Considering of shopping for a Mac or MacBook for varsity, faculty or college? Right here, in our greatest Mac for college kids information, we check out Apple’s present line-up to guage which Mac is greatest for college kids. We’ll examine the MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional for school and look at whether or not one other Mac may really be a better option.
Selecting the perfect Mac for school or college depends upon what you will be learning in addition to how a lot it’s important to spend. Fortunately registered college students can get monetary savings on a brand new Mac by procuring at Apple’s Training Retailer, or with certainly one of Apple’s companions. We talk about Easy methods to get an Apple scholar low cost at Apple’s Training Retailer individually, though we additionally speak concerning the other ways it can save you cash as a scholar beneath.
It can save you tons of on a MacBook Air, MacBook Professional, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio and even a Mac Professional at Apple’s Training Retailer all 12 months spherical. Click on on the next hyperlinks for the Training shops within the international locations the place most of our readers reside:
Additionally, beginning in June within the U.S., July within the U.Ok. and Europe, and January in Australia and New Zealand, Apple runs a “Back To Uni” occasion, the place Apple offers individuals seeking to purchase a Mac for college reward vouchers (and sometimes a free pair of AirPods). You could have till September 30, 2024 within the U.S. and Canada to benefit from this 12 months’s deal, and till October 21 within the U.Ok.
In case you’re a scholar, you may also get Apple Music for half worth with free Apple TV+ included.
Apple
Apple
Apple
We’ll run by way of precisely how a lot cash it can save you on a brand new Mac in case you are a scholar beneath, then we’ll assess which Mac to decide on based mostly in your wants as a scholar and the course you’re taking. Notice that you just could possibly get much more cash off your Mac buy if you happen to go straight to a reseller and benefit from a reduction, you’ll see the perfect offers for every Mac beneath.
In case you’re doing a level in movie and video, or music, or graphic design then it’d make sense to additionally have a look at certainly one of our different Finest Mac For… guides for that topic space:
We even have a information that can assist you get the perfect MacBook offers for college kids.
How a lot can college students save on a Mac?
Earlier than we start let’s have a look at what is obtainable and the way a lot it can save you with the training low cost.
College students can usually save $100 to $200 within the U.S., within the U.Ok. the financial savings are from £100 to £200, Australian college students can save between $150 and $330 and Canadian college students can usually save from $130 to $270. Financial savings are even larger on high-end merchandise just like the Mac Professional, though we aren’t certain that many college students want a type of.
| Product | U.S. | U.Ok. | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M2, MSRP | $999 | £999 | $1,599 | $1,299 |
| 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M2, Pupil low cost | $899 | £899 | $1,439 | $1,169 |
| 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M3, MSRP | $1,099 | £1,099 | $1,799 | $1,449 |
| 13.6-inch MacBook Air, M3, Pupil low cost | $999 | £999 | $1,649 | $1,299 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air, M3, MSRP | $1,299 | £1,299 | $2,199 | $1,749 |
| 15-inch MacBook Air, M3, Pupil low cost | $1,199 | £1,199 | $1,999 | $1,599 |
| 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 MSRP | $1,599 | £1,699 | $2,699 | $2,099 |
| 14-inch MacBook Professional M3 Pupil low cost | $1,499 | £1,589 | $2,529 | $1,969 |
| 14-inch MacBook Professional, M3 Professional MSRP | $1,999 | £2,099 | $3,499 | $2,699 |
| 14-inch MacBook Professional, M3 Professional Pupil low cost | $1,849 | £1,939 | $3,239 | $2,399 |
| 16-inch MacBook Professional, M3 Professional MSRP | $2,499 | £2,599 | $4,299 | $3,299 |
| 16-inch MacBook Professional, M3 Professional Pupil low cost | $2,299 | £2,389 | $3,949 | $2,939 |
| iMac M3 MSRP | $1,299 | £1,399 | $2,199 | $1,699 |
| iMac M3 Pupil low cost | $1,249 | £1,349 | $2,109 | $1,629 |
| Mac mini MSRP | $599 | £649 | $999 | $799 |
| Mac mini Pupil low cost | $499 | £539 | $829 | $669 |
| Mac Studio MSRP | $1,999 | £2,099 | $3,299 | $2,699 |
| Mac Studio Pupil low cost | $1,799 | £1,889 | $2,969 | $2,429 |
| Mac Professional MSRP | $6,999 | £7,199 | $11,999 | $8,999 |
| Mac Professional Pupil low cost | $6,599 | £6,789 | $11,309 | $8,479 |
MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional for school/college?
