The best MacBook for students: portable power at tempting prices

2 MacBooks on a blue background
(Image credit: Apple/Future)

Looking for the best MacBook for students? Our team tests every model that's released, and we've used this experience to draw up our definitive list. 

For students, I'd recommend a MacBook with at least 16GB of RAM; 8GB will do, but isn't ideal for creative work. My top choice is the MacBook Air (M4, 2025), which balances portability, power and value. If you're studying programming, 3D modelling or video editing, though, you may prefer the extra power of the MacBook Pro (M4, 2024).

Beren Neale headshot
Beren Neale

Beren has well over a decade of experience writing about creative tech, having previously worked for the digital art magazine ImagineFX, the fine art magazine Paint & Draw and Canon Pro Europe. As Creative Bloq's Ecom Editor, he's racked up hours testing and reviewing everything from laptops and monitors to office chairs. He also oversees the curation of our buying guides, taking feedback on the products we've tested from contributing creatives.

Our expert says...
Ian Evenden profile shot
Our expert says...
Ian Evenden

"Of course it’s great. The combination of Apple’s thin and light laptop and the M4 processor leads to a machine that’s only just behind the low-end MacBook Pro, and which has had a price-drop too."

Our expert says...
Ian Evenden profile shot
Our expert says...
Ian Evenden

With prices having dropped following the release of the M4, the M3 Air is an extremely good way to get excellent portability, battery life, and processing capabilities all in one good-value package.

Our expert says
Rob Redman author bio
Our expert says
Rob Redman

The Macbook Pro M4 is powerful, fitting the bill for a wide range of creative needsfrom modelling to animating and rendering, as well as daily computing tasks. It's portable, offering excellent battery life, and could stand to replace your desktop.

Our expert says...
Ian Evenden profile shot
Our expert says...
Ian Evenden

The 2024 MacBook Pro M4 Pro is a powerful laptop for any use case, from modelling to animating and rendering, as well as daily computing tasks. The portability and excellent battery life make it suitable for 3D art students.

Our expert says...
Erlingur Einarsson headshot
Our expert says...
Erlingur Einarsson

It's tiny, but packs enough power for any creative task outside 3D processing or heavy video renders, and unlike many Apple products, it offers great value for your money.

Beren Neale
Ecom Editor

Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.