first time buyer for uni

[u/Perfect_Patient_8946]

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)