Subj : Want a MacBook for college but shopping on a student budget? I fo To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sun Jul 27 2025 16:15:07 Want a MacBook for college but shopping on a student budget? I found a secret weapon for saving cash Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Description: If youre looking for a great deal on a MacBook for college, theres one place to go to save a heap of money. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Buying one of the best student laptops isnt always easy, especially if youre eyeing up one of Apples MacBooks and are working to a tight budget. MacBooks are some of the most expensive laptops out there, and while theyre packed with features and practically last forever, your finances can still take a hit. Apple offers student discounts across its range of products, yet these arent the most generous offers youll see. But what if I told you theres another way to get a cheap MacBook without compromising on quality or buying from a dodgy third-party website? In fact, you can score a top-quality MacBook directly from Apple while saving hundreds in the process. I can vouch for this method, too, as Ive done it myself and am still pleased with what I got years later. Try it out yourself, and youll get an excellent new Mac for college without breaking the bank. Apples education store (Image credit: Apple) The most conventional way to get one of the best MacBooks for college is to use Apples education website . This houses various deals for students on devices like Macs and iPads, and Apple often throws in free extras (like a pair of AirPods or an Apple Pencil ) when you buy through this store. The problem is that the deals youll find there arent always that attractive. Most Macs only come with $100 off the MacBook Air is priced at $899 through Apples education storefront, as opposed to its regular $999 price, for example. A 10% discount is fine, but not earth-shattering. If youre in the market for an Apple device and were planning on buying one of the accessories that the company bundles in for free anyway, its worth a look. For instance, if you were going to get a MacBook and a new Magic Mouse, you can get the latter for free from Apple, which is a great deal. But these offers dont last forever, and if you cant get one or would rather save even more money on a laptop than have an accessory you dont need theres another place you should be looking. Dont get me wrong, any saving is welcome, and youd do far worse than to accept the $100 off that Apples education store provides. But I know we can do better than that. The refurbished alternative (Image credit: Farknot Architect / Shutterstock) Enter Apple's Certified Refurbished store . There, youll find a whole host of Apple products that have been returned by previous customers, fitted up and repaired by Apple, then sold on at a steep discount. I know what youre thinking: why would you buy a refurbished product when you can get a brand-new one from Apple? Arent refurbished ones full of dents, scuffs, and other problems? That might be the case when you buy from third-party refurbished stores, but not from Apple. Apples refurbishment process is rigorous: the company cleans, tests, and inspects each device, replaces any faulty parts with genuine replacement components, and ships it to you for free in a new box with new cables and accessories. You get a one-year warranty, too, with the option to insure your device with AppleCare . I bought a MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip from Apples refurbished store a few years ago. When it arrived, I simply wouldnt have believed that it wasnt a new laptop: from the new, sealed box to the spotless body without a scratch on it, nothing indicated that this was anything other than a brand-new product. Discounts on discounts (Image credit: Apple) With the refurbished route, the real kicker is the price. While Apples education store is selling the entry-level M4 MacBook Air for $899, you can get the same device on the refurbished store for the even lower price of $849. Saving even more money for something that is essentially indistinguishable from a new MacBook seems like a no-brainer. Sure, you might be able to find a Mac even cheaper by scouring eBay or Facebook Marketplace, but you wont get anywhere near the same quality, and certainly not the same warranty. The only caveat with the refurbished store is that some websites discount new Macs to similar prices to what Apple offers, so its often worth checking major retailers from time to time to see how they match up. If you can get a brand-new MacBook for less than one of Apples refurbished ones, thats naturally the better option. But if you just need something right now and want to score a discount without having to sacrifice your peace of mind, Apples refurbished store is a great place to look. It could leave you with a top-quality laptop for college and a little more change in your pocket, too. You might also like The best student laptops in 2025: top tested picks for college and school Dont want to pay full price for a cutting-edge MacBook Pro or Mac mini? Apples now selling M4 refurbs that are more affordable, but still have a years warranty Apple just unveiled AppleCare One, and it offers two key upgrades that might just save you some money ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/want-a-macbook-for-college-but-shopping-on -a-student-budget-i-found-a-secret-weapon-for-saving-cash --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .