On December 1st, 1983, Apple introduced a new addition to their Apple III series: the Apple III Plus. This personal computer was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1983 to 1985 and was met with mixed reviews upon its release.
The Apple III Plus was equipped with a 1.4 MHz MOS Technology 6502B processor, 256 KB of RAM, 4 KB of ROM, and an optional 5 MB Apple ProFile hard drive. It also featured a 140 KB 5.25” floppy drive and a built-in 74-key ASCII keyboard. The initial price for the computer was $2,995, making it a high-end option for consumers at the time.
However, despite its impressive specs, the Apple III Plus faced a number of technical issues and was ultimately discontinued on April 24th, 1984. Today, the computer is 40 years old and is considered a collector’s item for fans of vintage technology.
While the Apple III Plus may not have been a commercial success, it remains an important piece of Apple’s history and a glimpse into the company’s early efforts in the personal computer market.
Apple III Plus Details
| Introduced | December 1, 1983 |
| Discontinued | April 24, 1984 |
| Original Price | $2,995 |
| Colors | Beige |
| Weight | 26 Ibs. 11.793 KG |
| Dimensions | 4.8” H x 17.5” W x 18.2” D 12.19 cm H x 44.45 cm W x 46.22 cm D |
Apple III Plus Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | MOS Technology 6502B |
| Processor Speed | 1.4 MHz average 1.8 MHz maximum |
| Architecture | 8-bit |
| Number of Cores | 1 |
Memory
| Storage | 5MB Apple ProFile hard disc drive (Optional) |
| Built-in Memory | 256 KB |
| Maximum Memory | 512 KB with memory board replacement |
| Memory Slots | None |
| ROM | 4 KB |
Graphics
| Display resolution | 280 x 192 – 16 colors (with some limitations) 280 x 192 – monochromatic 560 x 192 monochromatic |
| Text Display | 80-column, 24-line monochromatic, 40-column, 24-line, 16-color foreground and background, 40-column, 24-line monochromatic |
Connections
| Serial | 1 – DB-25 RS-232C compatible 2 – DB-9 |
| Audio Out | 1 – 3.5-mm analog output jack 1 – Built-in speaker |
| Display Connection | 1 – RCA composite positive video 1 – DB-15 |
| Display | 1 – RCA for composite video output |
Expansion
| Slots | 4 – 50-pin Apple II peripheral |
| Media | 1 – 140 KB 5.25-inch floppy drive |
Accessories
| Keyboard | Built-in 61-key (main) 13-key (numeric) ASCII keyboard |
Software
| Software | Apple Sophisticated Operating System 1.3 (Apple SOS 1.3) |
Power
| Line Voltage | 110 or 110/220V AC |
Further Reading and References
- Apple III computer – OldComputers
- 1983: Apple III Plus – Low End Mac
- Apple III Plus Owner’s Guide (1982)(Apple Computer) – Internet Archive
- Apple III / Apple III Plus – Mac History
Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
Last updated: March 7, 2023
