Lisa · The Beige Era · 1985
Macintosh XL
Apple renamed remaining Lisas as the Macintosh XL and shipped MacWorks so they could run Mac apps. It was powerful, expensive and gone almost immediately.
A Lisa repackaged to run Macintosh software.
Macintosh XL: key facts
When was the Macintosh XL released?
The Macintosh XL arrived in January 1985. Apple discontinued it in April 1985.
How much did the Macintosh XL cost?
The Macintosh XL launched at $3,995 in 1985, about $11,885 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68000 at 5 MHz, 512 KB RAM, 10 MB storage, 12" monochrome, 720×364 display.
Why does the Macintosh XL matter?
A Lisa repackaged to run Macintosh software.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68000 · 5 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 KB (up to 2 MB) |
| Storage | 10 MB |
| Display | 12" monochrome, 720×364 |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | 3.5-inch floppy, hard disk, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Desktop computer |
| Operating system | MacWorks XL |
| Released | January 1985 |
| Discontinued | April 1985 |
| Launch price | $3,995 |
How the Macintosh XL compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32,800× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 5 MHz, the clock is roughly 640× 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 3 modern phone photos.
Launched at $3,995 in 1985, about $11,885 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 larger screen made many early Mac users jealous.
Related Lisa models
Open the Macintosh XL in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11