Noema: the iOS app for local AI that beats Google and PocketPal

The best runners for local language models on smartphones

Managing a local language model directly on your smartphone has stopped being a novelty to become a widespread practice, with several applications that facilitate its use. Among these, only a few stand out for performance and functionality, offering a truly practical experience.

Quick Answer

Google AI Edge Gallery: the most accessible solution

Google AI Edge Gallery represents the most immediate option for those approaching local artificial intelligence on smartphones for the first time. Developed by Google and maintained as open source, the application has moved past the sideloading distribution phase to become a product available on official stores. The LiteRT engine, specifically designed for mobile device chips, ensures low power consumption, significantly lower than activities such as video streaming or gaming.

The user interface, while simple, hides numerous advanced features. Among these, the typical configuration parameters of desktop applications stand out, such as temperature, topK, topP, context length, CPU/GPU acceleration, and speculative decoding. Particularly interesting is the Agent Skills feature, which allows interaction with interactive maps, managing reminders, tracking mood, consulting Wikipedia, and generating QR codes. This feature makes Edge Gallery a valid local alternative to Google Assistant.

The selection of models represents the main weak point of the application. Edge Gallery accepts only models in LiteRT format, a catalog decidedly more limited than the vast GGUF ecosystem supported by other applications. Importing LiteRT models from Hugging Face is technically possible, but most of the desired options are not available in this format without manual conversion. Furthermore, the iOS implementation has some non-operational features, limiting the full potential of the application to Android users.

PocketPal: the choice for expert users

PocketPal stands out as the ideal application for those seeking a high level of customization. Compatible with both Android and iOS, it offers access to hundreds of GGUF models directly from Hugging Face. This feature makes it particularly suitable for those who want to experiment with models other than those in the Gemma family, commonly available on other platforms.

The application supports models such as Qwen 3.5 2B and Qwen 3.5 4B, particularly effective for research and learning activities. PocketPal also allows the use of more specialized models such as H2O's Danube or various variants of Phi, enabling targeted selection based on the user's specific needs. Among the advanced features, temperature control, context length management, and penalty parameters stand out, as well as an integrated benchmark that evaluates hardware capabilities before downloading a model.

PocketPal allows saving customized configurations and presets, and the latest versions include integrated web search, provided you have an API key. Despite these advanced features, the application does not support direct document import, requiring the user to manually paste the text. This limitation does not compromise its usefulness for simple chat operations, keeping it as the main choice for many daily activities.

Noema: the most complete solution for iOS users

Noema represents a lesser-known but particularly interesting option for iOS users. The application supports not only GGUF models but also Apple's MLX and Liquid AI's SLM formats, offering unique experimentation opportunities. MLX models optimized for Apple Silicon hardware represent a distinctive feature that no other application can replicate.

The most revolutionary feature of Noema is support for documents and the RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) system. The application allows uploading PDFs or notes in markdown format, which are then incorporated into the device itself through a Qwen3 embedding model. This allows obtaining answers based on your own materials, with source citations. The workspace feature goes beyond simple chat, allowing you to save significant responses and branch conversations to explore different angles without losing the main thread.

Another interesting feature is integration with Obsidian, which allows pasting responses with the format preserved. This feature makes Noema particularly useful for those who use advanced note-taking as part of their workflow. The application also includes an indicator that shows whether a model is compatible with the available RAM before downloading, avoiding compatibility issues.

Despite these advanced features, Noema has some limitations. The user interface is less refined compared to Google AI Edge Gallery, and the application is currently only available for iOS, limiting its potential audience. Additionally, performance can be slow, with few tokens generated per second when using large models.

The final choice: Noema stands out for its advanced features

After several months of testing, Noema emerges as the most complete application for daily use of local language models on smartphones. Its ability to handle documents and integration with Obsidian makes it indispensable for those needing advanced features. Google AI Edge Gallery remains the best choice for beginners thanks to its intuitive interface and energy efficiency, while PocketPal offers the greatest flexibility for those who want to experiment with a wide range of models.

The choice of the most suitable application depends on the user's specific needs. For those seeking a simple and immediate experience, Google AI Edge Gallery is the ideal solution. For those needing advanced features, PocketPal offers the greatest flexibility. For iOS users seeking the most complete solution, Noema represents the best choice, despite some performance limitations.

To further explore the potential of local artificial intelligence applications, you can consult our guide on how to integrate local language models with Obsidian to optimize your workflow.