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Mac Studio M4 Max: test and review for local AI

The Apple station for local AI from the previous generation — replaced by the Mac Studio M5. Let's look at what matters for running LLMs locally : memory, bandwidth, speed, price—and who it's (or isn't) the right purchase for.

Updated on 09/10/2026

Where to buy it

Mac Studio M5 Max (36 GB / 512 GB)

AmazonPC alternative: GMKtec EVO-X2 64 GB / 1 TB (Ryzen AI Max+ 395) →

Buying alternative for local AI. The button configuration is the one offered for purchase. On mini PCs, reserve memory for the system and check the inference engine; macOS/MLX and CUDA are not interchangeable.

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Technical specifications

Memory36 GB (32-core GPU) to 96 GB unified (128 GB+ tiers remain removed)
Bandwidth410 GB/s (32-core GPU) · 546 GB/s (40-core GPU)
ComputeApple Silicon M4 Max, Neural Engine
Power consumption~160 W
Indicative price€2 219 at the latest check (36 GB / 512 GB, Darty), sold out by the end of September 2026
Largest model36 GB: 30B class in Q4; 64–96 GB: 70B in Q4 (~12 tok/s); fast large MoE models in MLX

Who is it for?

macOS creators/developers targeting large models on a desktop workstation.

Advantages and limitations

✓ Strengths

30B class, comfortable from 36 GB (Q4)
410–546 GB/s: ~2× the bandwidth of a DGX Spark
macOS + MLX highly optimized for LLMs
Quiet, compact, ~160 W — excellent for MoE inference

✗ Limitations

⚠️ Replaced by the Mac Studio M5 Max / M5 Ultra, on sale since 22/09/2026 (M5 Ultra 512 GB in late October)
96 GB caps the largest models on the M4 Max
No longer sold new by either Amazon or Darty (as of late September 2026)

Verdict

The M4 Max 36 GB / 512 GB clearance deal (2 219 € at Darty) is over: it is no longer in stock new from our retailers as of late September 2026. Its successor, the Mac Studio M5 Max / M5 Ultra, has been on sale since 22/09/2026 (from 2 999 €, up to 4,3× faster for AI according to Apple, M5 Ultra with up to 512 GB unified memory): that is the one to consider today. For a 70B at the best memory-per-euro price, a Strix Halo 128 GB mini PC remains the alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Mac Studio M4 Max run a 70B LLM locally?

36 GB: 30B class in Q4; 64–96 GB: 70B in Q4 (~12 tok/s); fast large MoE models in MLX.

How much does the Mac Studio M4 Max cost?

Expect €2,219 at the latest check (36 GB / 512 GB, Darty), out of stock in late September 2026 (≈ $1,999). Prices change quickly — check the current price through the purchase links.

Who is the Mac Studio M4 Max for?

macOS creators/developers targeting large models on a desktop workstation.

Go further

Prices in euros (€) are French market prices including VAT, checked by QuelLLM. US prices differ: the Amazon buttons show the current US price.