A RAMageddon guide to back-to-school laptop shopping
If you’re a student looking for an affordable laptop, I have bad news and I have good news. The bad news is that computer prices are out of whack due to the ongoing RAM and storage crunch, making some a little pricier than they used to be and others wildly more expensive. The good news? […]
As students prepare for the upcoming academic year, the cost of back-to-school laptop shopping may seem daunting. Prices are soaring due to a shortage of RAM and storage, leaving some options more expensive than before. However, there are still plenty of great choices available.
One budget-friendly option is the MacBook Neo, which offers impressive performance for its price and is perfect for middle school or high school students. While it only has 8GB of RAM, the laptop still provides good-enough performance. The MacBook Neo also boasts a perfect trackpad, solid speakers, and screen, although it lacks a keyboard backlight and only comes with a slow charging option.
For college students, the Apple MacBook Air (M5) is the recommended choice. It features a more powerful processor, twice as much RAM, and starts with more storage than the Neo. The Air also offers better battery life, speakers, and build quality. Priced at $1,299 (or $1,199 for students) for the 13-inch model and $1,499 for the 15-inch, the MacBook Air may seem expensive, but its longevity and superior performance make it worth the investment.
Windows laptop users can consider the Asus Zenbook A14, a lightweight alternative with long battery life and a sleek design. Powered by a Snapdragon X Plus chip, the Zenbook A14 provides 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, all for just $999.99. With its 14-inch OLED display and USB-C ports, the Zenbook A14 is an attractive option for those seeking a near-MacBook Air-like experience at a lower price point.
Written by urgent.news from The Verge's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
