Back to School with Back Market: iPad, MacBook, phone deals
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New school year, same budget… but nobody said you can’t enjoy a fresh device!
Whether you need a laptop to tackle the demands of academia, a tablet to mix work with play, headphones to tune out the noise, or just a new phone — why not shop refurbished?
Back Market offers a massive portfolio of devices. Every single one is professionally vetted, polished, and passed through a rigorous 100-point inspection—just like how you are going to pass your tests at the end of the year. Let’s hear that confidence!
That said, here are some deals that are too hard to pass by:
iPhone, Samsung, Pixel deals
If you are looking for an iPhone that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, the good old iPhone 15 seems to be a great middle ground. It still has about three years left on the support clock, its hardware is still modern and fast, its design is still contemporary.
If you are looking for something fancier, you can tap into the Pro models at Back Market. For example, if you go back a generation to the iPhone 14 Pro — you get a 120 Hz refresh rate screen, and a zoom camera for cool portrait photos.
The 14 Pro was quickly overshadowed by the 15 Pro with its Action Button and then the 16 Pro with its Camera Control button, so it kind of feels like a product of an old Apple era. But, for some, the lack of these extra controls and the presence of a mechanical toggle switch that they can fiddle with is still a bonus!
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is still an excellent phone even in 2026. It will probably be receiving less and less AI features through the rest of its update cycle, but if you care nothing about that, it’s still a phone with a very robust software feature ecosystem, an integrated S Pen, excellent camera, and pristine display (industry-leading anti-reflection treatment included!)
If you are on a budget — Samsung's Galaxy FE series have been getting positive reactions since inception. They strip down the fancy parts of an S series flagship and use Samsung-made processors. But they deliver exactly in the areas that Samsung is known for — that crisp AMOLED screen and balanced camera.
The Pixel 8 Pro is a couple generations old, but that still means that this is the best from Google two years ago. Rest assured that nobody who bought a Pixel back then is in any hurry to get rid of it — these are solid phones with fast performance, dependable cameras, and a unique signature look to them.
If you want something fresh, light, newer, more youthful and less boujee, the Pixel a series are an excellent contender. They carry the same chip as the big boys and have the camera software know-how of Google behind them. These phones are well-liked and considered a bargain even at full price. A refurbished deal from Back Market just makes them that much sweeter!
Need a phone plan?
If you are already looking for a device, Back Market can also hook you up with a Visible plan at 20% off. So, a pre-paid connection to Verizon’s network, and a fresh new device. Not bad!
I know, I know, that new MacBook Neo is looking mighty tempting. And, in reality, for single-core tasks and focused operation, it will feel more agile and snappy than the aging MacBook Air with M1 chip.
However, the M1 is still better at sustained performance with multiple apps open. You doing school work with a million tabs open? Maybe there’s a floating YouTube window there, maybe there’s music playing too?
Chances are high the MacBook Air M1 will be smooth sailing more often here, whereas the iPhone processor that hums inside the MacBook Neo may start panting from all those different tasks.
M1 MacBooks will still get MacOS 27 when it launches later this year. And the Air M1 is now super-accessible through the Back Market deals!
While the base iPad looks the part of a serious Apple tablet, the iPad Air delivers without delving into the absurd pricing of a Pro. As outlined above, the M1 chip is plenty good even in 2026, but we are recommending getting M2 and up because those series will get iPadOS 27 in a couple of months.
If at any point you wish to upgrade it with a Magic Keyboard, you certainly can. These feel amazing to type on, but are unfortunately pretty expensive. The good news? Back Market also has refurbished Magic Keyboards in stock!
With Back Market, you can set yourself up with a set of Sony WH-1000XM3, Bose QuietComfort 35, or Sennheiser HD 450BT for $200 or less. All well-known for their comfort, noise cancelation, and high class of performance and sound.
Learn more about Back Market x Visible
MacBook Air M1
I know, I know, that new MacBook Neo is looking mighty tempting. And, in reality, for single-core tasks and focused operation, it will feel more agile and snappy than the aging MacBook Air with M1 chip.
However, the M1 is still better at sustained performance with multiple apps open. You doing school work with a million tabs open? Maybe there’s a floating YouTube window there, maybe there’s music playing too?
Chances are high the MacBook Air M1 will be smooth sailing more often here, whereas the iPhone processor that hums inside the MacBook Neo may start panting from all those different tasks.
M1 MacBooks will still get MacOS 27 when it launches later this year. And the Air M1 is now super-accessible through the Back Market deals!
iPad Air
While the base iPad looks the part of a serious Apple tablet, the iPad Air delivers without delving into the absurd pricing of a Pro. As outlined above, the M1 chip is plenty good even in 2026, but we are recommending getting M2 and up because those series will get iPadOS 27 in a couple of months.
If at any point you wish to upgrade it with a Magic Keyboard, you certainly can. These feel amazing to type on, but are unfortunately pretty expensive. The good news? Back Market also has refurbished Magic Keyboards in stock!
Premium headphones
With Back Market, you can set yourself up with a set of Sony WH-1000XM3, Bose QuietComfort 35, or Sennheiser HD 450BT for $200 or less. All well-known for their comfort, noise cancelation, and high class of performance and sound.
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