The perfect refurbished MacBook for every student in Ireland: a guide for parents

by Antonio Negrini, on Aug 22, 2025

From a child in primary school to a young adult in university, every student has different needs – and there’s a refurbished MacBook to suit each one. In this guide, we’ll help Irish parents navigate the Apple range (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, M1, M2 and newer chips) to find the perfect laptop for their child’s learning. Whether it’s for taking notes in class, creating projects for the Leaving Cert, or coding a new app, there’s a MacBook for every activity – and buying it refurbished from refurbed means saving money and helping the planet.

Two students using a refurbished Macbook

Why choose a refurbished MacBook from refurbed?

Buying a refurbished MacBook from refurbed.ie means you get:

  • Up to 40% savings compared to buying new
  • Minimum 12-month warranty (extendable)
  • 30-day free trial at home
  • Free delivery and returns
  • A sustainable choice – giving tech a second life and reducing e-waste

Primary School: first steps with a MacBook

For primary school pupils, the goal is a simple, reliable, and budget-friendly laptop. At this stage, it will mainly be used for light web browsing for projects, basic educational apps, watching learning videos, and perhaps creating their first slideshows in Google Slides or PowerPoint.

Recommended models:

  • MacBook Air 2017 – affordable, lightweight, and perfect for basic use
  • MacBook Air 2020 M1 – more modern, with all-day battery life and excellent performance for years to come

Typical use cases:

A primary school child could use a MacBook to research for a history project, watch YouTube Kids educational videos, use language-learning apps like Duolingo, or start learning how to type and create short documents in Google Docs. The MacBook Air is light enough to fit in their school bag and has the battery to last the whole day without charging.

Junior Cycle of Secondary School (1st to 3rd year): daily productivity and growing creativity

In the Junior Cycle, students start handling more complex work: writing essays, preparing group presentations, managing online assignments via Google Classroom, and exploring creative hobbies like photo editing or coding.

Recommended models:

Typical use cases:

A 2nd-year student might have several tabs open for research, a Word document for their English essay, Spotify playing in the background, and Zoom running for an online study group. They may also experiment with basic video editing for a Transition Year project, or code simple Python programs in class.

Senior Cycle of Secondary School (Transition Year to Leaving Cert): serious projects and exam prep

In Transition Year, students often engage in creative or entrepreneurial projects, work placements, and research-heavy assignments. In 5th and 6th year, the focus shifts to preparing for the Leaving Certificate, meaning a laptop must handle intense note-taking, exam practice software, and sometimes specialised apps for subjects like Design & Communication Graphics (DCG) or Music Technology.

Recommended models:

Typical use cases:

A TY student could be creating a promotional video for their mini-company, using iMovie or Final Cut Pro, while also managing spreadsheets for budgeting. A 6th-year DCG student could be working in SolidWorks or AutoCAD to design their Leaving Cert project, connecting the MacBook Pro to an external display for a better view. Music students might use Logic Pro to compose and record coursework pieces.

University/Third Level: power and versatility for every faculty

At university, laptop needs vary by degree. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences students may prioritise portability and battery life, while Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Science students need higher performance for specialist software.

Recommended models:

Typical use cases:

An Arts student could have multiple PDF readings open alongside a Word document for essay writing, and attend lectures via Zoom without worrying about battery life. An Engineering student could run CAD software, simulations, or programming environments without lag. A Computer Science student could use Docker, run virtual machines, and compile large projects efficiently.

Creative degrees: design, media, and film students

For students studying design, film, or creative media, a more powerful MacBook Pro with enhanced GPU performance and colour-accurate displays is worth the investment.

Recommended models:

Typical use cases:

A graphic design student could run Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign simultaneously without slowdown. A film student could edit multi-track 4K footage in Final Cut Pro, apply colour correction, and export quickly. A product design student could model in Rhino and render directly on their MacBook.

Computer Science and programming students

Programming students benefit from macOS’s Unix-based environment, which supports most development tools out of the box.

Recommended models:

Typical use cases:

A first-year CS student could code in Python or Java using VS Code, compile assignments, and build small iOS apps in Xcode. A final-year student could run containerised web apps, test across environments, and train small machine learning models with GPU acceleration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro?

Air is thinner, lighter, and silent – perfect for most students. Pro is more powerful, with active cooling and better suited for demanding creative or technical work.

Are refurbished MacBooks reliable?

Yes. All refurbed MacBooks are tested, restored, and come with at least a 12-month warranty and 30-day free trial.

Should I choose M1/M2 or an older Intel model?

M1/M2 offer better performance and battery life. Older Intel models are cheaper and fine for light use.

How much RAM and storage do we need?

8GB RAM and 256GB SSD are fine for most schoolwork. 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD are better for creative work, coding, or long-term use.

What’s the warranty and return policy?

Every MacBook comes with a 12-month warranty (extendable) and a free 30-day trial with returns.

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