elegant smartwatches on the planet. But more than elegant, it’s a great way to help your student stay on time, informed, and always connected. With alarms and iPhone sync, they’ll never miss a class, appointment or pick-up time. And with this watch on their wrist, they won’t miss your incoming calls, even if their phone is in their backpack.

On top of that, the Apple Watch Series 7 even adds a Blood Oxygen app, an EKG app, and high/low/irregular heart rate notifications so you can monitor your student’s well-being. This is reassurance that any parent can use.

If you’re reluctant to buy the latest version of the Apple Watch for your student, which costs $399.00, you can opt for the Apple Watch SE, which doesn’t include the health features, for $279.00, or the Apple Watch Series 3, which retails for only $199.00.