Best Buy has released its annual back-to-school tech shopping report, revealing details about shopping habits in Canada for this busy buying season. And it appears that when it comes the newer generations, they are considering the environment and focusing heavily on buying used and refurbished tech.
Gen Zers Love Used Tech
According to the study, 63% of Canadians have purchased used technology in the past year, with cost and environmental concerns as the leading factors. But there’s a generational difference: 71% of Gen Z have bought used tech in the past year, including open box, refurbished, and trade-ins, versus 65% for both Millennials and Gen X, and 55% among boomers.
The motivation for all generations is, of course, price, with 86% of Gen X saying they want to save money, 81% of Gen Z and Millennials, and 69% of Boomers. But environmental impact is a key consideration for younger buyers, with 44% of Gen Z citing that as a reason for choosing refurbished electronics, a factor that matters far less to older generations. Reducing their environmental impact was cited by 40% of millennials, 33% of Gen X, and 29% of Boomers.
As for how the younger generation decides what to buy, 11% of Gen Z says social media trends influence their buying decisions to buy used compared to only 6% of Millennials and 4% of Gen X and Boomers. However, how used the device is matters. The highest-rate of consideration is for open-box products that have been unboxed and returned or used as in-store displays. This is preferred by 47% of Gen Z, 45% of Millennials, 32% of Gen X, and 38% of Boomers. Next in line are refurbished products that are previously returned, used, or damaged but have since been inspected, tested, repaired, and restored. Consideration for these products declines among older generations, with only 35% of Gen Zers considering buying these, 37% of Millennials, and 40% of Boomers.
But according to Best Buy Canada sales, refurbished products save an average of 40% off the original retail price. The most popular refurbished products are wireless devices, laptops, computers, tablets, and video game consoles. Similarly, popular open-box products include laptops, wireless, TVs, tablets, and wearables.
Not surprisingly, parents with young kids and teenagers are most likely to consider buying used. Fifty-three per cent of parents with kids aged 4-5 have purchased open-box tech in the past year. This dips as kids get older, then climbs back to 48% for kids aged 13-17. In total, based on the survey, 84% of parents have traded in technology when replacing devices.
While the environment is growing in importance, price remains the top purchase factor across all generations, but durability is also a growing consideration for Gen Z (25.1%) and parents overall (23%). Parents of teens (13-17) are the most price-driven buyers at 39.2% compared to 25.7% of parents with kids aged 6-9, and 24% of those with no kids at home.
How Much Are Canadians Spending on Tech
The big question: how much are Canadians spending on back-to-school tech? According to Best Buy, 35% of Canadians overall spent $1,001+ on tech in the past year. Gen X is the most likely generation to spend that much at 41%, not surprisingly since they’re likely to have teens. That’s followed by Boomers (34%), Gen Z (33%), and Millennials (31%). Gen Z are the most price-conscious shoppers with 46% having spent $500 or less (vs. 40% of millennials). Of parents of teens (13-17), 45% spent $1,001+, 43% of parents of kids 10-12, and 40% of parents of kids 6-9.
Spending on tech varies by province as well. Manitobans spend the most on consumer technology, with 40% spending $1,001 or more in the past year, followed by Alberta (39%) and Ontario (37%). Atlantic Canada spends the least, with 70% spending $1,000 or less over the past year. Quebec and Ontario are the most price-conscious shoppers nationally, with 33% of Quebecers and 31% of Ontarians saying price is their top purchase factor. Atlantic Canadians care more about financing than anywhere else in the country, 9% consider financing/payment plan availability a top factor compared to just 3% nationally.
The survey was conducted by Best Buy Canada from July 17 to July 21, 2026 among a representative sample of 1,500 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French.