Can You Run Gemma 4 on a Mac Studio (48GB)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 31B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~30.4GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 43GB of usable memory on a 48GB Mac Studio.
Every Gemma 4 model on this configuration
| Model | Best quant | Size | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemma 4 E2B | BF16 (16-bit) | ~8 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 E4B | BF16 (16-bit) | ~15 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 12B | BF16 (16-bit) | ~26.7 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 26B A4B | SFP8 (8-bit) | ~25 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 31B | SFP8 (8-bit) | ~30.4 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
How we got this verdict
48 - 5 = 43GB usable (macOS and background processes reserve roughly 5 GB of unified memory).
Because Mac Studio has enough unified memory to spare, 31B fits at SFP8 (8-bit)— a higher-precision quant than most setups get. You don't need the 4-bit QAT build here, though it's still a safe download if you want a smaller file for a second model running alongside it.
Going up to 64GB (64GB) doesn't change the top recommendation — 31B is still the best fit, just with more headroom.
Real-world notes for this configuration
48GB on the Mac Studio is a Max-chip configuration one step above the entry tier — enough usable memory for the 26B A4B MoE model with real headroom, since the model's full 26GB parameter set needs to be resident even though computation only touches a fraction per token.
- ⚠Studio configurations at this tier are typically the Max chip, not the higher-bandwidth Ultra — if raw memory bandwidth is your priority over price, compare against this family's higher-memory tiers before deciding.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 31B · SFP8 (8-bit) · ~30.4 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a Mac Studio (48GB) run the 31B flagship model?
Yes, comfortably — Gemma 4 31B fits at SFP8 (8-bit) (~30.4GB), using 43GB of usable memory on this configuration.
What's the best Gemma 4 model for a Mac Studio (48GB)?
Gemma 4 31B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~30.4GB) is the best fit — it's the largest model that runs comfortably within the 43GB of usable memory here.
What if I have more or less memory than 48GB?
With more (e.g. 64GB), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the Mac Studio page. With less (e.g. 36GB), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the Mac Studio page.
Is 48GB on a Mac Studio Max-chip or Ultra-chip?
Typically Max-chip at this capacity — Ultra-chip Studio configurations generally start higher. Check the specific listing's core count to confirm which chip you have.
Does 48GB comfortably fit the MoE 26B A4B model on a Mac Studio?
See this page's model table above for the exact verdict — this tier is generally well past the model's minimum memory floor, since the full MoE parameter set, not just the active parameters, needs to be resident.
Related
Gemma 4 on Mac Studio
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a Mac Studio (36GB)?
Mac Studio — 36GB
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a Mac Studio (64GB)?
Mac Studio — 64GB
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.