Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (24GB)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 12B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~13.4GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 19GB of usable memory on a 24GB MacBook Pro.
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 Pro 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 36GB (36GB) unlocks 31B at Q4_0 (4-bit) — a step up from 12B here.
Real-world notes for this configuration
24GB shows up on more than one MacBook Pro configuration: as a build-to-order upgrade on the base-chip 14-inch model, and as the standard configuration on the M4 Pro chip (which moved up from the M3 Pro generation's 18GB default). Either way, it clears enough usable memory for the 26B A4B MoE model, which needs its full parameter set resident in memory even though only a fraction activates per token.
- ⚠Check whether your 24GB configuration is the base chip or the Pro chip before comparing speed claims elsewhere online — the memory ceiling can be the same while the chip underneath, and its memory bandwidth, isn't.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 12B · SFP8 (8-bit) · ~13.4 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a MacBook Pro (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 Pro (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. 36GB), you can run larger models or the same model more comfortably — see the MacBook Pro page. With less (e.g. 18GB), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the MacBook Pro page.
Is 24GB the base chip or the Pro chip on a MacBook Pro?
It can be either — Apple offers 24GB as a build-to-order upgrade on the base-chip Pro, and as the standard configuration on the M4 Pro chip. Check the full spec listing (core count) rather than memory alone to tell them apart.
Is 24GB a meaningful step up from 16-18GB for local AI on a MacBook Pro?
Yes for headroom — beyond a certain memory floor, more capacity mainly buys room for the KV cache and multitasking rather than unlocking dramatically different models, but the jump does matter for the MoE 26B A4B model specifically, whose full parameter set needs to fit in memory.
Related
Gemma 4 on MacBook Pro
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (18GB)?
MacBook Pro — 18GB
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (36GB)?
MacBook Pro — 36GB
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.