Get the best portable MacBook for $200 off at Amazon

Apple MacBook Air M2 — (Image credit: Apple)

The MacBook Air M2 is a modern marvel, and you can save big on the slimline laptop just in time for school.

When looking at the best laptops for students, you can't look past the M2 MacBook Air lineup. In fact, it's the best MacBook for students you can buy right now, meaning it's got everything you need for studies and socializing.

Best Buy is making it even easier to recommend, too - it's got a $100 discount off of the MSRP, making the MacBook Air just $1199. Considering it only launched in June of this year, that's a big deal.

Key features: 15-inch Retina display, M2 chip, 1080p webcam

Product launched: June 2023

Price history: We've seen similar deals for the 13-inch model, but given the 15-inch version launched just three months ago, this is one worth checking out.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1199 | Walmart: $1244 | Best Buy: $1299

Reviews consensus: Apple Silicon transformed the M1 MacBook Air, and in the M2 version, its outside finally catches up. The MacBook Air M2 comes in slick colors, offers excellent performance and all-day battery life, a 1080p webcam, and a slim design that's ideal for student backpacks. This is the latest version, too, with a 15-inch display that's much better for multitasking.

Live Science: ★★★★½ | TechRadar: ★★★★ | Toms Guide: ★★★★½ | T3: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best MacBooks for students, best laptops for students, best laptops for coding

Buy it if: You want a slimline laptop ideal for carrying in a small bag but that's powerful enough to do real work all day.

Don't buy it if: 256GB storage isn't going to be enough for you, you need a little more power.

Lloyd Coombes freelance tech and fitness writer for Live Science. He's an expert in all things Apple as well as in computer and gaming tech, with previous works published on TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Live Science and more. You'll find him regularly testing the latest MacBook or iPhone, but he spends most of his time writing about video games as Gaming Editor for the Daily Star. He also covers board games and virtual reality, just to round out the nerdy pursuits.