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Apple silicon
Compare MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio and iMac, with historical Mac Pro guidance, by form factor, unified memory, ports and your workloads.
The Mac decision
Form factor and memory first — chip generation second.
Memory and storage ranges below are site planning guidance, not measured requirements. Manufacturer specifications vary by configuration; actual local-model fit needs the pack, runtime and context. Current configured prices and delivery were not verified. Search links target product families; check the exact chip, memory, storage, condition and quote.
Amazon UK search links are provided for current availability; no affiliate programme is currently configured, and no live price is claimed here. Affiliate disclosure.
Form factor
Start with where the Mac will live and what you run every week. Chip generation matters after that.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Chassis | Best for | RAM guidance | Storage guidance | Trade-offs | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MacBook NeoApple source | Entry macOS for writing, study, browsing and video calls | Apple specifies 8GB unified memory with no larger option listed. Check measured use for your workload; this is not a guarantee of model fit or useful lifetime. | 256GB or 512GB SSD; the 512GB configuration includes Touch ID. Current configured UK/US prices were not recovered from the buying-page extraction; check the live listing. | A18 Pro, 13-inch display and support for one external 4K display at 60Hz. One USB-C port supports USB 3/display output; the other is USB 2. Account for these limits when planning a desk or local-AI workflow. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 MacBook AirApple source | Portable everyday work and light creative tasks | M5 Air lists 16GB base memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB. Choose capacity from measured app use and the exact model/runtime pack. | Apple lists 512GB base SSD and options up to 4TB, depending on configuration. Include model files and caches in your storage budget; current retail quotes are unverified here. | 13-inch or 15-inch fanless laptop. Apple specifies up to two external displays; supported resolution/refresh combinations vary. Fanless cooling alone does not establish a measured performance limit for your workload. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 MacBook Pro 14″Apple source | Portable development and creative work with additional ports and chip options | Base M5 lists 16–32GB; M5 Pro configurations begin at 24GB and reach 64GB with the specified chip option. M5 Max reaches 128GB with the 40-core GPU. These are separate configurations. | Apple lists 1TB or 2TB starting SSDs by chip/configuration; larger options vary. Check the exact configuration rather than assuming a universal 1TB base. | Compare the selected chip, memory, ports, display support, weight and measured workload performance. M5 Pro and M5 Max external-display limits differ from base M5. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 MacBook Pro 16″Apple source | Portable work with a larger display and Pro/Max chip options | M5 Pro begins at 24GB; M5 Max begins at 36GB with the 32-core GPU and offers 48/64/128GB with the 40-core GPU. Heavy-workload memory needs are application dependent. | Starting SSD capacity depends on the Pro/Max configuration. Plan space for active projects, model files and caches; external storage does not add unified memory. | The larger chassis adds display area and changes weight/portability. Battery duration and sustained performance depend on configuration and workload; manufacturer maxima are not all-day guarantees. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 Mac miniApple source | A desk setup using your own display and peripherals | M6 lists 16GB base, configurable to 24GB or 32GB; M5 Pro begins at 24GB and offers 48GB or 64GB. M6 base 16GB memory bandwidth differs from its 24/32GB options. | SSD options depend on chip and configuration. Include internal and compatible external storage costs; check the exact capacity on the product listing. | Apple announced M6/M5 Pro availability from September 22, 2026; that is separate from today's stock or delivery date. Compare ports, display support and total setup price. Memory is selected at purchase. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 Mac StudioApple source | Desk workloads requiring the available Max/Ultra memory and connectivity options | M5 Max begins at 36GB and reaches 128GB with the 40-core GPU. M5 Ultra begins at 96GB; 256/512GB require the 80-core GPU. The announced 512GB option is due in late October 2026. | M5 Max lists 512GB base SSD; M5 Ultra lists 1TB. Options reach 8TB or 16TB respectively. A planning preference for more storage is not the manufacturer's minimum. | Apple announced general September 22 availability, with 512GB memory configurations later. Capacity and theoretical bandwidth do not establish inference speed or best value. Check the exact pack, runtime, context and current quote. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 iMacApple source | An all-in-one desk setup with an integrated display | M4 iMac lists 16GB base; larger options depend on the two-port or four-port configuration and reach 32GB on specified models. | SSD options depend on configuration and reach 2TB on specified models. Price and delivery need a current configured quote; previous UK price snapshots are not presented as current. | 24-inch-class 4.5K display (23.5-inch diagonal). Chip cores, port count and external-display support differ by configuration; do not apply the four-port specifications to the two-port base. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
