The best budget Macs for designers

For designers and creative design students, your computer is your livelihood. Without it, you’re unable to study or work.

You need a high-performance device that’s capable of running Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator smoothly without crashing, but you’re on a bit of a budget.

You may have looked at a brand new Apple MacBook or iMac in the past, but the prices just haven’t fit your budget. However, there’s another way of getting an Apple device, without the high price tag.

At MacFinder, we specialise in selling fully refurbished Apple devices, including the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac and Mac Mini.

What are the best budget Macs for students and designers?

MacBook Air: the best all-rounder for students

The MacBook Air is the lightest and most portable MacBook on the market, so it’s perfect for moving between home, lectures and coffee shops.

For Apple’s smallest device, it handles Adobe products incredibly well, especially the newer devices with the M-series chip.

At MacFinder, we stock a wide range of refurbished MacBook Air laptops, from the more budget-friendly M1 MacBook Air to the most powerful and latest M4 MacBook Air.

MacBook Pro: perfect for freelance designers

The MacBook Pro stands out for its larger screen size and superior performance and is ideal for freelance designers working on complex Photoshop projects with hundreds of layers.

Its liquid retina display is arguably the best screen you can get on a laptop, presenting sharp images that look similar to how they would in high-quality print format.

With the MacBook Pro, you still have the portability of the MacBook Air, along with the fact that it can support up to two additional monitors when you’re working from home or at the office.

We sell refurbished MacBook Pro laptops with Apple’s own M-series chips, including the budget-friendly M1 MacBook Pro, mid-tier M2 & M3 MacBook Pro, all the way up to the top-of-the-range M4 MacBook Pro.

iMac: the best for remote workers

If you prefer a permanent home or office setup, you can’t go wrong with the classic-looking iMac. It’s the perfect all-in-one solution for those who need a larger screen and hate clutter.

It has a huge retina display, up to 27-inches and supports multiple inputs, allowing you to work with an additional monitor.

We have iMac computers to suit all budgets, from the older Intel iMacs, to the newer and more powerful M3 and M4 iMacs.

Why Buy Refurbished from MacFinder?

Buying a brand-new Mac is a major investment. By choosing a refurbished MacBook or iMac from MacFinder, you can move up a tier by getting a Pro model for the price of an Air, or doubling your RAM for a similar price as a base-model new machine.

Meanwhile, you can also feel good about helping the planet by reducing the amount of tech waste that goes to landfill.

Every Mac we sell undergoes a rigorous testing and full refurbishment process, comes with a 12-month warranty, and is delivered to your door ready to create.

At MacFinder, we try to keep our prices of refurbished Apple devices as low as possible, without compromising on quality.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a newer model, you can also trade in your old MacBook or iMac for store credit.

Which Mac is right for me?

The refurbished MacBook or iMac you choose is really down to you. It depends on how much power you need, how big a screen you need, and whether you need portability, as well as your budget, of course.

If you’re still unsure about which Mac is right for you, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.