If you're shopping more generally, check out our comprehensive list of the best MacBooks (opens in new tab) – and don't forget our guide to the best monitors for MacBook Pro (opens in new tab) if you'll need a bigger screen when at your desk, and our guide to the best external hard drives for Mac (opens in new tab) for backing up your work safely. But make sure you read the student discount section at the bottom of page, because Apple also awards money-off for student purchases. In this guide, we'll explain how factors such as screen and processor choice should influence a students' purchasing decision, and we'll also guide you towards the current lowest prices on these machines (also of note are our dedicated guides to the best cheap MacBook Air deals (opens in new tab) and best cheap MacBook Pro deals (opens in new tab)). They can tackle almost any task you throw at it, including taking seminar notes, watching back lectures, video calling your family and surfing the web.

If you're headed back to school, college or university, a MacBook might sound like an expensive choice but it's guaranteed to get you through your next study years and beyond. Apple definitely makes some of the best student laptops (opens in new tab) on the market, which double as some of the best lightweight laptops (opens in new tab) – something that students will always appreciate as you're dragging your laptop to and from classrooms.

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