Back-to-school laptop deals are upon us and boy, are there plenty of great offers on MacBooks happening right now right now. If you’re keen to embrace the macOS lifestyle at school or college, this is the perfect time to check out all the amazing back-to-school MacBook sales with retailers eager to save you money wherever possible. As is customary at this time of year, the back-to-school MacBook deals are pretty great with offers on the latest MacBook Air as well as the MacBook Pro 13-inch and 16-inch versions. With some speedy hardware to choose from, we thought we’d help you figure out the right MacBook for you with some key buying advice while also listing all the best back-to-school MacBook sales currently out there. There’s something here for everyone.
Today’s best back to school MacBook deals
Plus additional $100 off for students
Apple MacBook Air (M1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Late 2020 Model)
$900
$1,000
Released in late 2020, the new Apple M1 MacBook Air has better battery life and performance and is more secure than the older MacBook Air models with Intel processors.
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Free AirPods
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro – Education Pricing
Exclusive discounts for students & teachers
Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address can enjoy exclusive pricing on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro directly from the Apple Store.
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Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch w/Touch Bar (M1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
$1,100
$1,299
Packing the latest M1 CPU, this 13-inch MacBook Pro is an incredibly capable machine that will handle your work and daily needs for years to come.
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Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch (2017, Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD)
$856
Frequent video conferences? The Apple 15″ MacBook Pro comes with a built-in FaceTime HD camera and omnidirectional mic to enhance the quality of your virtual meetings.
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New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch display, Core i9 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage)
$2,300
$2,799
If your work has an emphasis on graphics (like game developing or film-making) then you can’t go wrong with this 16-inch MacBook Pro. It features AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics for quicker rendering.
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Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Amazon Renewed)
$1,625
$2,199
The new MacBook Pro is pricey to be sure, but buying this mint condition Renewed unit from Amazon is a great way to stack up the savings on Apple’s premium 16-inch laptop.
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MacBook Air 13-inch (Intel i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Amazon Renewed
$789
Looking for an entry-level MacBook? This MacBook Air is the ideal starting point, with its fantastic build quality and top-notch ease of use. Its thin and light design is great for traveling, too.
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Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M1 CPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
$1,100
$1,249
It doesn’t have the biggest screen, but it more than makes up for it with a spacious SSD storage and solid specs. With 11 hours of battery life, you’ll have plenty of time to work or play.
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New Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB Storage)
$2,249
$2,399
Treat yourself to a MacBook Pro with a brilliant 16-inch Retina display and a powerhouse of a processor which happens to be a six-core, ninth-generation Intel Core i7.
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Discount at checkout
New Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 10th gen Core i5 CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
$1,500
$1,799
Score one of the latest and greatest 13-inch MacBook Pro laptops with a Touch Bar and great modern hardware for a nice discount. With specs like these, this MacBook will last you for years to come.
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Renewed
MacBook Air (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 2019 Model) – Amazon Renewed
$641
With top-notch ease of use, this MacBook Air is ideal as a starter Mac. Its thin and light design is great for traveling, too.
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Apple MacBook Pro (2017, Intel Core i5 Dual Core, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Renewed)
$599
If you want a beefy MacBook Pro but you’re on a budget, this like new Amazon Renewed model from 2017 still packs recent hardware that won’t feel too sluggish.
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13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (2017, Amazon Renewed)
$448
If you don’t mind using a pre-owned Apple product, then you can snag this Apple MacBook Air for a steal, and it should work and look like new.
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MacBook 12-inch (2017, Intel m3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Amazon Renewed
$589
At 12 inches, the recently discontinued MacBook is the ideal laptop for working on the go. Backed up by Apple’s superb build quality and great software, it’ll last you years — and it’s cheap!
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13-Inch MacBook Pro w/Touch Bar, Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD (2019, Renewed)
$769
Looking for one of the latest MacBook Pros but don’t want to spend more than a grand? This 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro is Amazon Renewed in mint condition and packs great hardware for an everyday laptop.
