PowerBook 5300c/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
- 1996-09-01
- Release Year
- 1995
- Original Price (Low)
- $3,700
- Original Price (High)
- $4,500
- 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" Active 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
5
Typical Low
$66
25th %ile
Typical High
$100
75th %ile
Avg / Median
$99
$90 med
Full range: $65–$175 across 5 sales
Auction
BIN
BIN + OBO
Median
Typical range
All 5 sales
Apple PowerBook 5300c 14.1" PowerPC 100MHz 40MB 500MB HDD Mac OS 8.5
2026-07-19$175
APPLE MACINTOSH POWERBOOK 5300C SERIES **NO HD/ NO CADDIE/ NO OS/ NO CHARGER ***
2026-07-09$90
Apple PowerBook 5300c 32MB RAM /PowerPC 117MHz
2026-05-10$100
Apple PowerBook 5300c Laptop 117MHz 16MB RAM 513MB HDD 12.1" Mac OS 7.5.3
2026-05-07$65
Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300c Series Vintage Laptop
2026-05-01$66
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