Classic Apple comparison
Apple I vs Macintosh 128K
Compare Apple I vs Macintosh 128K side by side: chip, memory, storage, display, ports, launch price and how each fits in Apple history.
Apple IHand-built by Steve Wozniak and sold by Steve Jobs from a garage, the Apple I was little more than a board.
Macintosh 128KLaunched by the "1984" Super Bowl ad, the original Macintosh put a friendly face on computing.At a glance
Released 8 years apart — the Macintosh 128K is the newer model. 11 of 12 specs differ.
Going from the Apple I to the Macintosh 128K, the chip changes from the MOS 6502 to the Motorola 68000 and memory goes up from 4 KB to 128 KB. Launch price rises from $667 to $2,495.
- ChipMOS 6502Motorola 68000
- Memory4 KB128 KB
- Launch price$667$2,495
Specs side by side
| Spec | Apple I | Macintosh 128K |
|---|---|---|
| Release | April 1976 | January 24, 1984 |
| Launch price | $667 | $2,495 |
| Price today | $3,667 | $7,560 |
| Chip | MOS 6502 · 1.023 MHz | Motorola 68000 · 7.83 MHz |
| Graphics | Built-in terminal circuitry | Bitmapped framebuffer |
| CPU coresSame | 1 | 1 |
| Memory | 4 KB | 128 KB |
| Display | Composite video out (BYO TV), text only | 9" monochrome, 512×342 (1-bit) |
| Weight | Bare board | 7.5 kg |
| Dimensions | Single PCB | 34.5×24.6×27.6 cm |
| Ports | Cassette, keyboard header | 400 KB floppy, 2 serial, mouse |
| Operating system | Woz Monitor / Integer BASIC | System 1.0 |
Highlighted cells win clear more-is-better specs (memory, storage, lighter weight). Historical pricing uses approximate US CPI; clock speeds are not full real-world performance.
Why each matters
The first Apple product, sold as a fully assembled board when rivals shipped kits.
The computer that made the GUI mainstream: menus, windows, icons and a mouse, for the rest of us.
Open the full archive entries
More Classic Apple comparisons
Last updated: 2026-08-14