Which Macbook Pro Is Best For College

Commercial Sellers Who Will Honor Returns

My recommendation is to only buy a used machine from a commercial seller who you know will honor returns. These include , OWC, and Apple Certified Refurbished machines. When you get your machine, you’ll have seven to 30 days to fully test it out. Make sure you know your return period. Once you get your machine , load them up fully and test them rigorously.

When it comes to Amazon, you can do a search for used MacBook Pros by model year, but the company doesn’t list them that way. Instead, it lists the model number of the Mac, which makes it harder to know what you’re looking at.

If you’re going to be buying a used Mac laptop, be sure to bookmark these pages:

MacBook Airs are fine machines, but they tend to be a little underpowered. Until 2019, they had older-style screens. I’d also stay away from basic MacBooks because they’re anemic out the gate.

Here’s my guide for making trade-off decisions on new purchases. The TL DR version is I recommend getting a MacBook Pro with at least 16GB RAM, an M1 processor, and an SSD of at least 256GB .

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

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Macbook For Data Science Student

Yap X. reached out to me with the following question:

Hi, Im a data scientist and freelance web developer. For data science stuff i can use google colab in a browser. For develop a web, i just need a text editor. Currently, Im considering picking a MBA or MBP.

First, I steered him to my article on choosing a MacBook for a college student, which covers this topic in-depth.

Then, the question was whether he needs more space or RAM. I know that data science projects need a lot of memory, but web developers benefit from more storage .

In the end, he went with MBP, 128GB with 2TB external drive.

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Windows Vs Mac: Which Is Best For College

The age old question appears once again. Windows and Mac are pitted against each other once more. This time we discuss whether Windows or Mac is better for college.

As always, this is a tough question to answer and it ultimately comes down to your personal preference and your needs in college. However, well be going over the pros and cons of each in this post and hopefully crown a winner.

College is an amazing time of your life. Youll see new places, make new friends, learn new things, have the occasional mental breakdown during finals. Its an overall great time.

Youll also need a great laptop to keep you going through all of this and hopefully make those breakdowns a bit less stressful. But is a Mac or Windows laptop right for you? Well theres a few things to consider before you make your big decision.

The Best Laptop In 2021 For Big

Even if youve used a light laptop before, its difficult to explain how light the LG Gram 17 is. It has a massive 17-inch display, but its somehow only three pounds. Picking it up messes with your mind you feel like youre not holding anything.

But the Gram 17s weight isnt the only standout feature. It also has some of the best battery life you can get, lasting over 12 hours in our testing. Add a great keyboard, a solid port selection, quiet fans, and a fast processor, and theres very little not to like about this device.

Not everyone needs a 17-inch display, and many folks who do are looking for a heavier-duty workstation that probably doesnt get moved very often. But if youd just really like a large screen for your daily office work and Netflixing, youre the target demographic for this machine. Its a niche, but truly impressive device without much real competition in todays market.

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Screen Size And Resolution

Another major area of difference between the different MacBooks offered by Apple is the screen size. While most modern models come equipped with retina display capabilities for clear and crisp screens, the size of the screens varies up to 3 inches from one another. Larger screens can be better for movies or videos but can also be more expensive.

Best For Money For College Students: 13

13-inch MacBook Pro M1 base model specifications:

• Processor and Graphics: Apple M1 Chip, 8-Core CPU with an integrated 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
• Memory: 8GB
• Storage: 256 GB SSD
• Battery: 58.2-watt-hour li-polymer battery
• Display: 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600 native resolution IPS display, with 500 nits of brightness)
• Weight: 1.4 kg

The Budget All-Rounder

The 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 is a jack of all trades.

On first look, it just seems like the slightly improved version of the M1 MacBook Air.

However, this is for the students who would like to spend more money for additional power, but not so much for the sake of their budget.

This is the best choice for students who need a little extra kick of the 16-inch MacBook Pro but with the portability of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Difference from the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro

In addition, the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 can be seen as a budget 14-inch MacBook Pro since it is much cheaper.

However, these two are totally different. A 14 MacBook Pro can have up to 64GB RAM, 8TB storage, M1 Pro, or M1 Max CPU. It has tons of expansion slots compared to two USB-C ports in old MBP 13.

