The Commodore CBM 720 has 256KByte RAM, just like the CBM 730 but lacks the co-processor board that allowed for an optional 8088 The difference with the CBM 620 is the new graphics ROM that provides 8x14 pixel based letters as opposed to the 8x8 pixel based characters in the 620. The 720 also has a detachable keyboard, allowing for a more ergonomic set-up.

The Commodore 700 series was introduced in 1982 and sold under a few different names. In the US they were sold as the B256 and PET 700 series, in Europe as the CBM 700 series, or CBM 256-80 / B256-80.

The hardware is identical to the CBM 600 series. The machines had an integrated monitor, detachable keyboard and two 5.25" disk drives. The BX256 model was capable of supporting an optional 8088 chip. Graphics and sound capabilities were also identical to the CBM series, except that the 700s had a new character generator ROM, and graphics were generated off an 8x14 matrix. The Kernal ROM determined which generator to use based on inputs that were hard-soldered on the main board.

The CBM-II has two incarnations, the P series (P = personal, or, home use) and the B series (B = business use). The B series was available with a built-in monochrome monitor with detached keyboard (hi-profile) but also available as a single unit with built-in keyboard but no monitor (lo-profile). These machines are often referred to as the "Porsche PETs" due to incorrect rumors that the case was designed by Porsche. Though Commodore did initially consult Porsche for a case design, it proved too expensive to produce, so Commodore enlisted designer Ira Velinski to create one based on the original PET prototype