AMD Strix Halo (128GB) vs Apple M3 Max (128GB)
Side-by-side local AI comparison: VRAM, memory bandwidth, model compatibility, and estimated tokens per second across 110 open-weight models.
Quick verdict
Apple M3 Max (128GB) is faster for local AI inference, but only on memory bandwidth (56.3% more). Both GPUs have 128 GB VRAM and run the exact same 81 models natively; neither fits anything the other can't. Note: AMD Strix Halo (128GB) uses VULKAN while Apple M3 Max (128GB) uses METAL; software ecosystem matters for your framework.
Specs comparison
| Spec | AMD Strix Halo (128GB) | Apple M3 Max (128GB) |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 128 GB unified | 128 GB unified |
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5 |
| Bandwidth | 256 GB/s | 400 GB/s(+56%) |
| CPU cores | 16-core Zen 5 (Ryzen AI Max+ 395), Radeon 8060S iGPU (40 CUs) | 16 (12P + 4E) |
| Architecture | RDNA 3.5 | Apple M3 Max |
| Backend | VULKAN | METAL |
| Tier | Laptop | Laptop |
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
| Models (native) | 81 | 81 |
Estimated tokens per second
Computed from memory bandwidth and model active-parameter weight. Assumes model fits natively in VRAM.
| Model | AMD Strix Halo (128GB) | Apple M3 Max (128GB) | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 3.3 70B Instruct(70B) | 2.9 t/s(Q8_0) | 4.2 t/s(Q8_0) | -31% |
| Qwen 3.6 27B(27B) | 4.1 t/s(BF16) | 5.9 t/s(BF16) | -31% |
| Llama 3.1 8B Instruct(8B) | 12.9 t/s(BF16) | 18.7 t/s(BF16) | -31% |
| Qwen 2.5 7B Instruct(7.6B) | 14 t/s(BF16) | 20.4 t/s(BF16) | -31% |
Delta is AMD Strix Halo (128GB) relative to Apple M3 Max (128GB), compared at the highest quantization that fits natively on both cards.
Only AMD Strix Halo (128GB) can run(0)
No exclusive models: Apple M3 Max (128GB) can run everything AMD Strix Halo (128GB) can.
Only Apple M3 Max (128GB) can run(0)
No exclusive models: AMD Strix Halo (128GB) can run everything Apple M3 Max (128GB) can.
Both run natively(81)
These models fit in VRAM on both GPUs. Bandwidth determines which runs them faster.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 284B34.3 t/svs40.7 t/s
- Qwen3 235B-A22B (MoE)16.4 t/svs19.3 t/s
- MiniMax M2.5 229B26.8 t/svs31.2 t/s
- MiniMax M2.7 229B26.8 t/svs31.2 t/s
- Step 3.7 Flash26.1 t/svs32.1 t/s
- Step 3.5 Flash26.1 t/svs32.1 t/s
- Qwen3.8-Flash-Next44.8 t/svs49.5 t/s
- Mixtral 8x22B Instruct v0.17.1 t/svs9.5 t/s
- Mistral Medium 3.5 128B2.4 t/svs3.4 t/s
- Ornith 1.5 122B (MoE)21.7 t/svs27.1 t/s
- Qwen 3.5 122B-A10B (MoE)21.7 t/svs27.1 t/s
- Nemotron 3 Super 120B17.1 t/svs20.2 t/s
- Nemotron 3.5 Super VL 120B-A12B16.7 t/svs19.9 t/s
- GPT-OSS 120B37.8 t/svs45.5 t/s
- Llama 4 Scout 109B11.3 t/svs14.4 t/s
- GLM-4.5 Air 106B17 t/svs21.9 t/s
- +65 more on both
Which should you choose?
- • You want the newer architecture and longer driver support lifecycle
- • Faster token generation is the priority
- • You're on macOS and want native Metal acceleration (MLX, llama.cpp)
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better for local AI, the AMD Strix Halo (128GB) or Apple M3 Max (128GB)?
- For local AI inference, the Apple M3 Max (128GB) has the edge. It offers 128 GB VRAM (vs 128 GB) and 400 GB/s bandwidth (vs 256 GB/s), letting it run 81 models natively in VRAM vs 81 for its rival.
- How much VRAM does the AMD Strix Halo (128GB) have vs the Apple M3 Max (128GB)?
- The AMD Strix Halo (128GB) has 128 GB of LPDDR5X at 256 GB/s. The Apple M3 Max (128GB) has 128 GB of LPDDR5 at 400 GB/s. Both GPUs have the same VRAM amount; bandwidth determines which generates tokens faster.
- Can the AMD Strix Halo (128GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The AMD Strix Halo (128GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at Q8_0 quantization at approximately 2.9 tokens per second.
- Can the Apple M3 Max (128GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The Apple M3 Max (128GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at Q8_0 quantization at approximately 4.2 tokens per second.
- What is the difference between the AMD Strix Halo (128GB) and Apple M3 Max (128GB) for AI?
- The key difference for AI inference is VRAM and memory bandwidth. The AMD Strix Halo (128GB) has 128 GB VRAM at 256 GB/s (VULKAN backend). The Apple M3 Max (128GB) has 128 GB VRAM at 400 GB/s (METAL backend). VRAM determines which models fit; bandwidth determines tokens per second. The AMD Strix Halo (128GB) runs 81 models natively vs 81 for the Apple M3 Max (128GB).