Apple Macintosh PowerBook 520c vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh PowerBook 520c compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 520c	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	May 1994	2005
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.5″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 480	1024 × 768 (better)
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	9.5-inch backlit dual-scan passive-matrix colour LCD with 256 colours	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	Motorola 68LC040 50 MHz (PowerBook 520)	PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	–	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	12 MB	512 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	240 MB to 320 MB	60 GB to 100 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Motorola 68LC040 with 50 MHz internal processor speed and 25 MHz bus interface; no floating-point unit	1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
GPU	–	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
Memory type
Memory type	4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB; Apple's Japanese bundled configurations contain 12 MB	512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB.
Storage type
Storage type	Internal SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive; Japanese configurations pair 12 MB RAM with 240 or 320 MB storage. English support also lists a 160 MB drive	5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor. Combo base60GB; SuperDrive base80GB; 100GB build-to-order on either. 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive; optical-drive differences retained in details.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 3 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	–	50 Wh
Weight
Weight	2.9 kg	2.1 kg (better)
Thickness
Thickness	57 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	292 × 245 mm	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Nickel-metal hydride intelligent battery; Japanese specification claims three hours per battery, with one supplied and room for two. April 1995 Apple Facts instead gives 2–4 hours on one battery and 4–7 hours on two; 2.9 kg includes one battery	50 Wh lithium-ion, up to five hours. Published reference weight 2.1 kg with battery and optical drive; varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 3.0 cm, width 27.7 cm, depth 21.9 cm.
Charger
Charger	–	45 W power adapter
Materials
Materials	–	Aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports
Ports	–	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	–	AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	2.0 + EDR
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	ADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, AAUI Ethernet, HDI-30 SCSI, stereo audio input/output, external video and power input; optional internal modem and PCMCIA module supporting two Type II or one Type III card	Two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, mini-DVI, audio input and headphone output. Mini-DVI-to-DVI and mini-DVI-to-VGA adapters included; television adapter separate.
External displays
External displays	Mirroring and extended desktop through an optional video adapter cable	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Keyboard	–	Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in solid-state trackpad	Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Speakers	Two stereo speakers and a built-in microphone	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	–	Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
In the box	Japanese 12 MB/240 MB bundle includes one intelligent battery, power adapter, KanjiTalk 7.5 media and PowerBook Mobility Bundle; the 12 MB/320 MB bundle adds Express Modem II	Apple announced 31 January 2005 with availability planned later that week. Actual first on-sale month unestablished after a bounded search; year precision retained. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05; later units shipped Tiger.