Model Comparison
Gemini 1.0 Pro vs Gemma 3 12BWhich is better in 2026?
Gemma 3 12B significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Gemma 3 12B is 12.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemini 1.0 Pro vs Gemma 3 12B — which is better?
Gemini 1.0 Pro (by Google) and Gemma 3 12B (by Google) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
Gemini 1.0 Pro outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Gemma 3 12B is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MATH). Gemma 3 12B significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Gemma 3 12B is roughly 12.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemma 3 12B also accepts a larger context window (131,072 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemini 1.0 Pro if…
- you want predictable pricing at $0.50/M input and $1.50/M output
Choose Gemma 3 12B if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 12.0x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 131,072 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Mar 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemini 1.0 Pro outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Gemma 3 12B is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MATH).
Gemma 3 12B significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemini 1.0 Pro ($0.50/1M tokens) is 10.0x more expensive than Gemma 3 12B ($0.05/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemini 1.0 Pro ($1.50/1M tokens) is 15.0x more expensive than Gemma 3 12B ($0.10/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemini 1.0 Pro is more expensive than Gemma 3 12B.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemma 3 12B accepts 131,072 input tokens compared to Gemini 1.0 Pro's 32,760 tokens. Gemma 3 12B can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Gemini 1.0 Pro is limited to 8,192 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Gemma 3 12B supports multimodal inputs, whereas Gemini 1.0 Pro does not.
Gemma 3 12B can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Gemini 1.0 Pro
Gemma 3 12B
License
Usage and distribution terms
Gemini 1.0 Pro is licensed under a proprietary license, while Gemma 3 12B uses Gemma.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Gemma
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemini 1.0 Pro was released on 2024-02-15, while Gemma 3 12B was released on 2025-03-12.
Gemma 3 12B is 13 months newer than Gemini 1.0 Pro.
Feb 15, 2024
2.4 years ago
Mar 12, 2025
1.3 years ago
1.1yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 1.0 Pro has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-02-01, while Gemma 3 12B's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Gemini 1.0 Pro's training data extends to 2024-02-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without Gemma 3 12B's cutoff date.
Feb 2024
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Provider Availability
Gemini 1.0 Pro is available from Google. Gemma 3 12B is available from DeepInfra.
Gemini 1.0 Pro
Gemma 3 12B
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.
Gemma 3 12B
View detailsDetailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about Gemini 1.0 Pro vs Gemma 3 12B.