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Apple’s ongoing vintage and obsoletesproducts listgot a recent update, and the latest update adds some unique Apple products, including the infamous “trash can” 2013 Mac Pro, considered retro 12 years after it’s introduction.
In general, products added to the list are actually more recent than the trash can desktop, but Apple sold that version of the Mac Pro for years. To be added to the vintage list a device has to be five years is produced and distributed for sale.
Apple sold the trash can Mac Pro until December of 2019 when it was replaced with the equally unique “cheesegrater” Mac Pro, a design that has largely stuck around since then.
At the time, the Mac Pro’s cylindrical design was smaller than than the previous tower Mac Pro. However, the design was flawed with a lack of space to upgrade components like GPUs and RAM.
AsMacRumors reported in 2017, even Apple had to admit that the design was a failure when it came to updating the system, even for Apple engineers.
“I think we designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner, if you will,” said Craig Federighi said, who was then software engineering chief.
Beyond the turbine-looking Mac Pro, a few other Apple devices are now vintage:
Additionally, a number of devices are now considered obsolete. The transition occurs when a product has been considered vintage for two years. More accurately, devices are obsolete seven years after Apple discontinued them.
Most of this list includes Apple’slong-dead AirPort routers.
AirPort Express second generation, 2TB and 3TB
AirPort Time Capsule 2TB
AirPort Time Capsule 3TB
802.11ac AirPort Extreme
Apple will support vintage products with repairs if parts are available. However, once parts supplies are gone, repairs will no longer be offered. Obsolete devices won’t be repaired by Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers.
The keyboard is one of the most important devices of your computer, allowing you to give commands for the different operations you want to perform. Most keyboards these days come with 104 alphanumeric keys as a de facto standard, one of which is the Fn key. While the function of most of the other keys, like the Esc and Print Scrn keys, is self-explanatory, the same can’t be said about the Fn key. It will be hard for someone who is new to the computer world to figure out what exactly the Fn key on the keyboard does.
Similar to Shift, Ctrl, and Alt on Windows and Command on Mac, the Fn is a modifier key, meaning it is used in combination with other keys to change their usual function. The Fn key is also known as the function key, and on Windows and most Mac keyboards, you’ll find it located in the bottom-left corner of your keyboard. However, on some large-size Mac keyboards that feature a numeric pad, you’ll find the Fn key in the middle, next to the Home and End keys. Also, on newer MacBooks and Apple keyboards, the Fn icon has been replaced by the Globe icon instead of the Fn key, but don’t worry, they both are the same thing.
Interestingly, the Fn key performs different functions on both Windows and Mac. If you are someone switching from Windows to Mac or vice versa, it might take some time to get used to the Fn key functionality on the OS you’re using. So, let’s check out how the Fn key behavior differs on Windows and Mac.
How does the Fn key behavior differ between Mac and Windows?
On both Windows and Mac, the Fn key is usually used in combination with the F keys. On Windows, when you press the Fn key along with the F1-F12 keys, your computer will perform the hardware functions that are usually embedded on these keys. For instance, you will find the volume up icon embedded on the F8 key, meaning pressing the Fn and F8 keys together will increase your system volume. However, if you press the F1-F12 keys alone, i.e., without the Fn key, then they’ll perform their standard functions. For instance, pressing the F5 key refreshes the webpage.
The Fn key functionality is completely opposite on Mac. You don’t need to press the F1-F12 keys along with the Fn key to perform the hardware functions. For instance, if you want to increase volume on a Mac, then you simply need to hit the F12 key, not Fn+F12. However, there are certain apps that have their own separate function associated with the F1-F12 keys. To ensure you don’t end up using the hardware function of the F1-F12 keys when you actually want to use their functions for a particular app, you need to follow these steps:
Open System Settings and choose Keyboard.
Click Keyboard Shortcuts and then Function Keys.
Enable the “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” toggle.
Now, using the F1-F12 keys alone will perform the function that these keys have associated with the app you’re using. If you want to use the hardware function of these keys, you will have to use them along with the Fn key. That means you’ll now have to press Fn+F12 to increase the volume.
How to change what action does the Fn key perform when used independently?
Although the Fn key is a modifier key, meaning it is usually used in combination with other keys on your keyboard, you can also use it separately to perform a certain function. However, this option is only available for Mac users. On Windows, you can’t use the Fn key separately to perform any action. That said, to customize the Fn key behavior settings on Mac, follow these steps:
Open System Settings on your Mac and choose Keyboard from the left sidebar.
Click the drop-down icon next to the Press Fn key to option and select the action you want the Fn key to perform when pressed separately.
You can choose between changing the input source, showing emojis & symbols, or starting the dictation. Similar to Windows, if you don’t want the Fn key to perform any action when used independently, you can choose the Do Nothing option from the drop-down menu.
It was a ‘blink and you missed it’ announcement, but duringWWDC 2025, Apple revealed that 13 car manufacturers would be adding the ability to add digital car keys to yourApple Wallet”soon.”
At least 20 brands already offer keyless entry, including BMW, Genesis and Hyundai. Essentially, you can add a digital key to your Wallet app, which will enable you to lock, unlock, and start compatible cars using your iPhone orApple Watch.
Unfortunately, Apple did not provide a timeline or many other details on when digital keys would be available for cars from those manufacturers.
Apple has a web page thatlists all of the vehiclesthat support Apple CarPlay, and there’s also a little key symbol that shows you which compatible cars work with digital keys. It can be hard to miss since the symbol is a small, light gray key.
