Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Air (24GB)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 12B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~13.4GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 19GB of usable memory on a 24GB MacBook Air.
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 | SFP8 (8-bit) | ~13.4 GB | ✅ Comfortable |
| Gemma 4 26B A4B | Q4_0 (4-bit) | ~15.6 GB | ⚠️ Tight |
| Gemma 4 31B | Q4_0 (4-bit) | ~17.4 GB | ⚠️ Tight |
How we got this verdict
24 - 5 = 19GB usable (macOS and background processes reserve roughly 5 GB of unified memory).
Because MacBook Air has enough unified memory to spare, 12B 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 32GB (32GB) unlocks 31B at Q4_0 (4-bit) — a step up from 12B here.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 12B · SFP8 (8-bit) · ~13.4 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a MacBook Air (24GB) run the 31B flagship model?
Yes, but it's tight — Gemma 4 31B fits at Q4_0 (4-bit) (~17.4GB), using 19GB of usable memory on this configuration.
What's the best Gemma 4 model for a MacBook Air (24GB)?
Gemma 4 12B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~13.4GB) is the best fit — it's the largest model that runs comfortably within the 19GB of usable memory here.
What if I have more or less memory than 24GB?
With more (e.g. 32GB), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the MacBook Air page. With less (e.g. 16GB), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the MacBook Air page.
Related
Gemma 4 on MacBook Air
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Air (16GB)?
MacBook Air — 16GB
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Air (32GB)?
MacBook Air — 32GB
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.