Apple model guide · Mac nomenclature

List of Apple Mac models by A-number: A1311, A1278, A1466 and others

Many Apple devices, especially Macs, are identified by a technical designation made up of a letter A followed by four digits, such as A1311, A1278, A1466 or A1418.

This number is often printed on the device’s casing and is very useful to correctly identify an iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro before carrying out a repair, buying a part or requesting a technical diagnosis.

What does the A-number mean on Macs?

A model number such as A1311 is a physical reference used by Apple to group devices of the same family or design. It doesn’t always identify a single exact configuration, since the same A-number can cover several years or internal revisions.

For example, the iMac A1311 refers to several 21.5-inch iMac models made between 2009 and 2011. That is why, in a professional repair, the A-number is checked together with the year, the Mac internal identifier, the serial number and the actual symptoms of the device.

Model number

Example: A1311, A1278, A1466.

Usually printed on the Mac’s casing.

Internal identifier

Example: iMac11,2, MacBookPro9,2.

Shown in macOS System Information.

Serial number

Allows far more precise identification of the device’s year, configuration and exact specifications.

Listing by families

iMac models by A-number

A model Typical device Size / approximate generation
A1311 iMac 21.5" Unibody, approx. 2009-2011
A1312 iMac 27" Unibody, approx. 2009-2011
A1418 iMac 21.5" Slim, approx. 2012-2019
A1419 iMac 27" Slim / Retina 5K, approx. 2012-2020
A2116 iMac 21.5" Retina 4K, 2019
A2115 iMac 27" Retina 5K, 2019-2020
A2438 iMac 24" M1, 2021
A2873 iMac 24" M3, 2023
A3247 iMac 24" M4, 2024

MacBook Pro models by A-number

A model Typical device Size / approximate generation
A1150MacBook Pro15" Early 2006
A1151MacBook Pro17" 2006
A1211MacBook Pro15" Late 2006
A1212MacBook Pro17" Late 2006
A1226MacBook Pro15" 2007
A1229MacBook Pro17" 2007
A1260MacBook Pro15" Early 2008
A1261MacBook Pro17" Early 2008
A1278MacBook Pro13" Unibody, 2008-2012
A1286MacBook Pro15" Unibody, 2008-2012
A1297MacBook Pro17" Unibody, 2009-2011
A1425MacBook Pro Retina13" Late 2012 / Early 2013
A1502MacBook Pro Retina13" 2013-2015
A1398MacBook Pro Retina15" 2012-2015
A1706MacBook Pro13" Touch Bar, 2016-2017
A1708MacBook Pro13" without Touch Bar, 2016-2017
A1707MacBook Pro15" Touch Bar, 2016-2017
A1989MacBook Pro13" Touch Bar, 2018-2019
A1990MacBook Pro15" Touch Bar, 2018-2019
A2159MacBook Pro13" 2019
A2141MacBook Pro16" 2019
A2251MacBook Pro13" 2020 Intel
A2289MacBook Pro13" 2020 Intel
A2338MacBook Pro13" M1 2020 / M2 2022
A2442MacBook Pro14" M1 Pro / M1 Max, 2021
A2485MacBook Pro16" M1 Pro / M1 Max, 2021
A2779MacBook Pro14" M2 Pro / M2 Max, 2023
A2780MacBook Pro16" M2 Pro / M2 Max, 2023
A2918MacBook Pro14" M3, 2023
A2992MacBook Pro14" M3 Pro, 2023
A2991MacBook Pro14" M3 Max, 2023
A2993MacBook Pro16" M3 Pro, 2023
A2994MacBook Pro16" M3 Max, 2023
A3112MacBook Pro14" M4, 2024
A3185MacBook Pro14" M4 Pro, 2024
A3401MacBook Pro14" M4 Max, 2024
A3186MacBook Pro16" M4 Pro, 2024
A3403MacBook Pro16" M4 Max, 2024

