Mac · The Beige Era · 1986
Apple IIGS
The most advanced Apple II: a 16-bit 65C816, thousands of colours and a real Ensoniq synthesiser, bridging the 8-bit II world and the Mac era.
Apple IIGS: key facts
When was the Apple IIGS released?
The Apple IIGS was released in September 1986. Apple discontinued it in December 1992.
How much did the Apple IIGS cost?
The Apple IIGS launched at $999 in 1986 — about $2,917 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the Apple IIGS’s specs?
The Apple IIGS used a WDC 65C816 running at 2.8 MHz, with 256 KB of memory. It ran ProDOS / GS/OS.
Why does the Apple IIGS matter?
"GS" for Graphics & Sound — 16-bit, with an Ensoniq synthesiser chip.
Full specifications
| CPU | WDC 65C816 · 2.8 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 256 KB (up to 8 MB) |
| Storage | — |
| Display | Up to 640×200, 4096-colour palette |
| GPU | Video Graphics Controller |
| Ports | ADB, serial, slots |
| Weight | 4.0 kg |
| Dimensions | Desktop |
| Operating system | ProDOS / GS/OS |
| Released | September 1986 |
| Discontinued | December 1992 |
| Launch price | $999 |
How the Apple IIGS compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 65,500× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.8 MHz, the clock is roughly 1,140× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
Launched at $999 in 1986 — about $2,917 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
Its sound chip made it a surprisingly capable music machine for 1986.
Related Mac models
Open the Apple IIGS in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25