Apple iBook G4 (12-inch, Late 2003) vs Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)

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iBook G4 (12-inch, Late 2003) compared with PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)

	AppleiBook G4 (12-inch, Late 2003)	ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)
Overview
Released
Released	October 2003	2003
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	1024 × 768
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Active-matrix TFT XGA display supporting millions of colours. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh rate are unpublished in the cited maker sheet.	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G4 800 MHz (iBook Late 2003)	PowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 (32 MB DDR)	NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	256 MB or 640 MB	256 MB or 640 MB
Storage
Storage	30 GB	40 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	PowerPC G4 at 0.8 GHz, with Velocity Engine, 256 KB on-chip L2 cache at processor speed and 133 MHz system bus. Exact silicon model and supplier are not published in the cited maker sheets.	867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred.
GPU
GPU	ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4× support.	NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory.
Memory type
Memory type	PC2100 266 MHz DDR SDRAM; 128 MB soldered plus 128 MB in the single SO-DIMM slot as standard. Up to 640 MB total, requiring replacement of the installed module.	256 MB PC2100 DDR266 stock: 128 MB onboard plus 128 MB SO-DIMM. Maker-supported maximum 640 MB retained; third-party 1152 MB maximum in EveryMac is not a maker configuration.
Storage type
Storage type	4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive; 40 GB and 60 GB build-to-order options. Stock processor/drive ties are 800 MHz/30 GB (12-inch), 933 MHz/40 GB or 1 GHz/60 GB (14-inch). Slot-loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive in the consumer stocks.	40 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. Combo reads DVD 8 ×, writes CD-R 24 × and CD-RW 10 ×; optional SuperDrive writes DVD-R 1 ×, CD-R 8 × and CD-RW 4 ×. No unlisted drive capacity combinations.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 6 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	50 Wh (better)	47 Wh
Weight
Weight	2.2 kg	2.1 kg (better)
Thickness
Thickness	34.2 mm	30 mm (better)
Width × depth
Width × depth	285 × 230 mm	277 × 219 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Removable 50 Wh lithium-ion battery, with charge-indicator LEDs; maker claim up to six hours. Published 2.2 kg reference weight varies with configuration and manufacturing process. The current maker support sheet supplies the reference metric values; the older developer note gives slightly different depths and 2.6 kg for the 14-inch.	47 Wh, up to five hours maker claim. Published 2.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing process; closed metric dimensions 27.7 × 21.9 × 3.0 cm.
Materials
Materials	White polycarbonate enclosure	Aluminium alloy enclosure
Colours
Colours	White	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11g	Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Optional Bluetooth 1.1	1.1
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, stereo headphone output and Mini-VGA video output. AirPort Extreme and internal Bluetooth are optional. The maker developer note specifies Bluetooth 1.1.	Two 12 Mbps USB 1.1 ports, one FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, audio line in and headphone output. Mini-VGA supports included VGA and S-video/composite adapters. No PC Card slot.
External displays
External displays	VGA mirroring through the included Apple VGA adapter; S-video and composite TV output require the optional Apple Video Adapter. Extended desktop is unsupported.	Dual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size keyboard with 77 US or 78 ISO keys, 12 function keys, four arrow keys and an embedded numeric keypad.	Full-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Trackpad with a separate button; tap, double-tap and drag capabilities.	–
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
In the box	iBook, rechargeable battery, power adapter, Apple VGA Video Adapter, software and documentation. Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, iLife and Classic environment. Native Mac OS 9 startup unsupported.	Apple Video Adapter, VGA adapter, modem cable, 45 W power adapter, plug and cord. January 7 maker launch promised later-January availability; full production review on February 3 confirms subsequent availability but exact first sale month is unestablished, so year retained.