Apple is famous for the premium products it manufactures. Typically, its devices last for a long time, as the company's hardware is durable, and it issues software updates for many years. To make the most out of Apple products, you can invest in different device types, such as an excellent Mac and a versatile iPad. This allows you to take advantage of the tight ecosystem and interoperability that tie these products together. If you're a student seeking to start your Apple journey, we've compiled a list of the best products that you may be interested in.

Best laptop: Apple MacBook Air M2

The Apple MacBook Air has been one of the most popular notebooks for a few years now. It's light, capable, and — relatively speaking — affordable. This laptop offers a slim, premium design, unmatched by any of its rivals. It offers great durability and gets software updates for at least seven years usually. To sum up: it's a future-proof investment.

Powered by the Apple M2 chip, the latest MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch LED-backlit display, with a 2560 x 1664 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors. Its screen also supports True Tone, making the colors a bit warmer in certain lighting conditions.

The M2 chip has an always-on processor, an eight-core CPU with four perform­ance cores and four efficiency cores, an eight-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. This turns it into a beast when compared to similarly priced laptops. It's so capable and power-efficient that Apple actually removed the fans from its internals. The MacBook Air M2 simply doesn't heat up with average use.

When it comes to battery life, it has a built-in 52.6Wh lithium-polymer battery. It lasts for up to 15 hours when browsing the web on a single charge, according to Apple. It comes with a 30W USB-C power adapter, and fully charging it doesn't take too long.

The MacBook Air M2 includes two USB-C ports and, surprisingly, a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also reintroduces the MagSafe 3 charging port. So you will likely need to buy extra dongles or depend on cloud-based and other wireless solutions. My work is mostly internet browser-based, and I only use the MagSafe port to charge it, so this won't be an issue for you if you use a lot of cloud storage.

This excellent notebook comes with 8GB of RAM, but it's upgradable to 24GB if you need the extra memory. The base model has 256GB of SSD storage and can be upgraded to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. So these configurations should be enough to fit your student needs, unless you're studying rocket science, of course.

The Apple MacBook Air M2 comes with macOS Monterey pre-installed. Rest assured, though, you should be receiving future software updates for many years to come. What makes this laptop a great fit for students is its portability and lightweight build. You can just slide it into your backpack and get going. It has just enough power for an average student, and it has a reasonable price tag for the punch it packs. What's even better is that you can get it cheaper from Apple if you're eligible for the Student Discount.

The MacBook Air M2 is available in four colors: Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, and Midnight. So if you're a fan of more vibrant colors, you will have to settle for a case or skin for your new laptop. The base model is priced at $1,199 in the U.S., without the Student Discount.

Best value phone: Apple iPhone 12

If you are looking for a phone that is relatively modern yet doesn't leave a hole in your pocket, the Apple iPhone 12 is what you're looking for. It's a balance between affordable and capable. While it's neither the latest nor the most affordable iPhone, it still shines in places where the most affordable or the latest don't.

The iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, with a 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution at 460 pixels per inch. It supports HDR content, True Tone technology, wide color (P3), and Haptic Touch. Its brightness maxes out at 625 nits with typical use and 1,200 nits for HDR.

This iPhone has an Apple A14 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. It's not the latest and greatest SoC out there, but it gets the job done. It has only 4GB of RAM, but keep in mind that iOS is an efficient mobile operating system, so it's not as demanding as Android. You shouldn't be facing any lags or glitches with average use.

This phone includes a dual 12MP rear camera system with wide and ultra-wide cameras. It supports up to 2x optical zoom and up to 5x digital zoom. It also includes Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, which helps you take professional-looking shots. Other camera features include Night mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, 4K video recording, stereo video recording, and more. Its 12MP front camera includes additional sensors that enable Face ID and help you create Animoji and Memoji.

The iPhone 12 has a built-in 2,815mAh rechargeable battery that'll last up to 50 hours if just listening to audio or 10 hours when streaming video on a single charge, according to Apple. So it should last you a full school day if you're not using it for heavy, intensive tasks.

The Apple iPhone 12 is a great device for those who want to take advantage of slim bezels and Face ID but also don't want to spend a lot of money. It's available in six different finishes. If none of the colors match your taste, you might want to look into buying a case. If not for the vibrant colors, then at least buy it to protect this delicate glass slab. You can buy the base model for $599 in the U.S. before the Student Discount.

