The best affordable MacBook for college students

Apple products have been popular for some time, boasting processors with high-tech capabilities and proprietary software that seems intuitively navigable at the touch of the user.

The extra benefit of Apple’s self-designed hardware and software is the optimized sync-ability across products and operating systems. Although Apple developers claim their software is beyond safe, it’s not a guarantee that you won’t get your Mac infected with malware. Using CleanMyMac X, you will know about every threat to your Mac’s safety and be able to prevent it instantly. 

Modern Macs have come a long way since the beige 1984 Apple Macintosh personal computer, and the difficulty in picking a Mac for college students isn’t in finding something trustworthy, portably, and up-to-date; rather, it is finding the best tool to serve the needs of the student. That is why it is important to research before you buy and know your major’s requirements and the daily details of use.

Best Portable Mac

With the 13.3- or 13.6-inch display’s simplicity, the MacBook Air weighs between 2.7 and 2.8 pounds with either M1 or M2 chip and might be ideal for the student on the go. The lightness and 15-hour battery life provide a notetaking companion that can last through a long day of classes and late-night homework sessions. 

The Retina display, with over 4 million pixels, keeps images and text crisp and clear. True Tone technology auto-adjusts the white point of the display by analyzing the light of the environment, helping to alleviate eye strain. The large screen accommodates multiple windows for research, and the new keyboard features offer an ergonomic feel, especially with LED-backlit keys for low-light environments. 

The updated stereo speakers and a FaceTime camera make calling home, watching movies, and listening to lectures clearer in high definition. The 100% recycled aluminum alloy designed by Apple also makes this product the most environmentally-friendly Mac product to date.

MacBook Air does offer many compelling features for a highly mobile student, and Apple silicon chips are known for their high performance and speed. While this can be helpful and extend battery life for a studious note-taker, the robust capabilities of other Macs may be better suited for those that need the ability to run a variety of applications and programs. 

It is also important to note that the MacBook Air has a versatile USB-C port, so you may need adapters. The Macbook Air is the model with only two ports, so you may find it insufficient. 

Best Performing Mac

The MacBook Pro is a powerful computer that isn’t inferior in performance or capability and comes in three sizes (13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch) and ranges in weight from 3 to 3.6 pounds, size depending. The new model offers up to a 16-core Apple silicon chip, 32GB memory, and up to 8TB storage. This means the new MacBook Pro is capable of operating software and programs — like Adobe — blazing fast with updated graphics. These features are vital for those seeking to write code, produce music, edit videos, photos, or design presentations. 

Though the screen is not touch-sensitive, the 13-inch MacBook Pro does include a Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard, designed to incorporate familiar gestures as interactive controls. Authentication for secure online purchases and system settings is quicker and more personalized with Touch ID identification. The new MacBook Pro utilizes 2 or 3 USB-C ports, depending on the model, so compatibility with older devices may require adapters.

Taking full advantage of all the capabilities of your Mac, you may one day find that your machine’s performance isn’t at its peak as it was before. To use your Mac to its full potential and still keep it fast, we recommend optimizing its performance with CleanMyMac X’s Optimization tool. Keeping your Mac clean of unwanted data with CleanMyMac X, you’ll make your investment last as long as possible and avoid having to pay for replacements halfway through a degree program.

Most Affordable Mac for students

While Mac products can vary in price, they tend to keep their resale value. This is especially true if proper maintenance and care are regularly performed on the computer. The most affordable MacBook based on price is the M1 chip MacBook Air, which ranges in price depending on features:

$999:

• Retina display with True Tone
• 8GB unified memory
• 256GB SSD storage
• Force Touch trackpad
• Two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports

$1,399: 

• Retina display with True Tone
• 16GB unified memory
• 512GB SSD storage
• Force Touch trackpad
• Two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports

Note that you can customize other options that would better suit your needs.

The slim design of the MacBook Air makes it portable, versatile, and highly useful for many students who need to take notes, complete homework, do research, and study.

