How to pick a new computer

This information was updated in Autumn 2025 for the 2025-26 academic year. You can see a list of course-specific information on the Recommended Kit List page.

❌ Chromebook, Android Tablet

We do not recommend students purchase these products because they usually have pretty low specifications and do not have access to most open-source software available for Windows, Linux, and macOS devices.

❌ iPad

We do not recommend students purchase an iPad because it does not give them proper access to the operating system needed for software development, which will be a core part of most courses at CCI.

✅ Mac

For most students a Mac is going to be the best power, performance and durablity option, and can be more affordable than it was in the past thanks to Apple Silicon processors.

Robotics: If you plan to study one of our Creative Robotics courses, or a unit as part of Modular, you are advised not to buy a Mac as you need to be able to run tools such as ROS, LabVIEW and Webot that are Windows or Linux only that may not run well inside a Virtual Machine.

Laptop Charger: MacBook's M5 and later do not ship with a USB-C power adapter as standard, you can buy one from Apple for £59, or you can buy a cheaper UGREEN charger and cable, which are what we give to our own staff.

MacBook Pro 14" with M5

MacBook Air 13" with M4

We also strongly recommend purchasing AppleCare+ or a similar repair warranty and insurance scheme.

Around August/September each year, Apple will run the Apple Back to School deal, which, in addition to the discounted prices above, will include a giveaway, including gift cards or AirPods in the past.

✅ PC

Generally, we're pretty big fans of Dell (Premium, or Alienware), Razer HP Z and OMEN brand computers. However, there is a large market, and you should pick what's best for you. The following specs give you an idea of what to look for...

UAL Diploma in Apple Development: If you plan to study on Apple diploma, you are advised not to buy a PC as you need to be able to run tools like Xcode and Swift Playgrounds that are macOS only.

Tip: Check for USB-C charging and display connection, as plug-in stations at CCI all use this.

Minimum graphics
The minimum graphics required will depend on the course. If you study areas such as machine learning, data science, or 3D, you should try to obtain any NVIDIA RTX 40xx series GPU or higher.