Best student MacBook 2024: power-study, with style

Due to its great form factor, the varied suite of productivity apps, and fantastic screens, Apple's Macbook range has always been perfect for students. If you are working on a budget, you can pick up a very powerful MacBook Air M1 for a great price or the 16-inch MacBook Pro if you really want the top-of-the-line. Given desktops tend to require a lot of room, the MacBook gives quite a lot in a very small package and can even be brought along to classes due to its light weight. 

We think the best student MacBook right now is the MacBook Air M2 because of its great price point, excellent screen, and hefty specs. There's a surprising amount of power here and you should have no problem moving it from class back to your dorm room. 

If you want a little more power and a bigger screen, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is a great choice. With a bigger SSD and more RAM to power that bigger screen, you won't find yourself wishing for something a little stronger anytime soon. 

With so many different MacBook options out there to choose from, it can be easy to get lost in it all. Here are the best choices right now. 

Quick list

These are the best MacBooks for students of all ages and budgets

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Best overall

MacBook Air 2022 on cobbled ground

(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / Future)
Best overall

Specifications

Screen size: 13-inch
RAM: 8/16/24GB
Storage: 256/512GB/1/2TB SSD
Chip: M2
Battery life: up to 18 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Same screen size as 13-inch MacBook Pro
+
Up to 18 hours of wireless web battery between charges
+
Relatively low price
+
Apple M2!

Reasons to avoid

-
Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
-
Lower display brightness than other models

In mid-2020, Cupertino announced Apple silicon, starting with an impressive M1 processor. The 2022 MacBook Air, which we gave five stars, is the first to house the second-gen M2 processor. The 2022 MacBook Air is the best MacBook for students, along with being our favorite Mac for all users, because it packs a punch for anyone on a smaller budget, starting with its battery life — up to 18 hours between charges, depending on what you're doing.

At 2.7 pounds, the MacBook Air is the lightest Mac on the market despite having the same screen size as the smallest MacBook Pro model. Besides being less weighty, the MacBook Air also contains the same essential internals, including Apple's all-new M2 SoC. The laptop also features a backlit Magic Keyboard and a Touch ID sensor.

No doubt, the MacBook Air is appealing. However, it has drawbacks, including fewer Thunderbolt 3 ports, less display brightness, and more inferior speakers than most MacBook Pro models. It also offers two hours less battery life between charges than the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022). None of the disadvantages should stop you from buying it, however.

Most powerful

MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) on wooden desk with green background

(Image credit: Future)
Most powerful

Specifications

Screen size: 16-inch
RAM: 16/32/64/96GB
Storage: 512GB/1/2/4/8TB
Chip: M2 Pro/ M2 Max
Battery life: up to 22 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Configurable up to 8TB of storage
+
Myriad of expansion options
+
Big, juicy display
+
So much power

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive
-
May be overkill for most

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the computer to get if you need the most power possible. You can configure it with several options, whether you need that M2 Max processor, 96GB Unified Memory or 8TB of storage. 

Even at its base configuration, a 12-core M2 Pro with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 19-core GPU, the 16-inch model will handle any task a student throws at it. So if you want a no-doubt-about-it machine, get this MacBook Pro.

Best on a budget

MacBook Air M1

(Image credit: Future)
Best on a budget

Specifications

Screen size: 13-inch
RAM: 8/16GB
Storage: 256/512GB/1/2TB SSD
Chip: M1
Battery life: up to 18 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible performance-per-watt
+
Huge battery improvement over Intel-based MacBook Air
+
Classic design with new scissor-switch keyboard

Reasons to avoid

-
Not that much cheaper than 2022 model
-
Older design
-
Poor webcam

One of the first Apple silicon Macs, the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), still packs a punch, even though there's a newer model now that's a better choice for most students. The No. 1 reason to get the 2020 model? Price — assuming you can find one with a huge discount. 

The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) still contains plenty of power for anyone on a smaller budget, starting with its battery life. When we reviewed this device two years ago we were impressed with its up to 18 hours of battery life between charges, depending on what you're doing. At 2.8 pounds, this model is one of the lightest laptops on the market. Besides an M1 chip, it offers a backlit Magic Keyboard and a Touch ID sensor.

Best compact

MacBook Pro 14-inch in coffee house

(Image credit: iMore)
Best compact

Specifications

Screen size: 14-inch
RAM: 16/32/64/96GB
Storage: 512GB/1/2/4/8TB
Chip: M2 Pro/ M2 Max
Battery life: up to 22 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Same great features as the 16-inch model, but with a smaller display
+
1090p FaceTime camera
+
Lots of RAM and storage options
+
M2 Pro or M2 Max options

Reasons to avoid

-
Still very expensive 

The current 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro are identical inside and offer the same chip, RAM, and storage options. Therefore, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is an excellent choice if you're looking for the most potent MacBook current available but need a slightly smaller display. That's a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 3024-by-1964 pixels.

