Can I Run Gemma 4 on Apple M1?
Autor: Jakub Rusinowski · Ostatnia aktualizacja: 12 lipca 2026
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M needs 8.7 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.5 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~3.3 GB of the Apple M1's 12 GB usable memory, at ~5 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 64K context.
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Apple M1 Specs
| VRAM | 16 GB unified memory |
| Memory Bandwidth | 68 GB/s |
Gemma 4 12B (Unified) on the Apple M1: VRAM by quantization
| Quant | VRAM needed | Fits 16 GB? | Max context | Whole PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F16 | 25.4 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q8_0 | 14.2 GB | ✗ No | — | — |
| Q6_K | 11.3 GB | ✓ Yes | 32K | — |
| Q5_K_M | 9.9 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q4_K_M | 8.7 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q3_K_M | 6.6 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
| Q2_K | 5.4 GB | ✓ Yes | 64K | — |
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 16 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 M1: 8K 8.7 GB · 32K 9.1 GB · 125K 10.6 GB. Every window this model publishes still fits 16 GB.
No compatible GPU? Gemma 4 12B (Unified) on 16 GB of system RAM, CPU only: runs.
Gemma 4 Sizes That Fit the Apple M1 (at 8K context)
| Gemma 4 12B (Unified) | Q4_K_M · 8.7 GB at 8K context · ~5 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 4 E4B | Q4 (QAT) · 6.4 GB at 8K context · ~7 tok/s (est.) |
| Gemma 4 E2B | Q4 (QAT) · 4.7 GB at 8K context · ~11 tok/s (est.) |
Gemma 4 needs ~9 GB but this GPU has 16 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
Does the Apple M1 have enough VRAM for Gemma 4?
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M needs 8.7 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.5 GB KV cache/overhead), leaving ~3.3 GB of the Apple M1's 12 GB usable memory, at ~5 tok/s (est.), with room for up to 64K context.
Which quantization of Gemma 4 should I use on the Apple M1?
Gemma 4 12B (Unified) at Q4_K_M quantization needs 8.7 GB at 8K context (7.2 GB weights + 1.5 GB KV cache/overhead), estimated ~5 tokens/sec, up to 64K context.
Every Gemma 4 size on the Apple M1
| Size | VRAM at 8K | Verdict | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 31B | 21.4 GB | Does not fit | — |
| Gemma 4 26B-A4B | 17 GB | Runs at Q2_K | — |
| Gemma 4 12B (Unified) | 8.7 GB | Runs | ~5 tok/s |
| Gemma 4 E4B | 6.4 GB | Runs | ~7 tok/s |
| Gemma 4 E2B | 4.7 GB | Runs | ~11 tok/s |
Gemma 4 on Other GPUs
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super
- Gemma 4 on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
Popular Models on the Apple M1
VRAM Tier
Troubleshooting
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