Now that results day has passed, you’ll likely be starting to think about all the bits you’ll need for university.
A laptop is one of the biggest and most important purchases you’ll make as a student. Not only do you need a decent PC to see you through your studies, but a laptop provides a key source of entertainment too. After all, students need to keep up with the latest Netflix series alongside all those lectures.
Below, we debate whether a MacBook is a worthwhile investment for students, offer advice on how to nab one for as cheaply as possible and explain when a Windows laptop is a better option.
If you need more inspiration, our list of the best MacBooks and overall best laptops offer our top-rated choices. Need to preserve your student loan? Our guide to the best budget laptops has you covered.
Is a MacBook necessary for students?
With the cheapest MacBook Air starting at £999/$999, it’s fair to say that an Apple PC isn’t the most affordable option around. Having said that, Windows alternatives are no longer the failsafe, budget-friendly alternative they once were.
In fact, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 has just a slightly cheaper starting RRP of £899/$899, which doesn’t include a charger, while the two-in-one Surface Pro 12 may start at £799/$799, but this price doesn’t include any necessary accessories like a keyboard or stylus.
Of course, there are many cheaper Windows alternatives available which may not boast as powerful a chip as the Apple M4 or Snapdragon X Elite, but are perfectly sufficient for everyday tasks such as writing essays, basic web research and streaming the occasional movie.
Essentially, deciding if a MacBook is necessary for you depends on both your budget and what you’ll be using your laptop for as a student. If you’ll be spending lots of time on your laptop, performing more intensive tasks on apps like Photoshop or LumaFusion, and want a device that’ll comfortably see you through your entire university life, then a MacBook Air is a great option.
We’d perhaps be a bit warier to recommend the more expensive MacBook Pro, but mainly because the cheapest starts at £1599/$1599, making it less of an appealing option for cash-strapped students. Having said that, if you want a higher quality display and access to more ports, the MacBook Pro is still a solid option.
For a closer look at the differences, our MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro guide should help you decide.
Do students get a discount on a MacBook?
Yes, current or newly accepted university students are able to nab a discount on certain Apple products, including a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. This also applies to parents buying for higher education students too.
At the time of writing, a MacBook Air under Apple’s education savings starts from £899 while a MacBook Pro starts at £1499.
Students in the UK will need to verify their eligibility with UNIDAYS.
Is it better to get a Mac or Windows for students?
As most of the best budget laptops run on Windows 11, if your budget is limited and you don’t necessarily require a powerful processor or the other frills that come with a more expensive alternative, then a Windows laptop is your best choice.
Having said that, it is possible to find an older MacBook at a cheaper price. For example, I regularly use a MacBook Air M2 and find it still runs well and rarely lags, so I can comfortably run through an eight-hour workday.
On the other hand, while a MacBook Air is solid for everyday use, it can struggle when performing more intensive tasks, and even lacks compatibility for certain coding or engineering applications. With this in mind, we’d recommend considering the exact apps you’ll be using on a daily or frequent basis and making sure they’re compatible with your preferred laptop.
