iBook · The Digital Hub · 2003
iBook G4
The white iBook matured with a G4 chip, quietly becoming the affordable Mac notebook students actually carried.
iBook G4: key facts
When was the iBook G4 released?
The iBook G4 was released in October 2003. Apple discontinued it in May 2006.
How much did the iBook G4 cost?
The iBook G4 launched at $1,099 in 2003 — about $1,912 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iBook G4’s specs?
The iBook G4 used a PowerPC G4 running at 800 MHz, with 128 MB of memory and 29.3 GB of storage. It ran Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
Why does the iBook G4 matter?
Brought the G4 processor to Apple’s consumer notebook.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 · 800 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 128 MB (up to 1.5 GB) |
| Storage | 29.3 GB |
| Display | 12" or 14" LCD |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | USB 2.0, FireWire, Ethernet, AirPort Extreme |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Desktop computer |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.3 Panther |
| Released | October 2003 |
| Discontinued | May 2006 |
| Launch price | $1,099 |
How the iBook G4 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 128× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 800 MHz, the clock is roughly 4.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 7,500 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,099 in 2003 — about $1,912 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
It is the kind of model collectors use to map Apple’s complicated family tree.
Open the iBook G4 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-27