Oh! Black Friday MacBook deals have come early this year

In a word, yes. Refurbished MacBooks from reputable sellers like Back Market or Apple's own refurbishment programme can offer exceptional value, especially when you're seeing savings of over $800 / £800. These devices are thoroughly tested, come with warranties, and often include replaced batteries and outer shells, so they look and perform like new.

The main consideration is which generation you're buying – an M1 MacBook from 2020 is still perfectly capable for most tasks, but it won't support all the latest Apple Intelligence features that newer M3 and M4 models offer. We'd recommend refurbished options if you're primarily using your MacBook for web browsing, productivity apps, and light creative work. However, if you need cutting-edge performance or plan to keep the laptop for five or more years, buying new might be the better long-term investment.

The main differences come down to performance, display technology, and connectivity. MacBook Airs are thinner, lighter and fanless, making them silent and incredibly portable, whilst still offering excellent performance for most users. That makes them ideal for students, writers, and casual users who prioritise battery life and portability.

MacBook Pro models feature more powerful chip configurations (like the M4 Pro and M4 Max), active cooling that allows sustained high performance, brighter displays with ProMotion technology, and additional ports including HDMI and SD card slots. They're designed for professionals doing demanding work like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, or software development.

For most people, a MacBook Air provides more than enough power, but if you're regularly pushing your laptop to its limits with intensive creative or technical work, the MacBook Pro's extra capabilities justify the higher price.

For most students, the MacBook Air M1 or M2 offers the perfect balance of performance, portability, and value. These models handle everything from essay writing to light photo editing with ease, and their exceptional battery life means you can get through a full day of lectures without charging. The M1 model is particularly attractive if you're on a tight budget, especially with current discounts bringing it under $600 / £550.

However, if you're studying creative subjects like graphic design, video production, or music composition, it's worth investing in a MacBook Air M4 or even a MacBook Pro for the extra processing power and RAM. Apple's education pricing can also offer additional savings, so check the Apple Student Discount before making your purchase.