Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (48GB)?
Yes — best fit is Gemma 4 31B at SFP8 (8-bit) (~30.4GB) ✅ Comfortable, using 43GB of usable memory on a 48GB 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 | 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 MacBook Pro 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 is a build-to-order step up for the M4 Pro chip (above its 24GB standard configuration), and it also appears as a Max-chip option in some generations. It's the memory point where the 31B flagship model's official QAT checkpoint (about 18GB) starts to fit with real headroom rather than just barely.
- ⚠Confirm whether your 48GB configuration is Pro-chip or Max-chip — the capacity can be identical while the memory bandwidth underneath differs meaningfully.
Try a different configuration
Best fit: Gemma 4 31B · SFP8 (8-bit) · ~30.4 GB ✅ Comfortable
FAQ
Can a MacBook Pro (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 MacBook Pro (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 MacBook Pro page. With less (e.g. 36GB), the best-fitting model gets smaller or tighter — see the MacBook Pro page.
Is 48GB Pro-chip or Max-chip on a MacBook Pro?
It depends on the generation and configuration — the M4 Pro chip offers 48GB as a build-to-order step above its 24GB standard, and some Max-chip configurations also land at 48GB. Check the core count in the full spec sheet to be certain.
At 48GB, is the 31B flagship model worth prioritizing over 26B A4B on a MacBook Pro?
See this page's model table above for the exact verdict — in general, 48GB is around the point where the official QAT build of 31B gets meaningfully more comfortable rather than just squeaking by, which matters if you specifically want the largest available model.
Related
Gemma 4 on MacBook Pro
The full setup guide for this device family.
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (36GB)?
MacBook Pro — 36GB
Can You Run Gemma 4 on a MacBook Pro (64GB)?
MacBook Pro — 64GB
Gemma 4 Hardware Requirements
The full memory table this checker is built on.
Full Hardware Checker
Every device type, every model, one tool.