can-i-run-this-llm

GPU comparison

MacBook Pro M4 Pro (24GB) vs MacBook Air/Pro M5 (32GB) for local LLMs

How the two stack up for running open-source LLMs locally — memory, bandwidth, price, and how many of the 34 tracked models each one can run.

MacBook Pro M4 Pro (24GB)MacBook Air/Pro M5 (32GB)
Memory24.0 GB32.0 GB
Bandwidth273 GB/s153 GB/s
Price (approx)$1,999$1,499
LLMs it runs21 of 3425 of 34
Best model it runsGemma 4 31B · 11–16 tok/sGemma 4 31B · 6–9 tok/s

The MacBook Air/Pro M5 (32GB) runs 4 more of the tracked models (25 vs 21), thanks to its 32.0 GB of memory. The MacBook Pro M4 Pro (24GB) has more memory bandwidth (273 GB/s), so it generates tokens faster at the same model and quant.

What the MacBook Pro M4 Pro (24GB) runs →What the MacBook Air/Pro M5 (32GB) runs →Open the calculator →