Phi-4 Mini — local AI model by Microsoft
Written by Jakub Rusinowski · Last updated
Microsoft's ultra-efficient small model for mobile and edge deployment. Phi-4 Mini achieves remarkable reasoning capabilities in just 3.8B parameters using high-quality synthetic data — the same approach behind Phi-4 14B. Designed for on-device AI on phones and laptops without discrete GPUs.
Variants
The smallest Phi-4 Mini variant needs about 3 GB of VRAM at Q4_K_M — quantized weights plus framework overhead, before any KV cache.
| Model | VRAM at Q4 | VRAM | Context | Run it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phi-4 Mini (3.8B) → 3.8B | ~3.1 GB | 128,000 | ollama run phi4-mini |
Memory is quantized weights plus overhead at Q4_K_M, from the same engine as the GPU & VRAM checker.
How to run Phi-4 Mini locally
Install Ollama, then pull the tag.
ollama run phi4-miniPick a size above for its own VRAM figure, speed estimate and install command.
Licence
Commercial use permitted. No usage restrictions beyond attribution.
Applies to: Phi-4 Mini (3.8B)Recommended GPU
The cheapest catalogued GPU that runs Phi-4 Mini locally (min 3 GB VRAM) is the Intel Arc B570 (10 GB).
Can I run Phi-4 Mini on my GPU?
Phi-4 Mini — frequently asked questions
How much VRAM does Phi-4 Mini need?
Phi-4 Mini needs about 3 GB VRAM at Q4_K_M quantization for its smallest variant. Variants: Phi-4 Mini (3.8B) (3 GB, Q4_K_M). On Apple Silicon, unified memory counts toward this requirement.
Can I run Phi-4 Mini on an RTX 4090 (24 GB)?
Yes — Phi-4 Mini runs on an RTX 4090 (24 GB) and other 24 GB cards such as the RTX 3090. Smaller variants also fit comfortably on 8–16 GB GPUs at Q4_K_M.
What quantization should I use for Phi-4 Mini?
Q4_K_M is the best balance of quality and VRAM for Phi-4 Mini in most cases. Choose Q8_0 for near-lossless quality if you have spare VRAM, or smaller quants (Q3/Q2) only when memory is tight.
How do I run Phi-4 Mini with Ollama?
Install Ollama, then run: ollama run phi4-mini. This downloads Phi-4 Mini and starts a local, OpenAI-compatible endpoint — no internet connection is needed after the initial download.