Whether we like it or not, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming school year. With the new school year comes lots of homework, assignments, and projects. That’s why students need a powerful computer that can help get that work done well and on time.
While there are several great computer brands, Apple has consistently positioned itself as one of the best for students. Apple products have become a favorite thanks to its cutting-edge laptops, desktops, and tablets, that work hand-in-hand with the iPhones and Apple Watches. Their products create a simple yet effective workflow for school, allowing students to see success in their given majors or areas of study. With that said, here are six of the best Apple computers for students for the upcoming school year.
Apple MacBook Air 13.3″, M1 Chip, 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD, Late 2020
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The latest Apple MacBook Air 13.3” is built for students who need performance and portability. This is Apple’s thinnest, lightest notebook on the market, but comes with the new M1 chip as Apple diverged from using Intel chips in 2020.
This M1 chip paired with Apple’s new 8-core CPU allows for up to 3.5x faster processing speeds. This means a better experience for the user when operating multiple software or platforms at the same time. That’s exactly what students need when handling multiple classes, assignments, and projects at one time.
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory
- 256GB SSD storage
- Retina display with True Tone
- Backlit Magic Keyboard – US English
- Touch ID
- Force Touch trackpad
- Comes in Space Gray and Gold Apple
Apple MacBook Pro 13.3″ with Touch Bar & Retina Display, M1 Chip, 8GB Memory, 512GB, Silver, Late 2020
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The Apple MacBook Pro has long been the Apple notebook for serious performance. It’s the laptop that lasts because it’s that good. You can customize and build it to handle just about any task, job, or workload.
This specific MacBook Pro—the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3″ with Touch Bar & Retina Display—is perfect for students who need more performance and storage. It also has intuitive features like two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, TouchBar and Touch ID. Now, thanks to Apple’s latest M1 chip, it runs faster than previous MacBook Pros of the past. So this MacBook Pro will certainly perform for students in school.
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 8GB unified memory
- 512GB SSD storage
- 3″ Retina display with True Tone
- Backlit Magic Keyboard – US English
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
Apple iMac 24″, M1 Chip w/8-Core CPU & 8-Core GPU, 8GB, 512GB, Green, Mid 2021
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The latest iMacs made a big splash this year thanks to the modern design and seven color options including the classic silver and subtle forest green.
If you are a student who needs a powerful, vibrant desktop workspace, the new iMac 24” with M1 Chip is one of the best options on the market. Whether they’re editing artwork, audio, photos, videos, or 3D renderings, the latest iMac was built and designed to handle it all. It can also be customizable to the user’s needs.
It has a stunning 4.5K Retina display, the new M1 chip with 8-Core CPU, several Thunderbolt USB 4 and USB 3 ports, and an immersive six-speaker audio system. These are just a few reasons why this desktop computer may be the perfect choice for a student. This version, with 512 GB of internal storage, is also fantastic for students handling more serious workloads.
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU
- 16-core Neural Engine
- 512GB storage
- 8GB unified memory
- 24″ 4.5K Retina display
- Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
- Two USB 3 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Apple iPad Pro 11″, 1TB, Wi-Fi, iPadOS, Space Gray (Early 2020)
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The new Apple iPad Pro 11” is the perfect option for students who need a powerful computing device but prefer a tablet’s size and portability.
Built with Apple’s new M1 Chip and Liquid Retina display, the Apple iPad Pro 11” is a joy to work on. This is especially if you enjoy the ultra-intuitive touch display that works perfectly with the Apple Pencil.
The high performance, wide-angle camera, Magic Keyboard, and Thunderbolt connectivity allows for fast, external storage, displays, and docks. This iPad Pro is not only the most versatile and best iPad yet but it could truly replace your laptop.
This specific iPad Pro 11” also features 128 GB of internal storage and options for Wi-Fi only or Wifi + Cellular connection. This means you can use your cellular provider and get 5G performance wherever you have cellular service. This iPad Pro is new, improved, and a fantastic option for students this upcoming school year.
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU
- 11” Liquid Retina display
- 2388 x 1668 Resolution (264 ppi)
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB of Storage
- Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + Cellular 5G options
- Thunderbolt connectivity for external storage, displays, and docks
- New ultra-wide back camera
Apple Mac Mini, M1 Chip w/8-Core CPU & 8-Core GPU,8GB Memory,256GB SSD,Late 2020
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If your student wants a more customizable desktop setup and prefers multiple screens, the latest Apple Mac Mini is a perfect choice.
Built with Apple’s new M1 Chip with 8-Core CPU, this desktop is powerful and can handle multiple complex programs at once. This model features 256 GB of SSD, which is crucial for an on-the-go, mobile workflow. This is helpful because SSDs don’t have internal, mechanical pieces that can be compromised by an accidental fall or drop.
However, if your student needs even more internal storage, the Apple Mac Mini can be customized to have up to 2 TB of SSD. This is fantastic for creatives, gamers, or students with heavy workloads. With two fast Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.0, Wi-Fi 6, and Gigabit Ethernet ports, the Mac Mini is ready for anything.
Key Features:
- Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB of storage (customizable up to 2 TB)
- Two fast Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, two USB-A ports, and HDMI 2.0, Wi-Fi 6, and Gigabit Ethernet ports
Apple MacBook Pro 16″, i7 2.6GHz, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon 5300M 4GB, Silver
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If you’re looking for a laptop that is built to handle more challenging workflows, large files, or complex editing software, this Apple MacBook Pro 16” is a perfect choice.
With a 9th Generation 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics with GDDR6 memory, Intel UHD Graphics 630 card, 512GB of SSD storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, this laptop is spec’d out to handle it all.
Add a stunning 16” Retina display with True Tone technology, a six-speaker audio system with force-cancelling woofers, Touch Bar and Touch ID, and this high-end MacBook Pro will be easy and enjoyable to use. It’s the next step up in portable power and performance, and ready for even the most demanding workflow.
Key Features:
- Ninth-generation 6-core Intel Core i7 processor
- 16″ Retina display with True Tone technology
- Touch Bar and Touch ID
- AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics with GDDR6 memory
- Ultrafast SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers
- Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
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