 Mac Pro (historical reference)Apple source | Existing owners evaluating their current machine alongside the listed desktop options | Identify the model year and chip before comparing memory, supported software or local-model packs. Historical Mac Pro configurations do not inherit current Studio specifications. | Review the existing machine's storage and exact expansion support; current new-machine availability and pricing are unverified here. | Mac Pro is absent from the Apple UK Mac lineup captured October 2. That absence does not establish an exact discontinuation date, resale stock or a universal replacement choice. | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
Memory & storage
Both are fixed at purchase. The table below is workload-based — not a chip badge chase.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Workload | RAM target | Storage target | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday — browser, docs, video calls | Planning reference: 16GB unified memory | Planning reference: 512GB SSD | An 8GB machine may suffice for light use. Measure your concurrent workload; capacity alone predicts neither longevity nor performance. |
| Development — IDEs, containers, local databases | Planning reference: 24–32GB unified memory | Planning reference: 1TB SSD | Account for containers, simulators, databases and any local model running together. These ranges are site guidance, not measured requirements. |
| Creative — photo, video, music production | Planning reference: 32–48GB unified memory | Planning reference: 1–2TB SSD plus compatible external storage | Project resolution, effects, libraries and caches determine requirements. Check the application's guidance and a representative project. |
| Heavy workstation — large timelines, many VMs, big projects | Planning reference: 64GB+ unified memory | Planning reference: 2TB+ SSD or compatible external storage | For Apple-silicon Macs, select unified-memory capacity at purchase. Actual app/model/context use can exceed these planning references. |
Neo lists A18 Pro, 8GB memory, 256/512GB SSD and one external 4K/60Hz display; the 512GB option adds Touch ID. M5 Air offers 16–32GB memory, 512GB+ SSD and up to two external displays. Choose from measured concurrent use, required ports and an actual quote. Neither memory size nor the product name guarantees a local model will fit.
M5 Air is fanless; MacBook Pro offers base M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations with different memory, storage and display limits. Check representative compile/render/inference measurements for the chosen configuration. Routine external-monitor use does not itself require a Pro: the Air supports up to two external displays.
M6/M5 Pro mini and M5 Max/M5 Ultra Studio offer different memory, ports and SSD configurations. Studio Max begins with 512GB SSD; Ultra begins with 1TB. Include display, peripherals and storage in a current quote. Apple announced the 512GB-memory Ultra option for late October 2026; do not treat it as already delivered. Published bandwidth is not measured token throughput.
Apple pages captured October 2 list Neo with A18 Pro, Air with M5, Pro with M5/Pro/Max, mini with M6/M5 Pro, Studio with M5 Max/M5 Ultra, and iMac with M4. Mac Pro is absent from the captured UK lineup; no exact discontinuation date is inferred. Older M4 portable/mini and M4 Max/M3 Ultra Studio configurations remain historical capacity references. Current listings, announcements, delivery, retailer stock and used condition are distinct. Future products are not assigned specifications from rumors.
Optional planning
Compare published memory and bandwidth with a local-model planning estimate. The operating system, applications, model pack and runtime share that memory; the table does not certify model loading or performance.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Chassis | Chip | Generation | Unified memory | Est. model memory | Bandwidth | Est. Q4 threshold | Reality check | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | Current portable (M5 Air 16GB, 2026) | 16GB | 12GB | 153 GB/s | 12B | Apple lists 16/24/32GB Air options with 153GB/s bandwidth; this row is the 16GB configuration. House estimate: 12GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 12B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 | Current portable (M5 Air 24GB, 2026) | 24GB | 18GB | 153 GB/s | 20B | Apple lists 16/24/32GB Air options with 153GB/s bandwidth; this row is the 24GB configuration. House estimate: 18GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 20B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Pro | Current portable (M5 Pro 24GB, 2026) | 24GB | 18GB | 307 GB/s | 20B | Apple lists M5 Pro with 24GB base memory and 307GB/s bandwidth. Higher specification bandwidth is not a measured token-generation result. House estimate: 18GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 20B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Max | Current portable (M5 Max 48GB, 40-core GPU, 2026) | 48GB | 36GB | 614 GB/s | 41B | The M5 Max 48GB option uses the 40-core GPU at 614GB/s; the separate 32-core GPU is 460GB/s. House estimate: 36GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 41B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Max | Current portable (M5 Max 128GB, 40-core GPU, 2026) | 128GB | 96GB | 614 GB/s | 113B | Apple lists 128GB on the M5 Max 40-core GPU configuration at 614GB/s. House estimate: 96GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 113B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M6 | Current desk (M6 mini 16GB, 153GB/s) | 16GB | 12GB | 153 GB/s | 12B | Apple's specification lists 153GB/s for the 16GB M6 mini; 24/32GB upgrades use 170GB/s. House estimate: 12GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 