Can I run this LLM?
Can a MacBook Air / Mac mini M1 (8GB) run Qwen3.5 4B?
Qwen · Apache 2.0 · estimated for a 8.0 GB machine at 4K context.
Yes — it runs great.
Runs greatBest fit: Qwen3.5 4B at Q5_K_M · 3.1 GB weights · 13–19 tok/s on a MacBook Air / Mac mini M1 (8GB).
Arena Text Overall · style-controlled
UnratedNo exact matchNo reviewed exact Arena match
No reviewed exact model/configuration match in the Arena Text Overall style-controlled snapshot. No family or editorial score is substituted. Local quantization quality is unmeasured.
Snapshot published 2026-10-08 · snapshot imported 2026-10-11 UTC · validated last-good data · manual refresh
Arena leaderboard dataset · Arena / lmarena-ai, Arena Leaderboard Dataset (CC BY 4.0). Selected Text Overall style-controlled rows; field names adapted, ratings unchanged. · dataset CC BY 4.0 · revision e16f90232986
- Total memory at 4K context
- 4.1 GB
- Weights + KV cache + runtime overhead
- Estimated generation
- 13–19 tok/s
- Estimated first token
- ~19s
Every quantization on this machine
On small screens, each quant lists every metric below its name. On wider screens, scroll sideways for total memory, speed and fit. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys. Quant names stay visible.
| Quant | Weights | Total memory | Speed | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 1.9 GB | 2.9 GB | 20–29 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q3_K_M | 2.3 GB | 3.2 GB | 17–26 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q4_K_M | 2.7 GB | 3.7 GB | 15–22 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q5_K_M | 3.1 GB | 4.1 GB | 13–19 tok/s | Runs great |
| Q6_K | 3.5 GB | 4.5 GB | 12–17 tok/s | Tight / slow |
| Q8_0 | 4.5 GB | 5.4 GB | 9–14 tok/s | Tight / slow |
| FP16 | 8.4 GB | 9.4 GB | — not resident | Won't fit |
Ran Qwen3.5 4B on a MacBook Air / Mac mini M1 (8GB)? Add your real numbers →