Best budget phone: Apple iPhone SE 3

If you are looking for a phone that is both affordable and packing a mighty mobile chip from the Cupertino-based company, then the Apple iPhone SE 3 is for you. While it's the latest in the iPhone SE lineup, it still features some dated characteristics — including its chassis. This phone is basically an iPhone 8 with updated hardware. It supports 5G networks and includes the A15 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 13 lineup.

The iPhone SE 3 comes with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, with a 1334 x 750-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch. It supports True Tone technology and Haptic Touch but lacks HDR compatibility. Its brightness maxes out at only 625 nits with typical use.

This iPhone has an Apple A15 Bionic chip — 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. It's one of the latest and greatest mobile SoCs to date, and it'll handle your tasks without any lags. It has only 4GB of RAM, but keep in mind that iOS is an efficient mobile operating system, so it's not as demanding as Android. You shouldn't be facing any glitches with average use.

This phone includes a dual 12MP wide rear camera. It supports up to 5x digital zoom and includes Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control. This allows you to take professional-looking shots. Portrait Lighting comes with six effects — Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High‑Key Mono. Other camera features include Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, 4K video recording, stereo video recording, and more. Its 7MP front camera doesn't support Face ID, but it's capable of shooting Portrait mode selfies nonetheless.

The iPhone SE 3 has a built-in 2,018mAh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. It lasts for up to 50 hours when listening to audio or 10 hours when streaming video on a single charge, according to Apple. So it should last you a full school day if you're not using it for heavy, intensive tasks.

The Apple iPhone SE 3 is a great device for those who want to take advantage of 5G and a fast mobile chip while sacrificing the design, camera, and display. It's available in Midnight, Starlight, and Red finishes only. If none of these limited colors match your taste, you might want to look into buying a case. If not for the vibrant colors, then at least buy it for the protection of this delicate glass slab. You can buy the base model for $429 in the U.S. before the Student Discount.

Best earbuds: Apple AirPods 3

Apple released the AirPods 3 back in October 2021. They introduce a new exterior design that looks more futuristic than that of the previous-gen models. They now look like a blend between the original AirPods and the AirPods Pro. However, it's worth noting that these AirPods — unlike the Pro model — don't support Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They do bring new features to the table, though. These include support for Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. So when you are listening to or watching compatible content and move your head, the audio will change accordingly.

When it comes to microphones and sensors, the AirPods 3 include dual beam-forming microphones, inward-facing microphones, skin-detect sensor, motion-detecting accelerometer, speech-detecting accelerometer, and force sensor. These components work together to support features like Spatial Audio, Hey Siri, ear detection, and more.

The AirPods 3 have an IPX4 water and sweat resistance, so you can use them when you hit the gym after school without worrying about the potential damage caused by sweat. Their batteries last up to 6 hours of listening time with a single charge. On a fully charged case, you can get up to 30 hours of listening time. And they only need five minutes in the case to get around one hour of listening time. To charge the case, you can either use a Lightning cable, such as the one you use to charge your iPhone or place the case on a MagSafe or Qi wireless charging mat.

The AirPods 3 box includes a Lightning to USB-C cable, documentation, in addition to the AirPods 3 and their MagSafe wireless charging case, obviously. For those who aren't fans of over-the-ear headphones, the AirPods 3 are perfect if they don't need ANC. They offer the best sound quality and most of the features that in-ear true wireless earbuds can offer nowadays. They are truly magical little pieces of tech. They're available for $179 in the US and come in one color only — White.

Best value tablet: Apple iPad Air 5

If you like the concept of an iPad replacing your laptop, but the affordable iPad 9 doesn't offer enough power for you, and the iPad Pro M2 is too expensive for your budget, then you may want to look into the Apple iPad Air 5. It's a significant upgrade when compared to the affordable iPad 9, and it is powered by the same M1 chip included in some recent Macs. So it's one of the most powerful mid-range tablets you can get for this price tag.

The Apple iPad Air 5 comes with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with a 2360 x 1640 pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch. It supports True Tone display — which makes colors a bit warmer in certain lighting conditions — and the Apple Pencil 2. If you're studying an art major, this might be a great pick for you.

This iPad is powered by the Apple M1 chip. When it comes to memory and storage, the iPad Air has 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 256GB of SSD. While there aren't a lot of configurations here, it's still more than enough for an average student looking for a mid-range device.