You may notice that some of the brands adding digital keys already offer CarPlay support.
Speaking of CarPlay, with iOS 26, an updated CarPlay is coming to your iPhone and vehicle. Despite being inbeta, we found it to be an improvement.
During WWDC, Apple also announced CarPlay Ultra, which is intended to be built into select vehicle manufacturers’ vehicles. However, that is seeing some early problems, as some promised car makers are already backing out.
Price:Starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 CPU:Apple M4 (10-core) GPU:Up to Integrated 10-core GPU RAM:Up to 32GB unified memory Screen:13.6-inch, 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina display, 60Hz Storage:Up to 2TB SSD Ports:2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 Wireless:Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Weight:2.7 lbs / 1.24kg Dimensions:11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / 30.4 x 21.5 x 1.13cm
Apple’s latest thin-and-light MacBook is the best yet, sporting the powerful new M4 chip and an upgraded design.
Pros
M4 chip delivers top-notch performance
Design is still the best
All-day battery life
Lower price
Cons
– Apple Intelligence is still a mixed bag
With some of the best laptops of 2025 hitting the scene recently, it can be hard to determine which one is right for you. WithDellreleasing a new and improved iteration of its powerfulDell XPS 13as well as Apple fighting for the laptop crown with itsM4 Macbook Air 13-inch, which one is the better device?
We’re pitting the 2025 editions of both devices against each other, being sure to consider a wide range of comparisons and use cases. From price to performance, from design to display, we’re covering it all.
While both of these laptops are seemingly hitting the same nail when it comes to target audience based on specifications and design, the Macbook Air is a fair bit cheaper than the Dell XPS 13. With a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, this is much more affordable than Dell’s asking price of $1,199.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,198.80, particularly in regions outside of the US.
It’s worth noting that these prices are for the lowest specification of each model with the Dell XPS 13 – our current top pick of thebest Dell laptops- going up to a whopping $2,349.99 / £2,634 / AU$4,899.40 whileApple’s effectively maxes out at $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399 for relatively similar specifications.
As expected from two of thebest laptops, both of these devices are absolutely stunning. The Dell XPS 13 comes packed into a lightweight, ultrathin chassis that looks fantastic and makes it simple to take absolutely anywhere with you without having to worry about your shoulders slowly starting to collapse under the weight of your laptop.
In our review, we found that the keyboard felt great to type on, though one downside is that the touchpad is ‘invisible’ – this poses an issue with accessibility as you can’t feel the difference between the palm rest and the actual touchpad. There is also a lack of ports on this laptop, with only 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports – you’ll likely be relying on Bluetooth for peripherals with this device.
In comparison, the Macbook Air also comes with a sleek and superb chassis which again looks breathtaking. It’s super light, weighing almost exactly the same as the XPS 13, making it a great option to pop in your backpack and take on the go with you. The Macbook Air is actually thinner than the Dell XPS 13, measuring in at 1.13cm to Dell’s 1.48cm – and while this sounds marginal, it’s enough to notice the difference.
While testing, we found that the keyboard was amazing to type on with great travel and response for a device so thin. The Macbook Air poses a similar issue when it comes to lack of ports, with only 2 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 3 for charging. However, one point that ensures the Macbook Air wins this round is that you don’t have to lock off an entire Thunderbolt port for charging.
Winner:Macbook Air
Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Performance and display
When using the Dell XPS 13, we were absolutely blown away, with it posing not a single issue during its entire testing period. It was fine for real-world usage, easily coping with the countless Chrome tabs we might have needed, and also held up exceptionally when being put through its paces during our benchmarking process. While the fans started whining during the 3DMark benchmarks, this is to be expected, and it remained silent during all other usage.
The screen on the Dell XPS 13 is the real ‘wow factor’ for this laptop. You get a top-spec 3K (2880 x 1800) InfinityEdgeOLEDtouch display which provides excellent picture quality and color range. Even when benchmarking, which results in some choppier frames, it still looked fantastic.
Similarly, the Macbook Air performed exceptionally well, from everyday productivity usage right down to intensive benchmarking. No matter what we threw at the system, it ran smoothly and with ease even down to playing AAA titles – something which would have been unimaginable on a Macbook even just a couple of years ago. Performance-wise, the base configuration edges out Dell’s laptop thanks to its superior iGPU, but it’s a close fight.
The Macbook Air display features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel (Apple’s signature display type, found on most of thebest MacBooks and Macs) with 2560 x 1664 resolution and 500 nits of sustained brightness. It is brilliant for everything from gaming, down to content creation or even watching movies but the XPS 13’s OLED panel is certainly the better screen, so this one ends up coming out as a draw.
Winner:Tie
Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Battery life
While both devices deliver great battery life, one is just that much more exceptional. The Dell XPS 13 comes with a promise of 24-hour battery life and in our review we found that it delivered just that, giving us 23 hours and 26 mins of usage in our batterymap movie test. This laptop will easily see you through a full workday and then some, and also charges super fast going from empty to 80% in an hour while not being used.
On the other hand, the Macbook Air claims up to 18 hours of battery life and delivered just under 15 hours in our active benchmarking. While in theory this sounds dwarfed when compared to the Dell XPS 13, it’s still pretty amazing. Again, this device will easily last you a full workday and then some, but it just doesn’t quite live up to the competition here. Another downside is that this device doesn’t charge as quickly either, taking 90 mins to reach 50% charge.
