Our pick
MacBook Air 13.3" (MQD32LL/A)
Lightest option with all-day battery, ideal for carrying between classes
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 849 reviews
From$179
New from $999
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Student MacBooks Under $300
A real MacBook for school, under $300
2017 MacBook Air, MacBook and MacBook Pro models, tested and graded, with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.
- 1-year warranty
- 30-day free returns
- Tested in Las Vegas
Will it work for me?
Good for
- Essays, Google Docs and Microsoft 365 on the web
- Research and online classes
- Zoom and Google Meet
- Streaming and music
Not for
- Video editing or gaming
- Apps that need the newest macOS
Our verdict
The 2017 MacBook Air costs the least and has the longest battery life of the group. The 13-inch MacBook Pro has the sharper Retina screen.
Our picks
Our pick
Macbook Pro 13.3" (MPXQ2LL/A)
Sharper Retina screen and faster chip for heavier multitasking
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 778 reviews
From$242.10
New from $1,299
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Our pick
MacBook Core M 12" (MNYG2LL/A)
Smallest and lightest Mac we sell, fine for writing and web
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 406 reviews
From$242.06
New from $1,299
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Our pick
Macbook Pro 15.4" (MPTR2LL/A)
Big 15-inch screen if you split-screen notes and research
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 364 reviews
From$269.10
New from $2,399
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
All Student MacBooks Under $300
MacBook Core M 12" (MNYG2LL/A)
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 406 reviews
From$242.06
New from $1,299
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Macbook Pro 13.3" (MPXQ2LL/A)
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 778 reviews
From$242.10
New from $1,299
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Macbook Pro 15.4" (MPTR2LL/A)
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 364 reviews
From$269.10
New from $2,399
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
MacBook Air 13.3" (MQD32LL/A)
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 849 reviews
From$179
New from $999
- Fair
- Good
- Excellent
Student MacBooks Under $300 buying guide
Which MacBook for school
- MacBook Air 13-inch (2017): the lowest price and the longest battery life. USB-A ports, an SD card slot and MagSafe 2.
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (2017): a sharper Retina screen and a faster chip, with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.
- MacBook 12-inch (2017): the lightest of the group, with one USB-C port. Good for writing and the web.
- MacBook Pro 15-inch (2017): a big Retina screen and a quad-core chip for heavier multitasking.
Software
The 2017 MacBook Air runs up to macOS Monterey, and the MacBook and MacBook Pro models up to macOS Ventura. Google Docs, Microsoft 365 on the web, Zoom and current browsers all work. Before you buy, check whether your school requires a specific app or macOS version.
What the grades mean
Excellent, Good and Fair only differ in how the outside looks. Every grade passes the same tests, has battery health of 80% or higher and gets the same 1-year warranty, which also covers accidental damage like a cracked screen or a drop.