Major U.S. retailers are slashing prices on computers, tablets and accessories ahead of the 2025-26 school year, with Amazon igniting what tech sites describe as a weekend "price war" on Apple hardware. Amazon has cut $200 from every configuration of Apple’s new M4-powered MacBook Air, bringing the entry-level 13-inch, 256-GB model down to a record-low $799. The marketplace is also advertising reductions of up to $400 on multiple M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models. Other Apple products are seeing rare markdowns: the M3 iPad Air is $150 cheaper across the lineup, starting at $449, while Beats Studio Buds Plus earbuds are selling for $99.95, 41 percent below their launch price. Bose’s QuietComfort Bluetooth headphones have fallen to $229, roughly a third off their usual cost. The back-to-school discounting extends beyond Apple. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 is $50 off, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold carries a $500 markdown, and Best Buy is advertising Gigabyte Aero X16 gaming laptops with Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics for $1,100, a $400 reduction. Dell, Lenovo and HP are also advertising steep cuts on Copilot+ PCs, 2-in-1 laptops and USB-C docks. Retail analysts say the aggressive promotions reflect fierce competition for seasonal spending at a time when families are grappling with higher overall school-related costs.