Apple II/III · 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.
"GS" for Graphics & Sound: 16-bit, with an Ensoniq synthesiser chip.
Apple IIc Plus (1988)
Apple IIGS: key facts
When was the Apple IIGS released?
The Apple IIGS arrived 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 specs stand out?
Key specs: WDC 65C816 at 2.8 MHz, 256 KB RAM, Up to 640×200, 4096-colour palette display, ADB, serial, slots.
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).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Its sound chip made it a surprisingly capable music machine for 1986.
Related Apple II/III models
Open the Apple IIGS in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11