Technologies

CNET Survey: 78% of US Shoppers Are Stressing Out Over Back-to-School Tech Purchases

Nearly half are worried about finding quality purchases at an affordable price — adding another strain to school shopping this year.

Back-to-school shopping is underway, and the supply list isn’t like it was when I was a kid.

More schools and colleges are leaning on technology for educational purposes, and some of those costs could fall on US shoppers. Big-ticket purchases, like laptops and tablets, can be a strain on your finances, especially when juggling other back-to-school items and everyday expenses.

CNET’s new back-to-school survey dives into just how much US shoppers are concerned about making tech purchases ahead of the school year starting back. One point is clear: 78% of back-to-school shoppers are worried about affording tech purchases.

Between tight budgets, potential tariff price hikes and the possibility of shortages, buying a new laptop or tablet can be stressful, to say the least. Here are the survey findings and what CNET tech experts recommend when shopping for back-to-school supplies.

Back-to-school shopping is taking a toll on finances

The average US shopper will spend $328.68 on back-to-school shopping. Even though that’s less than last year, it still may be a lot to cover with tighter budgets and higher prices on some supplies compared to last year.

Nearly 1 in 3 are worried about affording tech purchases

Affording tech purchases is one of US shoppers’ top concerns this back-to-school season.

That could be for a few reasons, including tighter budgets and higher-than-expected prices on tech gadgets. Josh Goldman, managing editor and laptop reviewer at CNET, recommends comparison shopping by starting with the everyday price, then looking for sales at your favorite stores and manufacturers. Especially if you’re looking for a computer.

“HP, Dell, Lenovo and others frequently have the best deals and also offer student discounts. You might want to actually give them a call, too, tell them your situation and see what’s possible,” said Goldman.

Goldman and other CNET experts also recommend buying used, refurbished tech from reputable places. Before you buy, see if there’s a rating system to help understand the device’s condition. And check for any return policies and warranties in case you’re not satisfied.

Lastly, Goldman recommends checking with family and friends who may have aging devices that can save you money on a new one. “While it might not meet their needs anymore, it could be just enough for a student,” said Goldman. “Also, if it’s a bit too old even for your student, there’s a chance it can be traded in for a discount on an upgrade.”

Close to 1 in 4 are concerned about unexpected tech fees, too

Beyond buying the hardware, 23% of shoppers are concerned about additional tech fees and subscription costs.

Some learning management systems are free or included in the course, while other apps and services with upgraded features can add up. For example, some educational app subscriptions, maintenance fees and even e-book rentals are required but cost.

To trim that cost, some schools offer special codes or discounts to lower how much you’ll pay. I also recommend checking online student forums for students in higher grades who have completed the course but still have access and for any unused offer codes.

1 in 5 are concerned about managing expenses without credit or BNPL

CNET found that 1 in 5 (20%) are concerned about managing expenses when using credit or Buy Now, Pay Later to afford tech. Yet, juggling expenses and debt can be detrimental to your finances and can lead to interest and fees if you’re unable to pay the statement balance in full and on time.

If you need to lean on financing to cover back-to-school costs, try setting aside any amount you can to help finance less of your school supply list. You may also look for deals to pay less than the sticker price and save money, or hold off on a few purchases for now.

If you have to make a big tech purchase right now, try to cut or hold off on other back-to-school items for now. For example, holding off on shopping for new clothes or reusing some supplies from last year can help cut costs for now.

Back-to-school shoppers are concerned about tech purchases

Gone are the days of only needing pencils, pens and paper. More schools are using technology for educational purposes. Now, there’s a need for laptops, tablets and headphones. And the price tag of these big-ticket items is a concern for shoppers. Here’s a closer look at shoppers’ top concerns.

Nearly half of shoppers are worried about tariffs and rising prices

Which products will be impacted by tariffs has been a hot topic for months now. Earlier this summer, CNET found that 64% of shoppers are rushing to buy tech to dodge price spikes and shortages. It’s a fair concern considering some tech companies, including Microsoft and Acer, have stated that tariffs will push prices on tech higher.

By the numbers, nearly half of back-to-school shoppers (46%) are concerned about rising prices and tariffs. We haven’t seen the impact yet due to the reciprocal tariff agreement pause, and tariffs don’t change prices for items in stock overnight.

