Back-to-school PC peripherals you didn't know you needed — hot deals on headsets, mice, keyboards, speakers, and more

You've already got a computer — now what? Yes, your brand-new laptop does technically have a keyboard, a mouse (or, well, trackpad), and some sort of audio input/output device built in, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bother looking at standalone peripherals. A well-built, comfortable gaming keyboard, a speedy mouse, and a dedicated set of desktop speakers will all improve your experience drastically — and they're a lot easier to pack up and move over the summer than an entire desktop PC.

Here are some of the best back-to-school deals on peripherals, whether you've got a laptop, a desktop, or something else.

If you're looking for a well-rounded, versatile gaming mouse and you don't mind a cable, Razer's Basilisk V3 wired gaming mouse is

— 42% off of its MSRP of $69.99. This wired gaming mouse features an ergonomic, right-handed shape with 11 programmable buttons, customizable RGB lighting, and Razer's Focus+ optical sensor, which has a maximum sensitivity of 26,000 DPI and a maximum speed of 650 IPS, and can handle up to 50 G's of force. It's a great all-purpose gaming mouse, with three thumb buttons (two standard, and one sniper button) and a dual-mode tilt wheel that can switch quickly between notched and free scrolling modes via Razer's Synapse software.

The

is a great back-to-school mouse because of its versatility — you can use it for fast-paced first-person shooters, marathon RPGs and MMOs, and for, you know... actual schoolwork and productivity. It features a contoured, right-handed shape that's comfortable for long sessions and has built-in rubber-gripping on both sides. While the mouse is on the larger side overall, measuring 5.11 inches (129.79mm) long by 2.36 inches (59.94mm) wide by 1.65 inches (41.91mm) high, it's still fairly comfortable for anyone with medium to large hands. It weighs 3.3 ounces (93.55g), so it's not lightweight but it's also not uncomfortably heavy.

You may have a laptop for school, but that doesn't mean you need to settle for typing on a laptop keyboard when you're not in class. A wireless keyboard like the Cooler Master MK770 will improve your typing experience by a ton — it's roomier, more satisfying, and it even comes in pretty colors. The MK770 is

, which is 34% off its retail price of $119.99, and it's one of

,

The

is a well-built mechanical keyboard with a gasket mount design, a hot-swappable PCB, and a compact 96-percent layout — meaning it has most of the navigation keys and a 10-key numpad, but will take up less space on your desk than a standard full-size keyboard. The MK770 measures 15 inches (380.9mm) wide by 5.5 inches (140.4mm) deep, and is 1.5 inches (38.7mm) thick — so while it's not the smallest keyboard on the market, it's pretty compact for the amount of keys you get. It weighs a decent 2.3 pounds (1,052g), so while it's not something you'll want to take with you everywhere, it's light enough to travel with. It features three forms of connectivity: low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired (USB-C).

The

is all plastic and it's extremely lightweight at just 8.3 ounces (235g) — one of the lightest headsets we've ever tested, in fact. It features the Arctis Nova series' design of a rigid headband with a stretchy, adjustable "ski goggle strap" liner, and height-adjustable earcups that swivel and tilt for an extremely comfortable fit. It comes with a 4-foot (1.2m) detachable analog audio cable, so you will need a device with a 3.5mm audio jack in order to plug this headset in. It has the same 40mm custom dynamic drivers as SteelSeries' other Arctis Nova headsets (except for the Arctis Nova Pro), so you get the same solid audio quality on the Arctis Nova 1 as you get on the Arctis Nova 5 or the Arctis Nova 7. The drivers have a frequency response range of 20 - 20,000 Hz, and offer excellent audio for the price — both music and gaming will sound good on this headset, though the bass is a little more restrained than I typically like.

The headset also features the Arctis Nova's signature retractable microphone, which fits so seamlessly into the left earcup that you won't even notice it when it's not extended. The mic is still a headset mic, naturally — you won't get the same high-quality sound you'll get on a standalone USB mic — but it's better than trying to use the tiny mics built into your earbuds.

