Heading to uni? The 3 best MacBooks, depending on your course and studies
Off to study this September? Here are the best MacBook options
As we enjoy the summertime, there's that niggling background thought of University or college also looming. "Which MacBook should I buy?" says that voice in your head.
Well, ponder no longer. If you're considering buying a new Apple laptop for your studies, then we're here to help you select the perfect MacBook – specifically for your course.
There are more MacBook options now than in preceding years, but that makes each option a better fit for certain workloads, as we'll get to below. And don't forget: Apple also offers a (typical) 10% discount for students.
So whether you need a lightweight Mac for word processing, or a larger option with extra power for computer modelling, here are the 3 best MacBook options available now:
T3's Top 3
The latest MacBook to join the family is called the Neo – and it's the most affordable Mac by some margin. But just because it's a lower price, doesn't mean it's a giant compromise. Because Apple produces its own software and hardware, it controls the synergy between how its chips perform. The Neo is great for word processing and lighter tasks, as it's roughly akin to an iPhone power with a much bigger screen and keyboard attached. For this money, though, it's a no-brainer for most student on more word- or spreadhseet- orientated courses.
If your budget is a little broader and you're looking for something with a little more power – say for image manipulation, some light video editing and so forth – then the MacBook Air steps up a notch. At 13-inches it's very portable, but there's a 15-inch model available if you have extra cash and think the additional real-estate worth it for your course needs. The latest model is an M5-based chip, but shop around for last-gen M4, too – as if that's cheaper, or available on Apple's Certified Refurbished site, then you could snag a deal.
If you need a MacBook that can do a lot of heavy lifting, then the Pro is the option to pick. Ideal if you're dealing with 3D tasks, animation, CAD projects and suchlike, the MacBook Pro has beefier innards that can handles graphics execution better. Heavier video and FX work, or music production, would also benefit from the greater bandwidth here. It's a larger and heavier machine, not to mention more expensive, but it'll be a necessary addition for those who need the greater reach of a power. A 16-inch model is also available, if a bigger pane to view your works will be a big benefit.
Apple MacBook: Pricing and Discounts
Apple has a dedicated Education Store, where you will find all the Apple products eligible for student discount. Any current or newly accepted higher education students can get these savings, as well as parents buying for higher education students, and teachers and staff working in education.
You will need to verify your eligibility during checkout on the Education Store website, which you do through UNIDAYS in the UK. After that, you'll be able to buy Apple products, including MacBooks and iPads, at a discounted rate.
In terms of pricing, the MacBook Air 13-inch model with the M5 processor starts at £1,199 for students. That's why you might want to seek out an M4 version, which was priced at £999 at launch – and can be had for even less. The MacBook Neo is less again, at £599 for students. But the MacBook Pro is more than both those combined – from £1,899 at its lowest student price.
Apple M4 vs M5 Processors: What's Different?
The M5 is the latest generation of Apple silicon. It's more powerful in terms of compute (CPU), graphics (GPU) and AI (NPU) than the M4 before it – but perhaps by not such a huge amount that you need to buy the latest. Both are 3nm process chips, so are architecturally similar.
Where the bigger shifts come into play are within the variants of chips in the family. The M5 Pro and M5 Max, for example, step things up a margin – just as the M4 equivalents do – with far more graphical nous to make light of specific tasks.
Paying the extra for these step-up chips will mean greater memory, for lighter work in process intensive tasks. You'll have quicker renders, more fluid visuals for 3D models. But you'll also have a lighter bank balance and have to suffer more fan noise – as that extra power needs extra cooling. It's overkill for most basic courses, in short.
Verdict: Which Apple MacBook wins?
Let's try and keep this as simple as possible: for most students, the MacBook Neo is going to be plenty enough – and the savings hugely appreciated to spend on other much-needed materials and life.
That said, if you're studying for an arts or animation or music production or computer modelling course then you might find you need a lot more power. A MacBook Pro will handle demands considerably better – saving you time, which is valuable – despite costing far more. The Pro and Max grade chips reach high professional standards.
In between those two is the sweet spot for many, though, with the MacBook Air a great do-it-all machine. It's got ample power to deal with photo/video editing tasks, for example, surpassing the Neo in this regard – without making as much noise or being as costly as the MacBook Pro.
What about Windows?
This list is for the best student MacBooks, noting, of course, that these run on Apple's MacOS software – not Windows.
It's worth checking whether your course would instead recommend a Windows machine for specific executable files required for certain programmes.
The Windows landscape is complex at present, as there are a multitude of processor options, which present opportunity but, at times, disadvantage with compatibility.
Read our Laptop confusion 101: Should I buy Intel, AMD, Snapdragon or what? feature to help with that conundrum in the Windows space.
Of the current options, however, the HP OmniBook 5 is a great option, per our Cheap Back-To-School Laptops feature.
HP's Snapdragon X Elite-toting laptop is a 16-incher that's on a great deal – which helps its case. The Qualcomm processor is now compatible with majority apps, no problems, yet delivers exceptional battery life. At this price you're getting a big screen for a small outlay, making it well worth it.