But if more tariffs go into effect, price hikes are likely at some point. Therefore, if you know you’ll need a laptop for the upcoming school year and you’re worried about costs going up, Goldman recommends buying one sooner rather than later if you can. On the other hand, if you can wait until holiday sales in the fall, you still may be able to score a good deal depending on the impact of tariffs and US product availability, Goldman added.

Half of shoppers are worried about finding quality, affordable tech

Besides being able to afford tech, half of shoppers are concerned about finding quality technology at an affordable price. Buying the lowest-priced laptop or tablet may not be worthwhile if you’ll pay more in repairs. That’s another reason why our experts recommend shopping for high-quality second-hand tech.

“Woot.com is a good place to find reconditioned laptops and school tech,” said James Bricknell, CNET’s senior shopping editor. “You don’t always need brand-new tech for school, as the latest processor and graphics card aren’t really needed for the average school classroom.”

Our editors also recommend the Amazon Renewed Store, Apple Certified Refurbished and eBay Refurbished as a few trusted retailers for secondhand tech.

Other ways to save on back-to-school tech this year

Here are a few other ways CNET experts say you can save money on must-have tech this back-to-school season.

Shop deals and sales

Some states have tax-free weekends to help you save money by excluding tax on select items for a few days. Coupling this weekend with sales and deals can help you save money on your shopping list.

Bricknell pointed out that even though big sale events, like Prime Day, are great times to get deals on tech before school starts, you may be able to score savings around Black Friday if you’re able to wait until later this year.

Track prices

CNET’s experts are still tracking plenty of tech deals to scout out the real savings based on their recommendations, but no matter how sweet the savings may seem, CNET senior editor and computer expert, Matt Elliott, recommends being patient and tracking prices.

“Be patient and track the price of a product and then do what stock traders do and ‘buy the dip.’ Online retailers are constantly rotating discounts, so it pays to wait for a sale price to land on the product you are looking to buy,” said Elliott.

Elliott added that you’ll see the price fluctuate over a few weeks, so you’ll get a sense of when to buy quickly. Some websites and browser extensions can help you track prices, too — like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel.

There may be other options if a tech must-have isn’t within your budget. Bricknell recommends checking with your school for programs to still get what you need at a fraction of the cost or for free, in some circumstances. For example, some schools may loan laptops for a school year or semester, but eligibility requirements may apply.

Trade in old devices

If you have old tech that you’re no longer using, it may be worth some money that you can use to buy a laptop or tablet you need now.

“Companies like Swappa can give you cash for your old tech, but keep in mind that the more used your tech, the less cash you’re likely to get,” said Bricknell.

Before you sell your old devices, check several retailers to make sure you’re getting the best deal before selling. How much you get back can depend on the condition of your device, how old it is and the demand for it.

Methodology

CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,601 adults, of whom 689 have gone or are planning to go back-to-school shopping. Fieldwork was undertaken July 16 to 18, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).

Technologies

Trump Maintains US‑Iran Negotiations Continue Amid Tehran’s Denials of Duplicity

President Trump insists that US‑Iran talks are ongoing despite Tehran’s denial of any negotiation plans, while warning that only a deal or total surrender will allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Conflicting statements from both sides have heightened uncertainty as the conflict enters its sixth month.

On Monday, President Donald Trump asserted that negotiations between the United States and Iran are still taking place, even after Tehran stated it has no intention of engaging in direct talks with Washington.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump labeled Iran’s leaders “unbelievably duplicitous,” claiming they are lying about ongoing peace talks “whether Iran wants to admit it or not.” He repeated his assertion that the United States completely controls the Strait of Hormuz, despite maritime traffic through the crucial route lingering at only a small fraction of pre‑conflict levels.

He wrote, “Nothing reaches Iran unless we allow it, and nothing will pass unless a deal—or total surrender—is achieved.”

Earlier that day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters there is no imminent plan for U.S.–Iran negotiations, contradicting Trump’s earlier comment that talks would resume Monday afternoon. Baghaei added that Iran’s only current discussions are with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflicting statements have heightened uncertainty over the peace‑talk process and the broader conflict, now in its sixth month.

Trump’s assertion about new negotiations came a day after he said on Truth Social that he had agreed to cancel a massive strike against Iran “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.” He said in the same post that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off on that attack because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

Trump has claimed dozens of times throughout the more‑than‑five‑month‑long war that a deal is at hand. No permanent deal has been signed, and a temporary ceasefire reached in June has fallen apart.