Winner:Dell XPS 13
Which one should you buy?
Although the MacBook Air technically won more categories, it’s hard to determine a clear overall winner when it comes to these devices. While the Dell XPS 13 takes home the crown when it comes to battery life and display quality, the Macbook Air does come in at a significantly lower price point and also boasts more ports and a thinner design.
While both of these laptops are absolutely fantastic options for those looking for a new device whether it be for work or pleasure, which one you pick up will be based on your needs and how much you’re willing to spend. If you prefer Windows and want something that will last you days without needing a charge, then the Dell XPS 13 is likely the one for you. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to save some money where you can but still need a high-end device, then the Macbook Air will probably suit you better.
A small percentage of units may no longer turn on, Apple said.
Apple
If you have a new-ish Mac mini that has recently conked out, you are not alone. Apple has just launched a worldwideservice programfor the 2023 Mac mini with M2 chips, because “a very small percentage” of them are having power issues and may no longer turn on. The company didn’t say what was causing those power issues. While Mac minis powered by M2 chips werefirst released in 2023, the affected units were made between June 16, 2024 to November 23, 2024. Some of those computers may be nearing the end of their one-year warranty, depending on when they were purchased.
With this service program, Apple will still repair the units even if they’re already past their warranty, up to three years after their first sale. To check if yours is eligible either because you need it now or in case you’ll need it later, you can type in your Mac mini’s serial number onthe program page. Both Apple and its authorized service providers will fix your computer free of charge. Keep in mind if you’ve moved countries, however, that Apple may restrict or limit free repairs to the device’s original country or region of purchase.
Thelatest Mac minis, which aren’t included in the repair program, are powered by Apple’s M4 and M4 Pro chips and were released last year. They’re half the size of previous versions, come with 16GB of RAM, several USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a full-sized HDMI connection (supporting up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz), as well as an Ethernet port.
Putting the Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch to the test
Surface Laptop 13-inch
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch (2025) is about as close as a Windows laptop has ever come to the MacBook Air 13-inch experience Windows users have been longing for, but is it enough to dethrone Apple’s most popular laptop?
Pros
Stunning design and colorway options
Extremely portable
Fantastic battery life
Great keyboard and trackpad
Cons
MacBook Air M4 offers far better performance
Limited ports
Display is just OK
Limited configuration options
MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch is arguably the most popular laptop model in the world, and for a laptop this small, it’s surprisingly powerful. Can it fend off a Microsoft’s latest thin and light Surface Laptop 13-inch?
Pros
M4 chip delivers top-notch performance
Design is still the best
All-day battery life
Lower price
Cons
Apple Intelligence is still a mixed bag
Now that theMicrosoft Surface Laptop 13-inchis on sale, there’s naturally going to be people looking at the Surface Laptop 13-inch versus theMacBook Air 13-inch (M4)when weighing their next laptop purchase.
Without a doubt, these are two of thebest laptopsgoing—especially for students who are looking for thebest student laptopfor the coming school year—and those who like to get work done on the go, whether that’s at a cafe, on a train, a plane, or sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for an appointment.
These two laptops are all about portability without compromising too much in other areas like design, battery life, or performance, so they really are two of thebest 13-inch laptopsyou can buy.
That doesn’t mean they’re the same, though, as they use two entirely differentoperating systems, and there are other key differences that potential buyers will need to consider when choosing between the Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch.
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Price
Fortunately, both the Surface Laptop 13-inch and MacBook Air 13-inch are widely available throughMicrosoft’s andApple’s websites, so just about every major market globally won’t have to wait for either laptop to make it to their shores.
Price here is going to be the biggest difference between the two laptops though, as the Surface Laptop 13-inch starts at $899.99 / £1,039 / AU$1,699, whereas the latest MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699.
From here, the Surface Laptop 13-inch only increases by $100 / £100 / AU$200 for the expanded storage option (as well as the additional colorways).
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, however, can be configured up to $2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,499 with additional memory and storage options, giving it a much wider range of price points than the Surface Laptop 13-inch.
That said, if price is your most pressing concern, there’s no ignoring the roughly 10% cheaper starting price of the Surface Laptop 13-inch, which saves you $100 / £100 / AU$200 right out the gate for almost identical specs. So let’s make the transition to talking about those specs, shall we?
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Specs
The starting specs for theMicrosoft SurfaceLaptop 13-inch vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch are functionally identical, other than the system-on-a-chip (SoC) at the heart of the two systems and the quality of the displays.
Both Apple’s M-series processors and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips are fabricated usingARMarchitecture, which is renowned for its energy efficiency, but with the MacBook Air 13-inch, you do have the option of picking a slightly more powerful 10-core GPU.
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch Base Specs
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | 285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 ins | 304 x 215 x 11.3mm
When it comes to the topline specs available for each system, the MacBook Air 13-inch has substantially more options on offer than the Surface Laptop 13-inch, so if you’re looking to better customize your system to your needs, Apple has you covered much more than Microsoft does.
11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 ins | 285.65 x 214.14 x 15.6mm
11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 ins | 304 x 215 x 11.3mm
Specs:MacBook Air 13-inch
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Design
On the design front, there’s naturally going to be some subjectivity, but both laptops are exceptionally well-crafted with an aluminum chassis that makes them lightweight and very portable.
In terms of color options, Apple saved itself in this regard with its recent release of a sky blue MacBook Air 13-inch, breaking from the more conservative colorway choices of varying shades of silver and black that M2 and M3 models were stuck with.
