Gemma 3 12B on Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified)
Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified) can run Gemma 3 12B at 5 tok/s at Q3_K_M, though performance is marginal. Consider a higher-end GPU for better results.
Model Size
12.2B
Device VRAM
18 GB
Bandwidth
150 GB/s
Quantizations Tested
1
Performance by Quantization
Each row shows Gemma 3 12B performance at a different quality level on Apple M3 Pro (18GB Unified).
| 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 strong 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 →Source: MLX performance estimates (2026-03-15)
Data last updated: 2026-03-15