GPT-4.1 nano vs IBM Granite 4.2 3B
IBM Granite 4.2 3B leads the LLM Stats Score 15.6 to 1.9.
OpenAI · IBM · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
IBM Granite 4.2 3B leads the overall LLM Stats Score 15.6 to 1.9, ranking #213 overall.
In the 1 individual benchmarks reported for both models, IBM Granite 4.2 3B wins 1; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose GPT-4.1 nano
- you want predictable pricing at $0.10/M input and $0.40/M output
Choose IBM Granite 4.2 3B
- overall performance matters — it scores 15.6 and ranks #213 on LLM Stats
- your work emphasizes reasoning — it leads those capability indexes
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 1 of 1 exact shared results
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
24 reported for GPT-4.1 nano · 13 for IBM Granite 4.2 3B
GPT-4.1 nano outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while IBM Granite 4.2 3B is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
IBM Granite 4.2 3B significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Only GPT-4.1 nano specifies input context (1,047,576 tokens). Only GPT-4.1 nano specifies output context (32,768 tokens).
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
GPT-4.1 nano supports multimodal inputs, whereas IBM Granite 4.2 3B does not.
GPT-4.1 nano can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GPT-4.1 nano
IBM Granite 4.2 3B
License
Usage and distribution terms
GPT-4.1 nano is licensed under a proprietary license, while IBM Granite 4.2 3B uses Apache 2.0.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Apache 2.0
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
GPT-4.1 nano was released on 2025-04-14, while IBM Granite 4.2 3B was released on 2026-08-25.
IBM Granite 4.2 3B is 17 months newer than GPT-4.1 nano.
Apr 14, 2025
1.4 years ago
Aug 25, 2026
5 days ago
1.4yr newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 nano has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-31, while IBM Granite 4.2 3B's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-4.1 nano's training data extends to 2024-05-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without IBM Granite 4.2 3B's cutoff date.
May 2024
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Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GPT-4.1 nano and IBM Granite 4.2 3B side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4.1 nano vs IBM Granite 4.2 3B.