I’d argue that Apple had no choice here, however, as colorful, personality-rich laptops likeSurface Laptop 7with its Sapphire colorway effectively shamed the MacBook maker into making a more colorful laptop (something I’ve been banging on about for years).
However, the Surface Laptop 13-inch comes in a pastel-purple Violet colorway, which I have been begging Apple to make ever since before the M2 MacBook launched. For me, that seals the deal in the Surface Laptop 13-inch’s favor, making it thebest ultrabookrunning Windows right now, but I understand if you disagree.
Design:Surface Laptop 13-inch
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Performance
No matter how beautiful the Surface Laptop 13-inch might look, however, it can’t keep up with the MacBook Air 13-inch in terms of performance.
The 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus SoC in the Surface Laptop 13-inch is good enough for everyday performance and productivity tasks, but the M4 chip is simply better in just about every workload you can throw at it.
Even theMacBook Air 13-inch with an M3chip is a better performer, and given how Apple’s app ecosystem has now moved over to supporting Apple’s M-series processors, you don’t run into the same kind of performance and compatibility issues with a MacBook Air 13-inch that you do with the Surface Laptop 13-inch.
Windows apps are overwhelmingly designed to run on the x86 architecture used in bothIntelandAMDchips, which power over 90% of the best Windows laptops. In order to run these apps on an Arm-based chip like the Snapdragon X Plus, Windows needs to use a software layer called Prism to translate x86 apps into ARM apps in real time.
This adds resource overhead to many applications, so they won’t run as smoothly as they would on an Intel or AMD chip. In real-world use, this isn’t as big an issue as it sounds, since the Snapdragon X Plus is fast enough that you won’t really ‘feel’ that slight performance hit, but it is there, and it’s something that the MacBook Air 13-inch simply doesn’t have to worry about.
Performance:MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Software
The biggest difference between the MacBook Air 13-inch vs Surface Laptop 13-inch is going to be the kind of software available. The Surface Laptop 13-inch runs an Arm-native version ofWindows 11, while the MacBook Air 13-inch runsmacOS Sequoia.
Most popular apps likeAdobePhotoshopand Microsoft Office 365 will have different versions that are compatible with both operating systems, so in most cases, you’re likely going to be able to run the apps you want on either laptop, but there will be instances where that is not the case. Most PC games, for instance, do not have macOS versions (especially older titles).
That said, many Windows-exclusive apps are designed for x86 chips like the Intel Core Ultra 200 series and AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, so those apps will need to be run using the Windows Prism emulation layer, and sometimes that doesn’t work very well.
What’s more, there will be times when a Windows app just won’t run at all on the Surface Laptop 13-inch’s Snapdragon X Plus SoC, even with Prism emulation, and you might have to wait until the software developer releases an ARM-native version of the app.
And while 99.9% of the time you won’t need to worry about compatibility issues, a 0.1% chance still exists that the app you want or possibly need to run won’t work, and that’s enough to tip things in Apple’s favor here.
Software:MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Battery LifeThe good news is that both offer fantastic battery life since both of these laptops are built using Arm-architected chips, which are renowned for their energy efficiency. That said, in my testing, the Surface Laptop 13-inch lasts over an hour longer than the most recent MacBook Air 13-inch.
Both will get you all-day battery life, but the Surface Laptop 13-inch just lasts longer, making it perfect for those who are on the road and away from a wall outlet. The Surface Laptop 13-inch is one of the best student laptops for this reason in particular, as spending a whole day on campus running from classroom to classroom might not give you a chance to recharge your device during the day.
Winner:Surface Laptop 13-inch
Surface Laptop 13-inch vs MacBook Air 13-inch: Verdict
As much as I love the Surface Laptop 13-inch for giving me the purple laptop I’ve been begging for, I still have to side with Apple in the end, and I don’t even really like the MacBook Air 13-inch all that much.
It might have been different had the Surface Laptop 13-inch used an Intel Lunar Lake chip instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, which would have eliminated the current growing pains Windows-on-Arm is having and delivered a much more performant device to compete with Apple’s most popular laptop.
It doesn’t though, and despite the significant strides Microsoft has made in delivering a true MacBook Air alternative for Windows users, Apple’s MacBook Air 13-inch is still the better overall product.
If you’re a dedicated Windows user, don’t despair, though. The Surface Laptop 13-inch is as close as anyone’s come to delivering the MacBook Air experience for Windows that we’ve been waiting for, and you’ll find a lot to love with the Surface Laptop 13-inch. I know I did.
If you’re choosing between the two, however, and want to know which one is the better overall purchase, the MacBook Air 13-inch continues its reign as the best laptop for most users.
Explore the best laptops for teachers, educators, and academics
With over 1800 laptops, MacBooks, and Chromebooks tested, I’ve rounded out the best laptops for teachers – I’ve largely focused on highly portable but powerful devices that deliver great performance.
My top choice overall for most educators is theLenovo ThinkPad T14s, which neatly balances good performance for the price, capably handling all day-to-day tasks like web browsing, emails, and all your office software. Better yet, I find it offers one of the best keyboards you’ll find on any laptop. It’s a legitimately great typing experience. My favorite alternatives include the ever-excellent powerhouse, theDell XPS 14, while those who want a cheap but decent laptop with good performance, I rate theAcer Aspire 5.