That is possible the query you’re hoping to get a solution to: ought to I purchase a MacBook Air or a MacBook Professional for school? We examine the MacBook Air vs MacBook Professional intimately individually. Under we’ll consider the totally different MacBooks from the attitude of a typical scholar within the order that we suggest them for college kids.
1. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M3, 2024
Value When Reviewed:
$1,099 (base)
You may assume that the MacBook Air is low-powered compared to the MacBook Professional, however not solely does this 13-inch MacBook Air provide the identical M3 chip because the 13-inch MacBook Professional, it additionally has a much bigger and brighter display, higher FaceTime cameras, is thinner and lighter than the Professional, and has different advantages when in comparison with the choice.
In case you’re in search of a MacBook that doesn’t break the financial institution and gives the last word in portability and nice battery life, then this MacBook Air is the proper match. The mannequin we’re recommending right here will not be the most cost effective MacBook Air, but it surely gives the perfect worth for cash and the value distinction between this and the older M2 mannequin is so small that it’s a type of instances the place spending a little bit extra will get you much more.
This MacBook Air gives 18 hours of battery life, based on Apple. That is lower than the 13-inch MacBook Professional’s 20 hours, but it surely’s certain to be sufficient to get you thru a day and an all-nighter at college.
There are not any USB-A ports on the MacBook Air or MacBook Professional, simply two USB-C, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe port so you possibly can cost your laptop computer and nonetheless have two USB ports free.
It’s possible you’ll really feel that you just want extra storage than the entry-level mannequin gives, wherein case, the 512GB mannequin prices $200/£200 extra. Beforehand there have been extra advantages to picking the 512GB model as a result of Apple’s smaller SSDs weren’t as quick because the bigger ones, however for the M3 MacBook Air Apple appears to have addressed this difficulty. Moderately than fork out for additional storage built-in it’s possible you’ll discover exterior storage, and even iCloud storage, works out cheaper. (When you’ve got an enormous Music library, for instance, pay for iTunes Match so you possibly can maintain your music within the cloud. When you’ve got an enormous photograph library activate iCloud Pictures and get extra iCloud storage).
How a lot can college students save on the 13-inch MacBook Air, M3?
MSRP: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799 / CA$1,449
Pupil: $999 / £999 / AU$1,649 / CA$1,299
College students save: $100 / £100 / AU$150 / CA$150
You’ll see the perfect costs proper now within the block above, which can be even higher than Apple’s training pricing.
2. MacBook Air, 15-inch, M3, 2024
Value When Reviewed:
$1,299 (base)
There is just one cause to not purchase the 13-inch MacBook Air with M3: the 15-inch MacBook Air with M3. The 15-inch MacBook Air prices $200 greater than the entry-level 13-inch M3 mannequin, but it surely gives a greater M3 chip as commonplace with a 10-core GPU, slightly than an 8-core GPU. And there’s additionally a much bigger display.
One other profit pertains to the audio system, that are higher than the smaller MacBook Air’s. Right here you get a six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers slightly than the four-speaker sound system of the 13-inch M3 (and M2).
The 15-inch MacBook Air weighs a little bit extra and can take up more room in your bag, however in order for you a much bigger display then that’s a good worth to pay.
Battery life is similar 18-hours as the opposite 13-inch MacBook Air fashions.
How a lot can college students save on the 15-inch MacBook Air, M3?
MSRP: $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199 / CA$1,749
Pupil: $1,199 / £1,289 / AU$1,999 / CA$1,599
College students save: $100 / £110 / AU$200 / CA$150
You’ll see the perfect costs proper now within the block above, which can be even higher than Apple’s training pricing.
Learn our full
Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 2024) assessment
3. Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional, M3, 2023
Value When Reviewed:
$1,599
The 14-inch MacBook Professional with M3 is kind of a leap up from the MacBook Air when it comes to worth and now that each are furnished with the identical M3 chip, it’s possible you’ll be questioning why anybody would wish to pay extra for the MacBook Professional.