Trump has also repeatedly threatened to launch devastating strikes against Iran before backing off. After the latest example, oil prices on Monday fell and stocks surged.

BMI, a research unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a note Monday that a broader diplomatic understanding on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is still achievable this quarter, while raising the probability of its escalation scenario to 35% from 25%, citing mounting military, diplomatic and economic signs of rising U.S.-Iran tensions.

“Diplomatic progress is likely to be punctuated by periodic military flare-ups, while miscalculation by either side could trigger a renewed escalation,” BMI analysts wrote in a note. The firm said the key issue to watch is the future governance of the strait, as the Iran-Oman talks — potentially backed by Gulf states, China and the U.S. — point to efforts to build a post-conflict shipping framework.

Shipping risks persist even as diplomacy appears to be advancing. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles (23 miles) northeast of Khasab, Oman — at the mouth of the strait — with a tanker’s master reporting an explosion in close proximity to the vessel at about 20:37 UTC Sunday (4:37 pm ET). The vessel and crew were safe and authorities are investigating, UKMTO said, advising ships to transit with caution.

The proposal Trump announced over the weekend calls for the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations and continue ironing out some of the thorny issues that had derailed diplomatic efforts, according to The Associated Press, citing a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.

The official said the proposal also includes a reopening of the Hormuz Strait and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on the Arab Gulf countries and Jordan.

The U.S., for its part, will end its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to export its oil, the official said, adding that no deal has been reached, although the mediation efforts remained underway.

Trump’s weekend reversal has lowered the temperature after days of escalating attacks across the Gulf. Kuwait said Saturday that Iranian forces launched a wave of drones within its airspace, with its military destroying multiple aircraft after Iran targeted critical infrastructure in the country’s north.

A parallel track with Muscat is also advancing. Iranian diplomats said Tehran was close to reaching a new arrangement with Oman to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a deal critical to preventing the war from escalating further, according to the Financial Times.

Iranian officials said negotiations over future management of the Hormuz Strait with Oman, which sits on the opposite shore of the waterway, are in their final stages. The agreed shipping route would be different from those used before, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Baghaei, adding that the new route was separate from the issue of the strait’s reopening or continued closure.

Technologies

Oil Prices Slide as Trump Halts Planned Iran Strike

Oil prices dropped after Trump cancelled a planned strike on Iran, with WTI down about 5% and Brent near 5% lower. He said the move followed requests from Tehran and regional allies for a pause while a deal shaping the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program is negotiated.

Oil prices fell on Monday after President Donald Trump announced he had cancelled a planned strike on Iran. WTI futures dropped roughly 5% to $80.34 a barrel, while Brent slipped about 4.7% to $83.77 a barrel.

Trump said early Sunday he called off the strike after Iran and several Middle Eastern nations asked him to hold off, noting that the outlines of a deal had been agreed upon. He added that the prospective accord would entail the immediate, full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, according to his Truth Social post.

The president had been considering another round of strikes as diplomatic hopes waned since the conflict began on February 28. He said the U.S. and Iran would meet for talks on Monday, but Iran denied any scheduled negotiations with Washington, citing PressTV. Iran’s foreign‑ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Tehran was only discussing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. In a follow‑up Truth Social message, Trump insisted that, regardless of Iran’s acknowledgment, the United States is indeed discussing a solution to a long‑standing problem created by Iran.

Technologies

Oil Prices Drop as Trump Cancels Planned Attack on Iran

Oil prices fell sharply after President Trump announced the cancellation of a planned strike on Iran, citing a new deal that would open the Hormuz Strait and end Iran’s nuclear threat.

Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump announced that he had called off a planned strike on Iran.

West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. benchmark, slipped roughly 5% to close at $80.34 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined 4.7% to settle at $83.77 a barrel.

Trump made the announcement early Sunday, saying he had canceled the strike following requests from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries.

In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

The president indicated that the proposed agreement would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz Strait, as well as an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Trump had been weighing additional strikes amid diminishing prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that began on Feb. 28. He stated that the U.S. and Iran would hold negotiations on Monday.

Tehran denied that talks were planned with Washington, according to state news outlet PressTV.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was only holding talks with Oman regarding the routes ships can use through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump added that whether “Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused for decades.”