12B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M6 | Current desk (M6 mini 32GB, 170GB/s) | 32GB | 24GB | 170 GB/s | 27B | Apple lists the 32GB M6 mini option at 170GB/s; the 16GB base is 153GB/s. House estimate: 24GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 27B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Pro | Current desk (M5 Pro mini 64GB, 2026) | 64GB | 48GB | 307 GB/s | 56B | Apple lists up to 64GB on M5 Pro mini and 307GB/s bandwidth; this is the configured 64GB option. House estimate: 48GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 56B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 | Previous-generation desk (M4 mini 24GB, 2024) | 24GB | 18GB | 120 GB/s | 20B | Apple's historical 2024 specification lists this M4 memory option and 120GB/s bandwidth; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 18GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 20B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Pro | Previous-generation desk (M4 Pro mini 24GB, 2024) | 24GB | 18GB | 273 GB/s | 20B | Apple's historical 2024 specification lists 24GB M4 Pro memory and 273GB/s bandwidth; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 18GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 20B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Max | Previous-generation MacBook Pro (M4 Max 48GB, 40-core GPU) | 48GB | 36GB | 546 GB/s | 41B | Apple's historical 16-inch specification pairs 48GB M4 Max with the 40-core GPU at 546GB/s; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 36GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 41B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Max | Previous-generation MacBook Pro (M4 Max 64GB, 40-core GPU) | 64GB | 48GB | 546 GB/s | 56B | Apple's historical 16-inch specification pairs 64GB M4 Max with the 40-core GPU at 546GB/s; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 48GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 56B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Max | Previous-generation MacBook Pro (M4 Max 128GB, 40-core GPU) | 128GB | 96GB | 546 GB/s | 113B | Apple's historical 16-inch specification pairs 128GB M4 Max with the 40-core GPU at 546GB/s; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 96GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 113B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Max | Current Studio Max (M5 Max 36GB, 32-core GPU) | 36GB | 27GB | 460 GB/s | 30B | Apple lists the 36GB Studio base with the 32-core M5 Max GPU at 460GB/s; 48/64/128GB options require the 40-core GPU at 614GB/s. House estimate: 27GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 30B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Max | Current Studio Max (M5 Max 128GB, 40-core GPU) | 128GB | 96GB | 614 GB/s | 113B | Apple lists 128GB Studio memory with the 40-core M5 Max GPU at 614GB/s. House estimate: 96GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 113B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Ultra | Current Studio Ultra (M5 Ultra 96GB base, 64-core GPU) | 96GB | 72GB | 1200 GB/s | 84B | Apple lists the 96GB base M5 Ultra Studio with 64-core GPU and 1.2TB/s bandwidth; higher memory options require the 80-core GPU. House estimate: 72GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 84B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M5 Ultra | Announced Studio Ultra (512GB, 80-core GPU; late October 2026) | 512GB | 384GB | 1200 GB/s | 459B | Apple says the 512GB, 80-core-GPU configuration arrives in late October 2026; it is future availability as of October 2, with no exact shipment day verified. House estimate: 384GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 459B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M3 Ultra | Previous-generation Studio Ultra (M3 Ultra 96GB, 2025) | 96GB | 72GB | 819 GB/s | 84B | Apple's historical 2025 specification lists the 96GB M3 Ultra base and 819GB/s bandwidth; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 72GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 84B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Max | Previous Studio Max entry (M4 Max 36GB, 32-core GPU) | 36GB | 27GB | 410 GB/s | 30B | Apple's historical 2025 specification pairs the 36GB base with a 32-core M4 Max GPU at 410GB/s, not the 40-core variant's 546GB/s. House estimate: 27GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 30B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
| M4 Max | Previous Studio Max (M4 Max 64GB higher config, 40-core GPU) | 64GB | 48GB | 546 GB/s | 56B | Apple's historical 2025 specification pairs 64GB with the 40-core M4 Max GPU at 546GB/s; current retailer stock and price are unverified. House estimate: 48GB available and a Q4 comfortable threshold around 56B. The 75% allocation and fixed overhead are planning assumptions, not measured loading, context or speed guarantees.Apple specifications | Search Amazon UK (opens in new tab) |
Memory architecture and software support.
Macs share unified memory between CPU, GPU and applications. Discrete-GPU PCs have separate GPU VRAM, with offload and multi-device options that depend on the runtime. Compare the exact model pack, configuration and measured workload performance.
Choose the Mac form factor when that is the product you want on the desk or in the bag. Choose a PC build when gaming frames or CUDA software paths are the real constraint.
Memory cannot be upgraded after purchase.
Leave room for the operating system, browser tabs, creative apps, and any local runtimes you keep open. A configuration that only fits the peak workload on paper is not comfortable day to day.
Verify ports, display count, and whether you need Thunderbolt docks. Spec sheets sell chips; desks and bags decide the machine.