The iPad Air has an edge-to-edge display and no physical home button, thanks to the recent redesign. Touch ID has been moved to the power button. So while it might look like an iPad Pro, it still doesn't support Face ID because it lacks a TrueDepth camera system. It also offers a cellular model, so you can study on the go, while camping, or commuting.

This slab has a built-in 28.6-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that you can charge through a USB-C cable. It can last up to 10 hours when surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video, according to Apple. So that's a full day of studying without having to worry about running out of juice.

The Apple iPad Air 5 10.9-inch is available for $599 for the base model in the U.S., without the Student Discount. It's offered in five colorful finishes — Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue. Apple Pencil 2, keyboard cases, and other accessories are sold separately.

Best budget tablet: Apple iPad 9

If you are looking for a product that costs around a third of the Apple MacBook Air, but are willing to sacrifice macOS and the privileges of a real computer, then the Apple iPad 9 is what you're looking for. While it's nowhere as powerful as the popular notebook, it still packs enough power for a lot of students. If your studies don't require advanced PC software that isn't supported on iPadOS, and you only need to do some reading, writing, presenting, and/or doodling, then this iPad is the right device for you.

The affordable Apple iPad 9 comes with a 10.2-inch LED-backlit Multi-Touch Retina display, with a 2160 x 1620 pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch. It supports the Apple Pencil 1, taking notes and illustrating to the next level. While the Apple Pencil is sold separately, it's a good investment for those majoring in relevant fields. If you're looking to turn the iPad into a laptop replacement, then we advise you to buy a keyboard case to make typing an easier task.

This iPad has an Apple A13 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture. It's the same chip Apple included in the iPhone 11 lineup and the iPhone SE 2. It's not the latest and greatest, but it gets work done. It has only 3GB of RAM, but keep in mind that iPadOS is a mobile operating system, so it's not as demanding as macOS.

The 2021 affordable tablet from Apple includes an upgraded 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with a 122° field of view. This makes you attend online classes and other video calls like a pro. The quality is crystal clear, and its focus follows you as you move around the room. It supports 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, in addition to Cinematic video stabilization (1080p and 720p).

What makes the iPad stand out — when compared to the Mac — is cellular support. Apart from the multi-touch display that supports Apple Pencil 1, LTE distinguishes the iPad. You can attend online classes and study on the go, without having to worry about finding a Wi-Fi network. Do you want to study in the middle of a deserted forest? You've got this!

The iPad 9 has a built-in 32.4 watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. It lasts for up to 10 hours when browsing the web through Wi-Fi on a single charge, according to Apple. So it should last you a full school day if you're not using it for heavy, intensive tasks.

The Apple iPad 9 is a great device for light use. If you're a student who's looking for a lightweight, portable, and affordable tablet for your note-taking, then this device is what you're looking for. It's available in Silver and Space Gray finishes, so you might want to look into buying a case. If not for the vibrant colors, then at least buy it for the protection of this delicate glass slab. You can buy the base Wi-Fi-only model for $329 in the U.S. before the Student Discount.

Best tablet keyboard: Apple Magic Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard is one of the best options for iPad users who are deeply tied into Apple's ecosystem. That's because you can use it with both your iPad and Mac, and it's fully integrated into iPadOS and macOS. That's not to mention that it works with newer iOS versions, too. This keyboard features a minimalistic, simple design that matches the rest of the Apple products, in addition to a Touch ID sensor. Notably, you can utilize Touch ID on the Mac Studio, iMac, and Mac Mini only through this keyboard. This gives you an advantage over third-party options that lack built-in biometric auhtentication support.

When it comes to battery life, this keyboard will last you for around a month on a single charge. It comes with a USB-C to Lightning woven cable, so you can plug it into your Mac or a charging brick when it runs out of juice. It costs $150 in the U.S., and it offers no color options. If you tend to work with numbers a lot, you will be delighted to hear that Apple also sells a numpad variant of this keybaord, allowing you to take advantage of Touch ID and the tight system integrations, while having the full set of keys.

Best tracking device: Apple AirTag

Have you ever misplaced your backpack at school? Maybe your pencil case or wallet? That should be a thing of the past at this point. Apple introduced the AirTag back in 2021 as a Find My-enabled tracking device. AirTags are great for students because they're very affordable, can notify them when they leave something behind at school, and can help them locate the exact whereabouts of whatever tagged items they lose.

Apple and third parties sell AirTag accessories so you can safely attach one to your backpack. Alternatively, you could slide it in one of its pockets, but that would make finding it harder if a person hears it beeping. Either way, having an AirTag in one way or another increases your chances of finding what you're looking for.

