Can I Run Mistral Small 3.1 on Apple M4?

Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated July 12, 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 M4's 24 GB usable memory, at ~4 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.

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Apple Mac mini M4 (16GB)
16 GB unified memory · 120 GB/s
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Apple M4 Specs

VRAM32 GB unified memory
Memory Bandwidth120 GB/s

Mistral Small 3.1 24B on the Apple M4: 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Superseded model. Mistral Small 3.1 has been superseded by Mistral Small 3.2.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 M4? →

Context costs VRAM too. At Q4_K_M on the Apple M4: 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 M4 (at 8K context)

Mistral Small 3.1 24BQ4_K_M · 16.4 GB at 8K context · ~4 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:

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

Mistral Small 3.1 on the Apple M4 — does it fit?

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 M4's 24 GB usable memory, at ~4 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 32K context.

Which Mistral Small 3.1 variant fits best on the Apple M4?

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 ~4 tokens/sec, up to 32K context.

Mistral Small 3.1 on Other GPUs

Popular Models on the Apple M4

VRAM Tier

Troubleshooting

Buying Guide

← Can I Run It? | Mistral Small 3.1 Model Page | Apple M4 GPU Page | VRAM calculator | Check Your Hardware