10 Best Apple Computers For Students 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage; Silver with AppleCare+ (3 Years)
The Apple 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip is a strong choice for students who need a lightweight yet powerful laptop. It weighs just 2.7 pounds, making it easy to carry around campus or between classes. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display delivers sharp, bright visuals that are great for reading, browsing, and multimedia. With an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, this MacBook Air handles everyday tasks like writing papers, video calls, and light photo or video editing smoothly.
Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,253
Processor (CPU)
Display
Battery Life
Most important from
1 reviews
#2
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Space Gray
The Apple 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip is a fantastic choice for students who want a lightweight, powerful, and visually appealing laptop. Weighing just 2.7 pounds and featuring a slim design, it’s easy to carry between classes or around campus. Its 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display offers bright, sharp images, great for reading, note-taking, or streaming lectures. The M2 chip’s 8-core CPU and integrated graphics deliver smooth performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and even light creative work.
Rating
10.0
Processor (CPU)
Display
Battery Life
Most important from
1591 reviews
#3
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Midnight
The Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with the M3 chip is an impressive choice for students due to its performance and portability. The M3 chip, featuring an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, ensures smooth multitasking and efficient handling of both academic work and entertainment. With 8GB of RAM, it is adequate for typical student activities, though heavy multitaskers or those working with demanding applications might find the memory limiting. The 256GB SSD offers fast storage but might be insufficient for students with extensive data needs or larger software installations; additional cloud storage could be necessary.
Rating
8.5
Memory (RAM)
Battery Life
Portability
Most important from
1077 reviews
Top 10 Best Apple Computers For Students 2026 in the United States
#1
Winner
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage; Silver with AppleCare+ (3 Years)
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage; Silver with AppleCare+ (3 Years)
Processor (CPU): 8-core M2 chip CPU
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Portability: 2.7 pounds
Operating System: Mac OS
Chosen by 1253 this week
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Space Gray
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Space Gray
Processor (CPU): M2 chip, 8-core CPU
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 512 GB
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Portability: 2.7 pounds, slim design
Operating System: Mac OS
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Midnight
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID; Midnight
Processor (CPU): Apple M3
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB SSD
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Battery Life: up to 18 hours
Portability: 2.7 pounds, 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44
Operating System: Mac OS
2022 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with M2 chip: 13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Touch Bar, Backlit Keyboard, FaceTime HD Camera. Works with iPhone and iPad; Space Gray
2022 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop with M2 chip: 13-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage, Touch Bar, Backlit Keyboard, FaceTime HD Camera. Works with iPhone and iPad; Space Gray
Processor (CPU): 8-core CPU
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 512 GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch Retina
Battery Life: up to 20 hours
Portability: 3 pounds
Operating System: macOS
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Midnight
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Midnight
Processor (CPU): Apple M3
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB
Display: 15.3 Inches
Battery Life: 18 hours
Portability: 3.3 pounds
Operating System: Mac OS
Related Products
Apple 2021 iMac All in one Desktop Computer with M1 chip: 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 24-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Matching Accessories. Works with iPhone/iPad; Pink
Apple 2021 iMac All in one Desktop Computer with M1 chip: 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 24-inch Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Matching Accessories. Works with iPhone/iPad; Pink
Processor (CPU): 8-core CPU
Memory (RAM): 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display: 24-inch Retina
Portability: Desktop, less portable
Operating System: macOS
Apple 2023 iMac All-in-One Desktop Computer with M3 chip: 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24-inch Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Matching Accessories. Works with iPhone/iPad; Silver
Apple 2023 iMac All-in-One Desktop Computer with M3 chip: 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24-inch Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Matching Accessories. Works with iPhone/iPad; Silver
Processor (CPU): Apple M4, 8-core CPU
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB
Display: 24-inch Retina
Portability: Desktop, slim design
Operating System: Mac OS
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Midnight
Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera; Midnight
Processor (CPU): 8-core M2 chip
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB SSD
Display: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina
Battery Life: up to 18 hours
Portability: 2.7 pounds
Operating System: Mac OS
2020 Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display (27-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage)
2020 Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display (27-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD Storage)
Processor (CPU): 3.3 GHz 6-core Intel i5
Memory (RAM): 8 GB DDR4
Storage: 512 GB SSD
Display: 27-inch 5K Retina, 5120x2880
Portability: 19.7 pounds
Operating System: Mac OS
#10
Apple 2023 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray
Apple 2023 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display, 8GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Touch ID. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray
Processor (CPU): Apple M2 chip, 8-core CPU
Memory (RAM): 8 GB
Storage: 256 GB SSD
Display: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina
Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Portability: 3.3 pounds, thin aluminum body
Operating System: Mac OS
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Buying Guide for the Best Apple Computers For Students
Choosing the right Apple computer for a student involves considering several key factors that will ensure the device meets their academic and personal needs. It's important to think about what the computer will be used for, such as writing papers, conducting research, creating presentations, or even more demanding tasks like video editing or programming. By understanding the key specifications and how they relate to your needs, you can make an informed decision that will serve you well throughout your studies.Processor (CPU)The processor, or CPU, is the brain of the computer and determines how fast and efficiently it can perform tasks. For basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and streaming, a dual-core processor will suffice. However, for more demanding applications like video editing, programming, or running multiple applications simultaneously, a quad-core or higher processor is recommended. Students should consider their field of study and choose a processor that can handle the software they will be using.
Memory (RAM)RAM, or Random Access Memory, is crucial for multitasking and running applications smoothly. For general use, 8GB of RAM is typically sufficient. However, if you plan to run more intensive applications or multitask heavily, 16GB or more may be necessary. Students in fields like graphic design, engineering, or computer science should consider higher RAM to ensure their computer can handle complex tasks without slowing down.
StorageStorage determines how much data you can save on your computer. Solid State Drives (SSD) are faster and more reliable than traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDD). For most students, 256GB of SSD storage is a good starting point, providing enough space for documents, applications, and some media. If you have a large media library or need to store large files, consider 512GB or more. External storage options are also available if you need additional space.
DisplayThe display quality is important for comfort and productivity, especially if you spend long hours on your computer. Retina displays offer high resolution and sharpness, which is beneficial for reading, writing, and viewing media. For students in creative fields like graphic design or video production, a larger screen with higher resolution can be advantageous. Consider the size and resolution that will best suit your needs and workspace.
Battery LifeBattery life is a critical factor for students who need to use their computer throughout the day without access to a power outlet. Look for a computer with a battery life of at least 10 hours to ensure it can last through classes, study sessions, and extracurricular activities. If you are often on the go, a longer battery life will provide more flexibility and convenience.
PortabilityPortability is important for students who need to carry their computer between classes, libraries, and home. Lighter and thinner models are easier to transport and can fit into backpacks more comfortably. Consider the weight and size of the computer, and choose one that balances performance with ease of carrying.
Operating SystemApple computers run on macOS, which is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Apple devices. Ensure that the software and applications you need for your studies are compatible with macOS. If you are already using other Apple products, the continuity features can enhance your productivity and convenience.