General6 min read·Published 24 Aug 2026

How to Check Your MacBook's Model, Year and Specs Before Selling

“MacBook Pro 13-inch” describes about a dozen different machines built across ten years, with wildly different resale values. Two laptops that look identical on a desk can be a generation and a large amount of money apart. Here is how to pin down exactly which MacBook you own, in under a minute, so the quote you get is the quote you get paid.

Why the exact model matters more on a MacBook than a phone

Phones are simple to identify. Say “iPhone 15 Pro 256GB” and everyone knows precisely what that is. MacBooks are not like that. The same marketing name, same screen size, and same aluminium shell can cover:

Intel processors of several generations, and Apple Silicon M1 through M4
8GB, 16GB, 24GB, 32GB or more of memory
128GB up to 8TB of storage
Different keyboard designs, port layouts, and display technologies

On Apple Silicon, memory and storage are soldered to the board and cannot be upgraded afterwards. That makes the original configuration a permanent property of the machine, and one of the strongest drivers of what it is worth second-hand. Guessing here is how people end up disappointed at inspection.

Method 1: About This Mac, the 30-second version

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner
Click About This Mac
Read off the panel that appears

On current macOS versions this gives you, in one view:

Model name and year, e.g. MacBook Air (13-inch, M3, 2024)
Chip, e.g. Apple M3, or an Intel Core i5/i7 on older machines
Memory, e.g. 16GB
Serial number
macOS version

Click More Infoto open the same details in System Settings under General → About. On older macOS releases (Monterey and earlier), About This Mac shows an Overview tab with the same information plus separate Storage and Support tabs.

Screenshot that panel. It is the single most useful thing you can send when asking for a quote.

Method 2: System Information, for the Model Identifier

If you want zero ambiguity, get the Model Identifier. It is Apple's internal designation and it maps to exactly one build.

Hold the Option key
Click the Apple menu while still holding Option
Click System Information (it replaces About This Mac in the menu while Option is held)
Look at Hardware Overview for Model Name, Model Identifier, Chip, Total Number of Cores, Memory, and Serial Number

The Model Identifier looks like Mac14,7 or MacBookPro18,3. Send that and there is nothing left to interpret.

Method 3: Storage capacity

Storage is often the number people get wrong, because they remember what they meant to buy rather than what they bought.

Ventura and newer:System Settings → General → Storage
Monterey and older:Apple menu → About This Mac → Storage tab

Read the total capacity, not the free space. A drive marketed as 256GB will report slightly under that, which is normal and expected.

Method 4: Serial number and coverage check

The serial number is in About This Mac, in System Information, printed on the underside of the machine, and on the original box label. Entering it on Apple's coverage checker returns the identified model and remaining support or warranty status.

Remaining AppleCare or warranty is worth mentioning when you ask for a quote. It is not the main driver, but it is a genuine plus on a recent machine.

Method 5: The A-number underneath, when the Mac will not boot

If the machine is dead, has no display, or you have already wiped it, flip it over. In small text near the regulatory markings you will find a model number in the form A2338, A2779, A1932, and so on. That A-number identifies the exact model and year, and works even with the machine fully powered off.

What to send when you ask for a quote

Collect these six things and a quote becomes quick and accurate rather than a back-and-forth:

Model name and year, from About This Mac
Chip, e.g. M2 Pro, or Intel Core i7
Memory, e.g. 16GB
Storage capacity, e.g. 512GB
Battery cycle count and condition, from System Information → Power
Physical condition, dents, screen marks, keyboard or trackpad faults, and whether you still have the charger and box

With those six lines you can sell your MacBook without surprises, because the estimate is built on the real configuration rather than a guess. The final offer is confirmed after physical inspection, and any difference from the estimate gets explained before you decide.

Common mistakes worth avoiding

Reporting the screen size only.“13-inch MacBook Pro” spans Intel and Apple Silicon generations with very different values.
Confusing free space with capacity. 200GB free does not mean a 256GB drive.
Assuming RAM can be upgraded. On Apple Silicon it cannot. The number you bought is the number it will always have.
Wiping the Mac before writing down the specs. Note everything first, then erase. Our MacBook wipe guide covers the right order.

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Frequently asked questions

Where do I find About This Mac?+

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then click About This Mac. On current macOS versions this opens a panel showing the model name and year, the chip, memory, serial number, and macOS version. Click More Info to open the full About page in System Settings.

What is a Model Identifier and why does it matter?+

The Model Identifier is Apple’s internal code for a specific build, such as Mac14,7. It removes all ambiguity, unlike a marketing name, which Apple reuses across years. Find it by holding the Option key, clicking the Apple menu, choosing System Information, and looking under Hardware Overview.

My MacBook will not turn on. How do I identify it?+

Turn it over. Printed in small text on the underside is a model number starting with A, for example A2338 or A2779. That A-number identifies the exact machine and can be searched directly. The serial number is usually printed there too, and on the original box label if you kept it.

How do I check RAM and storage on Apple Silicon MacBooks?+

Memory is shown in About This Mac. For storage, open System Settings, go to General, then Storage, which shows total capacity and what is using it. On Apple Silicon the RAM and SSD are soldered and cannot be upgraded later, which is exactly why buyers care about the original configuration.

Does the spec sheet really change my price that much?+

Yes. Chip generation, RAM, and SSD size are the biggest structural drivers on a MacBook quote, and they cannot be changed after purchase on modern models. A 16GB / 512GB unit and an 8GB / 256GB unit of the same model year are not the same product to a buyer.