The 16 MBP is essentially the same as 14, but has a larger screen. If you ask me, I see no point in wasting spending money on 16, especially if you are planning to use the second monitor with it. Apple used to put bigger CPUs in bigger laptops, but not this time.

Difference from the 13-inch MacBook Air

So, who is the 13-inch MacBook Pro really for?

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How To Optimize Document And Textbook Search

Learning is always associated with the need to efficiently save useful clips, drawings, photos, or graphics thats why every student needs a good scanner app.

Prizmo is the perfect way to quickly convert all those physical documents sitting on your desk to searchable digital material with very little effort. This smart app not only corrects the curvature of your photos and scans, but also has an incredible feature of translating any document to 59 different languages.

Here’s how to turn any picture into a document file with Prizmo:

Best Apple Laptop For Video Editing

The Macbook Pro 16-inch is the best computer if youre looking for good performance without any lag or power shortage. It comes with remarkable features which offer you: Six-core Intel Core i9 processor with Ram 64 GB, Storage 1 TB and a fully equipped AMD Radeon Pro 5500 Graphic Processor which delivers remarkably amazing gaming quality with pure video quality. A student can undoubtedly buy this laptop as this is one of the best MacBooks in the field delivering good performance for studies and Graphic quality for gaming. This laptop is a fully fledged package for a student.

With the ingenuity of the Mac, your creativity will soar. The latest-generation 6core Intel Core i7 processor delivers performance when you need it while enabling energy efficiency when you dont. A Retina display with True Tone technology produces rich colors and enhanced detail at any angle while the 16inch screen is packed into a footprint that still fits comfortably on your desk. An ultrafast SSD gives this notebook blazingly fast read/write speeds and large capacities. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the perfect computer for people who need a lot of power. It has a gorgeous display, superb performance, and the ability to configure it with up to 8TB of storage.

The MacBook Pro is built for more demanding workloads such as video editing and 3D modeling. It features a larger trackpad, second-generation keyboard, Force Touch Trackpad, a bigger display and more.

Pros

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Best Portable Computer: 13

• Lowest M1 13-inch MacBook Pro prices

Whether you’re a commuter, living in a dorm, or simply want the option to take your MacBook Pro to class, the best all-around choice is the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. It combines portability with enough power for nearly any project most students will encounter.

The small size means it fits easily into most backpacks and laptop bags, but the 2560-by-1600 native resolution allows for ample working space. This makes it ideal for writing papers or working in your college’s course management system, and the gorgeous retina display is ideal for streaming your favorite Apple TV+ shows.

This MacBook has several different storage options to choose from. We suggest that students upgrade to the one terabyte storage option, which allows them to store papers, projects, and pictures without fear of butting up against the storage capacity. For users who save a lot of music or video files, we suggest at least two terabytes to be safe.

The introduction of the M1 processor changes how students should choose their MacBooks. The 13-inch MacBook Pro has a fan, which means the M1 can run longer at higher loads without throttling, and has 8-cores instead of 7 for better multi-core performance. What this means is that students designing games or editing film will be able to process larger projects faster over time than what the fanless MacBook Air can handle.

Users who need more monitors, external GPUs, or Windows emulation should look to the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple Macbook Air M1 13 For College

Award:BEST QUIET DESIGN

WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely quiet design, thanks to a fanless design, with powerful specs that include the companys proprietary M1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage.

• 13 display on smaller side
• Weighs over 4lb

The Apple Macbook Air M1 is the quietest laptop that the company has ever made, as it does not feature a cooling fan of any kind. This is made possible by the inclusion of the companys proprietary M1 processor chip, which increases efficiency and, as such, decreases internal heat. The specs here are absolutely on point, with the aforementioned M1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage. The battery is also incredibly long-lasting, going for up to 18 hours before needing a recharge.

Though the 13-inch display on this 2020 Macbook Air is gorgeous, it is on the smaller side, which is something to consider before making a purchase. These Macbook Airs are a bit heavier than previous models, however, at nearly 4.5 pounds.

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Best For Power User Students: 16

16-inch MacBook Pro base model specifications:

• Processor and Graphics: Choose from newest M1 Pro and M1 Max
• Dedicated GPU: Choose between 16, 24 and 32-core GPU
• Memory: 32GB
• Storage 1 TB SSD
• Battery: 100-watt-hour li-polymer battery
• Display: 16-inch, 3456-by-2234 native resolution at 254 pixels per inch with 1000 nits of brightness
• Weight: 2.1 2.2 kg

Main Features

Multimedia arts students or other university majors that are similar in nature would require great graphics processing capacity.

