Phi 1 5 vs Phi 2
Side-by-side comparison of VRAM requirements, quantization, context length, and hardware compatibility.
Specifications
| Phi 1 5 | Phi 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Parameters | 1.4B | 2.8B |
| Context | 2K | 2K |
| Architecture | PhiForCausalLM | PhiForCausalLM |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Downloads | 60.9K | 510.8K |
| Released | Nov 2025 | Dec 2025 |
VRAM by Quantization: Phi 1 5 vs Phi 2
| Quantization | Bits | Phi 1 5 VRAM | Phi 2 VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2_K | 3.40 | 0.7 GB | 2.1 GB |
| Q3_K_M | 3.90 | 0.8 GB | 2.3 GB |
| Q3_K_S | 3.50 | 0.7 GB | 2.2 GB |
| Q4_0 | 4.00 | — | 2.4 GB |
| Q4_K_M | 4.80 | 0.9 GB | 2.6 GB |
| Q5_K_M | 5.70 | 1.1 GB | 3.0 GB |
| Q6_K | 6.60 | 1.3 GB | 3.3 GB |
| Q8_0 | 8.00 | 1.6 GB | 3.8 GB |
Verdict
Phi 1 5 needs less VRAM at Q4_K_M (0.9 GB vs 2.6 GB), so it fits on smaller GPUs. Phi 2 is the more widely downloaded of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which needs less VRAM, Phi 1 5 or Phi 2?
At Q4_K_M, Phi 1 5 needs 0.9 GB and Phi 2 needs 2.6 GB, so Phi 1 5 is the lighter option to run locally.
- Which has a longer context window, Phi 1 5 or Phi 2?
Phi 1 5 supports 2,048 tokens and Phi 2 supports 2,048 tokens.
- What is the difference between Phi 1 5 and Phi 2?
Phi 1 5 is a 1.4B model from Microsoft (Phi family), while Phi 2 is a 2.8B model from Microsoft (Phi family). Compare their VRAM requirements above to see which fits your GPU or Mac.