Go Back To School On A Budget With Huge Tech Savings From Back Market

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The school bell is ringing on a new semester, and with it comes an extensive list of back-to-class buys. Whether you’re dropping your little one off in the playground or driving your teenager to their halls of residence, the pressure to provide the latest tech for younger family members can feel overwhelming.

According to a recent study by leading refurbished tech marketplace Back Market, on average, parents are now expected to pay over £800 on supplies like phones, laptops, bags and trainers to get their learners ready for the new school year.

Amongst the extensive inventory heaped upon unsuspecting parents, tech is one of the main culprits, with almost a quarter of those surveyed saying they have been told their child must have a new laptop for school. To put it bluntly, a new fountain pen no longer cuts the mustard.

So with the pressure to keep up higher than ever before, it’s little wonder prudent parents are seeking out alternatives for their tech-obsessed teens.

Luckily, Back Market is here to help you save on the back-to-school spend.

Smartphones at a smart price

Whether they’re a teen or going on 20, having a reliable smartphone is a non-negotiable for most students. By buying refurbished from Back Market, you can kit them out with a premium handset without taking a gamble on quality.

Enter the iPhone12 – for just £171.00 you can get a refurbished model that has been thoroughly tested and checked, saving a sizeable £478 off the recommended retail price (RRP) in the process.

If you and your family are of the Android persuasion, the Galaxy S22 5G offers exceedingly good value for money. Back Market’s refurbished version is a steal at £203, a whopping £656 less than the RRP. 

With significantly lower prices than buying brand new and a 12-month refurbisher warranty, it only takes quick maths to work out what an amazing deal you can get when you buy refurbished.

Homework helpers for less than half price

Gone are the halcyon days when missing homework could be explained away with a story about a curiously hungry dog. Nowadays, the majority of after-school endeavours take place on a screen, and as such, a suitably robust laptop is a requirement for budding scholars.

But setting them up for success doesn’t have to mean draining your savings account.

Back Market offers a host of fantastic refurbished models, including the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 14-inch laptop, which is currently priced at £230 – that’s £366.75 less than if you were to buy it straight off the shelf.

If your young one is a keen creative, a refurbished MacBook could be the perfect companion for their learning journey. Plus, on top of huge savings, you also get customer support on hand and a free shipping label to return the device if there are any issues.

High scores for sustainability

The latest research shows 88% of parents have had their child ask them to buy the latest model of technology, even though they don’t need it. But with three-quarters of parents saying they are concerned about the environmental impact of buying brand-new tech, something has got to give.

Thanks to trustworthy refurbished marketplaces like Back Market, stocking up on the latest tech needn’t cost the earth. Since it first appeared on the scene in 2014, Back Market has prevented roughly 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from being released and avoided the exploitation of 160,000 tonnes of primary natural resources. Choosing to buy tech from Back Market is an eco-conscious choice that makes a tangible difference. 

And it’s not just huge savings that the brand offers. Back Market is a business that takes action, and recently worked with author and illustrator Camille Piantanida on a book to teach children about the impact of overproduction and overconsumption in tech.

If that doesn’t score top marks for sustainability, we’re not sure what does.

Price accurate as of 8 September 2025 – liable to change as Back Market is a marketplace