There’s a cause to purchase the MacBook Professional slightly than the MacBook Air although and that’s mainly if the MacBook Air gained’t be highly effective sufficient in your wants. The factor concerning the MacBook Air is that it lacks a fan, which implies that if you happen to actually push it then the Mac may decelerate to keep away from overheating. For that reason, if you wish to use your Mac for heavy processing then you definitely is likely to be higher off with a MacBook Professional. On this case, when you’ve got the finances, you may really wish to think about the M3 Professional possibility (mentioned subsequent).
One different good thing about the MacBook Professional is the broader collection of ports than on the MacBook Air, together with HDMI and an SDXC card reader. However if you happen to aren’t doing something too demanding then the MacBook Air goes to be greater than highly effective sufficient in your wants and we’d counsel that you just save the cash you’d be spending on the MacBook Professional and purchase an exterior show to plug into when you find yourself again in your dorm room, or one thing equally as helpful (like meals).
How a lot can college students save on the 14-inch MacBook Professional, M3?
MSRP: $1,599 / £1,699 / AU$2,699 / CA$2,099
Pupil: $1,499 / £1,589 / AU$2,529 / CA$1,969
College students save: $100 / £110 / AU$170 / CA$130
Learn our full
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3, 2023) assessment
4. MacBook Professional, 14-inch, M3 Professional, 2023
Value When Reviewed:
$1,999
It’s unlikely that college students want the facility of the M3 Professional within the 14-inch MacBook Professional (or 16-inch MacBook Professional for that matter) and the value is prone to be prohibitive anyway. However we do see some good MacBook Professional offers, so if you will get a discount then these extra highly effective MacBook Professional fashions are price contemplating.
In case you want a extra highly effective Mac as a result of your course requires it, or maybe as a result of you’re a gamer in search of a machine that may meet these calls for, then it can save you a bit of cash by selecting the 14-inch MacBook Professional over the 16-inch mannequin. Each fashions provide the identical specs, so that you aren’t forfeiting any high-power choices. Learn: 14-inch vs 16-inch MacBook Professional.
How a lot can college students save on the 14-inch MacBook Professional, M3 Professional?
MSRP: $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,499 / CA$2,699
Pupil: $1,849 / £1,939 / AU$3,239 / CA$2,399
College students save: $150 / £160 / AU$260 / CA$300
Learn our full
Apple 14-inch MacBook Professional (M3 Professional, 2023) assessment
5. MacBook Air, 13-inch, M2, 2022
Value When Reviewed:
$1,099 (present worth at $999)
College students seeking to spend as little cash as potential might be contemplating the M2 MacBook Air, which is simply $899/£899 for college kids. That’s $100/£100 lower than the coed worth of the newer M3 MacBook Air.
That’s not an enormous saving although, so we recommend you store round a bit before you purchase: it’s possible you’ll discover a low cost on the M3 13-inch MacBook Air that beats Apple’s Pupil low cost on the older mannequin.
In case you can spare the additional cash, we suggest spending the additional $100/£100 as a result of the M3 MacBook Air is the higher buy due to the newer M3 chip and quicker storage. Our recommendation is to keep away from the 256GB M2 MacBook Air as a result of the storage is thought to be slower. We’d suggest upgrading to the 512GB mannequin, however by that time, you may as nicely spend the cash on the M3 MacBook Air which isn’t hampered by the identical storage difficulty.
However, if you happen to can’t spare the additional cash the M2 MacBook Air shall be greater than satisfactory for a scholar, particularly these predominantly writing essays and conducting analysis. This mannequin got here with a much bigger and brighter display, and higher FaceTime cameras than its predecessor, and nonetheless has quite a lot of advantages in comparison with the MacBook Professional.
The M2 MacBook Air gives 18 hours of battery life, identical to the M3 mannequin. That’s lower than the 13-inch MacBook Professional’s 20 hours, but it surely is sufficient to get you thru a day and an all-nighter at college. It gives the identical ports because the M3 MacBook Air: two USB-C, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe port for charging.
How a lot can college students save on the 13-inch MacBook Air, M2?
MSRP: $999 / £999 / AU$1,599 / CA$1,299
Pupil: $899 / £899 /AU$1,439 / CA$1,169
College students save: $100 / £100 / AU$160 / CA$130
Learn our full
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 2022) assessment
MacBook vs Mac desktop for college kids?
