Can I Run Mistral Small 3.1 on Apple M2 Pro?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated September 29, 2026

Yes, comfortably — Mistral Small 3.1 24B at Q4_K_M needs 16.4 GB at 8K context (14.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~7.6 GB of the Apple M2 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~7 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.

See what else this hardware can run →

Buy this hardware Apple Mac mini M2 Pro — 32 GB VRAM · 30 W board powerDeploy in the cloud now RTX 4090 on RunPod — from $0.34/hr · rate checked 2026-07

or compare on Vast.ai from $0.35/hr (typical low · varies)

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Cloud GPU links are referral links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, LLM Configurator may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, LLM Configurator earns from qualifying purchases.

Apple Mac mini M2 Pro
32 GB VRAM · 30 W board power
2026 prices are volatile — check the current listing.
Check price on Amazon

Apple M2 Pro Specs

VRAM32 GB unified memory
Memory Bandwidth200 GB/s

Mistral Small 3.1 24B on the Apple M2 Pro: VRAM by quantization

QuantVRAM neededFits 32 GB?Max contextWhole PC
F1649.3 GB✗ No——
Q8_027.2 GB✗ No—Build for this
Q6_K21.5 GB✓ Yes16K—
Q5_K_M18.9 GB✓ Yes32K—
Q4_K_M16.4 GB✓ Yes32KBuild for this
Q3_K_M12.2 GB✓ Yes64K—
Q2_K9.9 GB✓ Yes64K—

Assumes an 8K-token context with an f16 KV cache. A longer window needs more; a quantized KV cache needs less. “Max context” is the largest window that still fits in 32 GB of unified memory. Figures are estimates from parameter count, quantization and memory bandwidth — the analyzer lets you tune KV-cache quant and context.

Superseded model. Mistral Small 3.1 has been superseded by Mistral Small 3.2. This page is kept for reference; the newer family is a better starting point. Can I run Mistral Small 3.2 on Apple M2 Pro? →

Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the Apple M2 Pro: 8K 16.4 GB · 32K 20.4 GB · 125K 36 GB ✗. Past 125K it no longer fits 32 GB — a q8_0 KV cache buys roughly half of that back, which the calculator will price for you.

No compatible GPU? Mistral Small 3.1 24B on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs, but it is tight.

Mistral Small 3.1 Sizes That Fit the Apple M2 Pro (at 8K context)

Mistral Small 3.1 24BQ4_K_M · 16.4 GB at 8K context · ~7 tok/s (est.)
Won't fit — rent Mistral Small 3.1 instead

Mistral Small 3.1 needs ~16 GB but this GPU has 32 GB. Rent a RTX 4090 (24 GB)-class GPU by the hour instead of buying one:

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

RunPod $0.34/hr
Rent on RunPod →
Vast.ai $0.35/hr · typical low · varies
Rent on Vast.ai →

Cloud rates verified 2026-07 — estimates, and marketplace prices vary. Buying price is GPU MSRP only, not a full PC.

FAQ

Will Mistral Small 3.1 run on the Apple M2 Pro?

Yes, comfortably — Mistral Small 3.1 24B at Q4_K_M needs 16.4 GB at 8K context (14.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~7.6 GB of the Apple M2 Pro's 24 GB usable memory, at ~7 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.

Which Mistral Small 3.1 variant fits best on the Apple M2 Pro?

Mistral Small 3.1 24B at Q4_K_M quantization needs 16.4 GB at 8K context (14.2 GB weights + 2.2 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~7 tokens/sec, up to 32K context.

Mistral Small 3.1 on Other GPUs

Popular Models on the Apple M2 Pro

VRAM Tier

Troubleshooting

Buying Guide

← Can I Run It? | Mistral Small 3.1 Model Page | Apple M2 Pro GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware