59% over fair
Fair value
$550
eBay median
$875
Typical range
$475–650
Entry local AI Mac. Fine for 7B–8B class models via Ollama/MLX. Not ideal if you want 30B+ resident — step up RAM.
Used Mac & MacBook fair prices
Answer: Buy by unified memory, not just chip name. Most local LLM desks want 24–32GB (M4 Pro mini or used M2 Pro mini). For models that will not fit a 24GB GPU, look at 64GB+ Studio. GPUs still win raw tokens/sec — see Mac vs GPU.
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Mac mini
36% over fair
Fair value
$1,250
eBay median
$1,696
Typical range
$1,075–1,475
Sweet spot for many local LLM users: 24GB unified memory, quiet, low wattage. Strong MLX/Ollama inference for mid-size models. X community default for 'private AI on a desk'.
54% over fair
Fair value
$1,625
eBay median
$2,500
Typical range
$1,375–1,925
48GB unified memory rivals workstation VRAM for model size without a discrete GPU. Best mini config for larger local models if budget allows.
Fair value
$1,050
eBay median
—
Typical range
$900–1,250
Used-market favorite: 32GB unified memory often cheaper than new high-RAM M4 configs. Excellent value for local LLMs if you find a clean unit.
Mac Studio
32% over fair
Fair value
$2,000
eBay median
$2,649
Typical range
$1,700–2,350
64GB opens larger models and longer context than any 24GB GPU. Used Studios with high RAM are the secondary-market play for serious local AI without NVIDIA.
30% over fair
Fair value
$3,000
eBay median
$3,900
Typical range
$2,550–3,550
Ultra bandwidth + 64GB for heavy local inference. Check eBay carefully for config (base Ultra often ships with less RAM — buy the listed memory tier).
52% over fair
Fair value
$4,200
eBay median
$6,378
Typical range
$3,575–4,950
Whale config: 128GB unified memory for large models that will not fit on consumer GPUs. Low volume, high AOV, pure secondary market.
58% over fair
Fair value
$3,600
eBay median
$5,699
Typical range
$3,050–4,250
Current-gen Studio Ultra. Buy by RAM tier first (96GB+), not just chip name. New/refurb Amazon + used eBay both apply.
MacBook Pro
15% over fair
Fair value
$1,000
eBay median
$1,150
Typical range
$650–1,500
The used-market value pick for portable local AI: 32GB unified with 400GB/s bandwidth runs 30B-class models at Q4. Batteries and keyboards are the wear items to check.
15% over fair
Fair value
$1,300
eBay median
$1,496
Typical range
$850–1,950
Cheapest portable 64GB: 70B models at Q4 on battery power. Slower than an Ultra desktop on long prompts, but nothing else this cheap runs models this large on a lap.
13% over fair
Fair value
$1,500
eBay median
$1,700
Typical range
$975–2,250
Newer, faster take on the 32GB Max formula — better GPU and efficiency than M1 Max at a used premium. Same 30B-class Q4 ceiling.
MacBook Air
14% over fair
Fair value
$350
eBay median
$400
Typical range
$220–520
The everyone-laptop of the used market — great general value, but 8GB is genuinely too small for meaningful local AI. Buy for browsing and docs, not models.
17% over fair
Fair value
$600
eBay median
$700
Typical range
$390–900
16GB Air runs 7–8B models at Q4 well through MLX/Ollama — a fine dabbler machine. Fanless throttling shows up on long generations.
33% over fair
Fair value
$750
eBay median
$999
Typical range
$490–1,125
Recent Air with 16GB standard on later configs. Slightly faster than M2 for small local models; buy on price against the M2 16GB, not on the chip bump.