You can check out the full reviews below, alongside some other great machines that I find well-designed for academic use. Each model in this round-up has been comprehensively tested by me and my team. In general, I’ve stuck to 14in laptops, ideal for carrying to and from classrooms, without compromising on overall power. However, many options here also have larger-screen alternatives if you really want to drill down on the details or prefer a broader canvas for classroom and online course activities. Each model in this round-up has been comprehensively tested by me and my team.
+Fast +Thin, lightweight, beautifully designed +Impressive performance +Comfortable backlit keyboard
Reasons to avoid
-Older generation model now -Fingerprint magnet -Not repairable or upgradeable as previous generations
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s is one of the best laptops for teachers and just about every other professional. It’s our go-to device thanks to its incredibly comfortable keyboard, portability, and a 14in screen that’s bright, crisp, and big enough for most projects.
Powered by Intel and AMD chips (I recommend choosing the AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 for better cooling), performance is exceptional for most office-based tasks. We’ve experienced no issues whether we’re browsing, emailing, attending online meetings, and typing. Battery life lasted us around 8 hours, so should last most of the school day.
One reason why we use the T14s is the keyboard. Even newer ThinkPad keyboards with their shallower key travel depth provide simply the best typing experience you’ll find on a laptop. Keys are firm, with good depression, and unlike even Dell and MacBooks, never feel hard or spongy.
The device, like most ThinkPads, is somewhat expensive so this is an investment. But build quality is very robust. It’s tough, and if you kit it out with 32GB RAM (unfortunately, it’s not upgradeable), you’ll have a future-proofed device that feels durable enough to last many semesters.
+Competitive price +Solid build, with a 1.7kg weight +Decent battery life for the price
Reasons to avoid
-Modest performance -720p webcam -Limited port selection
The Acer Aspire 5 is surprisingly good considering its budget price, and we enjoyed our time using it. If you’re looking for a cheap laptop for a teacher that can survive the commute and day-to-day travel, this is an ideal pick.
It’s available in a range of specs, with the Intel Core i5 version reviewed by our team. This device also had a low 8GB, and we’d generally recommend increasing this to 16GB minimum for seamless performance. As it stands, with our review unit, we found performance very respectable when using office apps familiar to most teachers. Benchmarking the Aspire 5 resulted in a very respectable office laptop overall, especially at this price. Design, too, impressed us, feeling sturdy in hand and weighing a very portable 1.7kg.
At 6.5 hours, battery life didn’t quite last us all day during our tests, and it won’t power through complex workloads or gaming. But for a budget teacher’s laptop, the Aspire 5 offers excellent value for money.
A great webcam and mic make this perfect for online classes
Specifications
CPU:Up to Intel Core Ultra 7
RAM:Up to 32GB
Screen:14in FHD / 2.8K OLED
Storage:Up to 1TB
Reasons to buy
+More than enough power for the average user +Webcam, mic, and touchpad are very good +Copilot AI is just a button press away
Reasons to avoid
-Not the most premium feeling laptop -Battery life is just okay
The Acer Swift Go 14 is a well-priced laptop that’s ideal for teaching online thanks to the quality of its microphone and webcam. Yes, we don’t see it often, but this budget laptop features a 1440p at 30Hz webcam, with images coming through sharp during our review. And we found the sound quality to be excellent considering the size of this device. At 14in, it’s incredibly portable for those who need something more commuter-friendly.
The machine is available in a range of configurations, with Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, and either 16Gb or 32GB – we don’t recommend a lower RAM, as you’ll find these laptops tend to slow down during even basic tasks like browsing.
It’s not the greatest laptop we’ve ever tried – it certainly lacks the build quality of a ThinkPad or MacBook. Battery life is fair, clocking in at eight hours and 25 minutes in our tests. But for the price, and for general use, it ticks every box for online teaching.
Best Mac laptop for teachers
4. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
Ideal for teachers, educators, and anyone in academia
Specifications
CPU:Apple M4
RAM:Up to 32GB
Screen:13.6in
Storage:Up to 2TB
Reasons to buy
+M4 chip delivers top-notch performance +Design is still the best +All-day battery life +Lower price
Reasons to avoid
-Apple Intelligence is still a mixed bag
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch finally boasts the M4 chip, making it an ultra-portable powerhouse that excels in its performance. Beautifully designed and seriously lightweight, this thin laptop is perfect for teachers working across multiple locations (or those who just don’t want to be weighted down by a larger, heavier machine).
We were really impressed with how well this laptop performed during our tests. Ok, it’s not a massive leap compared to the older M3 models, but it’s still faster, delivering a smooth and responsive experience. We put this machine through its paces, running games, multiple background apps, and even 4K video editing in Final Cut Pro and the only time we noticed slowdown was during 4K edits at 120fps rather than 30fps.
With that in mind, it’s more than capable of tackling productivity apps and office software, web browsing, and emails that teachers need during day-to-day work. Battery life is also great – we clocked this at around 14 hours during standard web activities, 18 hours while just watching videos, and during mixed use, it effectively lasted the whole day before needing a recharge. That’s commendable, making it an easy pick for teachers who aren’t always right next to a mains outlet.
Even the price is great for an Apple laptop. There’s no touchscreen here, and it’s not as powerful as the MacBook Pro, but for almost any task you’ll face in the classroom, the MacBook Air will easily tackle it.
