# MacBook Pro 14" (M5) for local AI

URL: https://insidethemachine.ai/machines/macbook-pro-14-m5
Type: Mac laptop. Chip: M5 (10-core GPU). Memory: unified, options 16, 24, 32 GB. Bandwidth: 153 GB/s. Spec source: https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs/ (2026-10-15).
Price: from about $1,999 (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 (not our tests)

- gpt-oss-20b: 48.7 tok/s decode, 1068 tok/s prompt (oMLX v0.3.8, MXFP4 (MLX), M5 10-core GPU, 32GB, community-measured) https://omlx.ai/benchmarks/performance/xns0rgnb (2026-10-15)

Notes: tok/s row was measured on an M5 (10c) 32GB; device type not stated by oMLX.

## Questions

**What is the best local LLM for the MacBook Pro 14" (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 fast is the MacBook Pro 14" (M5) for local AI?**
Published: gpt-oss-20b at 48.7 tokens/sec (oMLX v0.3.8, M5 10-core GPU, 32GB). These are other people's measurements, not ours.

**How much does the MacBook Pro 14" (M5) cost?**
From about $1,999 (as of 2026-10-15). 2026 prices are inflated by the memory-chip shortage; check before buying.