Staples is hosting some stellar back-to-school deals this week, especially if tech is on your checklist. The AirPods Pro are $179 (visible on the third page of the ad) and are available at this price in-store only. Originally $249, these have been falling in price, but it’s not often that they sell for less than $189. It’s worth mentioning that Staples is also offering Apple’s HomePod Mini for $89, which ties for the lowest price yet. Unlike the AirPods Pro, Staples is offering this miniature smart speaker in-store or online.
Apple HomePod Mini
HomePod Mini is the only smart speaker Apple currently sells. It’s more affordable than the standard HomePod was when it was still in production, and its output is predictably smaller. However, it has many of the same features.
As noted by Slickdeals, the second-generation Apple Pencil that’s compatible with iPads that have a USB-C port is $99 at Best Buy and Amazon (delivery at Amazon currently delayed to August 12th). This is $30 lower than its usual price, and students who want to take notes during class should hop on this deal. Compared to the first-generation Apple Pencil that clumsily recharges via an iPad’s Lightning port, this one magnetically attaches to the side of your iPad to power up.
Apple Pencil (second-gen)
Apple’s second-generation Pencil ditches the awkward Lightning port charging, adopting a magnetic mechanism that attaches to the side of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. It can also recharge while magnetically attached.
Brydge has kicked off its back-to-school sale today, lasting through Sunday, September 5th. It’s offering deals on many of its accessories, including screen protectors, cases, Bluetooth keyboard cases, and USB-C hubs. You can shop on Brydge’s site or Amazon for the deals. Here are the most appealing offers so far:
- Brydge’s 10.2 Max Plus, a wireless keyboard with a spacious trackpad made for the seventh and eighth-generation iPad, costs $100 (usually $130) at Amazon. Read more about it in Sam Byford’s review of the larger 12.9-inch version made for the iPad Pro, which is unfortunately not discounted.
- The Brydge 11 Pro Plus, a wireless keyboard with a trackpad made for the iPad Pro (11-inch), costs $120 at Amazon (usually $150). The model that can fit a 12.9-inch iPad Pro costs $140 (usually $170).
- The Brydge 10.5 Go Plus, a wireless keyboard with a trackpad that’s made for the Microsoft Surface Go and Go 2, costs $100 at Amazon. It’s usually $140. The bigger 12.3 Pro Plus made for the Surface Pro 4-7 models is $130, down from $150 at Amazon. Read more about the 10.5 Go Plus and 12.3 Pro Plus in Dan Seifert’s review.
Anker is offering a solid deal on its 20W Nano USB-C wall charger that includes a six-foot Lightning to USB-C cable. You can get the two together for $24, down from $30. Considering that Apple’s similarly powerful 20W charger costs $19 by itself and doesn’t include a fast-charging cable, this bundle stands out as a great deal.