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Bite into Apple's back-to-school deal! Students get free AirPods with iPad purchase 🍎

Bite into Apple's back-to-school deal! Students get free AirPods with iPad purchase 🍎

Back-to-school season just got a major tech upgrade. Apple has officially launched its 2025 back-to-school sale, and it is packed with freebies for college students, parents and educators looking to invest in new tech before the the bell rings on the fall semester.
Right now, qualified shoppers can save on select Mac and iPad models and get a little something extra, too. With the purchase of an eligible Apple device, you can get a free pair of AirPods or another accessory valued at up to $179. Check out how you can gear up for the new school year and walk away with a freebie, courtesy of Apple.
Whether you're editing video, taking notes or FaceTiming your besties, Apple's ecosystem—powered by iOS, macOS and iPadOS—makes it easier than ever to stay connected and productive. Find a complete breakdown of the sale below.
Shop Apple devices
Excluded from the promotion: Refurbished models, iPad Mini, standard iPad, Mac Mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro.
To access the Apple offer, eligible individuals typically need to verify their status through Apple's education portal.
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Apple's MacBook Air M4 is on sale for a record-low price
Apple's MacBook Air M4 is on sale for a record-low price

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Apple's MacBook Air M4 is on sale for a record-low price

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Do Macs Get Viruses? How to Scan for a Mac Virus
Do Macs Get Viruses? How to Scan for a Mac Virus

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Do Macs Get Viruses? How to Scan for a Mac Virus

Remember those old I'm a Mac, I'm a PC ads? In one, the Mac looks on, concerned, while the PC keeps sneezing from a virus it's caught, eventually crashing backward onto the ground. For a while, Macs did seem mostly immune to computer viruses. But when Apple's market share ballooned, with it came a new fan club: hackers. Yes, MacOS comes with XProtect, Gatekeeper and other tools, and most Mac owners get by just fine with these plus a dash of skepticism. Still, security firms keep spotting fresh malware strains, and some of the old tricks (like phishing and social engineering) still work. So while your Mac isn't helpless, it's not untouchable either. Read more: Best Antivirus for Mac for 2025 Can Macs get viruses? Yes, Macs can get viruses, and they always could. The idea that they can't comes from a time when most malware was aimed at Windows users. But when Macs grew in popularity, they caught hackers' attention. Apple does include some built-in tools to help keep things safe. 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Nothing's Headphone (1) Is Something Impressive
Nothing's Headphone (1) Is Something Impressive

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Nothing's Headphone (1) Is Something Impressive

As someone who has been openly critical of Nothing's claims that it will revolutionize the technology world, I happen to actually love the brand's products. From the excellent Ear (a)—among our favorite cheap earbuds—to its affordable smartphones, the brand leverages excellent design and near-top-tier internals to absolutely dominate the mid-tier of the tech market. The Headphone (1) noise-canceling over-ears, I am happy to say, continue this tradition. They look as good (or better) than more expensive models from Sony, Apple, and Bose, and they offer nearly all the same features, for hundreds of dollars less. That, plus a very usable set of controls, excellent passive noise isolation, and an easy-to-use app make these among the best headphones you can buy for $300 or less. Fresh Faced Photograph: Parker Hall Where other Nothing headphones directly steal their design cues from posher Apple models, the new Headphone (1) is clearly its own thing. The rounded rectangles come with clear outer ear cups that showcase a bass chamber inside the headphones, with a red dot on the right ear cup so you'll never put them on backwards. They look like something a Stormtrooper would wear in their bunk between patrols, but for some reason they don't make me feel like a total weirdo in public. The white-and-silver colorway of my review unit is flashy, but I imagine if you got them in the also available black-and-gunmetal version, you'd barely get a second glance. One thing you won't feel until you put the headphones on is how excellent the controls are. They come with a rolly, clicky wheel on the upper part of the right ear cup and a flicky switch below that. This allows you to adjust volume and play and pause music, as well as to go back and forth between tracks. You can even hold the switch right or left to fast-forward or rewind—very nice when skipping ads during podcasts. Physical controls are so much better than touch controls in nearly all instances, and these are some of the best and most intuitive controls ever designed. On the bottom of the right ear cup you'll find the on-off switch (red when off, also very helpful), a 3.5-mm cable port, and the USB-C port for charging. These headphones offer a Sony-, Bose-, and Apple-beating 35 hours of battery life, which is great when on long trips. Outside on the right, there is a button that allows you to use your voice assistant (or call up Nothing's AI if you have a Nothing phone), but I like that this button is hidden where I've never accidentally bumped it—an annoyance on competitors. Getting a Head Photograph: Parker Hall You'll notice that the headphones feel very secure on your head, thanks to an L-shaped metal bar that attaches the ear cups to the headband from the very outside. This allows for more even pressure distribution from the synthetic leather and memory foam of the earpads. They're firm, but comfortable enough for long listening sessions. The only downside? Though the pads are technically removable, Nothing currently has no plans to sell replacements. Hopefully that will change.

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