Gemma 4 E2B vs Phi-4 14B
Gemma 4 E2B (2026) and Phi-4 14B (2024) are compact production models from Google DeepMind and Microsoft Research. Gemma 4 E2B ships a 128k-token context window, while Phi-4 14B ships a 16k-token context window. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing. The goal is to make the tradeoff clear before deeper testing.
Gemma 4 E2B fits 8x more tokens; pick it for long-context work and Phi-4 14B for tighter calls.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemma 4 E2B | Phi-4 14B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and tool-calling agents | provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | RAG, Agents, and Long context | Classification and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 128k | 16k |
| Cheapest output | - | $0.14/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 3 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemma 4 E2B has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Gemma 4 E2B uniquely exposes Multimodal and Function calling in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemma 4 E2B for RAG, Agents, and Long context.
- Phi-4 14B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Phi-4 14B uniquely exposes Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Phi-4 14B for Classification and JSON / Tool use.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Gemma 4 E2B
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Phi-4 14B
$87.00
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Gemma 4 E2B and Phi-4 14B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Multimodal and Function calling before moving production traffic.
- Phi-4 14B adds Structured outputs in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Phi-4 14B and Gemma 4 E2B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- Gemma 4 E2B adds Multimodal and Function calling in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-03-31 | 2024-12-13 |
| Context window | 128k | 16k |
| Parameters | 2B | 14B |
| Architecture | - | decoder only |
| License | Open Source | Open Source |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | 2024-06 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemma 4 E2B | Phi-4 14B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | - | $0.07/1M tokens |
| Output price | - | $0.14/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemma 4 E2B | Phi-4 14B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | No | Yes |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on multimodal input: Gemma 4 E2B, function calling: Gemma 4 E2B, and structured outputs: Phi-4 14B. Both models share the core language-model surface, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
Pricing coverage is uneven: Gemma 4 E2B has no token price sourced yet and Phi-4 14B has $0.07/1M input tokens. Provider availability is 1 tracked routes versus 3. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose Gemma 4 E2B when long-context analysis and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Phi-4 14B when provider fit and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions. It also helps separate model capability from provider packaging, which can change cost and latency.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Gemma 4 E2B or Phi-4 14B?
Gemma 4 E2B supports 128k tokens, while Phi-4 14B supports 16k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is Gemma 4 E2B or Phi-4 14B open source?
Gemma 4 E2B is listed under Open Source. Phi-4 14B is listed under Open Source. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for multimodal input, Gemma 4 E2B or Phi-4 14B?
Gemma 4 E2B has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for function calling, Gemma 4 E2B or Phi-4 14B?
Gemma 4 E2B has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, Gemma 4 E2B or Phi-4 14B?
Phi-4 14B has the clearer documented structured outputs signal in this comparison. If structured outputs is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Gemma 4 E2B and Phi-4 14B?
Gemma 4 E2B is available on GCP Vertex AI. Phi-4 14B is available on OpenRouter, Fireworks AI, and Microsoft Foundry. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-03. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.