How To Know The Model of His Mac: To sell your Mac at the best price , you need to know its age, its serial number and its physical and technical characteristics? Or, would you like to identify your Mac before performing a macOS update?
In this tutorial, we explain how to know the model of his Mac, find its serial number and the technical characteristics of your Mac.
How to know the model of his Mac?
Apple has developed 7 Mac models, they are distinguished mainly by the size of their screen and the power of their processor. Three models are laptops, these are the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook. The other four are desktop computers, the Mac mini, iMac, iMac Pro and Mac Pro.
To identify exactly which Mac you have, turn it on and click on the apple icon , located at the top left of your screen. Then, from the drop-down menu, click About this Mac . The window that appears gives you the technical details of your Mac. The screen, size, color and external ports also identify Mac laptops and desktop Macs.
Which portable Mac do you have?
Screen
Mac laptops have the name of their model written just below their screen, except for those released between 2012 and 2016.
It can also be distinguished by the quality of the screen, for example the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the older, do not have the Retina display (LCD high resolution).
Height and weight
Today, the MacBook is the smallest of Apple computers. The MacBook Pro is slightly thicker than the MacBook and MacBook Air (do not hesitate to read our comparison of the 2 models ). Older models are much bigger and heavier.
Color
The MacBook Air is only available in Sidereal Gray, Gold and Silver while the MacBook was available in Rose Gold, Gold, Sidereal Gray or Silver. The MacBook Pro is sold in Sidereal Gray or Silver.
Ports
If your Mac notebook only has a USB Type-C port for charging and connecting peripherals, then it’s a MacBook. The MacBook Air 2018 has two USB Type-C / Thunderbolt 3 ports, and its predecessor models are recognizable by their MagSafe port, two USB 3 ports, its Jack output, its unique SDXC card slot, and its Thunderbolt 2 port.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro has 2 ports Thunderbolt 3 and the 15-inch has 4 ports Thunderbolt 3 and Jack. Some MacBook Pro are equipped with the TouchBar, it is placed just above the keyboard. The new generation of 2019 has it.
Which desktop Mac do you have?
Here are some clues to help you identify your desktop Mac:
Screen
The iMac and the iMac Pro are the only desktop computers with an integrated display. They are each available in two sizes, 21.5 and 27 inches. Most iMacs sold in recent years have a Retina display with a resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, which is more than a billion colors supported. The entry-level 21.5-inch iMacs have a standard screen.
Height and weight
The iMacs released before 2009 have a smaller screen (20 or 24 inches), those released at an earlier date are even smaller (15 and 17 inches). Since 2015, iMac’s design has been refined to a mere 5 mm thick. If your iMac is thicker then it is necessarily older than 2015.
The Mac mini is the most compact of Apple computers, the newest is 19.7 x 19.7 cm and 3.6 cm high.
The latest-generation Mac Pro are 25 cm, and are half the size of their predecessors. The new model, planned for September 2019 , will be 21.8 cm wide.
Color
If your iMac is white (or any other color of plastic) then it is older than 2007, since since their case is aluminum. In 2005, when Apple launches the Mac Mini, it has the colors white and silver gray.
Their design evolved only from 2010, it is now in aluminum. And since 2011, Apple has removed the optical drive. In 2018, the Mac mini has become silver gray.
In 2013, The Mac Pro has been completely redesigned. If yours is black and has a cylindrical shape then you are in possession of its newest version. If it has the shape of a rectangular aluminum block, then it came out between 2006 and 2012.
External ports
The new generation iMacs feature an SDXC card reader, USB 3, Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C and Gigabit Ethernet outputs. Note that iMacs released before 2017 have a Thunderbolt 2 port, not 3.
The latest Mac mini is equipped with two Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3 outputs, an HDMI and Ethernet output and finally an SDXC card reader. You’ll recognize a Mac mini, released before 2011, to its slot for optical drive.
Since 2018, the Mac Mini has 4 ports Thunderbolt 3 / USB Type-C, HDMI, 2 USB 3.1 and Ethernet.
Find the ID of a Mac and its release date
The identifier, the release date, and the processor speed are important data that define the Mac you have or want to buy.
To check this information, click on the apple icon at the top left. In the drop-down menu, click About this Mac . Next, click More Info , and then click System Report .
To discover all the technical features of your Mac, as well as its release date, click on Hardware .
This date is very important because it will allow you to recognize its processor and its components.
Find the serial number of a Mac
If your Mac has been stolen or is being recalled, it is essential to have the serial number (serial) .
To do so, click on the apple icon , located at the top left. In the drop-down menu, click About This Mac , More Info , and then System Report .
Finally, in the new window that opens, click Hardware , the serial number will be displayed.
Identify a Mac without turning it on
Your Mac is malfunctioning and you can not turn it on? Be aware that every Mac, whether desktop or mobile, has a label with the model number and serial number. Below, we show you where to find them on each of them.
iMac : Unplug all cables, then flip your iMac. The numbers are indicated on the reverse side.
MacBook Air : The IDs are on the back of your MacBook Air.
MacBook Pro : Numbers are written on the back on the bottom of the computer. If you have a model older than 2008, remove the battery as the numbers are on the top.
Mac Pro , before 2013 (round): Its serial number is on the back panel of the computer, near the video ports.
Mac Pro , late 2013 (cylindrical): The serial number is indicated on the bottom surface of the computer.
Mac mini : If you have a Mac mini original or late 2009, the serial number is on the edge of the lower case. On the other hand, if you have a Mac mini from mid-2010 or later, then the serial number is on the bottom surface of your computer.
Note that the model and serial number may also appear on your invoice and on the original packaging of your Mac.
