The Apple M1 (8GB) carries 8GB of unified memory, about 5GB of which reaches a model under macOS, with 68 GB/s of memory bandwidth, making it an entry-level option for running local AI models. Here is which models fit, how fast they run, and what quantisation gives the best balance of quality and speed.
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The Apple M1 (8GB) has 8GB of unified memory, of which about 5GB reaches a model under macOS, and 68 GB/s memory bandwidth, making it an entry-level option for running local AI models. This guide covers which LLMs fit, expected tok/s performance, and recommended settings.
See the full Apple M1 (8GB) specs page for detailed specifications, all compatible models, and speed estimates. Current price: $499.