PowerBook Rumor Summary - Still Waiting...

On June 3rd, a MacPolls.com poll revealed that 32.89% of readers were waiting primarily for PowerBook updates. Unfortunately, those readers are still waiting... nearly 9 weeks later.

Previous Updates

15" PowerBooks were last updated in November 2002, with the introduction 1GHz machines with the Superdrive at the top end.

12" and 17" PowerBooks were introduced with little warning at Macworld San Francisco in January 2003. Almost immediately, rumors of a 15" PowerBook updates emerged.

(Timeline available at BuyersGuide.MacRumors.com)

Previous Rumors

Numerous sites have suggested 15" PowerBook revisions over the past 7 months: MacWhispers (Feb), SpyMac (Feb), Kodawarisan (March), PowerPage.org (April), MacBidouile (May 14), RailHeadDesign (May), Kodawarisan ( June), MacWhispers (June), DigiTimes (June).

In June, Apple dropped 12" and 15" PowerBook prices, which (in retrospect) may have hinted that PowerBook updates were not imminent.

Rumors peaked pre-WWDC with one site claiming 970 PowerBooks were arriving. No PowerBooks arrived, and one Apple executive finally hinted that PowerBooks would not see the G5 processor "anytime soon".

So When?

Speculation and rumors have placed the Motorola MPC7457 PowerPC Processor into the next PowerBook revisions.

The processor is expected to ship in Q4 2003, and reports from Appleinsider claiming that the PowerBooks have been delayed due to the inability for Motorola to produce enough of these updated processors.

Even with a Q4 ship date expectation, the most recent rumors from MacBidouille (of uncertain reliability) suggest August 18-19th as possible dates for product introductions... however, no other reliable sources have confirmed this timeframe. Beyond these dates, the next major consumer event from Apple is Apple Expo on September 16, 2003 in Paris, France.

Related Forum: PowerPC Macs

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...