Gemma vs Phi: The Best Small Models for Low RAM

Google's Gemma and Microsoft's Phi chase the same goal: maximum quality from minimum RAM. Gemma 4 arrived in April 2026 with models from 2.3B to 31B, including MoE and multimodal options. Phi-4 and Phi-4 Mini still deliver strong reasoning per gigabyte on 8-24 GB machines.

Models5 categories compared

Verdict

Gemma

Gemma 4 is the fresher family and covers more tiers. Gemma 4 E4B runs on 8 GB Macs with image input, and the 26B-A4B MoE fits 24 GB machines. Phi-4 Mini stays the lightest quality pick at a 3.2 GB load, and Phi-4 14B holds up for dense reasoning. For most buyers, Gemma 4 wins.

Gemma

wins

Ties

draws

Phi

wins

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Category	Gemma	Phi	Winner
8 GB Mac Pick	Gemma 4 E4B: 4 GB load, multimodal	Phi-4 Mini 3.8B: 3.2 GB load, text only	Gemma
iPhone-Class Devices	Gemma 4 E2B needs just 4 GB RAM	Phi-4 Mini needs 7 GB minimum	Gemma
Dense Reasoning at 14B Class	Gemma 4 26B-A4B MoE on 24 GB Macs	Phi-4 14B: 11.5 GB load, reasoning focus	Phi
Multimodal Support	Gemma 4 handles text and images	Phi lineup in our data is text only	Gemma
Release Freshness	Gemma 4 shipped in April 2026	Phi-4 generation is older	Gemma

Detailed Analysis

8 GB Mac Pick

Gemma

Both fit an 8 GB Mac. Phi-4 Mini leaves slightly more headroom, but Gemma 4 E4B is a newer generation and accepts images.

Gemma

Gemma 4 E4B: 4 GB load, multimodal

Phi

Phi-4 Mini 3.8B: 3.2 GB load, text only

iPhone-Class Devices

Gemma

Gemma 4 E2B targets phone-class hardware with a 2.3 GB load. Phi has no current variant that small.

Gemma

Gemma 4 E2B needs just 4 GB RAM

Phi

Phi-4 Mini needs 7 GB minimum

Dense Reasoning at 14B Class

Phi

Phi-4 14B remains the stronger dense reasoner in our quality scores. It needs 22 GB minimum, similar to Gemma's mid-range options.

Gemma

Gemma 4 26B-A4B MoE on 24 GB Macs

Phi

Phi-4 14B: 11.5 GB load, reasoning focus

Multimodal Support

Gemma

Gemma 4's on-device models accept image input out of the box. That widens what a small local model can do on a Mac.

Gemma

Gemma 4 handles text and images

Phi

Phi lineup in our data is text only

Release Freshness

Gemma

Gemma is the more recently refreshed family in our database. Phi-4 still performs well but has not had a 2026 update.

Gemma

Gemma 4 shipped in April 2026

Phi

Phi-4 generation is older

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for a MacBook Air with 8 GB RAM?

Both fit. Phi-4 Mini loads 3.2 GB and leaves the most headroom. Gemma 4 E4B loads 4 GB, is a newer generation, and adds image input. Pick Gemma unless every gigabyte counts.

Can Gemma or Phi run on an iPhone?

Gemma 4 E2B is built for phone-class devices, needing about 4 GB of RAM with a 2.3 GB load. Phi-4 Mini needs 7 GB minimum, which limits it to higher-end phones and Macs.

Is Phi-4 14B still worth running?

Yes, on 24 GB+ Macs. It scores higher than Gemma's mid-range options for dense reasoning in our data and loads 11.5 GB. Gemma 4 26B-A4B is the multimodal MoE alternative at the same tier.