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Head-to-head · Gemma

Gemma 4 E4B vs Gemma 4 26B-A4B

Gemma 4 E4B needs ~6.5 GB at Q4_K_M; Gemma 4 26B-A4B needs ~19 GB. That ~12.5 GB gap decides which hardware runs each; they differ on 6 of the 14 devices below.

Spec Gemma 4 E4B Gemma 4 26B-A4B
Parameters8B26.5B MoE
Memory at Q4_K_M~6.5 GB~19 GB
Context window128k256k
LMArenanot rankednot ranked
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0

Which devices run each

A representative spread across the memory range. Tap a verdict for the full breakdown.

Size at each quantization

Quant Gemma 4 E4B Gemma 4 26B-A4B
Q2_K 3.4 GB* 11.1 GB*
Q3_K_M 3.9 GB* 13 GB*
Q4_K_M 4.98 GB 17.04 GB
Q5_K_M 5.7 GB* 18.9 GB*
Q6_K 6.6 GB* 21.7 GB*
Q8_0 8.19 GB 26.86 GB
FP16 15.05 GB 50.51 GB

* derived from bits-per-weight; unstarred sizes are measured GGUF files.

Bottom line

The larger Gemma 4 26B-A4B needs ~19 GB; Gemma 4 E4B runs on lighter hardware at ~6.5 GB with more headroom and faster responses. Check each against your exact device: what runs Gemma 4 E4B · what runs Gemma 4 26B-A4B.

More Gemma comparisons

FAQ

What is the difference in memory between Gemma 4 E4B and Gemma 4 26B-A4B?

At Q4_K_M, Gemma 4 E4B needs about 6.5 GB and Gemma 4 26B-A4B needs about 19 GB, a difference of ~12.5 GB.

Should I run Gemma 4 E4B or Gemma 4 26B-A4B?

Run Gemma 4 26B-A4B if your hardware has the ~19 GB it needs and you want maximum quality; run Gemma 4 E4B (~6.5 GB) for lighter hardware, faster responses, and more memory headroom.

Full breakdowns: Gemma 4 E4B · Gemma 4 26B-A4B · all models × devices.

Sources

Memory figures are estimates at Q4_K_M, validated 2026-08-03. See methodology.