When it comes to its battery life, Apple includes a replaceable battery that should last for a year or so. Users can easily change it by themselves, and their iPhones notify them when it's time to replace it. So battery life isn't something you should worry about at all.

AirTags are water and dust resistant with a rating of IP67 — meaning they can survive up to one-meter immersion for no longer than 30 minutes. So if you drop your AirTag in a puddle or it rains on it, it should be fine. However, it's worth mentioning that water resistance decreases over time, so don't expect it to remain as resistant down the road.

AirTags have an advantage over Tile and other rivals because it supports the Find My network. So almost every single active Apple device can be used to help find your lost item, through the expanding network. As long as an area is inhabited and has Apple users walking around, you should be able to locate an AirTag.

If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you can also use Precision Finding. This feature takes advantage of the U1 chips, in both the AirTag and your iPhone, to help you pinpoint the exact location of the former. A screen displays an arrow that you can follow around, with an estimate of the distance separating you.

An AirTag has a built-in speaker, so it can beep to help you or others find it. It also has privacy-focused features to make sure it's not abused. If an AirTag detects that it's following a person around that isn't its owner for a certain period of time, it'll scream for help. This is a very welcome anti-stalking measure from Apple.

AirTags are sold in either a pack of one or a (discounted) pack of four. They're available in one color only — White — but Apple and other retailers sell plenty of colorful accessories if you want to make it more vibrant. One AirTag costs $29 in the U.S., while a pack of four costs $99. So if you buy a pack of four, you would be saving $17, compared to buying four AirTags individually.

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Most students will manage with the products we have listed above just fine. However, if you're looking to take matters to the next level or maybe have some extra cash on hand and want much better future-proofing or performance, there are even more Apple products that students can take advantage of!

Best performance laptop: Apple MacBook Pro (2023)

The Apple MacBook Pro has been one of the most powerful and loved laptops for a while now. It's mighty, has a solid build, and supports a wide variety of professional editing tools, from both Apple and third-party developers. This laptop offers a minimalistic, premium design, unmatched by its rivals that come packing a similar power. It offers great durability and gets software updates for at least seven years usually. To sum up, we can safely say it's a future-proof investment.

Powered by the Apple M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, the MacBook Pro (2023) offers 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR displays, with a 254ppi pixel density. Its screen also supports True Tone, making the colors a bit warmer in certain lighting conditions. Additionally, it comes 120Hz refresh rate support, which still remains unavailable on the MacBook Air.

When it comes to battery life, it has a built-in 70Wh or 100Wh lithium-polymer battery, based on the display size you pick. Apple claims that this laptop offers the longest battery life ever on a Mac. So you can expect it to last you at least a full day on a single charge. And based on the model you pick, you will receive a charging brick of 67W, 96W, or 140W.

The MacBook Pro (2023) includes three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and SD card slot, and a MagSafe 3 charging port. So you likely won't need to buy extra dongles, as this port variety usually covers the needs of most people. That's assuming none of your accessories still rely on USB Type-A connection, which would then warrant the need for a dock or adapter.

This powerhouse comes with 16GB of RAM, but it's upgradable to 96GB — if you require the extra memory. The base model has 512GB of SSD storage and can be upgraded to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB. The M2 Pro chip can have up to 12 CPU cores and 19 GPU cores. Meanwhile, the M2 Max maxes out at 12 CPU cores and 38 GPU cores. This turns it into an unstoppable beast when compared to similarly priced laptops. These configurations should be enough to fit your student needs, no matter what you're majoring in, and even surpass them.

The Apple MacBook Pro (2023) supports macOS Ventura, and it should be receiving OS updates for years to come. What makes this laptop a great fit for students is its portability and durability. You can just slide it in your backpack and get going. It has more than enough power for an average student, so it's more aimed at students who work in audio/video editing and other intensive tasks. Don't forget that you can even get it for cheaper from Apple if you're eligible for the Student Discount.

The MacBook Pro (2023) is only available in two colors — Silver and Space Gray. So if you're a fan of more vibrant colors, you will have to settle for a case or skin for your new laptop. The base model is priced at $1,999 in the U.S., without the Student Discount.

