PortableMind CORE vs v1.5 vs MAX-SPEED: Which Should You Buy?

CORE ($49): Entry-level offline AI

CORE is Windows-only, includes four pre-configured models, auto hardware detection, and AES 256 encrypted chat export. It's the most accessible entry point to offline AI. No frills, no complications, no subscription. For someone who wants to try offline AI or who needs the most affordable option, CORE is the right choice.

CORE is perfect if you mainly use chat mode and don't need voice input, image analysis, or cross-platform support. It's fast, simple, and costs $49 one time.

• Windows-only.
• 4 models.
• Chat interface.
• Auto hardware detection.
• AES 256 encryption.
• $49 one-time.

v1.5 ($79): Full experience

v1.5 adds Windows AND macOS support, includes seven model presets (including unfiltered modes for research and legal work), voice mode with offline speech-to-text and text-to-speech, SCOUT Vision for image analysis, and Phone Access to use your phone as a terminal when the USB is running on your laptop.

v1.5 is the comprehensive offline AI experience. You get everything CORE has, plus voice, vision, phone access, and more models. This is the version most people choose because it covers virtually every use case.

• Windows + macOS.
• 7 model presets (including unfiltered modes).
• Voice mode (speech-to-text + text-to-speech, all offline).
• SCOUT Vision (image analysis).
• Phone Access (use your phone as AI terminal).
• AES 256 encryption.
• $79 one-time.

MAX-SPEED ($129): High-performance variant

MAX-SPEED is identical to v1.5 in features and specs, but the USB drive is upgraded to a high-performance 400 MB/s interface. Everything runs faster — model loading, inference, voice processing, image analysis. If you run heavy workloads or have a fast machine, MAX-SPEED delivers noticeably better performance.

MAX-SPEED is priced at $129 and includes a high-performance 400 MB/s drive. MAX-SPEED is for power users, professionals, and anyone who uses PortableMind intensively. For casual users, v1.5 is already fast enough.

• Identical to v1.5 (Windows + macOS, 7 models, voice, vision, phone access).
• 400 MB/s high-performance drive.
• Faster model loading.
• Faster inference.
• Faster voice and vision processing.
• $129 one-time.

Feature comparison at a glance

CORE is the $49 entry point: Windows, 4 models, chat, encryption. v1.5 is the $79 comprehensive version: Windows + macOS, 7 models, voice, vision, phone access, encryption. MAX-SPEED is the $129 performance upgrade: all v1.5 features on a faster drive.

The choice depends on your use case and budget. Entry-level users choose CORE. Most serious users choose v1.5. Power users or professionals choose MAX-SPEED. None of them force you into subscriptions or vendor lock-in — they're all one-time purchases with unlimited use.

Can you upgrade from one tier to another?

Yes. You can start with CORE and later upgrade to v1.5 or MAX-SPEED. Your chat histories export cleanly, and you're not starting from scratch. This is by design — start simple, add complexity and features as you need them.

You never have to worry about being locked into a tier. Each tier is a complete product, and each one is an improvement path, not a restriction.