Five laptops for Australian students, from a cheap Chromebook to a MacBook that'll last your whole degree, compared on price, battery and what your course actually needs.
How we chose: we compared the makers' official Australian pages and independent reviews (TechRadar Australia), then picked the best option for each type of student and budget. We haven't lab-tested these ourselves, and no brand paid to be included.
Side-by-side comparison
Model
Chip
Battery (claimed)
Weight
Official RRP
Best for
Apple MacBook Neo
A18 Pro
Up to 16 hrs
1.22 kg
A$1,049
Cheap MacBook
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
M5
Up to 18 hrs
Not listed
A$2,099
Whole-degree MacBook
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 14 AMD
Up to Ryzen 7
Not listed
Not listed
Varies
Windows value
ASUS Vivobook 14 X1404
Up to Core i7
Not listed
1.4 kg
Varies
Cheap Windows
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
Core 3 N355
Not listed
Not listed
Varies
Browser-based study
1
Best cheap MacBook
Apple MacBook Neo (13-inch)
Apple's new entry-level MacBook, launched March 2026. For essays, research, Zoom lectures and streaming, it's plenty, and it has the battery life and build quality Apple is known for, at a much lower price than the Air.
ChipApple A18 Pro
Memory / storage8 GB / 256 GB (base)
BatteryUp to 16 hrs
Weightapprox. 1.22 kg
RRP (AU)A$1,049
Good: A18 Pro chip, 13-inch 2408×1506 display (500 nits), up to 16 hrs battery, about 1.22 kg, 4 colours.
Watch out: Only 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage in the base model. Not for heavy video editing or big engineering software.
The one that lasts your whole degree. It's much faster than the Neo, has double the memory and storage as standard, and gets the longest battery here. Great for design, coding and data-heavy units.
ChipApple M5
Memory / storage16 GB / 512 GB
BatteryUp to 18 hrs
Screen13.6-inch, 500 nits
RRP (AU)A$2,099
Good: M5 chip (10-core CPU), 16 GB memory and 512 GB storage as standard, up to 18 hrs battery, Wi-Fi 7, two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Watch out: Expensive, and Apple raised Australian prices by A$300 in July 2026. Check Apple's Education Store for student pricing.
A lot of laptop for the money. Top configurations get a sharp 2.8K OLED screen and a fast Ryzen chip, great if your uni software is Windows-only.
ProcessorUp to Ryzen 7 8845HS
MemoryUp to 32 GB
StorageUp to 1 TB SSD
ScreenUp to 2.8K OLED
OSWindows 11
Good: Up to AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, up to 32 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD, up to 14-inch 2.8K OLED (500 nits).
Watch out: Specs vary a lot by configuration, so check you're getting the OLED and at least 16 GB RAM. Lenovo's AU page doesn't list battery or weight.
A no-fuss Windows laptop for students on a tight budget. Light enough to carry around campus, with handy extras like a fingerprint reader and webcam shield.
ProcessorUp to Core i7-1355U
MemoryUp to 16 GB
Weightapprox. 1.4 kg
Fast charge60% in 49 min
OSWindows 11
Good: Up to Intel Core i7-1355U, up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB, about 1.4 kg, fast charge to 60% in 49 min, 180° hinge, fingerprint login.
Watch out: Basic screen compared with OLED models. ASUS doesn't list battery life on its AU page.
If most of your work happens in a browser (Google Docs, Moodle, Canvas, Microsoft 365 online), a Chromebook is the cheapest way to get a fast, low-fuss laptop that barely needs maintenance.
ProcessorIntel Core 3 N355
Screen14-inch 1920×1200
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7
DurabilityMIL-STD-810H
OSChromeOS
Good: Intel Core 3 N355, 14-inch 1920×1200 anti-glare screen, Wi-Fi 7, HDMI and two USB 3.2 ports, MIL-STD-810H durability.
Watch out: Runs ChromeOS, so no full desktop Windows or Mac apps. Check your course doesn't need specific software first.
Check your course first: engineering, architecture and some IT units need Windows-only or heavy software. Look up your unit requirements before buying a Chromebook or a base-model Mac.
Memory: 16 GB is the comfortable minimum for a laptop you'll keep for 3+ years. 8 GB is fine for writing, browsing and streaming.
Battery: aim for all-day battery so you're not hunting for a power point in lectures.
Weight: under about 1.5 kg makes a real difference when you carry it every day.
Student discounts: Apple's Education Store, and student programs from Lenovo, ASUS and others, can take a decent amount off. Your uni may also offer free Microsoft 365.
Specs come from each maker's official Australian pages, and Apple prices are the RRPs after Apple's 1 July 2026 Australian price rise (as reported by TechRadar), checked 27 September 2026. Windows laptops and Chromebooks come in many configurations, so specs shown are the maximum available and prices vary by retailer. Tap a button to see today's price. Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Common questions
What's the best cheap laptop for uni in Australia?
If you want a Mac, the MacBook Neo (A$1,049 RRP) is Apple's cheapest laptop. For Windows, the ASUS Vivobook 14 is a light, affordable option, and if your study is mostly browser-based, a Chromebook like the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 costs the least.
MacBook Neo or MacBook Air for uni?
The Neo is fine for essays, research and streaming. The Air (M5) has double the memory and storage, a faster chip and longer battery, so it's better if you do design, coding or data work, or want it to last your whole degree.
Is a Chromebook OK for university?
Yes, if your course runs in a browser (Google Docs, Canvas, Moodle, Microsoft 365 online). It's not suitable if you need Windows-only or Mac-only software.
How much RAM do I need for uni?
16 GB is the comfortable minimum for a laptop you'll keep for several years. 8 GB is enough for writing, browsing and video calls.
When are laptops cheapest in Australia?
Usually Black Friday in late November, Click Frenzy in late October, EOFY in June and back-to-school sales in January–February.