Best performance phone: iPhone 14 Pro Max

If you are looking for the highest-end phone from Apple, then the iPhone 14 Pro Max is what you're looking for. It's the latest, most powerful the company has released to date. Most students likely won't justify buying it, but if you have spare cash, then you should take a look.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, with a 2796 x 1290 pixel resolution at 460 pixels per inch, featuring an all-new Dynamic Island. It supports the Always-On Display (AOD) feature, HDR content, True Tone technology, wide color (P3), Haptic Touch, and ProMotion technology at up to 120Hz. Its brightness maxes out at 1000 nits with typical use, 1600 nits when it comes to HDR, and 2000 nits when outdoors.

This iPhone has the newest Apple A16 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, which is aimed at those who require extraordinary processing powers. It has 6GB of RAM, but keep in mind that iOS is a very efficient mobile operating system, so it's not as demanding as Android.

This phone includes a Pro rear camera system, with telephoto, wide, and ultrawide cameras It supports up to 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range, and up to 15x digital zoom. It also includes Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control. This allows you to take professional-looking shots. Portrait Lighting comes with six effects — Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High‑Key Mono. Other camera features include Night mode, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 3, Apple ProRAW, lens correction, Macro photography, 4K video recording, stereo video recording, and more. Its 12MP front camera includes additional sensors that enable Face ID. This allows you to also use it for Animoji and Memoji.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a built-in 4,323mAh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. It lasts for up to 95 hours when listening to audio or 25 hours when streaming video on a single charge, according to Apple. So it should easily last you a full school day — even if you're using it for heavy, intensive tasks.

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great device for those who want to use the latest, best, and most advanced the company has to offer. It's available in Space Black, Deep Purple, Gold, and Silver finishes. You can buy the base model for $1,099 in the U.S. before the Student Discount.

Best earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 are the newest from Apple, and they're superb thanks to its ANC, which is perfect for students who want to study and stay focused in crowded or noisy environments. While I'm no longer a student myself, the AirPods Pro 2 are a lifesaver when working from cafés. It's unbelievable how suddenly everything around you ceases to exist, and you remain there, in front of your device, peacefully working on tasks.

The AirPods Pro 2 also offer an Adaptive Transparency mode to hear your surrounding sounds while filtering out loud noise, adaptive EQ, vent system for pressure equalization, custom high-excursion Apple driver, custom high dynamic range amplifier, and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. They're powered by the H2 chip, which also allows the instant pairing process on Apple devices, and they connect through Bluetooth 5.3.

When it comes to microphones and sensors, the AirPods Pro 2 include dual beamforming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, a skin-detection sensor, a motion-detecting accelerometer, a speech-detecting accelerometer, and touch controls. These components work together to support all of the features, including Hey Siri functionality.

The AirPods Pro 2 have an IPX4 water and sweat resistance, so you can use them when you hit the gym. Their batteries last up to 6 hours of listening time with a single charge (up to 5.5 hours with spatial audio and head tracking enabled). With a fully charged case, you can get up to 30 hours of listening time, and they only need five minutes in the case to get around one hour of listening time. To charge the case, you can either use a Lightning cable or place the case on a MagSafe or Qi wireless charging mat. Alternatively, you can charge it using the Apple Watch charging puck.

The AirPods Pro 2 box includes a Lightning to USB-C cable, documentation, AirPods Pro and their MagSafe wireless charging case, and four silicon tips. The silicone tips are included for those who have smaller or larger ears. ANC requires a tight fit to work properly, so you may want to do the ear tip fit test in your iPhone settings and switch to a different size if you fail it.

As someone who isn't a fan of over-the-ear headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 are perfect for me. They offer the best sound quality and features that in-ear true wireless earbuds can offer nowadays. They are truly magical little pieces of tech. They're available for $249 in the U.S.

Best performance tablet: Apple iPad Pro M2 12.9-inch

If you like the concept of an iPad replacing your laptop, but the affordable iPad 9 isn't powerful enough, then you may want to look into the Apple iPad Pro M2. It's powered by the M2 chip, which was originally designed for the Mac, so it's the most powerful tablet you can get for its, or any, price tag.

First up, the tablet has a 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED backlit display with a 2732 x 2048 pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch. It supports ProMotion technology, Apple Pencil hover, True Tone display, and the Apple Pencil 2. If you're studying art or like to do creative tasks, this might be the perfect device for you.

The M2 chip has an always-on processor, an eight-core CPU with four perform­ance cores and four efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Regarding memory, the iPad Pro M2 has 8GB RAM on models with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage and 16GB RAM on models with 1TB or 2TB storage. So there are configurations that match most needs.

