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As a student, you need a laptop that’s reliable, affordable, and ready for real coursework—from note‑taking and research to Zoom, coding labs, and light creative work. Refurbished MacBooks from Techable give you Apple’s build quality at student-friendly prices, with units that are tested, cleaned, and backed by warranty.
Quick buying rules for students
- Memory: 16GB is ideal for multitasking and longevity; 8GB works for writing, web apps, and light tasks.
- Storage: 256GB minimum; 512GB+ if you keep media or large class projects locally.
- Battery & health: Prefer units with healthy cycle counts (or fresh batteries).
- OS support: Expect the latest supported macOS for each model; very old Macs may not run the newest features.
- Peripherals: These Intel‑era models often need USB‑C or Mini‑DisplayPort/HDMI adapters. A small hub is handy for class.
How we ranked these Macs
- Performance per dollar for student workloads
- Display quality (Retina) and comfort for long study sessions
- Battery life and overall portability
- Availability on Techable with sensible configurations and warranty options
Why a refurbished MacBook makes sense for students
- Save big vs new while staying in the Apple ecosystem.
- Quality‑checked with warranty coverage.
- Lower e‑waste—keeping great hardware in use is better for the planet.
Top picks at a glance
The Top 10 (Ranked)
We prioritized the 2017–2012 MacBook Pros you have in stock and called out who each is best for. “View product” links take you straight to the listing.
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1) MacBook Pro 13″ (2017 · i5 2.3–3.6GHz · 16GB) — Best All‑Around Student Pick
Why it’s great: Modern, light 13″ design with a sharp Retina display, strong everyday speed, and all‑day battery for lectures and labs. Great for writing, research, spreadsheets, Zoom, and light photo/video edits.
Best for: Business, communications, liberal arts, education, intro CS.
Good to know: Not as fast as Apple‑silicon for heavy creative work, but excellent value for core student needs.
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2) MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid‑2015 · i7 2.8GHz · 16GB · IG) — Big Screen, Great Battery
Why it’s great: The beloved 2015 chassis with a comfortable keyboard, bright 15″ Retina display, and long battery life thanks to integrated graphics.
Best for: Students who want extra screen space for split‑screen study, spreadsheets, and many browser tabs.
Good to know: If you do GPU‑heavy work, see #3 (DG variant).
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3) MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid‑2015 · i7 2.5GHz · 16GB · DG option) — Budget Creative Pick
Why it’s great: Same durable 2015 body but with a dedicated GPU option—handy for Photoshop, Lightroom, and light video editing.
Best for: Design/marketing students, photography, and content creation.
Good to know: DG uses more power; battery life is shorter than the IG version.
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4) MacBook Pro 15″ (Late‑2013 · i7 2.6GHz · 8GB/256GB) — Fastest of the Late‑2013 Trio
Why it’s great: High‑end quad‑core i7 that still feels snappy for multi‑tab research and larger Office/Google projects.
Best for: Students who want pro‑level punch without pro‑level pricing.
Good to know: 8GB RAM is fine for coursework; creatives should keep apps lean.
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5) MacBook Pro 15″ (Late‑2013 · i7 2.3GHz · 8GB/256GB) — Balanced Daily Driver
Why it’s great: Great feel and screen at a friendlier price. Handles essays, spreadsheets, and video calls smoothly.
Best for: Humanities, business, and education majors.
Good to know: Add an external SSD if you juggle media files.
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6) MacBook Pro 15″ (Late‑2013 · i7 2.0GHz · 8GB/256GB) — Value 15‑Inch
Why it’s great: The most affordable way into a 15″ Retina Mac with strong everyday performance.
Best for: Students who want the larger screen for reading and notes, not heavy creative workloads.
Good to know: Keep background apps light for best response.
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7) MacBook Pro 15″ (Early‑2013 · i7 2.7GHz · 8GB · up to 2TB) — Storage & Speed on a Budget
Why it’s great: High‑clocked quad‑core with room for a big SSD—great if you stockpile lecture videos and project files.
Best for: Business analytics, data‑heavy coursework, and students who run many apps.
Good to know: Check the model’s latest supported macOS before installing niche software.
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8) MacBook Pro 15″ (Early‑2013 · 2.4GHz · 8GB · up to 2TB) — Affordable 15″ Workhorse
Why it’s great: Same roomy display and dependable keyboard/trackpad with even better pricing.
Best for: Writing‑heavy majors, teacher prep, general education.
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9) MacBook Pro 13″ (2012 · 2.9GHz Retina · 8GB · up to 2TB) — Lowest‑Cost Retina Pick
Why it’s great: Compact, durable, and pleasant for notes, email, web apps, and streaming. The Retina display is still easy on the eyes.
Best for: Entry‑level college students and secondary laptops.
Good to know: Oldest platform here—stick to mainstream apps.
