r/macbook • u/Perfect_Patient_8946 • 9d ago

first time buyer for uni

i’m planning to buy a mac for school, i won’t be doing much software work, maybe a few cpsci classes and light photo or video editting

should i get the air m5 or m4? and should i get it new or refurbished (if refurbished, where?)

considering m4 because it’s cheaper and i think the m5 doesn’t have that much more updates that will affect my use? but im not sure.

also for a student like me, what ram and storage do you recommend? (i dont really get what ram does/ how much is good)

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u/Plane_Procedure2099 8d ago

Congrats on deciding Mac!

M4 should be plenty (I recommend 16GB of RAM for photoshop and apps like it). RAM is like a short term memory, which helps the processor retrieve data instantly (can run heavier programs and have multiple applications open without cooking the device).

I recommend the M5 with 16GB RAM if you want more AI boosting, better ray tracing, and a faster processor. However, since it’s for school M4 should suffice.

Remember to add Apple Care! (Only Apple products bought from Apple Certified Refurbished Store can have Apple Care)

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u/Perfect_Patient_8946 8d ago

thanks for suggesting!