Get one of the best MacBooks for students if you’re looking for a premium laptop without the premium price. While MacBooks are more expensive than other laptops, that doesn’t mean they won’t be affordable for students. Students are equally entitled to the best laptops, regardless of their ability to spend a lot.
There’s no getting around Apple’s premium pricing, but you’ll find MacBooks for a bargain if you know where to look, making them ideal laptops for most students. They are not only attractive because of their price. These notebooks are extremely lightweight and easy to carry around, since Apple invented them. Plus, they’re going to be much more powerful than any Chromebook out there. It doesn’t matter if you end up with a MacBook Pro 13-inch or a MacBook Air, they’ll be more than enough to handle school assignments and projects.
Whether you can stretch your budget to get one of the entry-level models or you’re getting a discounted refurbished one, rest assured you’ll find the best MacBook for students that’s within your reach. And, that’s without adding the student discounts that Apple always offers. To help you choose the best option, we took price, portability, power, and cost into account. These are our top picks.
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1. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
The best Apple laptop for students
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8-core
Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core
RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina display
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
Reasons to buy
+macOS Big Sur is fast and responsive+Battery life is great+Silent in use
Reasons to avoid
–Fanless design could impact performance
Apple rolled out their much-talked-about M1 silicon chip that’s so far been a real game-changer. Apple’s M1 chip is a game-changer. The MacBook Air has a new chip that delivers exceptional performance and a long battery life. It is still reasonably affordable. That makes it the best MacBook for students in 2022.
Read the full review: MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
2. MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)
Apple’s little MacBook Pro gets a big refresh
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8-core
Graphics: Integrated 8-core
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 LED-backlit Retina display
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
Dimensions (H x W x D): 30. 41 x 21. 24 x 1. 56 cm
Reasons to buy
+Huge battery life+Great performance+Can run iOS apps
Reasons to avoid
–Still lacks ports
The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) may not have gotten a massive design overhaul, but what it lacks in that department, it makes up for big-time in performance and battery life. Thanks to Apple’s groundbreaking M1 chip, the new MacBook Pro 13-inch delivers excellent performance and exceptional battery life. This laptop can handle 4K and 8K videos with ease. If you are in high school, or college, this MacBook is the right choice for you. It can handle 4K and 8K videos.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020)
New and improved
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i3 – i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Storage: 256GB – 2TB PCIe-based SSD
Dimensions: 30. 41 x 21. 24 x 1. 61 cm
Reasons to buy
+Lower price of entry+New 10th generation processors+Improved keyboard
Reasons to avoid
–Screen colors a little muted–Battery life only OK–Webcam still just 720p
Apple’s thinnest and lightest MacBook is back in 2022 with a vengeance. It has fixed many of the problems with its predecessors, including the problematic keyboard. It also has new, more powerful internal components and even more storage options. Although there are some things that we would change, such as the screen’s muted appearance and the battery life, this MacBook Air is superior to any other model in the line. It’s certainly one of the most impressive MacBooks ever made.
Read the full review: MacBook Air (2020)
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4. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)
Worth the upgrade at the highest configuration
Specifications
CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – 10th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
RAM: up to 32GB
Screen: 13-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD
Dimensions (H x W x D): 30. 41 x 21. 24 x 1. 49cm
Reasons to buy
+Improved specs (on some models)+Larger capacity SSD for starting model+New keyboard is great
Reasons to avoid
–Entry-level model still has 8th gen Intel CPU–You still only get Thunderbolt 3 ports
The MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)’s entry-level model may miss out on some of the lineup’s new toys. However, going for the higher-end configurations will get you new (and powerful) Intel processors and improved RAM speeds for better performance, all packed in the 13-inch incredibly svelte body. Apple rounds it all out with that incredible Magic Keyboard from the new 16-inch, finally getting rid of that problematic keyboard. Even if you don’t go for the 10th-generation Intel Core configurations, you might still appreciate the fact that all models come with more storage capacity for the same price as their predecessors. This MacBook is the best MacBook currently for college students.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020)
5. MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
Best MacBook for creative students
Specifications
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M
RAM: 16GB – 64GB
Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone
Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD
Reasons to buy
+Stunning 16-inch screen+New and improved keyboard
Reasons to avoid
–Expensive–Limited to four Thunderbolt 3 ports
While we are sad that Apple has retired the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we’re more than happy to see the MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) hit the shelves. As thin, light and sleek as ever, this doesn’t feel like a 16-inch behemoth. You might be concerned that it would be awkward and bulky to use. Despite its slim frame, you still get the extra space on the stunning display and the latest components. Apple adds some more punch to the mix with powerful speakers and a better keyboard. This MacBook is the perfect MacBook for film, design and photography students.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
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