Can I Run Gemma 4 on Apple M2?
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 2026
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M needs 9.4 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~8.6 GB of the Apple M2's 18 GB usable memory, at ~7 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
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Apple M2 Specs
| VRAM | 24 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 100 GB/s |
Gemma 4 12B (Unified) on the Apple M2: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 24 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 26.1 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 14.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 16K | — |
| Q6_K | 11.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 10.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 9.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 7.2 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q2_K | 6.1 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache, on an estimated architecture — this model publishes no config we can read. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 24 GB of unified memory. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.
Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the Apple M2: 8K 9.4 GB · 32K 13.3 GB · 125K 28.5 GB ✗. Past 125K it no longer fits 24 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.
No compatible GPU? Gemma 4 12B (Unified) on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.
Gemma 4 Sizes That Fit the Apple M2 (at 8K context)
| Gemma 4 12B (Unified) | Q4_K_M · 9.4 GB at 8K context · ~7 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 4 E4B | Q4 (QAT) · 6.4 GB at 8K context · ~10 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 4 E2B | Q4 (QAT) · 4.7 GB at 8K context · ~15 tok/s (est.) |
Gemma 4 needs ~9 GB but this GPU has 24 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:
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Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.
FAQ
Will Gemma 4 run on the Apple M2?
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M needs 9.4 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~8.6 GB of the Apple M2's 18 GB usable memory, at ~7 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.
Which Gemma 4 variant fits best on the Apple M2?
Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M quantization needs 9.4 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~7 tokens/sec, up to 32K context.
Every Gemma 4 size on the Apple M2
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 31B | 21.3 GB | Runs at Q3_K_M | — |
| Gemma 4 26B-A4B | 18.2 GB | Runs at Q3_K_M | — |
| Gemma 4 12B (Unified) | 9.4 GB | Runs | ~7 tok/s |
| Gemma 4 E4B | 6.4 GB | Runs | ~10 tok/s |
| Gemma 4 E2B | 4.7 GB | Runs | ~15 tok/s |
Gemma 4 on Other GPUs
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- Gemma 4 on AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Gemma 4 on Apple M4 Pro
- Gemma 4 on Apple M3
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