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10) MacBook Pro 15″ (Mid‑2015 · i7 2.5GHz · 16GB · IG) — Battery‑Life Variant
Why it’s great: Same 2015 strengths but tuned for maximum runtime. Perfect for long library sessions and back‑to‑back lectures.
Best for: Students who live in Docs/Slides and want the 15″ display with the best unplugged endurance.
Which one should you pick?
- Most students on a budget: #1 (2017 13″) or #9 (2012 13″ Retina)
- Big, comfortable screen: #2, #3/#10 (2015 15″) or #4–#6 (Late‑2013 15″)
- Light creative work: #3 (2015 15″ with DG)
- Maximum battery life on 15″: #2 or #10 (2015 15″ IG)
- Need lots of storage: #7/#8 with up to 2TB SSD options
Comparison table
| Rank | Model (Year/Size) | CPU | Graphics | RAM (typ.) | Storage options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 13″ Pro (2017) | i5 2.3–3.6 | Iris Plus (IG) | 16GB | 256GB–1TB | General coursework, multitaskers |
| #2 | 15″ Pro (Mid‑2015) | i7 2.8 | Iris Pro (IG) | 16GB | 256GB–2TB | Big screen + long battery |
| #3 | 15″ Pro (Mid‑2015) | i7 2.5 | Radeon M370X (DG) | 16GB | 256GB–1TB | Budget creative work |
| #4 | 15″ Pro (Late‑2013) | i7 2.6 | GT 750M + Iris Pro (DG) | 8–16GB | 256GB–1TB | Pro‑level punch/value |
| #5 | 15″ Pro (Late‑2013) | i7 2.3 | GT 750M + Iris Pro (DG) | 8–16GB | 256GB–1TB | Balanced daily driver |
| #6 | 15″ Pro (Late‑2013) | i7 2.0 | Iris Pro (IG) | 8–16GB | 256GB–1TB | Value 15″ |
| #7 | 15″ Pro (Early‑2013) | i7 2.7 | GT 650M + HD 4000 (DG) | 8–16GB | Up to 2TB | Storage + speed |
| #8 | 15″ Pro (Early‑2013) | i7 2.4 | GT 650M + HD 4000 (DG) | 8–16GB | Up to 2TB | Affordable 15″ workhorse |
| #9 | 13″ Pro (2012 Retina) | i7 2.9 | HD 4000 (IG) | 8GB | Up to 2TB | Lowest‑cost Retina |
| #10 | 15″ Pro (Mid‑2015) | i7 2.5 | Iris Pro (IG) | 16GB | 512GB (varies) | Best 15″ battery variant |
Refurb checklist before you buy
- Battery health and cycle count
- SSD size (and whether you’ll add an external SSD)
- Clean install of the latest supported macOS for that model
- Warranty/return terms that cover your semester timeline
Shop every pick
- #1 — 2017 MacBook Pro 13″, i5 2.3GHz
- #2 — MacBook Pro 15″ Mid‑2015, 2.8GHz i7, IG
- #3 — MacBook Pro 15″ Mid‑2015, 2.5GHz i7, DG
- #4 — MacBook Pro 15″ Late‑2013, 2.6GHz i7
- #5 — MacBook Pro 15″ Late‑2013, 2.3GHz i7
- #6 — MacBook Pro 15″ Late‑2013, 2.0GHz i7
- #7 — MacBook Pro 15″ Early‑2013, 2.7GHz i7 (up to 2TB)
- #8 — MacBook Pro 15″ Early‑2013, 2.4GHz i7 (up to 2TB)
- #9 — MacBook Pro 13″ 2012 Retina, 2.9GHz
- #10 — MacBook Pro 15″ Mid‑2015, 2.5GHz i7 (IG battery variant)
Refurb checklist before you buy
- Battery health & cycle count
- SSD size (and whether you’ll add an external SSD)
- Clean install of the latest supported macOS for the model
- Warranty/return terms that cover your semester
Considering newer Apple silicon for future‑proofing? Also browse:
FAQs
Are these fast enough for school in 2025?
Yes for core coursework (Office/Google apps, stats tools, basic coding, Zoom). For heavy 4K video or 3D, look at Apple‑silicon Pros—see the M3 collection above.
8GB vs 16GB RAM?
8GB is fine for writing, research, and web apps. 16GB gives you room to multitask across many tabs and apps for years.
15″ vs 13″?
The 15″ model is easier for split-screen work and spreadsheets, while the 13″ model is lighter and more portable. Many students prefer 13″ or larger screens, paired with an external display at home.
Can I trade in my old laptop to get a better deal?
Absolutely! It takes less than a minute to get a trade-in quote for your old laptop on SellMac.com. If you like the offer, we’ll cover the shipping, and you’ll receive your payment within 5 business days.
Ronald Uy
Adrienne Blanier
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