The Apple Pippin is a home multimedia console released by Apple Computer and Bandai in 1996, aimed at bringing Macintosh technology into living rooms as an inexpensive CD-ROM platform.
Spec Table
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Apple Computer / Bandai |
| Type | Home console |
| Generation | Not documented |
| Release Date | Japan: 1996 (initial); North America: 1996 |
| Launch Price | $599 USD |
| Units Sold | 42,000 |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| CPU | PowerPC 603 @ 66 MHz |
| Predecessor / Successor | Not documented |
History
Apple conceived the Pippin as a licensable hardware reference design rather than a product it would build and sell itself. The idea was to let outside manufacturers produce inexpensive, Mac-compatible CD-ROM players for the living room, spreading Apple’s technology into homes the way Macintosh clones were meant to expand its computer market share. Bandai became the platform’s primary licensee, shipping the console in Japan in 1996 as the Bandai Pippin @mark before bringing an equivalent unit to North America the same year priced at $599.
That price proved to be a fundamental problem. Rival fifth-generation hardware such as the Sega Saturn and Sony’s PlayStation cost less and offered deeper, better-supported game libraries, while the Pippin’s PowerPC 603 processor and slow built-in modem struggled with the multimedia and internet ambitions Apple had set for it. Third-party publishers saw little reason to commit resources to an unfamiliar Mac-based platform when the Saturn and PlayStation already had momentum, and Bandai’s own software output could not fill the gap alone.
The Pippin’s fate was sealed in 1997, when Steve Jobs returned to Apple’s leadership and moved to shut down every Macintosh-clone licensing arrangement the company had pursued, the Pippin included. Production wound down shortly after, and worldwide sales settled at roughly 42,000 units by the time the console was discontinued in 1998 — a scale dwarfed by contemporaries like the 3DO and Philips’s CD-i, other licensed multimedia platforms that had likewise struggled against cheaper, better-supported rivals earlier in the decade.
Library Highlights
The Pippin’s library leaned heavily on Bandai’s existing licenses and Japanese multimedia titles rather than original blockbuster gaming, which limited its appeal even to buyers willing to pay the console’s premium price.
- Anpanman series
- SD Gundam Wars
- Gadget: Invention Travel & Adventure
- L-Zone
- Gundam 0079: The War for Earth
- Shockwave Assault
- Tamagotchi CD-ROM
- Tunin’Glue
Variants
No major hardware variants are documented. The console was sold under different regional branding — the Bandai Pippin @mark in Japan and the Bandai Pippin @WORLD in North America — but these represented marketing names rather than distinct hardware revisions. See the Bandai manufacturer hub for other systems the company released.
Collector Value
Because so few units were ever sold, complete Pippin consoles are genuinely scarce compared to most 1990s hardware, and working units with their original power supply and controller command a real premium among collectors of oddball systems. Loose consoles missing accessories are more affordable but still uncommon on the secondhand market, and sealed examples are rare enough that pricing varies widely between listings. Buyers should expect to pay a scarcity premium regardless of condition, since demand from collectors of failed or unusual hardware consistently outstrips the limited supply.
Buying Guide
Before buying a Pippin, confirm the seller includes the original external power supply, since period-correct replacements are hard to find for such a low-production system. Test the CD-ROM drive with a disc if at all possible, as aging drive belts and lasers are common failure points on 1990s CD hardware. Also check that the included controller and any cables are the original Bandai-made accessories, since generic substitutes are effectively nonexistent for this platform.
FAQs
When did the Apple Pippin come out?
The Apple Pippin launched in Japan in 1996, with a North American release following the same year.
How many units did the Apple Pippin sell?
The Pippin sold approximately 42,000 units worldwide before Apple and Bandai discontinued the platform.
How much did the Apple Pippin cost at launch?
The console launched at $599 USD, considerably more than most competing consoles of its era.
What CPU does the Apple Pippin use?
It uses a PowerPC 603 processor running at 66 MHz.
Why did the Apple Pippin fail?
The Pippin struggled against cheaper, more capable competitors, had a limited software library, and lost Apple’s internal support when Steve Jobs terminated Macintosh-clone licensing efforts after returning to the company in 1997, leading to its discontinuation by 1998 after only 42,000 units sold.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin
- https://www.pcworld.com/article/535838/worst_products_ever.html
Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-15.