When it comes to photography, this iPad Pro doesn't fall short. It has a Pro camera system on the back that includes wide and ultra-wide cameras. It also has a LiDAR Scanner, which allows users to 3D map environments around them. This is great if you're studying interior design and want to create a 3D map of a house or room you're working on. The front camera has a 12MP lens with a 122-degree field of view. So the quality is also crystal clear, and its focus follows you as you move around the room. You won't have to worry about looking blurry or not-so-sharp when attending your virtual classes. Thanks to the TrueDepth camera, you can unlock your iPad Pro with Face ID, in both portrait and landscape orientations.

The iPad Pro M2 has four speakers and five studio-quality microphones for calls, video recording, and audio recording. It's ideal for being productive on the go. Speaking of being on the go, it also offers a cellular model, so you can continue to study and research no matter where you are.

It has a built-in 40.88Wh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that you can charge through a USB-C cable. It can last up to 10 hours when surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video, according to Apple. So that's a full day of studying without worrying about running out of juice.

The Apple iPad Pro M2 12.9-inch is available for $1,099 for the base model in the U.S., without the Student Discount. It's offered in two finishes only — Space Gray and Silver. Apple Pencil 2, keyboard cases, and other accessories are sold separately.

Best desktop: Apple Mac Mini (2023)

The Apple Mac Mini (2023) is a new desktop Mac that recently got a chipset boost. It is capable, features plenty of different ports, and has a reasonable price tag. This desktop offers a modern, premium design, unmatched by similar desktop computers of this size. It offers great durability and gets software updates for at least seven years usually. To sum up, we can safely say it's a future-proof investment that will sit on your desk for years to come.

Powered by the Apple M2 or M2 Pro chip, the latest Mac Mini has no display, keyboard, mouse, or webcam. So you will separately have to buy your own accessories to set it up and properly utilize it. Similarly, when it comes to power, the Mac Mini doesn't include a battery. It has to be plugged in at all times, which makes sense because it's a stationary desktop computer. However, if you live in an area where power outages are frequent, you may want to consider buying a MacBook or an iPad instead.

In terms of ports, the Mac Mini includes Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm jack USB Type-A (x2), and Thunderbolt 4 (x2 or x4, depending on the model). So you likely won't need to buy extra dongles or docks, as these ports are typically sufficient for most people. Though, unlike the MacBook Pro, it lacks an SD card slot, so you may need to buy an adapter for that if needed.

This powerhouse comes with a minimum of 8GB of RAM, but it's upgradable to 32GB — if you require the extra memory. The base model has 512GB of SSD storage and can be upgraded to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB. The M2 chip has up to 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, while the M2 Pro goes for a maximum of 12 and 19 cores respectively. This turns it into a mighty machine in comparison to similar computers. These configurations should be more than enough to fit your student needs, no matter what you're majoring in, and even surpass them.

Depending on the chip you pick, the Mac Mini supports up to two or three external displays. The former supports one display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz through HDMI. Similarly, the latter supports two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz through Thunderbolt and one display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz through HDMI.

The Apple Mac Mini supports macOS Ventura, and should receive software updates for years to come. This desktop computer would be a great fit for students who are studying remotely at all times, because it remains stationary. So if you attend classes in person, you might want to look into buying a MacBook or an iPad. It has more than enough power for an average student, so it's more aimed at students who work in audio/video editing and other intensive tasks. Don't forget that you can even get it cheaper from Apple if you're eligible for the Student Discount.

The Mac Mini is available in just one color — Silver. So if you're a fan of more vibrant colors, you'll have to depend on skins. The base model is priced at $599 in the U.S., without the Student Discount, and it comes without a keyboard or mouse.

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If I had to choose one of these products for my university studies, I would go for the Apple iPad 9 10.2-inch. This is simply because I was actually using the affordable iPad 6 when I was still a student. While it wasn't the perfect device for my studies, it offered just enough for someone who was majoring in English Language and Literature. I mostly needed it to read novels and books, type assignments, research, and attend online classes. At the time, I could manage without a desktop operating system.

If you're not very low on budget, I would recommend the Apple MacBook Air M2 13-inch. When you graduate, you can also use it for work — rather than needing to buy a new device. That's assuming you don't need the power of a MacBook Pro. Evaluate your needs and balance them with your budget. After all, only you know best what device is right for you. We have merely laid out the options for you to make picking one easier.