MacBook vs Windows: Which is the best laptop for students?

The 2024 Back to School sales season is already underway as students and their parents search for the best student laptops that can handle their workload as well as video streaming and internet browsing.

Not only are there tons of brands to choose from, but you also need to sift through models within those brands. And one of the biggest choices to make is whether you’ll be buying an Apple MacBook or a Microsoft Windows laptop. Both include some of the best laptops on the market with their own benefits and drawbacks.

So, which to go for? We’ve tested thousands of PCs and laptops in order to help you make the best and most well-informed buying decision, so read on and we’ll give you our expert advice on whether MacBook or Windows is best for students.

MacBook vs Windows: Price

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Pricing is one of the most important factors in purchasing a laptop and is especially vital for students on a strict budget looking for the perfect laptop. So which of the two types of laptops are pricier?

If this was a question asked years ago, then the answer would be unequivocally MacBooks, as they could often be even twice the price of Windows laptops. But, in recent years, Windows laptops have been rising in cost while MacBooks have retained nearly the same pricing or even gone cheaper depending on their age, making them often more budget-friendly.

For instance, the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) starts at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199, while the Dell XPS 13 (2024) starts at $1,299 / £1,099 / AU$2,098.80. There are cheaper Windows models like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7‘s base price of $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899 but those are easily beaten by the cheaper MacBook Air models which tend to fall under $1,000 and even as low as under $700.

MacBook vs Windows: Software and OS

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The biggest difference between an Apple MacBook and a Microsoft Windows laptop is its operating system; MacBooks use macOS, while Windows laptops use, er, Windows. While there’s overlap between some keyboard shortcuts and UI, they’re two very different beasts and if you’re used to one, it can take a while to adjust to the other.

MacBooks are the undisputed kings when it comes to productivity and creative work, and that’s largely down to the arrival of Apple’s own M-series chips. This is also thanks to the wide variety of programs and tools made specifically for MacBooks including Final Cut Pro, Creative Cloud, Affinity Designer, Visual Studio Code, and tons more.

Ease of use is another major positive, especially for users who aren’t very computer proficient. While Windows laptops are meant to be tinkered with, MacBooks have all their critical files sealed away from accidental deletion. Many people also find macOS to be a simpler, more streamlined OS than Windows – although much will depend on which you are most familiar with.

What makes Windows laptops shine? The customizability of the OS is, as you can access any file on your computer. And, since it’s the far more popular type of laptop, there’s way more software support for it, including more programs to download. This also extends to gaming, as Windows has the most compatibility with video games, making it ideal for students who also want to game.

MacBook vs Windows: Design

Dell XPS 13

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Another key difference is their respective designs. MacBooks often have a distinctive chassis and keyboard, making them easy to spot. While there are minor differences between models, there’s a consistency to the overall look of the Mac laptop lineup, and this also extends to the port selection; this tends to be quite barren, with only a couple of USB Type-C ports and combo jacks.

And of course, there’s also that trademark sleek design. MacBooks are super-thin, lightweight, beautifully built, and have such a distinctive look that instantly stands out in a sea of Windows rivals.

Meanwhile, Windows laptops tend to vary wildly in color, shape, size, and port selection, even among similar types (like two Ultrabooks or two gaming laptops). And of course, there are also massive differences between various use cases; a gaming laptop, with its flashy buttons, will usually look nothing like a staid business laptop.

This extends to Windows gaming laptops as well, since gaming on any Mac device is so incredibly limited. However, a wide range of manufacturers develop Windows laptops specifically for gaming, with various specs, types, aesthetics, and port selections.

MacBook vs Windows: Performance

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Apple’s powerful CPUs launched in November 2020 and are now in their fourth generation thanks to the launch of the Apple M4 chip earlier this year. And they make the latest MacBooks some of the most performance-efficient laptops on the market, with battery life that sets the standard for Windows laptops to follow.

And with the new batch of AI PCs with Qualcomm chips, there are now Windows laptops with battery lives that match or even surpass MacBooks, combined with a similar performance proficiency.

In terms of performance, MacBooks are overall much more consistent across the various models and lines thanks to the M-series chips offering unprecedented efficiency and performance while minimizing strain on the machine. Only this year with Qualcomm-based laptops do we have Windows laptops that can compete with MacBooks.

MacBook vs Windows: Battery

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MacBook battery life has been extremely consistent, with its laptops netting 14 hours and above across the board. In fact, the battery life of a MacBook is often used as a metric to compare to other laptops. This was true even when Intel chips were used and has only improved with the introduction of the Apple-developed M-series silicon.

Meanwhile, Windows laptops tend to have a spottier record depending on the installed generation of CPUs. For instance, the 11th-Gen Intel chips were well known for incredible battery life, but starting with the 12th-Gen and up the battery life is considerably worse. However, this batch of Snapdragon AI PCs has absolutely stellar battery life that matches and even surpasses MacBooks.

MacBook vs Windows: Which to choose?

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It depends on what you need the laptop for. While both Windows and MacBooks are reliable for productivity work, when it comes to creative/editing work versus gaming there are clear winners. MacBooks are much more suited for creative and editing work, while Windows-based laptops are incredible for gaming.

It also depends on what you value in an operating system’s UI layout. If you’re a computing beginner who prefers simplicity and a more streamlined UI, then MacBooks would suit you better. But if you’re a more advanced user who prefers to customize your UI exactly to your liking, then Windows laptops are more your jam.

Pricing is an extremely important metric, as it determines what fits into your budget in the first place. In this case, MacBooks tend to be more reasonably priced – especially the MacBook Air series – while Windows laptops oscillate wildly between pricing.

Finally, what do you prefer in your design? Are you a bigger fan of reliable uniformity or do you like a huge selection of laptop types to choose from? And how are you when it comes to port selection? If it doesn’t particularly matter then any MacBook is fine, but if it does then there are Windows laptops that cater to your needs.