---
title: "MacBook Air for Local AI: What Each Chip Can Run | ModelPiper"
description: "Which LLMs run on a MacBook Air. Every M1 through M5 generation with memory bandwidth, unified memory ceilings, and honest fit ratings for local AI on a fanless Mac."
canonical: "https://modelpiper.com/macbook-air"
---

# MacBook Air for Local AI: What Each Chip Can Run | ModelPiper

> Which LLMs run on a MacBook Air. Every M1 through M5 generation with memory bandwidth, unified memory ceilings, and honest fit ratings for local AI on a fanless Mac.

# MacBook Air for local AI

Every MacBook Air generation, with the memory bandwidth and unified memory that decide which models it can run. Pick a chip for its full model fit breakdown.

The M5 is the current generation at 153 GB/s and up to 32 GB. On the used market the M4 is the one to look for: 120 GB/s and up to 32 GB, which is the pairing that decides what runs, and neither figure changes with the age of the machine.

[

M52025

153 GB/s · 16 to 32 GB unified memory

Holds about a 42B model at Q4

](/macbook-air/m5)[

M42024

120 GB/s · 16 to 32 GB unified memory

Holds about a 42B model at Q4 · Used market

](/macbook-air/m4)[

M32023

100 GB/s · 8 to 24 GB unified memory

Holds about a 31B model at Q4 · Used market

](/macbook-air/m3)[

M22022

100 GB/s · 8 to 24 GB unified memory

Holds about a 31B model at Q4 · Used market

](/macbook-air/m2)[

M12020

68.25 GB/s · 8 to 16 GB unified memory

Holds about a 20B model at Q4 · Used market

](/macbook-air/m1)

## Comparing against a model instead?

Start from the model and see every Mac that runs it, with fit ratings and speed estimates.

[Browse the model database](/fit)

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