In short, these students need a brighter and bigger screen without much sacrifice on color accuracy and screen real estate.

For students who will mainly do photo or video editing on their Macs, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best pick.

MacBook Pro 16 comes in two CPU configurations: M1 Pro and M1 Max. M1 Pro is up to 2.5 times faster than first-generation M1, and M1 Max is up to 4 times faster than M1.

Power Multitasker

But with that said, this MacBook packs a punch when it comes to graphic-intensive tasks such as heavy photo and video editing.

Since it has a dedicated GPU that can handle all the systems graphic processes, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is reliable to maintain simultaneous processes running and responding without overloading your memory and CPU.

It can easily handle editing videos in 4K or large batches of RAW photos. It also comes with a touch bar, which can add another layer of functionality to its design.

Large Screen Size

Great Color Accuracy

Cons

Best Macbook For College

Choosing the best Mac for college or university depends on what you are going to be studying as well as how much you have to spend.

We’ve created this student’s guide to buying a Mac to help you choose the right Mac for college, school or university. We consider what students are likely to need from their Mac, what features are worth paying more for, and how students can save money on a new Mac.

We also take a look at Apple’s range of Macs and the built to order options available that might be useful. Plus, we’ve collected together some accessories, software and services that could come in handy during your course.

Which Mac to choose depends on what your needs are as a student, and the course you are taking. If you’re doing a degree in film and video, or music, or graphic design then it might make sense to also look at one of our other Best Mac For… guides for that subject area:

• Best Mac for photo editing

We’ll look at each Apple laptop option as well as the iMac and Mac mini below.

If you are looking for a Mac for your children to use for school work the MacBook Air or Mac mini might appeal as low cost options, but there are other ways that you might be able to get a more powerful Mac for less money, we’ll explain your options below.

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Bring Your Own Macbook Pro

If you own a MacBook Pro that meets or exceeds the requirements below and is less than three years old, it will most likely meet the technology requirement. A small number of computers that are eligible might not meet certain requirements for technology-focused majors, and you may need to upgrade your device during your stay at Berklee. Any of the current MacBook Pro laptop models meet the requirements. You may learn more about these models on the Apple Store website.

If you are purchasing outside the US, note that Apple has specific commerce restrictions for Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Official information from Apple on global trade compliance and global sales restrictions can be foundhere. Restrictions in other countries or regions may exist. Berklee is not responsible for third-party company policies or global commerce restrictions.

If you need help identifying your MacBook Pro model, please visit the How to Identify MacBook Pro models page on the Apple website.

Recommended Computer Technical Specifications

How Long Do Macbooks Last

In my personal experience, I’ve had MacBook laptops last for upwards of five years before needing a replacement. This is also in line with the amount of time Apple tends to support its previously-released products with software and security updates: generally about five years. That’s a pretty long time considering that most financing plans would see the MacBook paid off about halfway through the lifespan of the laptop, and the optional Apple Care service can provide additional potential longevity to the machine through more frequent maintenance attention.

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How Much Storage Should I Get

Recommended: 512 GB, Minimum: 256 GB, Overkill: 1 TB

As for storage, 1 TB would be way more than enough while 128 GB would not be sufficient. Mac users should also install Windows on their Macs through Oracle or VMware because some software works better on Windows . With 512 GB, after splitting the storage by using two systems, there would be storage left for the system. It is also recommended that users buy an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or use cloud storage to save backup copies of important files because you will need them if the computer crashes. Most files are archived so you can store them on an external hard drive, which is a lot cheaper than the built-in storage. The key to choosing storage is to find the optimal that is able to store all the files you need with you and then buy an external hard drive to store everything else.

Best Apple Macbook For College Students 2022

• Electronic, Laptop, Macbook

Choosing the right laptop is as important as choosing the right path to build a successful career. The laptop has become a requirement for every college and university student.

Most of the students prefer apple MacBooks as their companion because they are fast, durable, lightweight, has long battery life, and considered perfect for studying, attending online classes, and virtual meetings.

But which Apple Mac is the best MacBook for college students? Lets have a look.

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