Great Black Friday Technology Deals for Students

Whether you decide to brave the crowds at your local mall or snag deals from home, Black Friday is an exciting time to do some major shopping—and, of course, saving. Usually, though, people aren’t waiting in line to save 40 percent on a t-shirt. The best Black Friday savings come from deals on big-ticket tech items, like tablets and laptops.

For students on the go, technology is a life saver. To help parents and students prioritize their shopping list, we bring you great Black Friday technology deals for students—and where to find them.

For Black Friday steals on high-end to low-end tablets and phones, shop at Walmart

If you’ve had your eye on a brand new tablet, Walmart is the place to shop, as it will have a range of price points. For example, the RCA 7 inch Voyager 2 Android Tablet is on super sale for only $28.88 (it usually costs $50). Spend the $20 you saved to invest in a two-year care plan for your tablet. Plus, buy a case for just $8, and you are ready to work.

If you’re looking for a higher-cost option, Walmart has deals on both top-of-the-line Android and Apple tablet devices. One option is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite Tablet, which will cost you $79 on Black Friday.  With a seven-inch screen and 8GB of internal memory, this tablet is the perfect companion to take to class. If you’re a lover of all things Apple, check out Walmart’s deal on the iPad mini 2 — at a steeper cost of $199, but with $69 in savings. Don’t forget to look at Walmart’s specials on iPhone and Android phones—you’ll save $200 on the iPhone 6s and $250 on the Samsung Galaxy S6 (plus you’ll receive a free Bluetooth speaker).

Looking for a new computer or laptop? Shop at Office Depot

Office Depot is boasting deals up to 70 percent off on Thanksgiving Day, but the real steals are their sales on computers and laptops.

For just $119.99 (more than 50 percent off), you can snag a Toshiba Satellite CL45 14-inch laptop with Intel Inside. Other computers on sale include the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Series Laptop (about $200, a $150 savings) and a variety of HP laptops ranging from $120-220 in savings. There are also higher-level (and costlier) options available, so be sure to investigate what would work best for you. Are you looking for something lightweight that can be carried easily from class to class?  If the laptop will run processor-intensive programs like Photoshop or Adobe Audition concurrently, you might consider a computer with higher RAM and a multicore processor (check out the deal at Staples). These are features that will cost more, but they will benefit you in the long term. Really consider what you need from a new laptop before jumping into any purchase.

If you do end up snagging a new computer, Office Depot does offer a great discount on Office Home & Student 2016. Buy it Friday for only $79.99 with any PC purchase—$70 off! Other deals at Office Depot include Logitech Wireless Mice for $8.99, and printers for as low as $19.99.

Stock up on school supplies (and skim Black Friday iPad Air deals) at Staples

So far, the deals have been largely focused on Android mobile devices and laptops operating on Windows software, but if you love Apple, Staples is the place to visit. Get the iPad Air 2 with 64GB of storage for $449—that’s $150 in savings and a ton of available memory.

If you need power behind your computer, many of the low-cost “steals” may not benefit you in the long term. Great deals on powerful laptops are available—but may require more investment. Staples also offers slashed prices on laptops, but if you’re looking for a laptop that needs to run several programs at once and can last for several years, consider Staples’ deal on the Toshiba 15.6” Laptop with Intel Core i7. While the cost may be steeper ($599), you still save $250 while gaining 12GB RAM. If you simply need a computer for taking notes and writing essays, sticking with one of the cheaper doorbusters from Office Depot may be a better option for you.

Keep yourself or your student focused on success by investing in any of these Black Friday technology deals. However, also keep in mind that a brand new laptop, while helpful, cannot buy the understanding that comes from a personally tailored approach to learning. What’s better than 50 percent off? Free access to hundreds of learning tools and test prep guidance, which you can easily get by downloading the free Varsity Tutors ACT Prep Book. With the right tools and support, this holiday season can lay the foundation for a successful school year. Happy shopping!

Black Friday deal information from BGR.COM’s Black Friday Hub. Check out BGR for an expanded listing of the offers mentioned above, as well as many other deals.