The Verge advises students to prioritise longevity over cost as RAM shortages drive laptop prices higher
With prices out of whack, The Verge’s latest buying guide suggests that investing in higher-spec machines, such as the MacBook Neo or refurbished ThinkPads, offers better performance headroom for students than chasing the cheapest available options.
The Verge has published a comprehensive back-to-school laptop buying guide, warning consumers that the current market is characterised by inflated prices driven by a global shortage of RAM and storage components. The publication notes that memory supply constraints are so severe that all memory production through 2027 has already been allocated, meaning high costs are likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
Given the economic landscape, the guide advises against purchasing the cheapest available devices, arguing that students and their families should instead prioritise build quality and performance longevity. The recommendation is to bite the bullet on more powerful machines that can withstand four years of academic use, rather than buying entry-level models that may feel sluggish or obsolete within a few years.
For secondary students, The Verge identifies the MacBook Neo as the primary recommendation, starting at $599 for students and teachers. The publication highlights the device’s balance of build quality and performance, noting that while 8GB of RAM is workable on macOS, it is insufficient for modern Windows usage. Consequently, the guide strongly advises against Windows laptops with less than 16GB of RAM, suggesting that 8GB configurations struggle with contemporary operating system demands.
Apple’s MacBook Air remains the top suggestion for tertiary students, starting at $1,199 for students or $1,299 for general retail. The Verge acknowledges that the Air no longer starts at the previous $999 price point but maintains that its 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage provide necessary performance headroom. The publication also points to Apple’s refurbished store as a viable option for securing significant savings on these models.
Windows users are directed toward the Asus Zenbook A14, which features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip and is priced from $700 on sale, or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4, available for approximately $700 as a refurbished unit. For budget-conscious shoppers, the guide highlights the Acer Aspire 14 AI and the HP OmniBook 3, both priced around $500 to $600, while also recommending Chromebooks such as the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 for $350 for basic web-based tasks.