Pupil life usually includes a good quantity of mobility – touring to lectures, libraries, the occasional espresso store, after which presumably house for weekends and time period breaks–so it is smart to think about a laptop computer slightly than a desktop Mac.
Whereas the display sizes in MacBooks are smaller than iMacs, you possibly can at all times purchase an inexpensive display and use that along with your laptop computer when you find yourself house. Or, if you happen to even have an iPad, you may be capable of hyperlink your iPad to your MacBook and use the iPad display too (right here’s how you can use your iPad as a second display in your Mac). You might additionally use that iPad for taking notes when you find yourself at lectures (learn our information to the perfect iPad for college kids).
Nonetheless, there are some advantages to purchasing a Mac desktop. Typically, it’s the case that you just pay extra for a Mac laptop computer, in comparison with the identical specs on a desktop. The Mac mini, for instance, is Apple’s least expensive Mac regardless of having some fairly spectacular specs. Nonetheless, if you happen to examine the 24-inch iMac with a equally speced Mac laptop computer the iMac is significantly costlier.
iMac vs Mac mini vs Mac Studio for college kids
Whereas we admire that there are many advantages related to selecting a laptop computer for college, it’s possible you’ll be higher off with a desktop.
1. Mac mini, M2, 2023
Value When Reviewed:
From $599
The Mac mini was final upgraded in January 2023 when it gained the M2 chip (and the M2 Professional chip possibility mentioned beneath). Apple additionally diminished the value to $599/£649 so the most cost effective Mac going is now even cheaper! The one actual compromise is the dearth of monitor and keyboard.
The Mac mini is about as moveable as a desktop Mac can get. You might, in idea, take it house on the prepare, so long as you had a spare monitor ready for you once you bought there.
If you’re on a finances the Mac mini is the way in which to go. Get an entry-level Mac mini and ask round for an previous keyboard, mouse and monitor.
How a lot can college students save on the Mac mini, M2?
MSRP: $599 / £649 / AU$999 / CA$799
Pupil: $499 / £539 / AU$829 / CA$669
College students save: $100 / £110 / AU$170 / CA$130
Learn our full
Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023) assessment
2. Apple Mac mini (M2 Professional, 2023)
Value When Reviewed:
$1,299
The M2 Professional Mac mini gives all the advantages of the Mac mini mentioned above together with the extra highly effective M2 Professional chip which brings extra GPUs and assist for extra RAM (unified reminiscence).
In case you want an M2 Professional chip the Mac mini with M2 Professional is lots cheaper, at $1,199 (scholar worth) than a 14-inch MacBook Professional, which begins at $1,849 for college kids.
How a lot can college students save on the Mac mini, M2 Professional?
MSRP: $599 / £649 / AU$999 / CA$799
Pupil: $499 / £539 / AU$829 / CA$669
College students save: $100 / £110 / AU$170 / CA$130
Learn our full
Apple Mac mini (M2 Professional, 2023) assessment
3. Mac Studio, M2 Max, 2023
Value When Reviewed:
£1,999
Just like the M2 Professional Mac mini, the M2 Max Mac Studio brings a extra highly effective chip, with extra GPU cores and assist for extra RAM, at a a lot cheaper price than equally specced Mac laptops.
In case you want a strong Mac, both as a result of your course calls for it, or since you wish to spend your free time gaming, the Mac Studio is price consideration, and the coed low cost is fairly good.
As with the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional fashions although, we’d counsel that you just most likely don’t want this a lot energy and will most likely use the cash for one thing extra necessary, like lodging or meals.
How a lot can college students save on the Mac Studio?
MSRP: $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,299 / CA$2,699
Pupil: $1,799 / £1,889 / AU$2,969 / CA$2,429
College students save: $200 / £210 / AU$330 / CA$270
Learn our full
Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, 2023) assessment
4. iMac, 24-inch, M3
Value When Reviewed:
$1,299 base mannequin
Again in Might 2021 Apple launched an M1-equipped 24-inch iMac with a model new design in a selection of seven totally different colours, it then took till October 2023 earlier than Apple up to date the machine, including an M3 chip and nothing else. We weren’t recommending the iMac for college kids then and we aren’t totally recommending it now. However the iMac does have a couple of qualities which may enchantment to you.