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MacBook Pro (13-inch, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage)
$1,700
$1,999
Need a ton of storage in a portable package? Look at this 13-inch MacBook Pro: You’ll get all the space you need with a 1TB SSD and a solid workhorse of a quad-core, eighth-gen, Core i5 processor.
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Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 512GB Storage)
$1,299
$1,499
The gorgeous new MacBook Pro boasts Apple’s new M1 CPU, a brilliant retina display, Touch ID for added security, and the productivity-boosting Touch Bar.
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How to choose a MacBook for school or college
When figuring out what MacBook is right for you, your absolute first port of call to check out needs to be our look at the best MacBook to buy. Here, you’ll find a great overview of all your options for MacBooks so you can quickly check out what works for you before diving into the back-to-school MacBook deals.
Effectively, you have three main MacBook models to choose from. While it’s possible to find deals on older models, we don’t really recommend it. Now that Apple has embraced its M1 chip on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 16, even the best back-to-school MacBook sales on an older Intel-based model just aren’t worth your cash. Stick with the newest varieties and you can’t go wrong. Unless we’re talking about the MacBook Pro 16, of course. Confused? Don’t be. The back-to-school MacBook deals are a great time to get more for your money and we’ll help you narrow things down.
So, what are your options? There’s the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Pro 16. Each offers strengths and weaknesses.
The MacBook Air is the traditional choice for a student who needs to head between classes regularly. It’s the most lightweight and portable of the MacBooks out there right now. A rock-solid aluminum body and great build quality mean you can toss it into your bag between classes without a problem. Battery life is of the all-day variety and we really mean it with about 15.5 hours of web browsing possible between charges. It’s the ideal laptop to take out and about with you all day while still knowing you can head home and watch some streaming content without needing to hook it up to a power source.
Our MacBook Air buying guide breaks things down extensively but you don’t really have to think too hard here. If you want the cheapest MacBook out there (and likely to be cheaper still thanks to the back-to-school MacBook deals), and portability is everything, the MacBook Air is the one for you. It’s nice and simple like that.
However, if you want a slightly classier experience and don’t mind a tiny bit more bulk, the MacBook Pro 13 is a good bet. It has slightly superior GPU performance and a better Retina display but it’s also a little heavier and bulkier. Still, you do get superior speakers too which is great if you’re streaming a lot of content.
The MacBook Pro also has Apple’s Touch Bar which is a neat replacement for the function keys from before. Best of all is the Touch ID button so you can log into websites and your laptop without needing to type in a password. Battery life is still amazing, too, thanks to the M1 chip’s prowess. Again, our MacBook Pro 13 buying guide will help you truly understand the finer details of the MacBook Pro 13. Basically, it’s the middle range option that’s often discounted as part of the back-to-school MacBook sales. While the MacBook Air is much closer in performance than it used to be, the MacBook Pro does have the perks of the touch bar and the slightly better screen and these things can add up depending on what you need.
Then there’s the MacBook Pro 16. Again, our MacBook Pro 16 buying guide goes into depth, but it’s Apple’s top-end laptop and it’s very powerful. However, it doesn’t use Apple’s M1 chip just yet, which means it’s not quite as potent as it once was. Still, for the money, you get a 16-inch screen and a fairly hefty graphics card and the back-to-school MacBook deals going on right now. If video editing is your game or you want to play some actual games on the move, this could be tempting. It’s not exactly portable though thanks to that hefty 16-inch screen, so this is more something to leave in your dorm than take to class all the time. There are rumors that the MacBook Pro 16 will be updated soon though so you might want to hold off on snapping one up unless the back-to-school MacBook sales are truly too compelling.
Still not sure? Basically, the MacBook Air is the best choice for the majority of students, especially during the back-to-school MacBook sales. Lightweight and highly portable, you’ll be able to take it between classes easily while enjoying amazing battery life. The MacBook Pro 13 is a worthy second choice if you want a slightly superior display. Alternatively, probably give the MacBook Pro 16 a miss unless the back-to-school MacBook deals are simply too strong. Odds are it’s soon to be replaced.
We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.