Back-to-School Deals: Phones for the New School Year
School is back in session, and there’s one thing you want above all else: to be able to reach your child. This page lists all the Back to School deals on cell phones, from a first phone for a freshman to a phone that will last through college. We compare the offerings from all the major providers side by side, so you can see which deal for the new school year is truly a great deal and which ones only seem to be. Use the filters for price range, battery life, and brand to instantly find the right phone.
A new school year changes what you need from a phone. A phone that lasts all day without a charger, can survive a fall from a school desk, and has enough storage for photos of the chalkboard—that’s more useful at school than the fastest processor. Below are the current promotions, including deals where you get something extra.
What should you look for in a phone for school?
Battery life, durability, and the duration of software updates are the three things that really matter at school. A school day, including commute time, can easily last ten hours, and charging between classes is rarely possible. A phone that receives updates for five years or more will last through all of high school, and that’s ultimately more cost-effective than buying two entry-level models.
For 7th graders: easy to reach and built to last
For a child’s first phone, durability and battery life are more important than specs. Still unsure if your child is ready or what rules to set for usage? Then read our decision guide on your child’s first phone first. If you’ve already made that decision: a plastic case absorbs the impact better than glass when dropped, and a large battery prevents your child from being unreachable at 3 p.m. If, on the other hand, you want as few distractions as possible, check out the dumbphones: calls and texts only, no social media. If the phone will be taken to sports or after-school care, the rugged phones with waterproof casings are worth considering.
For college students: storage, battery life, and a camera that can read notes
College life demands more from a phone than high school does. You’ll be taking photos of lecture slides and notes, streaming on the go, and keeping dozens of apps open at once. So don’t go for the model with the smallest storage capacity: photos and videos from class will pile up faster than you think. A good camera with text recognition really saves time when reviewing your notes. The mid-range models often offer the best balance between price and daily practicality.
New or refurbished?
A refurbished device has been inspected, cleaned, and comes with a warranty—and often gives you a higher-end phone for the same price. The downside: the battery has already seen a lot of use, and the remaining update period is shorter than with a new model.
Choose new if the phone needs to last your entire school or college years and you want the maximum update period and full manufacturer’s warranty.
Choose refurbished if your budget is your main consideration and you’d rather have a more powerful model from a few years ago than a current entry-level model.
Where to Look Based on Your Budget
Each price range has its own special offers around the start of the school year. Here are the guides to help you quickly find what suits you best:
- Entry-level models: enough for calls, texts, and school apps, with a battery that easily lasts a day.
- Mid-range: the most popular segment for high school and college students, with a better camera and longer software update support.
- Refurbished: a top-of-the-line model from a few years ago, inspected and backed by a warranty.
- With a plan: spread out the costs and get data right away—handy if you don’t have your own SIM card yet.
- All current deals: the complete list of offers, even outside the school year.
Cell phones in the classroom: what’s allowed and what isn’t?
Cell phones are not allowed during class: in secondary education since January 1, 2024, and in elementary and special education since the 2024–2025 school year. This is not a law but a national agreement, so each school decides for itself how strictly the rule is enforced and where students must keep their phones during class. There are exceptions for classes where a phone is necessary—such as media literacy classes—and for students who must keep their phones with them for medical reasons. So be sure to check the school policy before making any promises.
In practical terms, this means the phone will spend most of the day in a locker or backpack and will mainly be used for getting to and from school. A sturdy case and a battery that lasts all day are therefore more important than the latest camera features.
When do schools start again?
The Netherlands is divided into three regions that are returning from summer break one after the other. This year, the schedule looks like this:
- Northern Region: back to school starting Monday, August 17, 2026
- Southern Region: back to school starting Monday, August 24, 2026
- Central Region: back to school starting Monday, August 31, 2026
This staggered schedule is designed to spread out the crowds, both at vacation destinations and on the roads. For you, it’s especially useful to know that deals are at their best around those first weeks of school: providers all want to capitalize on the same moment.