+Powerful new processor +Stunning 3.2k OLED +Holds its own against the MacBook Pro 14-inch
Reasons to avoid
-Gets expensive quickly -Touchbar and trackpad are accessibility challenges
The Dell XPS 14 emerges as a stellar option for educators, standing out within the prestigious XPS series with its remarkable features tailored for teaching excellence. Starting at $1,499, it combines a cutting-edge processor and up to a breathtaking 3.2K OLED display within an elegantly designed chassis that surpasses nearly every other Windows laptop in aesthetics.
While the base model may require upgrades for the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and OLED display, investing in these enhancements, though costly, ensures a laptop that remains relevant for years, justifying the near $2,400 investment for the recommended configuration.
Notably, the XPS 14 introduces design improvements over its predecessors, such as superior top-mounted speakers alongside the keyboard, enhancing audio quality without compromising on keyboard space. Additionally, its slim bezels encase a 1080p webcam, although lacking a physical privacy shutter.
With its robust Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and Nvidia RTX 4050, the XPS 14 adeptly handles diverse workloads from routine computing to content creation, making it an invaluable tool for educators who demand reliability, performance, and style in their teaching and professional development endeavors.
Find the best deals on Dell products withour Dell promo codes.
Best dual-screen laptop for teachers
6. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
Two screens are better than one
Specifications
Processor:Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
Screen size:13.3-inch (x2)
RAM:16GB
Storage:Up to 1TB
Reasons to buy
+Fantastic day-to-day performance +Gorgeous screen and design +Useful in multiple modes +Comes with solid quality-of-life accessories
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive -Limited ports -Not powerful enough for more robust tasks
The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i shines as an indispensable resource for educators, particularly those involved in extensive academic writing and research thanks to its dual-screen feature.
Great for academic professionals, the Yoga Book 9i’s flexibility delivers both laptop and tablet modes for writing, researching, and multitasking. The whole experience is seamless and performance is pretty much flawless for day-to-day use. Its robust Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor delivers powerful performance, ensuring smooth operation across applications while maintaining efficiency to prevent the overheating issues often seen in compact laptops.
Despite its impressive dual OLED screens, the Yoga Book 9i provides good battery life – we got around seven and a half hours in laptop mode, and six hours forty-five minutes while using two screens. So, it’s a good choice for long teaching sessions or while working on publications and academic papers with a little versatility.
Though the Yoga Book 9i comes with a premium price tag, its innovative features, including the dual-screen functionality, portability, and efficient performance, make it a worthwhile investment for educators seeking a top-tier laptop.
Best laptops for teachers compared
Model
Screen size
CPU
RAM
Storage
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s
14in
Up to Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 Pro
Up to 32GB
Up to 2TB
Acer Aspire 5
14in / 15.6in / 17.3in
Up to Intel Core i7
Up to 32GB
Up to 1TB
Acer Swift Go 14
14in
Up to Intel Core Ultra 7
Up to 32GB
Up to 1TB
Apple MacBook Air 13in (M4)
13in
Apple M4
Up to 32GB
Up to 2TB
Dell XPS 14
14in
Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
Up to 64GB
Up to 4TB
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
13.3in (x 2)
Intel Core Ultra 7 155U
Up to 32GB
Up to 1TB
How to choose the best laptops for teachers?
When choosing the best laptop for teaching, there are a number of factors to consider.
Size and design
A good laptop for a teacher should light and portable – 13-15in laptops are a popular size, but we favor 14-inch laptops for a balance of screen space and portability. Depending on how much you’ll travel with the laptop, look for durable features and IP ratings of the sort you’ll find in thebest rugged laptops.
Specs
For most teaching laptops, prioritze CPU and RAM. This will ensure that apps, web browsing, and emails is fast and seamless. Unless you’re using your laptop for complex graphic design and high-resolution video editing, GPU will be less important for most office-based tasks.
Battery life
Unless you have the luxury of working near a mains or in a single location, battery life is going to be important. You’ll often need to trade performance for extended battery life, so it’s about finding the balance. However, most modern laptops offer batteries that last the working day. We run battery tests on all laptops we review.
Storage
Storage is especially for educators in academia. The best laptops for teachers have a solid-state drive (SSD), which is quicker and longer lasting than older hard drives, and more resilient. Look for those with plenty of space – 1TB is a good baseline – and pair this with thebest portable SSDsand thebest cloud storagefor backups.
Connectivity
Slim-line laptops may be great for carrying to and from classes, but they also tend to have fewer ports for connecting extra devices. If you’re not hooking up peripherals like keyboards and second monitors, . However, if you plan of using a lot of accessories, you may need to pair your laptop with one of thebest laptop docking stationsto give it extra versatility.
By now, it’s well-established that Apple doesn’t just make iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.The Cupertino-based giant has built an entire lineup of accessories to complement its main products, including a steadily growing audio range. Since Apple announced the first-generation AirPods nearly a decade ago, it has added eight more models to its portfolio. Apple’s AirPods primarily fall into three categories: the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
The standard and pro models are both in-ear, but they differ in fit, features, and price. AirPods Max, on the other hand, are a pair of premium over-ear headphones. After Apple launched the first-generation AirPods Pro, it kept the gap between the standard and Pro models fairly distinct until recently. The Pro line always came at a higher price, which translated to extra features. The key feature that made the Pro lineup stand out was Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This made it easier for buyers to decide: if you wanted ANC, getting the Pros was the best option. If you simply wanted good-quality earbuds you could jam out with on your hour-long commute, the standard AirPods would get the job done without breaking your wallet.
Last year, Apple introduced two new models to its portfolio: standard AirPods 4 and a higher-tier AirPods model with ANC. Given that Apple added one of the Pro lineup’s most defining features to a non-Pro model, the tech giant has essentially blurred the lines between its standard and Pro offerings.
