Which Macbook Is Best For College

What Screen Size Should I Choose

Recommended: 15 inches, Minimum: 13 inches

As a computer science student, you will have multiple windows open, such as a window full of code, a window of the running program, a browser window and a notes window. Having a bigger screen is always a better choice. In fact, most professional developers have at least two computer monitors. If a larger screen or dual monitors is not in your budget, a 13-inch screen will suffice.

The Display Sizes Of The Macbook Pro M1

There are few differences between the different sizes of the MacBook Pros. The first is the MacBook Pro 13 is the only one that includes a touch bar. Since the 14 and 16 have full sized keyboards they do not have a touch bar. Next, the 13 is only available with the M1 chip. The 14 and 16 are available with both the M1 Pro and M1 Max chip. All three are great laptops, but it will come down to which fits your needs best.

Who This Is For And When To Buy

The best reason to buy a MacBook is that you need or prefer macOS to Windows, or the physical design of Apples laptops. The operating system is stable and easy to use, but more importantly, it integrates well with iPhones and iPadsfor example, iMessages and SMS messages sent from your Mac also appear on your iPhone and vice versa, and features such as AirDrop and iCloud make it easy to share notes, pictures, videos, reminders, contacts, passwords, bookmarks, and other data between your devices.

Macs are also a good choice if you want great support. Apples tech support is routinely rated above that of most, if not all, other PC and phone makers, and Apple Stores and Apple authorized service providers offer accessible in-person tech support and repairs in many locations.

Apple has moved away from Intel CPUs to its own processors for MacBooks , and the result is better performance than most Windows laptops in some key ways. Apples processors have much better performance and faster integrated graphics, and they get stellar battery life. Their batteries are also less prone to draining quickly when youre using an energy-hogging app like Zoom or Google Chrome.

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Macbook Pro Vs Macbook Air: Keyboard

All of the MacBooks offer Apples Magic Keyboard, which delivers great tactile performance and comfort. The MacBook Air doesnt feature a Touch Bar, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro does, but this OLED bar frankly doesnt offer a lot of value. Its perhaps telling that the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro ditched it for a dedicated function row of physical keys.

Apples Summer Education Promotion

Each year in the summer, Apple will hold a special education promotion in-store and online. This year, the promotion runs until September 26 and offers gift cards rather than AirPods like before. When purchasing a select iPad, students will earn a $100 Apple Gift Card. For Macs, students will get a $150 Apple Gift Card. This promotion bundles with the year-round education discount.

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Apple Macbook Pro M1 13 For College

Award:BEST QUALITY

WHY WE LIKE IT: Features the incredibly powerful Apple-manufactured 8-core M1 processor chip and a host of other advanced features, including 8GB of dedicated RAM and a speedy 256GB solid-state drive.

Pros

• 13 display on smaller side
• Must be upgraded at point of purchase

The Apple Macbook Pro M1 is of exceptional quality and perfect for students looking for the perfect marriage between power and form factor. The proprietary quad-core M1 processor chip is incredibly efficient and works to prolong the battery life, as the built-in lithium-ion battery can get nearly 20 hours of use per charge. We also appreciated the other specs here, including the 8GB of dedicated RAM and the 256GB solid-state drive.

Though there is also an 8-core GPU, for increased graphics, the 13-inch display is on the smaller side, which could impact streaming movies and the like. Additionally, all upgrades, be they RAM or storage, must be made upon purchase.

Is It Time To Get A New Best Macbook For College Students

Youâre looking for a new best macbook for college students. Think about it. It’s impossible to foresee pricing fluctuations in the future. The sooner you buy, the better off you’ll be if manufacturing doesn’t slow down. If, on the other hand, production is falling and prices are expected to climb, you might want to hold off on making a decision until the hype has calmed down.

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Which Is The Best Model Of The Apple Macbook

One of the best models of the MacBook is the M1 13-inch model. But Soon MacBook pro 14 and 16 will overtake the numbers of M1 mac pro 13. It is because they have better chips, better display, better speed, better CPU and GPU, and better storage.

But one negative thing about them is that they are out of budget for most people.

Do You Need Your Laptop For Work

If your job requires the use of a laptop and youâre planning to work while travelling, itâs a good idea to invest more and buy a higher-grade laptop. This is especially important if your work is related to your travels, for example if youâre a travel blogger or vlogger.

Itâs better to spend more in the beginning than getting a bargain and discovering later that you canât work because your laptop is unreliable!

