GoogleGemma 3 12B on Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified)
M3 Pro (18GB Unified) runs Gemma 3 12B at Q3_K_M — 5 tok/s due to limited memory bandwidth. Slow but functional — see all options below.
Model Size
12.2B
Device VRAM
18 GB
Bandwidth
150 GB/s
Quantization
Q3_K_M
Performance by Quantization
OwnRig currently has one published compatibility entry for Gemma 3 12B on Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified) at Q3_K_M. This is the best supported pairing we can stand behind today.
| Quantization | Speed | TTFT | Fits in VRAM | Rating | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3_K_M | 5 tok/s | 1500ms | ✓ Yes | Marginal | estimated |
Notes
Q3_K_M
~6.5GB fits in 14GB effective. Very slow at 150 GB/s. Marginal usability.
About Gemma 3 12B
Gemma 3 12B (12.2B) is a chat, coding, multi-purpose model. Google's efficient 12B model with chat and coding support.
View all Gemma 3 12B hardware options →About Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified)
Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified) has 18 GB at 150 GB/s. Available in MacBook Pro 14", MacBook Pro 16".
See all models Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified) can run →Estimate method: MLX performance estimates. Reference hardware source: github.com (2026-03-15)
Performance varies by driver version, inference engine, quantization method, context length, and system configuration. Figures shown are estimates based on community benchmarks and may not reflect your exact setup. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners. OwnRig is independent and not affiliated with any hardware or AI model provider.