Guides & Resources
Learn how to run AI models locally on your Apple devices. From beginner tutorials to advanced optimization techniques, our guides help you get the most out of local AI.
Start here
New to local AI? Install Ollama, then learn how much memory your first model actually needs.
Quick start guide for installing Ollama, selecting models, and running your first local LLM on macOS.
The model-size-to-memory matrix: ~0.6 GB per billion parameters at Q4. What each RAM tier from 8GB to 128GB actually runs, with Q4/Q8 sizes and the top pick per tier.
Device guides
Pick the right model for your exact hardware: MacBook, iPhone, or that 8GB Mac you already own.
Comprehensive guide covering MacBook Air vs Pro, M1-M5 chip comparison, and which AI models to run on your Apple Silicon Mac.
Complete guide to running AI models on iPhone. Learn which models work best, RAM limitations, speed expectations, and step-by-step Ollama setup.
Yes, with the right model. Engine-derived picks that fit an 8GB memory budget, what an 8GB Mac cannot run, and when 16GB is worth it.
Use cases
Local AI for real work: coding assistants ranked by RAM, and image generation on Apple Silicon.
The local coding tier list: Qwen3.6 27B, Devstral Small 2 and more with sourced benchmark scores, plus continue.dev, aider and Zed setup.
FLUX, SDXL and SD 3.5 on Apple Silicon: which image models fit 8-64GB RAM, with HuggingFace-verified file sizes and the best apps.
Privacy & offline
What local inference really keeps on your device, and how to run AI with zero network access.
What stays on your device with local inference, what still touches the network, and how to make a local AI setup fully airtight.
Learn why offline AI matters for privacy, how to set up completely private AI with no internet required.
Under the hood
How the runtime actually works once a model is loaded.
Enter your RAM or VRAM, see what you can run
Browse all supported Macs and iPhones
Best AI models for MacBook Air M1-M5
Best AI models for MacBook Pro M1-M5
Mobile AI models for iPhone
Every supported iPhone, iPhone 14 to 17
Get personalized recommendations