So, it raises the question: what exactly sets the AirPods 4 with ANC apart from the most recent Pro model, the second-generation AirPods Pro? And more importantly, is the Pro model still worth the extra cash?
AirPods 4 with ANC are cheaper, have good-enough battery life, and the same H2 chip
Let’s begin with what really matters most to the average buyer: the price. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation retail for $179. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 2 come in at $249, making them $70 more expensive than the AirPods 4. Since the second-gen AirPods are now nearly three years old, you can find them for much cheaper on third-party websites like Amazon, Best Buy, and eBay.
Interestingly, though the models have a significant price difference, both pack the same powerful H2 chip. Unlike all the previous iterations of the standard AirPods, the new model is equipped with all the advanced audio features of the AirPods Pro 2. This includes features such as Adaptive Audio, Transparency Mode, Conversation Awareness, and, of course, ANC.
The AirPods 4 don’t differ much from the Pro 2 in terms of battery life either. The AirPods Pro 2 boast six hours of listening time on a single charge (and 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled), while the AirPods 4 with ANC offer one hour less, coming down to five hours of listening time (with noise control off).
The battery life of the AirPods 4 with ANC is approximately four hours of listening time on a single charge, with ANC enabled. When it comes to the charging case, both can be charged via a USB-C cable, and popping your buds in for 5 minutes gives you around an hour of listening time. With a fully charged case, you get up to 30 hours of listening time on the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 with ANC, albeit with the noise control turned off. When ANC is enabled, that number drops to 20 hours.
The AirPods Pro 2’s Active Noise Cancellation is still superior
Apple states that the second-generation AirPods Pro offer twice the Active Noise Cancellation compared to the first-generation AirPods Pro and the AirPods 4 with ANC. A major factor that likely comes into play here is the fact that the AirPods 4 with ANC don’t have silicone ear tips. Both the first-gen and second-gen AirPods Pro have silicone ear tips to “deliver the highest-fidelity audio experience.” Apple claims you’ll experience better noise cancellation and the best sound quality once the fit is right.
The standard AirPods, on the other hand, have always had a hard, one-size-fits-all in-ear design. Although silicone ear tips are preferred by many, a significant number of people find them uncomfortable and mention that they fall out of their ears, as a Redditor has experienced. Despite that, many would still settle for AirPods Pro even when they weren’t fans of the silicone ear tips, since only the Pro models offered Active Noise Cancellation. The AirPods 4 with ANC solve this issue and offer Pro-level features in the standard AirPods form factor. The AirPods 4 also feature a force sensor, similar to the one found in the first-gen AirPods Pro, which allows you to control playback by pressing the stem of an AirPod.
The second-gen AirPods Pro feature Touch Control instead, which lets you adjust the volume with a light swipe up or down. The AirPods Pro 2 also feature a clinical-grade Hearing Aid mode to help those with hearing loss, which the AirPods 4 with ANC lack. In the broader context, the two models don’t differ significantly, and it ultimately comes down to your budget, the type of fit you prefer, and the level of noise cancellation you’re seeking.
A whole new look for macOS and a big change for Spotlight
(Image credit: Apple)
Appleofficially revealed macOS Tahoe 26 atWWDC25 and as expected, we were treated to an all-new look for this latest version of the desktopoperating system– and a lot more besides.
But what are the new features coming with macOS Tahoe? And when will the OS be out? Indeed, you may be wondering whether your model of Mac will be compatible with the next incarnation of Apple’s OS. Read on to find out everything you need to know about macOS Tahoe 26.
macOS 26: release date
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple typically deploys its new version of macOS in September or October, so we can likely expect macOS Tahoe 26 to roll out to Macs around that time.
Before that, we will see the release of a developer beta (which should be imminent), and later, a public beta, for testing macOS Tahoe as the year rolls onwards.
Remember, though, that pre-release software is often a rollercoaster ride of glitches and potentially show-stopping bugs, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. Most folks will want to wait for the full release of macOS Tahoe.
One of the most insistent rumors was that Apple’s desktop OS is getting a visual overhaul, and that is indeed the case: macOS Tahoe uses the ‘Liquid Glass’ design language. Get ready for translucency aplenty across the interface, a refined dock and toolbars, and a transparent menu bar which allows for the desktop to feel a bit larger.
Apple is offering more ways to customize the interface in macOS 26, too. You can tailor what controls are present in the menu bar and Control Center, tinker with the layout, and add controls for your favorite apps. A greater level of personalization is also being ushered in with moves such as allowing the user to change the color of folders, and add a symbol (or emoji) to those folders to make them more readily identifiable.
It looks to be a substantial makeover, and the emphasis on clean lines, greater levels of customization, and adding more personality with the likes of jazzing up folders all seems very promising.
(Image credit: Apple)
2. Under the Spotlight
Spotlight is the system-wide search feature which hasn’t got much love in recent times, but Apple is changing that with macOS 26. It’s being powered up with AI so that it surfaces results that are ranked more intelligently, we’re told, based on relevance to the user. Spotlight also pops up filtering options to allow you to swiftly whittle down search results, too.
With macOS Tahoe, it can be used to search within apps for features, and the more you use it, the more Spotlight acclimatizes to your workflow and typical usage patterns to make more relevant suggestions. Overall, this looks like a big step forwards for Spotlight.(Image credit: Apple)
3. Continuity continued
Apple is bringing new Continuity features to macOS Tahoe, with the big move here being the introduction of the Phone app to the Mac. You’ll be able to make or take calls, access voicemail, and benefit from the new features on iPhone as well, such as Call Screening or Hold Assist.
