# MacBook Air 13"/15" (M5) for local AI

URL: https://insidethemachine.ai/machines/macbook-air-m5
Type: Mac laptop. Chip: M5 (8- or 10-core GPU). Memory: unified, options 16, 24, 32 GB. Bandwidth: 153 GB/s. Spec source: https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/specs/ (2026-10-15).
Price: from about $1,299 (2026-10-15, approximate). Status: current.

## Which models fit

| memory GB | usable GB | models that fit | best 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 12 | 38 | K2 Horizon 7B (8.6 GB), Gemma 4 12B (11.2 GB), Qwen3.5 9B (9.6 GB) |
| 24 | 18 | 45 | K2 Horizon 7B (8.6 GB), Gemma 4 12B (11.2 GB), Qwen3.5 9B (9.6 GB) |
| 32 | 24 | 62 | Qwen3.8 27B (22.7 GB), Qwen3.5 27B (21.5 GB), Qwen3.6 27B (21.5 GB) |

## Published speeds

None found yet.

## Questions

**What is the best local LLM for the MacBook Air 13"/15" (M5)?**
With 32 GB, Qwen3.8 27B (needs 22.7 GB, AA 33.7). 62 of 124 models fit. With 16 GB: K2 Horizon 7B.

**How much does the MacBook Air 13"/15" (M5) cost?**
From about $1,299 (as of 2026-10-15). 2026 prices are inflated by the memory-chip shortage; check before buying.