There are a few noticeable negatives to consider regarding this MacBook, including the price (it's still super expensive), weak color choices (just two), and the divisive notch that some might not like. 

Still, if you want the best MacBook with a smaller screen, this is a good way of getting both without missing out too much. 

Best for large screen

At home with 15-inch MacBook Air, on a mosaic balcony table and on a wooden floor.

(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / Future)
Best for large screen

Specifications

Screen size: 13-inch
RAM: 8/16/24GB
Storage: 256/512GB/1/2TB SSD
Chip: M2
Battery life: up to 18 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Screen size hits the sweet spot
+
Excellent M2 chip performance
+
Improves on the gorgeous design of 13-inch model

Reasons to avoid

-
Larger size doesn’t result in dramatically better battery life
-
Fewer GPU options
-
Still no ports on the right-hand side

The MacBook Air 15-inch took everything good from the 13-inch variant, and just kind of blew it up by an extra couple inches. The M2 chip in core of the machine is a super solid performer, and those colors are still some of the best in the MacBook line.

Our review commented on how perfect that screen size is, striking an excellent balance between being big enough to improve productivity, and small enough that it is still easy enough to travel around with. There could still be a couple of extra ports on the side, and the battery leaves a little to be desired, but it's still one of our favorite laptops of the year.

Best for touch bar

13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)

(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / iMore)
Best for Touch Bar

Specifications

Screen size: 13-inch
RAM: 8/16/24GB
Storage: 256/512GB/1/2TB SSD
Chip: M2
Battery life: up to 20 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Comes with potential extras
+
Great battery life
+
Touch Bar included
+
Slightly better display than MacBook Air

Reasons to avoid

-
Dated design
-
Touch Bar might not be for you
-
Price can rise quickly as you add components

The 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) is a great middle-ground. It packs an M2 processor, excellent graphics, more ports, and a long battery life. 

Three factors stand out when comparing the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) with the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). First, the Pro model offers a Touch Bar, while the Air only has a Touch ID. Second, the former offers up to two more battery life hours. The Pro model also offers more screen brightness and better speakers. You'll pay at least $200 extra for these extras, but it may be worth it depending on your needs, as we note in our review of the device.

Q&A

Which MacBook is best for students?

Whether you need a computer for high school or college, we think that the most recent MacBook Air is the best MacBook for students this year. So whether you're writing papers, putting together a Powerpoint, or even editing some images for a photography class, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) will be a reliable performer in your academic pursuits.

The current MacBook Air has a lot going for it, including the all-new M2 chip, a beautiful new design, fantastic color choices, and more.

If budget is your top concern, the MacBook Air (2020) is another excellent choice. It still includes a blazing-fast M1 chip, a backlit Magic Keyboard, and a Touch ID sensor. Plus, it can be found at great discounts depending on where and when you look. Although it's not the newest Air on the market, it's still powerful and will receive several macOS updates for years, including the latest macOS 13 Ventura.

For anyone looking for the most power, consider the MacBook Pro range with the latest M2 Pro or M2 Max chip on the 2023 models, ensuring fantastic performance. It may be excessive for some, but it's sure to last. If you want to see how these two models compare head-to-head then take a look at our MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro (2022) guide.

Do I need a MacBook as a student?

A MacBook is a great computer for a student; they're powerful, compact, super portable, and in some cases very well priced. For students in courses like music or video production they're almost a nessesity as well, given that you'll be suing special software that works best on Macs.

What is the best student MacBook in 2023?

Our pick for a student MacBook is the M2 MacBook Air though you could always go for a MacBook Pro if you want something with a larger screen or bigger storage. If you're on a bit of a budget, you could go for an M1 MacBook Air. It still performs very well today. 

Tammy Rogers
Senior Staff Writer

As iMore's Senior Staff writer, Tammy uses her background in audio and Masters in screenwriting to pen engaging product reviews and informative buying guides. The resident audiophile (or audio weirdo), she's got an eye for detail and a love of top-quality sound. Apple is her bread and butter, with attention on HomeKit and Apple iPhone and Mac hardware. You won't find her far away from a keyboard even outside of working at iMore – in her spare time, she spends her free time writing feature-length and TV screenplays. Also known to enjoy driving digital cars around virtual circuits, to varying degrees of success. Just don't ask her about AirPods Max - you probably won't like her answer.