I've been super happy with B&H lately because their shipping is rock solid and i've had zero complaints. Honestly, for school you want something reliable that just works. I usually check the B&H Photo Video Price Tracker to see when prices dip below retail. Dont overlook the Apple Education store either... they always have the M2 Air for 899. TL;DR: B&H for reliability or Apple Education store for the guaranteed student discount.

Unfortunately, finding a brand new Mac under 900 is a headache because Apple is so stingy with base specs. I track the numbers on PriceDropCatch constantly and honestly, most retail sales are underwhelming.

• Amazon: Often has the M2 Air for 799, but their shipping is sometimes messy.
• Best Buy: Hits 899 for the M3 Air, though 8GB RAM is basically unacceptable in 2024. I wouldnt settle for less than 16GB.

Saw this thread earlier but just now getting a chance to reply. > i finally decided to just switch to apple for my classes next month but my budget is only 900 bucks. A few years ago, I was in the exact same spot trying to stretch my savings for a new Air. I ended up buying a "brand new" one from a random liquidator online to save a hundred bucks, and it turned out to be a total nightmare. The serial number was already registered, and it had a weird corporate management profile locked onto it. Had to fight for a month to get my money back. Since then, I always tell people to be super cautious. If you are on a strict 900 dollar budget, you might want to consider checking Costco if you or your parents have a membership. They regularly run member-only discounts that slash prices, and they bundle in a second year of warranty for free, which is huge. Just make sure to check their stock online versus in-store. Another option is Micro Center if you live near one. They do these insane in-store-only doorbusters on Macs, but you have to physically go there. Whatever you do, I would suggest avoiding third-party sellers on Walmart or Amazon. They love to list stuff as new when it is actually open-box. Stick to official retail stock so you dont get burned before classes even start.