PowerBook 5300cs/100
Laptops1995Uncommon
The PowerBook 5300 was Apple's first PowerPC laptop, and one of its most troubled products. Its lithium-ion batteries caught fire during testing and were replaced with slower nickel-metal-hydride cells at the last minute. The plastic case cracked easily. Early units had to be recalled. Despite the troubled launch, the 5300 established the PowerPC PowerBook line that would become the foundation of Apple's laptop business for the next decade.
Reference →Identity
- Manufacturer
- Apple
- Model Number
- M2785
Dates & Pricing
- Introduced
- 1995-08-28
- Discontinued
- 1996-08-01
- Release Year
- 1995
- Original Price (Low)
- $2,800
- Original Price (High)
- $3,500
- Estimated Value
- $100
Processor
- CPU
- PowerPC 603e
- CPU Speed
- 100 MHz
- FPU
- Integrated
- Bus Speed
- 33.3 MHz
Memory
- RAM
- 8-64 MB
- RAM Max
- 64 MB
- RAM Slots
- 1
- RAM Type
- DRAM Card
Storage & Display
- Storage
- 500 MB, 750 MB
- Graphics
- Built-in 10.4" Passive Matrix Color LCD 640x480
- Screen Size
- 10.4" Color
- Display Type
- LCD
- Display Variant
- Color
- Native Resolution
- 640x480
Expansion & Ports
- Expansion Slots
- 2 Type II PC Card
- Ports
- Video (Monitor): 1 (Mini-15) , ADB: 1 , SCSI: 1 (HDI-30) , Serial (Standard): 1 , Microphone: 1 (Line Level) , Sound In: 1 (16-Bit Stereo) , Sound Out: 1 (16-Bit Stereo) , Security (Lock): 1
Software
- Operating System
- 7.5.2
- Min OS
- 7.5.2
- Max OS
- 9.1
Physical
- Weight
- 6.2 lbs
- Dimensions
- 2.0 x 11.5 x 8.5
- Battery Type
- NiMH
eBay Sale Prices
Sales
10
Typical Low
$68
25th %ile
Typical High
$185
75th %ile
Avg / Median
$120
$97 med
Full range: $30–$248 across 10 sales
Auction
BIN
BIN + OBO
Median
Typical range
All 10 sales
Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300CS UNTESTED-NO POWER-SOLD AS IS-FOR PARTS-SALVAGE
2026-07-16$30
APPLE Lot of Vintage PowerBook 5300cs Laptop Parts for Restoring/Servicing
2026-07-13$30
Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300CS Vintage Laptop Tested Power Supply Included
2026-06-19$203
Vintage Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300cs No Powercord UNTESTED
2026-06-17$68
Vtg Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300CS Cracked Corner But Fully Functional Working
2026-06-16$99
Apple Powerbook 5300CS M2785 Tested and working
2026-06-09$248
Vintage Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300cs Laptop running Mac OS 8.6
2026-06-04$133
Vintage Apple Macintosh Power PC Powerbook 5300cs TESTED W CORDS AND STICKERS 95
2026-06-01$226
Macintosh Mac Powerbook 5300cs - No power supply
2026-05-31$69
Vintage Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300cs Laptop running Mac OS 8.6
2026-05-27$95
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