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How We Test The Best Macbooks

To find the best MacBook, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them for your purchase.

We use a Klein K-10A colorimeter to test each MacBooks screen to find its average brightness and color quality . When it comes to general performance, we use the Geekbench 5 benchmark, and time how long the Macs will take to transcode a 4K video to 1080p.

We also run the BlackMagic storage speeds test to see how fast these MacBooks SSDs are . Then, we run our custom battery test to see how long each MacBook can last browsing the web over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

Weve tested various computer games on MacBooks, with Civilization VI being one of our current favorites to run.

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How We Test Macbook Laptops

Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

We put MacBooks through extensive benchmark testing â both synthetic and real-world â before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate everything from speed and battery life to display brightness, speaker volume and system heat.

We use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut of a laptop’s display. For performance benchmarking, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.4 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 25GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics tests include Assasin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry New Dawn, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm and Shadow of the Tomb Raider with 1080p or higher resolution when the display supports it.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. We consider everything over roughly 10 hours to be a good result. Of course, these tests are complemented with hands-on testing from our reviewers.

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Best Macbooks For Students 202: Get The Best Apple Tech This Black Friday

Black Friday is the perfect time to snag one of the best MacBooks for students, but which model is right for you?

• Best for students?

Appleâs MacBooks are getting better every year now that the company has moved to its own Apple Silicon architecture, but should you buy an older model and save money? Which screen size is right for you? And which chip is more powerful? These are all questions to ask when looking for the best MacBook for students, but this guide is here to clear up some of your questions.

As a result, your best bet is to keep an eye out for M1 or M2 processors. At the time of writing, the M1 Ultra is Appleâs most powerful chip, but itâs only found in desktop computers. Next, itâs the M1 Max, which can be found in MacBook Pros, and then the M1 Pro, which is another MacBook Pro chip. After that, itâs the M2, then M1, although year-on-year performance gains are more incremental than the jump from Intel to M1.

So, what makes a MacBook one of the best laptops for students? Not only is the hardware and software more in tune than Windows machines, with a variety of trackpad gestures and clever features like MagSafe charging, but macOS offers a powerful set of built-in apps. From Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, to Garageband for audio editing and iMovie for video, thereâs plenty you can do with a Mac right out of the box.

How To Organize Your Study Notes

Regardless of the program youre in, all college majors require you to work with an abundance of information. Paper notes are mostly inconvenient and irritating, so having the best MacBook for college is a really sound idea. But you need a proper all-in-one solution.

takes a new approach to note-taking, by creating flashcards to optimize your learning and organize your textbook storage system at the same time. This app is perfect for students who want to save time on scribbling notes and keep them organized easily search through the MarginNotes smart system, and access any material on the go. MarginNote saves all your entries in one place and allows access from any Apple device, whether its a Mac for students or an iPhone.

To start using MarginNote:

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How To Find The Best Mac For Education

The process of choosing the best MacBook for college depends on the kind of student you are, the type of assignments you get, and what youve generally come to expect from your computers. Apple is known for making their products to last, so even if you decide to buy a cheap Mac laptop for university, it should still be in good shape long after your graduation.

Since your studies will include both theory and practice, its crucial for your laptop to be able to support all the apps necessary during your time in college. If youre not anticipating to be working on any complex projects over the course of your studies, then a cheap Mac laptop will be a reasonable purchase for you.

To ease the process of finding the best Mac education pricing and quickly resolve the age-old question of whether to get MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for college, take a look at the following aspects.

How Much Can Students Save On A Mac

Before we begin its worth casting your eyes over whats available and how much you can save with the education discount.

MacBook Air: June 2022 saw Apple reveal the M2 version of the MacBook Air, which will go on sale in July. The company is still selling the entry-level M1 MacBook Air that features the first Apple silicon processors that were introduced in November 2020. There are therefore three MacBook Air models: one with the M1 Chip that offers a 7-core GPU and 8-core CPU, and two with M2 chips, one with a 8-core GPU and 8-core CPU, and the other with a 10-core GPU and 8-core CPU. The MacBook Air starts at $999/£999, but the price for students is lower: $899/£899. The new M2 model costs $1,199/£1,249 or $1,099/£1,149 for students. Students save $100/£100.

13in MacBook Pro: There are two 13in MacBook Pro models. These also arrived in November 2020 and feature the M1 chip like the Air, although in both cases this is the 8-core GPU version. Prices start at $1,299/£1,349, student prices from: $1,199/£1,249. Students save $100/£100.

