Model Comparison
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-5.6 TerraWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-5.6 Terra significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. GPT-5.6 Terra is 4.4x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-5.6 Terra — which is better?
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed (by Google) and GPT-5.6 Terra (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-5.6 Terra is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA). GPT-5.6 Terra significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, GPT-5.6 Terra is roughly 4.4x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-5.6 Terra also accepts a larger context window (1,050,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemma 3n E4B Instructed if…
- you want predictable pricing at $20.00/M input and $40.00/M output
Choose GPT-5.6 Terra if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 4.4x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,050,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while GPT-5.6 Terra is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
GPT-5.6 Terra 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 8.0x more expensive than GPT-5.6 Terra ($2.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemma 3n E4B Instructed ($40.00/1M tokens) is 2.7x more expensive than GPT-5.6 Terra ($15.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is more expensive than GPT-5.6 Terra.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-5.6 Terra accepts 1,050,000 input tokens compared to Gemma 3n E4B Instructed's 32,000 tokens. GPT-5.6 Terra can generate longer responses up to 128,000 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-5.6 Terra support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed
GPT-5.6 Terra
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-5.6 Terra was released on 2026-07-09.
GPT-5.6 Terra is 13 months newer than Gemma 3n E4B Instructed.
Jun 26, 2025
1.1 years ago
Jul 9, 2026
1 weeks ago
1.0yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while GPT-5.6 Terra has a cutoff of 2026-02-16.
GPT-5.6 Terra has more recent training data (up to 2026-02-16), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Gemma 3n E4B Instructed (2024-06-01).
Jun 2024
Feb 2026
1.7 yr newerProvider Availability
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed is available from Together. GPT-5.6 Terra is available from OpenAI.
Gemma 3n E4B Instructed
GPT-5.6 Terra
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Gemma 3n E4B Instructed and GPT-5.6 Terra side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
| Feature | | |
|---|
FAQ
Common questions about Gemma 3n E4B Instructed vs GPT-5.6 Terra.