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The best MacBook for college students will depend on the major, how much time is spent carrying the laptop around campus, and how long it needs to last on a single charge. Students getting ready to go back to school in the fall or starting college for the first time can benefit from having the right technology on hand.
We’ve made a list with machines that range from fairly cheap and good for most students to more expensive and better for heavy work. Even though these MacBook‘s are used for different things, they all have great battery life, which is important when you spend all day running around campus.
Best MacBook for College Comparison Table
| Model | CPU Speed | Hard Disk Size | RAM Type | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air M1 | 1.2GHz-3.2GHz | 256GB-2TB SSD | 8GB-16GB | 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches | 2.8 lbs | $999-$1749 |
| Apple MacBook Air M2 | 1.2GHz-3.2GHz | 256GB-2TB SSD | 8GB-16GB | 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches | 2.8 lbs | $999-$1799 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 | 2.0GHz-3.2GHz | 256GB-2TB SSD | 8GB-16GB | 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.63 inches | 3.0 lbs | $1299-$1999 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 M1 | 2.0GHz-3.2GHz | 256GB-8TB SSD | 16GB-64GB | 11.97 x 8.14 x 0.63 inches | 3.5 lbs | $1999-$3499 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 | 2.0GHz-3.2GHz | 512GB-8TB SSD | 16GB-64GB | 14.09 x 9.68 x 0.64 inches | 4.3 lbs | $2399-$6599 |
Apple MacBook Air M1
Specification
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 0.63 x 8.36 inches |
| Weight | 2.8 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Most college students still find that the MacBook Air M1 is the best MacBook. Most students don’t need the upgrades in the more recent Air, and the M1 still starts at less than $1,000 and can be bought for $899 or less with discounts.
Still, its performance is better than that of every thin-and-light Windows laptop in the same price range, and in our tests, it lasted for 14 hours and 41 minutes on a single charge. For most computer tasks, the MacBook Air M1 is more than up to the task.
The Good
- Remarkably fast performance
- great battery life
The Bad
- Light on ports
Apple MacBook Air M2
Specification
| Dimensions | 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches |
| Weight | 2.7 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
Even though most college students will be happy with the MacBook Air M1, the new design and chip inside the Air M2 are hard to ignore. It takes a little while to get used to the notch in the screen, but the rest of the changes are good. The addition of MagSafe charging means that the two Thunderbolt 4 ports can be used for other things.
The M2 has a small performance boost that makes it about as good as the M1 Pro, and it still lasted 14 hours and 6 minutes in our battery test. The fact that it does all of this and stays cool and quiet without fans is still amazing. A brighter screen, a set of four speakers, and a new 1080p webcam are also on the list of improvements.
The Good
- Thinner, lighter design
- Much-improved screen
- Much-improved webcam
The Bad
- More expensive
- Base model has much slower storage
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch M2
Specification
| Dimensions | 8.36 x 11.97 x 0.61 inches |
| Weight | 3 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
The first M2-powered Apple laptop to hit the market was the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022. Even though the look hasn’t changed, it’s a good laptop with an amazing battery life. And based on our tests, the M2 chip delivers, beating many other Windows laptops in terms of performance. In many benchmarks, the M2 chip is also much better than the M1 chip.
Plus, the new MacBook Pro 2022 has a battery life of more than 18 hours, which is one of the longest we’ve seen in a modern laptop. But even though this laptop has a new chip made by Apple, the design shows its age. You get the same shape, the same number of ports, the same screen, and the same webcam. The new MacBook Air 2022, on the other hand, has a larger screen with thinner edges, a 1080p webcam, and a thinner, lighter body.
The Good
- M2 chip is a brilliant performer
- Excellent battery life
- Almost silent in use
- Can even play games
The Bad
- No new design
- Still only two Thunderbolt ports
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M1
Specification
| Dimensions | 8.71 x 12.31 x 0.61 inches |
| Weight | 3.52 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Batteries | 6 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
The 14-inch M1 Pro-chipped MacBook Pro used to cost $1,999. Since its replacement, the MacBook Pro 14-inch 2023, is now available, some stores are selling the older model for less. It’s something to keep an eye on if you want a MacBook that works better than the ones above. Overall, it is one of the best MacBook for College that you can buy.
This laptop has a 120Hz refresh rate Liquid Retina XDR screen, a still power M1 Pro chip, MagSafe charging, HDMI-out, and an SD memory reader. This means you won’t need a USB-C dongle to connect to a display or use external memory. But USB-A is still missing, and we’re starting to realize that Apple has no plans to bring it back.
The Good
- Blisteringly-fast performance
- Gorgeous mini-LED display
- Epic battery life
- HDMI, SD memory and MagSafe return
- Comfy Magic Keyboard
The Bad
- No USB-A port
- No update to $1,299 model
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M1
Specification
| Dimensions | 17.5 x 13 x 3.25 inches |
| Weight | 7.28 pounds |
| Hardware Platform | Mac |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR DRAM |
When it comes to power and efficiency, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro or M1 Max processor is the best in its class. Even though this laptop is expensive, any student who buys it will be able to use it for years to come because of its high-quality design and the fact that it will get software updates for years to come.
Artists and designers who need a little more power can easily find it here. With a native resolution of 3456 x 2234, the 16-inch screen has plenty of space for working in programs like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro. Because you can add an M1 Max processor and 64GB of RAM, you’ll always have enough power for any project.
The Good
- Outstanding battery life
- Great speakers
- Finally, more than USB-C ports
- 1080p webcam helps you look great
The Bad
- Display not 4K
- Expensive, especially with M1 Max
FAQs
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is the best choice all around, whether you commute to work, live in a dorm, or just want to be able to bring your MacBook Pro to class. It is small and easy to carry, and it has more than enough power for any project that most students are likely to work on.
If you plan to carry your MacBook around campus a lot, the Air is the best option. Make sure to buy a USB-C to USB-A dongle if you have USB-A accessories. The M2 MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports on the left side and a headphone jack on the right.
The M1 chip in the MacBook Air gives it a lot of processing power and lets it do a lot of different things while using less power. This makes the MacBook perfect for students who need to have multiple tabs open while typing up research papers or doing online homework.