System Requirements
WhisperKit
WhisperKit runs on Apple devices with the following minimum requirements:macOS
macOS 14.0 or laterAll Macs with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 series)
iOS/iPadOS
iOS 16.0 or lateriPhone and iPad with A12 Bionic or later
Xcode
Xcode 16.0 or laterRequired for building and development
Swift
Swift 5.9 or laterSee Swift Package Index
TTSKit
TTSKit has higher minimum requirements due to the larger model sizes:macOS
macOS 15.0 or laterApple Silicon required
iOS/iPadOS
iOS 18.0 or laterLatest generation devices recommended
Device Performance
Model Size Recommendations
Different device capabilities are suitable for different model sizes:- iPhone
- iPad
- Mac
Performance Benchmarks
For detailed performance metrics across specific devices, see the WhisperKit Benchmarks space.
Key Performance Factors
- Neural Engine - Primary compute unit for CoreML models
- Memory Bandwidth - Critical for large model inference
- Storage Speed - Affects model loading time
- Thermal Management - Impacts sustained performance
Real-Time Performance
For real-time transcription (Real-Time Factor < 1.0):- iPhone 15 Pro: medium and smaller models
- iPhone 14 Pro: small and smaller models
- M1 Mac and above: All models including large-v3
- iPad Pro (M1+): All models including large-v3
Developer Mode Requirements
Enable Developer Mode on iOS/iPadOS
- Connect device to Mac via cable
- Open Xcode
- Go to Window > Devices and Simulators (or press
⌘⇧2) - Select your device
- Enable Developer Mode if prompted
- Restart device when prompted
Enable Developer Mode on macOS
Developer Mode is automatically enabled when Xcode is installed.Model Storage Requirements
Models are cached locally after first download. Ensure sufficient storage space.
| Model Size | Approximate Storage | RAM Required |
|---|---|---|
| tiny | ~40 MB | ~200 MB |
| base | ~75 MB | ~300 MB |
| small | ~250 MB | ~800 MB |
| medium | ~800 MB | ~2 GB |
| large-v3 | ~1.6 GB | ~4 GB |
| distil-large-v3 | ~800 MB | ~2.5 GB |
TTSKit Model Sizes
| Model | Storage | RAM Required | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6B | ~1 GB | ~2 GB | macOS, iOS |
| 1.7B | ~2.2 GB | ~4 GB | macOS only |
Testing Device Compatibility
To test if your device supports WhisperKit:Simulator Support
For development and testing:- Use physical devices
- Use Mac Catalyst builds for macOS testing
- Use the provided example apps for quick testing
Platform Support
- Supported
- Not Supported
- ✅ macOS (Apple Silicon)
- ✅ iOS (iPhone, iPad)
- ✅ Mac Catalyst
- ✅ visionOS (experimental)
Next Steps
View Benchmarks
See performance data for your device
Model Catalog
Choose the right model for your device
Quick Start
Get started with WhisperKit
Installation
Install WhisperKit in your project