Tighter integration is also present with Live Activities from the Mac owner’s iPhone popping up in the menu bar on macOS. Clicking a Live Activity will open the relevant app via iPhone Mirroring, and it all looks very neat and convenient.(Image credit: Apple)
4. More AI (of course)
It’s no surprise that Apple is adding more AI to macOS 26, as well as juicing up Spotlight which we’ve already discussed.
The Shortcuts app is getting fresh AI abilities, and that incudes summarizing text using Writing Tools, and image generation via Image Playground. Furthermore, Mac users will be able to access Apple Intelligence models (on-device, or in the cloud) to use as part of their shortcuts. Shortcuts can also be cued up to run at a certain time of day, or when completing a specific action like connecting an external monitor.
AI is also set to drive Live Translation in the Messages app, translating text into another language as you type it (and vice versa for replies). FaceTime will benefit from translated live captions, and calls in the Phone app can be translated, too.
There are some further minor trimmings here, including macOS 26 providing new ways to create Genmoji.(Image credit: Apple)
5. Apple Games
There’s a new dedicated app for gamers with macOS Tahoe, imaginatively named Apple Games. It acts as a hub for your Mac gaming activities, allowing you to jump back into titles you’ve been recently playing.
There’s a Game Overlay that allows you to quickly adjust settings (volume, brightness), chat with friends, send invites to them and so forth. A new Low Power Mode is present for MacBooks to give them better battery life when gaming, too.
On the developer side, Metal 4 arrives with macOS 26, ushering in new tech including MetalFX Frame Interpolation (for faster frame rates) and Denoising.(Image credit: Apple)
6. Additional accessibility features
Apple has brought in new accessibility functionality with macOS Tahoe, including Magnifier for Mac. This leverages your iPhone (or a USB camera) to be able to zoom in to, say, a distant whiteboard, and present the writing on the board to the user on their Mac’s screen – seriously nifty stuff for those who are vision-impaired.
In a similar vein, Accessibility Reader can take images of book pages and show them on the Mac display, allowing for zooming, or changing fonts or colors to make things clearer. There’s also a new Braille Access experience providing an interface for those using a connected braille display, and Vehicle Motion Cues, a feature to help combat motion sickness when on, say, a long car journey.
In a matter of just a few short years, Apple’s AirPods have gone from the sleek new way to connect to iPhone and other mobile devices to pretty much the only way to connect to them. There has, of course, been a learning curve for AirPods since their arrival, with users not only adapting to the device’s welcome lack of a cord, but to other little things, like how to charge the newly battery-powered earbuds and headphones that fall under the AirPod line.
If you’ve owned a set of Apple AirPods over the years, you know the devices are charged by placing them inside a small box that connects to an electrical outlet or charging apparatus via a USB cable. Historically, those charging cables have been tucked inside the box that contains your AirPods at the point of purchase, whether that be in-store or online. That is no longer the case, with Apple pivoting towards USB-C chargers for AirPods while removing the charging cable from the items included in the box.
You can, however, still purchase Apple AirPods with a charging cable included in the box, assuming you select the right model. At present, Apple is offering just two of its AirPods models with a USB-C charging cable included in the box. The first is the SlashGear-approved AirPods Pro 2, which retail for $249. The other is the AirPods Max, which — at $549 a pop — might inspire some to seek out cheaper over-the-ear options.
As any Apple devotee no doubt noticed, the tech giant’s most recent version of its earbuds — the SlashGear Select Badge-earning AirPods 4 — were not listed among the devices that include a USB-C charging cable. In fact, the AirPods 4 don’t come with any sort of charging cable at all. That is indeed true for both the standard version of the AirPods 4 as well as their upgraded with active noise-cancellation cousins.
For its part, Apple is being as up front as it can be about that fact, specifically noting on the product pages of both AirPods 4 devices that they do not come with a USB-C charging cable or power adapter. The good news is that both cordless AirPods 4 options can be purchased for considerably less than the cord-included AirPods Pro 2. How much less, you ask? The option without noise-cancellation is currently retailing for just $129, while the option with active noise-cancellation is selling for $179.
Now that you know you can scoop Apple’s AirPods 4 for far less than AirPods Pro 2, you’re probably wondering if the cost of the USB-C charging cable offsets the difference. It does not, with cables going for $29 on the high end for the 240W version and $19 on the low end for the 60W version. If you need the power adapter to go with your cable, a 20W USB-C version will set you back a mere $19 direct from Apple. So even if you need both, you’re still saving money, even with the additional charges.
Apple sold the trash can Mac Pro until December of 2019 when it was replaced with the equally unique “cheesegrater” Mac Pro, a design that has largely stuck around since then.
While both of these laptops are seemingly hitting the same nail when it comes to target audience based on specifications and design, the Macbook Air is a fair bit cheaper than the Dell XPS 13. With a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, this is much more affordable than Dell’s asking price of $1,199.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,198.80, particularly in regions outside of the US.
Surface Laptop 13-inch
The good news is that both offer fantastic battery life since both of these laptops are built using Arm-architected chips, which are renowned for their energy efficiency. That said, in my testing, the Surface Laptop 13-inch lasts over an hour longer than the most recent MacBook Air 13-inch.
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
