Apple has long been admired for its premium devices, but the biggest criticism has always been the price tag. For students choosing a laptop, balancing performance with affordability often means settling for Windows machines or Chromebooks. But Apple’s latest move may change that. With a new budget-friendly 12.9-inch MacBook, starting at ₹60,000 (and ₹52,000 with Apple’s student discount), the company is finally entering the laptop affordability race. For students, the big question is: Is this the smart laptop buy for 2025?
Performance: Powered by the A18 Pro Chip
At the heart of this budget MacBook is the A18 Pro chip, the same powerful silicon that drives Apple’s latest iPhone 16 Pro. Unlike Intel or AMD processors, Apple Silicon unifies CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine on a single chip, enabling smooth multitasking while maximizing efficiency. With its 3nm process design and impressive benchmark scores, students can expect quick app launches, seamless video conferencing, and even enough power for light creative tasks like video editing or coding projects.
Perhaps most striking is its AI performance. Apple Intelligence runs faster thanks to a 35 TOPS Neural Engine, which can handle tasks like transcription, summaries, and advanced photo editing—useful tools for modern student workflows. While it may not rival the raw multi-core power of the MacBook Pros, the A18 Pro chip offers more than enough for academic life.
Display: 12.9 Inches of Practicality
The MacBook features a 12.9-inch display, placing it right between Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air and 15-inch variant. This size strikes a sweet spot for students: spacious enough for split-screen multitasking yet small enough to remain portable. The display uses IPS LCD technology—bright, sharp, and color-accurate. While Apple hasn’t offered ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate) or OLED on this model, sticking with tried-and-tested LCD keeps the cost accessible without sacrificing visual comfort for long study sessions.
Memory and Storage: Manageable, but with Limits
The base configuration ships with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Thanks to Apple’s unified memory architecture, 8GB is surprisingly capable, allowing students to juggle multiple apps, browsers, and productivity tools without sluggishness. For typical academic work—note-taking, researching, streaming lectures—performance will feel smooth.
The real limitation is 128GB of storage. macOS and system apps eat up nearly 30GB immediately, leaving under 100GB of free space. For students dealing with large research files, design projects, or media content, this may become restrictive. The solution? Relying on cloud storage, external drives, or investing in an upgraded model if budget allows.
Why This MacBook Makes Sense for Students
- Affordable Entry Point: For the first time, Apple offers a MacBook under $1,000—an attractive leap for college buyers.
- Portability: Lightweight with all-day battery life, ideal for campus life.
- Longevity: Apple devices are known to outlast competitors with software support for years.
- Apple Ecosystem: Seamless integration with iPhone and iPad could simplify student workflows.
Conclusion
Apple’s new budget 12.9-inch MacBook changes the game. For students who want the Apple experience without paying $1,000+, this is the most accessible and future-proof option yet. However, those working with large files or heavy creative workloads may find the 128GB storage limiting over time.
For most students, though, this new MacBook could be the smartest device investment in 2025—combining affordability, performance, and longevity in a package Apple has never offered before.