The

weighs just 10.61 ounces (301g) with its microphone installed, and features a flexible plastic frame, "floating" earcups, and a mesh and adjustable elastic strap to keep the headband "floating" away from your head. It's very comfortable if it fits, but it might be a little too tight on larger heads — so be warned. It features 40mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response range of 20 - 40,000 Hz, and it sounds great for both music and gaming — the open-back design allows the music to filter through the earcups, instead of being contained within the space, which allows for an open, natural sound that's not too oppressive. The drivers also have a pretty balanced sound profile, with powerful lows and slightly restrained highs. Detail and layering is fantastic, especially in rich gaming environments, and the open-back design makes for a wide, immersive soundstage.

The downside to this headset is its detachable boom microphone. While the microphone does implement Turtle Beach's famous flip-to-mute feature, it sits at the end of a flexible gooseneck that makes actually flipping to mute somewhat of a chore. The mic itself sounds just okay, and suffers from some aggressive noise gate and software-based audio "enhancements" that, unfortunately, do more to hurt the sound than help it. But microphone aside, this is one of the most comfortable headsets I've ever worn — both physically and audibly, thanks to the open-back design.

Picking up a standalone USB microphone is one of the easiest ways to improve your setup — whether it's for chatting with friends and family, gaming and streaming, or creating voice-based content. HyperX's original QuadCast microphone isn't exactly new — it came out in 2019, so it's been around for a few years — but microphones are the one category where you really don't need the most recent product for a great experience. The original QuadCast was and still is an excellent USB microphone, and it's

— down from the retail price of $139.99 (you'll need to use the code HXFAM to get an extra 15% off and bring the sale price down to $69).

The

is a well-built, versatile condenser microphone that comes with its own built-in shock mount, which can be attached to the included sturdy desktop stand or to a standard microphone boom arm. It features four polar patterns (hence, "quad"): cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo. Most standalone USB gaming microphones only have one polar pattern, which is usually cardioid (or supercardioid), as they're designed for one person to speak directly into. While you still should have multiple microphones for multiple speakers, the QuadCast's variety of polar patterns can help in a pinch if you're streaming with a friend or you've got multiple people chiming in on a video call. The QuadCast records at a 48 kHz / 16-bit sample rate / bit depth, which isn't nearly as high as the brand's new

192 kHz / 32-bit resolution, but should be plenty for typical college student activities, such as chatting with friends or gaming. The QuadCast also has a built-in pop filter and does a great job of capturing the range of your voice — you'll sound full and warm over this mic, not tinny or like you're in a tunnel, like you might over lower-quality mics or (heaven forbid) on-headset mics.

Drop's BMR1 V2 Nearfield Monitors are the perfect set of back-to-school speakers, and

— down from $129. These sleek, customizable desktop speakers are easy to fit into any setup thanks to their adjustable orientation and optional interchangeable magnetic grills. Each speaker has a single 2-inch full-range Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR driver) and dual force-cancelling passive radiators for moderately loud, decent-sounding audio. They're primarily designed for an analog (3.5mm stereo) connection, but they also feature built-in Bluetooth 5.0 for when you don't want to be tied to your computer. They also have a headphone output (with mic passthrough) and an auxiliary/subwoofer output.

We haven't tested the BMR1 V2 Nearfield Monitors, but we did test the original

when they first came out in January 2023. The BMR1 V2 Nearfield Monitors appear to have the same audio drivers as the original launch, with a frequency response range of 80 - 24,000 Hz and a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of >95 dB (typical A-weighted). While the BMR1 Nearfield Monitors were (expectedly, given their size) on the quieter side, they did an excellent job of minimizing distortion and sounded nearly as good at maximum volume as they did at 50% volume. They also performed well as gaming speakers, thanks to a detailed high range and a "holographic soundstage," which sounded wider than your typical stereo setup. The BMR1 V2's are close to the same size as the original BMR1's, measuring 11.5 inches (293mm) high by 3.9 inches (100mm) wide by 2.6 inches (66mm) deep in their vertical orientation; they can also be set up horizontally, in case you'd like to place them under a monitor.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware covering peripherals, software, and custom builds. You can find more of her work in PCWorld, Macworld, TechHive, CNET, Gizmodo, Tom's Guide, PC Gamer, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and just about everywhere else.