Model Comparison
GPT-4.1 mini vs Llama 3.2 11B InstructWhich is better in 2026?
GPT-4.1 mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Llama 3.2 11B Instruct is 14.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-4.1 mini vs Llama 3.2 11B Instruct — which is better?
GPT-4.1 mini (by OpenAI) and Llama 3.2 11B Instruct (by Meta) 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.
GPT-4.1 mini outperforms in 4 benchmarks (GPQA, MathVista, MMLU, MMMU), while Llama 3.2 11B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. GPT-4.1 mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Llama 3.2 11B Instruct is roughly 14.0x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-4.1 mini also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GPT-4.1 mini if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 4 of 4 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Apr 2025
Choose Llama 3.2 11B Instruct if…
- cost matters — it's about 14.0x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-4.1 mini outperforms in 4 benchmarks (GPQA, MathVista, MMLU, MMMU), while Llama 3.2 11B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.
GPT-4.1 mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($0.40/1M tokens) is 8.0x more expensive than Llama 3.2 11B Instruct ($0.05/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($1.60/1M tokens) is 32.0x more expensive than Llama 3.2 11B Instruct ($0.05/1M tokens).
In conclusion, GPT-4.1 mini is more expensive than Llama 3.2 11B Instruct.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 mini accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Llama 3.2 11B Instruct's 128,000 tokens. Llama 3.2 11B Instruct can generate longer responses up to 128,000 tokens, while GPT-4.1 mini is limited to 32,768 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both GPT-4.1 mini and Llama 3.2 11B Instruct support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
GPT-4.1 mini
Llama 3.2 11B Instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-4.1 mini is licensed under a proprietary license, while Llama 3.2 11B Instruct uses Llama 3.2 Community License.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Llama 3.2 Community License
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-4.1 mini was released on 2025-04-14, while Llama 3.2 11B Instruct was released on 2024-09-25.
GPT-4.1 mini is 7 months newer than Llama 3.2 11B Instruct.
Apr 14, 2025
1.2 years ago
6mo newerSep 25, 2024
1.7 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 mini has a knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-31, while Llama 3.2 11B Instruct has a cutoff of 2023-12-31.
GPT-4.1 mini has more recent training data (up to 2024-05-31), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Llama 3.2 11B Instruct (2023-12-31).
May 2024
5 mo newerDec 2023
Provider Availability
GPT-4.1 mini is available from OpenAI. Llama 3.2 11B Instruct is available from DeepInfra, Sambanova, Bedrock, Groq, Together, Fireworks.
GPT-4.1 mini
Llama 3.2 11B Instruct
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-4.1 mini
View detailsOpenAI
GPT-4.1 miniLlama 3.2 11B InstructDetailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4.1 mini vs Llama 3.2 11B Instruct.