Due to its design it’s actually a Mac that can make a press release to anybody coming into your dorm room. That 24-inch show may be an incredible display for streaming your favourite reveals and films.
The iMac is a non-portable Mac although, which could deter many college students from buying one. You gained’t be capable of take it with you to lectures–or cart it house on a prepare for the vacations–however it is possible for you to to work extra effectively due to its 24-inch display.
How a lot can college students save on the iMac?
MSRP: $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199 / CA$1,699
Pupil low cost: $1,249 / £1,349 / AU$2,109 / CA$1,629
College students save: $50 / £210 / AU$330 / CA$270
Learn our full
Apple 24-inch iMac (M3, 2023) assessment
Which Mac must you get for college?
Our choose of all the Mac vary, if you happen to’re a scholar, is the M3 MacBook Air. It offers you a greater display, higher webcam and a sexy new design to point out off in lectures. It’s gentle, quick, and with scholar pricing beginning at $999/£999 it’s excellent worth.
You might save by choosing the older M2 MacBook Air, however, in case you are in search of the most cost effective Mac you will get, the M2 Mac mini is an excellent possibility. It’s highly effective and with Apple’s training low cost, it’s simply $499/£539. You simply want a monitor, mouse and keyboard. The one cause to delay shopping for one is the truth that a Mac mini could also be coming quickly.
Easy methods to get a reduction on a Mac for college or college
You will get a scholar low cost at Apple’s training shops, however it’s important to qualify as a scholar in increased training, be a instructor, somebody shopping for for an training establishment, or a house educator. Faculty-age youngsters can solely take benefit if the gear is being bought by their college or if their guardian is home-educating them. If you’re a registered scholar you’ll be capable of get a reduction on a brand new Mac if you happen to store in Apple’s numerous Training Shops (beneath). Yow will discover out all about it in additional element in our Apple Training Retailer explainer.
Getting a scholar low cost from Apple’s training retailer isn’t the one option to get a less expensive Mac as a scholar although. There are numerous methods to get a discount:
Look out for reseller reductions: One other option to get a discount is to look out for offers at Apple resellers and Amazon, the place we’ve got see Macs with as a lot as $500 off the value. Check out our spherical ups of the perfect Mac offers to get the perfect costs proper now:
Purchase a refurbished Mac: Benefit from Apple’s refurbished retailer the place the corporate sells ex-display, returned, and previous-generation Macs at a reduction. The good thing about shopping for refurbished from Apple is that the merchandise are totally checked and include a one-year guarantee. You may as well get a refurbished Mac elsewhere with many resellers providing the identical service, however beware that not all refurbished Macs are equal. Normally refurbished implies that the Mac is assured to be in full working order, however do test with the reseller. Right here’s a information to how you can purchase a refurbished Mac. We additionally have a look at why you can purchase a refurbished Mac. One factor to notice: if you happen to discover what you suppose is an efficient deal on an older Intel Mac we don’t suggest that you just purchase one. Intel Macs will possible solely be supported with safety updates for a pair extra years, so it’s possible you’ll end up needing to improve earlier than the tip of your course.
Purchase second-hand/used: One benefit of shopping for refurbished is that it ought to be assured to work and you shouldn’t have any drawback returning it if there’s a drawback. These are explanation why we don’t suggest shopping for a secondhand Mac. In case you do see a deal on a secondhand or used Mac simply be particularly cautious.
One of the best Mac bargains are often on older fashions, though we do see reductions on present Macs as nicely. In case you see a great low cost on an older Mac it’s necessary to concentrate on what the newer fashions gives in order that you already know what you’re lacking out on and might choose whether or not the deal is nearly as good because it seems to be. For one factor, older Macs are prone to characteristic Intel processors slightly than Apple’s M1, M2, M3 or their variants, which might put you at a drawback sooner or later (and will definitely imply your Mac depreciates in worth in a short time). Contemplating an Intel Mac? Our recommendation is: keep away from. See: How lengthy does Apple assist Macs for.
If you’re a scholar right here’s how you can get Apple Music for half worth. Plus college students with an Apple Music scholar subscription additionally get free entry to Apple TV+ for a restricted time.