Model Comparison
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-4.1 nanoWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-4.1 nano significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-4.1 nano is 142.9x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-4.1 nano — which is better?
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed (by Google) and GPT-4.1 nano (by OpenAI) 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.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-4.1 nano is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU). GPT-4.1 nano significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, GPT-4.1 nano is roughly 142.9x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-4.1 nano also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemma 3n E4B Instructed if…
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jun 2025
Choose GPT-4.1 nano if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 142.9x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-4.1 nano is better at 2 benchmarks (GPQA, MMLU).
GPT-4.1 nano significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemma 3n E4B Instructed ($20.00/1M tokens) is 200.0x more expensive than GPT-4.1 nano ($0.10/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 3n E4B Instructed ($40.00/1M tokens) is 100.0x more expensive than GPT-4.1 nano ($0.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is more expensive than GPT-4.1 nano.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 nano accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Gemma 3n E4B Instructed's 32,000 tokens. GPT-4.1 nano can generate longer responses up to 32,768 tokens, while Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is limited to 32,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemma 3n E4B Instructed and GPT-4.1 nano support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed
GPT-4.1 nano
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.
Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.
Proprietary
Closed source
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed was released on 2025-06-26, while GPT-4.1 nano was released on 2025-04-14.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is 2 months newer than GPT-4.1 nano.
Jun 26, 2025
11 months ago
2mo newerApr 14, 2025
1.2 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while GPT-4.1 nano has a cutoff of 2024-05-31.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed has more recent training data (up to 2024-06-01), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to GPT-4.1 nano (2024-05-31).
Jun 2024
1 mo newerMay 2024
Provider Availability
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is available from Together. GPT-4.1 nano is available from OpenAI.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed
GPT-4.1 nano
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.
GPT-4.1 nano
View detailsOpenAI
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-4.1 nano.