Mac · The Digital Hub · 2001
PowerBook G4 (Titanium)
The "TiBook" was a revelation — a 1-inch-thin titanium widescreen laptop that made every rival look chunky and beige. The blueprint for the modern Mac notebook.
PowerBook G4 (Titanium): key facts
When was the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) released?
The PowerBook G4 (Titanium) was released in January 2001. Apple discontinued it in September 2003.
How much did the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) cost?
The PowerBook G4 (Titanium) launched at $2,599 in 2001 — about $4,704 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the PowerBook G4 (Titanium)’s specs?
The PowerBook G4 (Titanium) used a PowerPC G4 running at 400 MHz, with 128 MB of memory and 9.8 GB of storage. It ran Mac OS 9.1.
Why does the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) matter?
First widescreen Mac laptop and first in a titanium shell.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 · 400 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 128 MB (up to 1 GB) |
| Storage | 9.8 GB |
| Display | 15.2" widescreen, 1152×768 |
| GPU | ATI Rage Mobility |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 2.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 1-inch titanium widescreen |
| Operating system | Mac OS 9.1 |
| Released | January 2001 |
| Discontinued | September 2003 |
| Launch price | $2,599 |
How the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 128× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 400 MHz, the clock is roughly 8.0× 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 2,500 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $2,599 in 2001 — about $4,704 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 paint chipped easily — a beloved laptop with a famously fragile finish.
Related Mac models
Open the PowerBook G4 (Titanium) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25