Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) 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

PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

	ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	2003	2005
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	1024 × 768
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished.	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003)	PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR)	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	256 MB or 640 MB	512 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 GB	60 GB to 100 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred.	1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory.	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
Memory type
Memory type	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.	512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB.
Storage type
Storage type	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.	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 5 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	47 Wh	50 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	2.1 kg	2.1 kg
Thickness
Thickness	30 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	277 × 219 mm	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	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.	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 alloy enclosure	Aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g	AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	1.1	2.0 + EDR
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	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.	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	Dual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours.	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad.	Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	–	Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	Internal omnidirectional microphone	Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
In the box	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.	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.