MacBook Air models by A-number

A model Typical device Size / approximate generation
A1237MacBook Air13" Original, 2008
A1304MacBook Air13" 2008-2009
A1370MacBook Air11" 2010-2011
A1465MacBook Air11" 2012-2015
A1369MacBook Air13" 2010-2011
A1466MacBook Air13" 2012-2017
A1932MacBook Air Retina13" 2018-2019
A2179MacBook Air Retina13" 2020 Intel
A2337MacBook Air13" M1, 2020
A2681MacBook Air13" M2, 2022
A2941MacBook Air15" M2, 2023
A3113MacBook Air13" M3, 2024
A3114MacBook Air15" M3, 2024
A3240MacBook Air13" M4, 2025
A3241MacBook Air15" M4, 2025

MacBook models by A-number

A model Typical device Size / approximate generation
A1181MacBook white / black13" 2006-2010
A1278MacBook aluminium13" Late 2008
A1342MacBook white Unibody13" 2009-2010
A1534MacBook Retina12" 2015-2017

Mac mini models by A-number

A model Typical device Approximate generation
A1103Mac mini2005
A1176Mac mini2006-2007
A1283Mac mini2009
A1347Mac mini2010-2014
A1993Mac mini2018 Intel
A2348Mac miniM1, 2020
A2816Mac miniM2 / M2 Pro, 2023
A3238Mac miniM4 / M4 Pro, 2024

Mac Studio models by A-number

A model Typical device Approximate generation
A2615Mac StudioM1 Max / M1 Ultra, 2022
A2901Mac StudioM2 Max / M2 Ultra, 2023

Mac Pro models by A-number

A model Typical device Approximate generation
A1186Mac Pro tower2006-2012
A1481Mac Pro cylinder2013
A1991Mac Pro tower2019
A2304Mac Pro rack2019
A2786Mac Pro Apple silicon2023

Apple models that can cause confusion

Some model numbers are reused across different generations or families. That is why you shouldn’t diagnose a device based on the A-number alone. It’s a very useful reference, but it must be cross-checked with the exact year, the serial number and the device symptoms.

A1278

Can correspond to a 13-inch aluminium MacBook or to several 13-inch MacBook Pro Unibody models.

A1311

Identifies several 21.5-inch iMacs from different generations, especially between 2009 and 2011.

A1418

Groups together different 21.5-inch iMac Slim models, with significant variations depending on year and configuration.

A1466

Refers to various 13-inch MacBook Air models, produced over several years with internal differences.

Where to find the model number of a Mac?

On the casing

On many MacBooks it appears on the lower case. On iMacs it’s often on the bottom of the stand or on the rear of the unit.

In macOS

If the device boots, you can check the information from the Apple menu by opening About This Mac.

On the serial number

The serial number allows you to pinpoint the exact model, year and original configuration of the device.

Why is it important to know whether your Mac is A1311, A1278, A1466 or A1418?

Knowing the model number helps to better guide the repair. Diagnosing an iMac A1311 that won’t power on, a MacBook Pro A1278 with a charging fault, a MacBook Air A1466 with a dead battery or an iMac A1418 with display issues.

Each family has common faults, compatible parts, opening procedures and specific technical risks. That is why a full technical inspection is recommended before replacing components.

iMac A1311

  • Power issues.
  • Black screen.
  • Power supply failure.
  • Logic board problems.
  • Unexpected shutdowns.

MacBook Pro A1278

  • Battery not charging.
  • Won’t power on.
  • Hard drive or SSD failures.
  • Keyboard or trackpad problems.
  • macOS errors.

MacBook Air A1466

  • Battery degraded.
  • Charging problems.
  • Display not showing image.
  • Keyboard failure.
  • SSD storage issues.

iMac A1418

  • Screen with spots or lines.
  • Severe slowness.
  • Mechanical disk failures.
  • Cooling / ventilation problems.
  • Fails to boot correctly.

Apple technical diagnosis

Don’t know the exact Mac model you have?

If your Mac doesn’t power on, won’t boot or you can’t access System Information, you can send us a photo of the model number, the serial number or the underside of the device. We’ll help you identify it before assessing the repair.

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