Google now provides a significantly clearer and more practical approach for running Gemma 4 on both Android and iPhone devices. As of April 2026, its AI Edge ecosystem encompasses official tools that allow users to experiment with models locally or integrate them into applications. For those seeking a quick initiation, the AI Edge Gallery serves as the most straightforward entry point. For more advanced undertakings, Google currently recommends using LiteRT-LM as the runtime. Prior to commencing, ensure that your phone has sufficient free memory, adequate storage for model files, and consider starting with a smaller model such as E2B or E4B.
The company currently supports two main paths. If you want to try Gemma 4 directly on your phone, AI Edge Gallery is the simplest option, and it works on both Android and iPhone. If you wish to build your own app with Gemma 4, LiteRT-LM is the better choice since it is designed for integration.
How to use Gemma 4 on Android
If you would like to try Gemma 4 quickly on an Android phone, follow these steps:
- Download the official Google AI Edge Gallery app on your Android phone via the Play Store, the safest and most direct way to run Gemma 4 locally.
- Open the app and tap AI Chat and select a smaller Gemma 4 model, such as E2B or E4B, which are less demanding and better suited for phones.
- Wait for the model to download, then tap Try it.
- Wait for the model to initialise, then type your prompt and wait for the chatbot to respond.
To avoid common issues, readers are advised to stick to official sources when downloading apps and avoid unknown APK files. Also, keep in mind that Gemma 4 may behave differently depending on the Android device and runtime you are using.
How to use Gemma 4 on iPhone
These are the steps you should follow if you wish to run Gemma 4 on an iPhone:
- Install the official Google AI Edge Gallery app from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Open the app, tap AI Chat, and choose a smaller Gemma 4 model, such as E2B or E4B.
- After you install the model on your phone, tap the Try it button.
- Once the model to load, and enter type a prompt in the text input field.
With these easy steps, you can now try Gemma 4 on both platforms using Google’s own tools, which is a big step forward in the quest to run these AI models locally on your phone. It’s worth noting that your smartphone will require at least 6GB of RAM to run these models. Gadgets 360 was unable to download Gemma 4 models on the iPhone 12, but it worked when tested on the iPhone 14 Pro.
On most phones, smaller models like E2B and E4B tend to feel more responsive and practical. They are well-suited for things like quick notes, summaries, or simple assistants, but you should not expect the kind of performance you would get from a desktop setup. Once you download Gemma 4 on your phone, you can try out an offline chatbot that utilizes these models, which works even when your phone is in flight mode.