14in MacBook Pro: Apple introduced the 14in MacBook Pro in October 2021 . The 14in MacBook Pro is powered by an M1 Pro,which is a faster variant of the M1. There is also the option of an even faster M1 Max, but thats more than most students would require. Prices start at $1,999/£1,899.

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What Software Do I Need

Grand Canyon University provides its students with a lot of powerful free software that otherwise would be very expensive. For instance, you do not need to worry about buying Microsoft Office Suite or MS Access SQL Server, all development tools from JetBrains, including CLion for C/C++ language development and ReSharper for code editing. You will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat DC app for your Mac because you need that software to be able to view documents like your electronic textbook.

Macbook Air Or Macbook Pro: Which Is Best

Both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro are excellent laptops in their own right, but which one to opt for depends on what youll be using it for.

• The Air is the thinnest, and its lighter than the Pro models
• The Air is a better choice for simple day-to-day use such as browsing and email
• The 13-inch Pro is the cheapest Pro model
• The Pro 16-inch is the most expensive model, aimed at design professionals
• The Air only comes with a 13-inch screen, whereas the Pro comes in either 13 or 16-inch sizes, both with sub-variants for processors and RAM
• All Pro models now have the unique Touch Bar above the keyboard

Both the Pro and the Air are beautifully designed and offer excellent battery life, at around 15 17 hours between charges. This makes them excellent travel companions, no matter which model you go for.

As for which is best? Weve got you covered. Our guide will help you work out exactly which model will work best for you.

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The High Performance Macbook Pro

The Apple MacBook Pro is a great option for the productive student that needs a lot of computer power. These computers typically have higher CPU, RAM, and SSD configurations. The 13 MacBook Pro is a great option for those who are looking for portability while still maintaining power. These models typically come with a dual-core processor, but newer models are now allowing a quad-core processor to be accepted. The 13 MacBook Pro can be configured to have 16GB of RAM and are able to host a 2TB SSD.

The 15 MacBook Pro comes standard with a quad-core processor, but newer models are allowing up to 8-core processing!! Which means more computing power for those who need it. These newer models can also be configured with 32GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Also, the 15 MacBook Pro can have its own dedicated graphics card to assure those who are going into video or photo wont have any slow down issues.

Although most of the new MacBook Pro on the markets are a bit overkill, it is good to know that there are options out there for everyone. Most older MacBook Pro models will work fine for student use as long as the specs are configured to your personal use.

Having a good understanding of what you will be using your computer for and knowing the differences will be beneficial for you in the long term. This way you wont be stuck having to upgrade shortly after you purchase your Mac computer.

Macbook Air M2 Best Macbook For College Students In 2023

• Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44
• Weight: 2.7 lbs
• Display: 13.6 Liquid Retina display
• Memory: 8GB configure to 16GB or 24GB
• Storage: 256GB or 512GB SSD configure to 1TB or 2TB
• Webcam Quality: 1080p
• Battery Life: Reported up to 18 hrs Apple TV playback, 15 hrs wireless web use
• Ports and Connectivity:

• 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C
• WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

Sitting smack dab in the middle of the MacBook product line, the 13 pro balances power and portability. It features the same internals as the MacBook Air M2 but is configurable to higher specifications. It also has built-in cooling fans to prevent high temps from throttling your laptops performance. If you dont plan to put your computer through its paces, you can save money by going for the MacBook Air M1 or M2 instead.

Pros

• Has built-in cooling fans to ensure the laptop runs optimally without throttled performance
• No notch or significant redesign enjoy notch-free viewing!
• Powerful and capable, can do just about everything you need, including heavier creative work
• Sits at the balance between portability and performance

Cons

• M1 Max chip is overkill for most and presents the least value

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How We Test The Best College Laptops

To find the best MacBook, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them for your purchase.

We use a Klein K-10A colorimeter to test each MacBook’s screen to find its average brightness and color quality . When it comes to general performance, we use the Geekbench 5 benchmark, and time how long the Macs will take to transcode a 4K video to 1080p.

We also run the BlackMagic storage speeds test to see how fast these MacBooks’ SSDs are . Then, we run our custom battery test to see how long each MacBook can last browsing the web over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

We’ve also tested various computer games on MacBooks, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm being one of our current favorites to run because it runs well on both macOS and Windows, giving us a good point of comparison.

For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.

No matter which Apple MacBook you buy, be sure to read our guide on how to clean a MacBook screen to keep it looking its best. Also, check out our best MacBook accessories and best MacBook carrying cases.