can i run · seo
No — Phi-4 Mini won't fit Mac M4 16GB at Q4
Phi-4 Mini needs 2.5GB+ and exceeds Mac M4 16GB. Try a smaller quant or model.
CPU-friendly 3.8B with 128k context. Fine default for 8 GB RAM machines.
Alternatives that do fit Mac M4 16GB:
faq · straight answers
Can Phi-4 Mini run on Mac M4 16GB?
Phi-4 Mini needs 2.5GB+ and exceeds Mac M4 16GB. Try a smaller quant or model. Model context 128k. Compare with all models or re-check with your exact specs on the bench.
What if it OOMs?
Unload with ollama stop, cap layers --num-gpu 28, cut context to 2k. See the OOM fixer on the homepage.
Q4 or Q8 on this rig?
Start Q4. Bigger model at Q4 beats smaller at Q8. Only go Q8 if 2GB+ headroom remains.
How fast will it be?
Slower than GPU — this combo needs offload. Pick a smaller model for interactive chat.
Is MIT commercial-safe?
Yes — MIT allows commercial use.
also fits Mac M4 16GB
Phi-4 Mini on other rigs