Compact Mac · The Beige Era · 1989
Macintosh SE/30
A cult classic. The SE/30 crammed Mac II-class power into the beloved compact body, and its slot kept enthusiasts upgrading it for decades. Some still run on the internet today.
The most powerful compact Mac: a full 32-bit 68030 in the toaster shape.
Macintosh Classic (1990)
Macintosh SE/30: key facts
When was the Macintosh SE/30 released?
The Macintosh SE/30 arrived in January 1989. Apple discontinued it in October 1991.
How much did the Macintosh SE/30 cost?
The Macintosh SE/30 launched at $4,369 in 1989, about $11,228 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 + 68882 at 16 MHz, 1 MB RAM, 40 MB storage, 9" monochrome, 512×342 display.
Why does the Macintosh SE/30 matter?
The most powerful compact Mac: a full 32-bit 68030 in the toaster shape.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 + 68882 · 16 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB (up to 128 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | 9" monochrome, 512×342 |
| GPU | Bitmapped framebuffer |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, one PDS slot |
| Weight | 9.5 kg |
| Dimensions | Compact all-in-one |
| Operating system | System 6.0.3 |
| Released | January 1989 |
| Discontinued | October 1991 |
| Launch price | $4,369 |
How the Macintosh SE/30 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16,400× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 16 MHz, the clock is roughly 200× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 10 modern phone photos.
Launched at $4,369 in 1989, about $11,228 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?
Fans have since given SE/30s ethernet, colour, and even web browsers.
Related Compact Mac models
Open the Macintosh SE/30 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11