If you're in college, you'll want to check out this $200 MacBook

May 3

TL;DR: Get a MacBook Air refurb while it’s only $199.97.

I broke no less than three computers when I was in college. The first one shattered when I fell off my bike. The second was a casualty of the rain. The third perished when I knocked over a bowl of unlucky charms right onto the keyboard. If I could go back, I’d sit myself down and give myself two pieces of advice. First, refurbished computers are way cheaper. Second, don’t cry over spilled milk.

If you don’t want to make the same mistake I did (three times), refurbished computers are still a great option, and they’ve come a long way in the last few years. Now, you can even get MacBook Air with very few signs of wear on sale for $199.97 (reg. $999).

A computer you really can take anywhere

This refurbished Apple MacBook Air is a solid choice for anyone who needs a computer cheap enough to punish but powerful enough to be worth carrying. Under the hood, it has 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor teams up with Intel HD Graphics 6000. The 13.3‑inch widescreen display (1440 × 900) is crisp and wide enough for comfortable work sessions but not so huge that it doesn’t fit in normal computer cases (I hate when I need to buy a whole new bag just because I got a new computer).

With 128 GB of SSD storage, there’s room for documents, photos and apps without needing an external drive. Built‑in Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth keep you connected on campus or at your favorite coffee shop, and a 12‑hour battery life means you can go from morning lectures to late‑night study sessions without hunting for an outlet. At just under 3 pounds, this MacBook Air slips into a backpack and barely registers as you move between classes.

Each unit carries a Grade A/B refurbished rating, so you might spot a light scuff or two on its sleek silver shell, but every laptop is rigorously tested and backed by a 90‑day parts‑and‑labor warranty.

You can even update to macOS Monterey for the latest features and security patches.

There’s still time to get a MacBook Air on sale for $199.97.

Sale ends June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and shipping is free.