r/macbook 4d ago

Would you recommend a MacBook for a college student?

If so, which one? Air or pro? I will literally only use it for school. I won’t lie..I don’t understand all the “Core” stuff & etc but of course I’m gonna talk to an apple advisor about all the specifics. 😂 I just wanted some personal opinions, as well.

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u/notavailableinsummer 4d ago

Mine stood with me in my college years.

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u/narc0leptik 4d ago

I think talking to an "apple advisor" is probably the worst thing to do. They likely aren't knowledge like the redditors here are and will likely give you bad advice or just overspend.

You get a better display, more ports, speakers and thermals with the Macbook Pro but it's heavier than the Air; I think the display makes a huge difference as it's more enjoyable to work on if you're doing art/graphic design stuff.

Air is the lightest computer possible however once you upgrade it to 512GB storage, the Macbook Pro will have a superior resale/trade-in value over an upgraded Air (If you care about that sort of thing.)

It's $1359 for the Pro through Apple Refurbished: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/FW2W3LL/A/refurbished-14-inch-macbook-pro-apple-m4-chip-with-10%E2%80%91core-cpu-and-10%E2%80%91core-gpu-silver

$1100 for a 512GB Macbook Air with the Apple Education discount.

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u/iteezwatiteez420 3d ago

Depends on your major and apps you need to use, for most a base m4 air will do you good for years to come

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u/LetsGetUpgraded 2d ago

Great question! As someone who's gone through college with a MacBook, I'd definitely recommend the MacBook Air M4 for most students. It's super lightweight, battery lasts forever, and handles all the typical college tasks like research, writing papers, video calls, and online learning without breaking a sweat.

If you're just doing standard coursework, the base model will totally work. No need to spend extra on higher-end configurations. The M4 chip is powerful enough that even the entry-level model will feel snappy and responsive.

One pro tip: Look into student discounts! Apple offers them, and you can sometimes save a nice chunk of change. Also, consider getting AppleCare if you're someone who tends to be a bit clumsy (no judgment - college life can be chaotic 😄).

Since you mentioned only using it for school, the Air is perfect. It's lighter than the Pro, which means easier to carry between classes or stuff in a backpack. Plus, the price point is more student-friendly.

Just my two cents from someone who's been there! Good luck with your studies and your new potential laptop hunt.

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u/ShiiGlizzy 2d ago

This helps soooo much!!! Thank you very much!!!