Request a product
Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

Apple · PowerBook

PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

Released 2005

The final 12-inch PowerBook G4 adds a 1.5 GHz processor, two-finger scrolling and hard-drive motion protection.

Model history · 4 models, 2003–2005
  1. 2003PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)Compare
  2. 2003PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)Compare
  3. 2004PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)Compare
  4. 2005PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Size
12.1″
Display
–
Processor
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
Memory
512 MB – 1.25 GB
Weight
2.1 kg
Battery
5 h

What reviewers say

Contemporary reviews value the compact aluminium design, wireless features and responsive everyday performance, while finding the screen dull and some larger-model ports missing. Alan Zisman’s 2012 hands-on retrospective finds it useful for older applications but slower, heavier and more restricted by software support than newer ultraportables.

From macworld.com, computerworld.com and zisman.ca

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Screen size
12.1″
Resolution
1024 × 768
Touchscreen
No
Display type
12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.

Performance

Processor
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
CPU cores
1
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
512 MB or 1.25 GB
Storage
60 GB to 100 GB
CPU
1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
Memory type
512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB.
Storage type
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)
Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
50 Wh
Weight
2.1 kg
Battery life detail
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
45 W power adapter
Materials
Aluminium enclosure

Connections

Ports
2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
2.0 + EDR
Operating system
macOS
Port detail
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
Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
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.

Configurations

ProcessorMemoryStorageGraphics
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)512 MB60 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)1.25 GB60 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)512 MB80 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)1.25 GB80 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)512 MB100 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)1.25 GB100 GBNVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)

Pros and cons

Pros

  • AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
  • Two-finger scrolling trackpad
  • Hard-drive motion protection

Cons

  • Maximum memory 1.25 GB
  • No FireWire 800 or Gigabit Ethernet
  • No backlit keyboard

Closest rivals

Model
SizeDisplayProcessorMemoryWeightBatteryReleased
AppleiBook (1999)
12.1″–PowerPC G3 300 MHz (iBook 1999)32 MB – 288 MB–6 hSept 1999
AppleiBook (Early 2000)
12.1″–PowerPC G3 300 MHz (iBook Early 2000) or PowerPC G3 366 MHz (iBook Early 2000)64 MB – 320 MB–6 hFeb 2000
AppleiBook (FireWire)
12.1″–PowerPC G3 366 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000) or PowerPC G3 466 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000)64 MB – 320 MB–6 hSept 2000

Previous model: PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz).

Sources

  1. support.apple.com/en-gb/112537
  2. apple.com/uk/newsroom/2005/01/31Apple-Unveils-Faster-More-Affordable-PowerBooks
  3. everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/specs/powerbook_g4_1.5_12.html

Photo: EveryMac 12-inch aluminium-family image linked from the exact 1.5 GHz model page; low-resolution front pose with later desktop artwork.

Spot a mistake? Tell us