However, if design, rendering, layering, coding, and audio, video, and otherwise engineering programs are needed, then the MacBook Pro is a valuable purchase for the extra money. The 13-inch MacBook Pro ranges in cost depending on features:

$1,299:

• M2 chip
• 13-inch Retina display with True Tone
• 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU
• 8GB unified memory
• 256GB SSD storage
• Touch Bar and Touch ID
• Two Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports

$1,499: 

• M2 chip
• 13-inch Retina display with True Tone
• 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU
• 8GB unified memory
• 512GB SSD storage
• Touch Bar and Touch ID
• Two Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports

The 14-inch MacBook Pro also offers different features for the money paid:

$1,999:

• M2 Pro chip
• 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU
• 16GB unified memory
• 512GB SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Touch Bar
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe3 port

$2,499:

• M2 Pro chip
• 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU
• 16GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe 3 port

$3,099:

• M2 Max chip
• 12-core CPU, 30-core GPU
• 32GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe 3 port

16-inch MacBook Pro is also worth considering, although it is the most expensive one:

$2,499:

• M2 Pro chip
• 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU
• 16GB unified memory
• 512B SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe 3 port

$2,699:

• M2 Pro chip
• 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU
• 16GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe 3 port

$3,499:

• M2 Max chip
• 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU
• 32GB unified memory
• 1TB SSD storage
• Retina display with True Tone
• Three Thunderbolt USB-C 3 ports
• MagSafe 3 port

MacBook Alternatives

Though every student will need access to technology and the internet to complete assignments, submit papers, and communicate with friends and family, not every student may need a laptop. Apple has a variety of still powerful and comfortable products in much smaller and/or accessible stock.

Portability

The new generations of iPads are both portable and powerful, with a variety of Bluetooth accessories such as the Apple Pencil, Logitech Crayon, or a variety of Smart Keyboards. The combination of accessories and advanced technology makes many iPads capable of replacing laptops and computers for various functions. Model prices differ:

iPad Pro — from $799:

• 12.9” and 11”
• Liquid Retina Display
• Apple M2 chip
• Face ID
• Up to 2TB storage
• Support for Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
• Support for Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard

iPad Air — from $599:

• 10.9” Retina display
• Apple M1 chip
• Touch ID 
• Up to 256GB storage
• Support for Apple Pencil (1st generation)
• Support for Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard

iPad mini — from $499:

• 8.3” Retina display 
• A15 Bionic chip
• Touch ID 
• Up to 256GB storage
• Support for Apple Pencil (1st generation)
• Can work with Bluetooth keyboards

iPad — from $329:

• 10.2” Retina display 
• A13 Bionic chip 
• Touch ID 
• Up to 256GB storage 
• Support for Apple Pencil (1st generation)
• Can work with Smart Keyboard

Performance

The performance of any computer can be at risk at college. File-sharing, free public Wi-Fi, and bouncing around campus can all add up to the cluttered storage of your Mac. That’s why it’s advisable to complete regular scans of your Mac with CleanMyMac X to keep it safe and sound. Here’s how to do it:

1. Download and open CleanMyMac X.
2. Click the Scan button.
3. After the tool give you the system a check, click Run. 

Now, your Mac is clean of unnecessary data and can work much faster. 

If portability is not an issue, then an iMac may be a valuable alternative. The iMac offers an all-in-one design desktop experience that encompasses an Apple silicon chip, fast memory, and incredible graphics. The iMac hardware is optimized for macOS as well as a variety of apps and other Mac products for connectivity, versatility, and reliability.

The 24-inch model ranges in price via available features:

$1,299:

• Apple M1 chip
• 7-core GPU
• 8-core CPU
• 256GB hard drive
• 8GB unified memory
• Two Thunderbolt USB-C ports
• 4.5K Retina display
• Magic Keyboard

$1,499:

• Apple M1 chip
• 8-core GPU
• 8-core CPU
• 256GB hard drive
• 8GB unified memory
• Two Thunderbolt USB-C ports
• Two USB 3 ports
• 4.5K Retina display
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
• Gigabit Ethernet

$1,699:

• Apple M1 chip
• 8-core GPU
• 8-core CPU
• 512GB hard drive
• 8GB unified memory
• Two Thunderbolt USB-C ports
• Two USB 3 ports
• 4.5K Retina display
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
• Gigabit Ethernet

Affordability

The Mac mini now comes with Apple M2 chips, up to 32GB memory, and 8TB SSD storage, making this tiny desktop computer powerful enough for industrial tasks and projects while small enough to comfortably fit on a desk in a close-quarters dorm. Depending on features, the cost of the Mac mini ranges from:

$599:

• Apple M2 chip
• 8GB memory configurable to 24GB
• 256GB storage configurable to 2TB

$799:

• Apple M2 chip
• 8GB memory configurable to 24GB
• 512GB storage configurable to 2TB

$1,299:

• Apple M2 Pro chip
• 16GB memory configurable to 32GB
• 512GB storage configurable to 8TB

Finding the right tools to immerse into college and the homework load can feel intimidating with so many options available. Doing the research and having a general idea of needs can ensure getting a product that is just right for the college workload and experience. Fortunately for college students, keeping any Mac in top shape is easy: download CleanMyMac X for free and reduce drag on memory, clear out old files, and preserve the performance of your computers.