Model Comparison
Grok 4.5 vs Llama 3.2 90B InstructWhich is better in 2026?
Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Llama 3.2 90B Instruct is 8.3x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Grok 4.5 vs Llama 3.2 90B Instruct — which is better?
Grok 4.5 (by xAI) and Llama 3.2 90B 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.
Grok 4.5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Llama 3.2 90B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Llama 3.2 90B Instruct is roughly 8.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Grok 4.5 also accepts a larger context window (500,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Grok 4.5 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 500,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jul 2026
Choose Llama 3.2 90B Instruct if…
- cost matters — it's about 8.3x cheaper per token
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Grok 4.5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Llama 3.2 90B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.
Grok 4.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Grok 4.5 ($2.00/1M tokens) is 5.7x more expensive than Llama 3.2 90B Instruct ($0.35/1M tokens).
For output processing, Grok 4.5 ($6.00/1M tokens) is 15.0x more expensive than Llama 3.2 90B Instruct ($0.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok 4.5 is more expensive than Llama 3.2 90B Instruct.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Grok 4.5 accepts 500,000 input tokens compared to Llama 3.2 90B Instruct's 128,000 tokens. Only Llama 3.2 90B Instruct specifies output context (128,000 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Grok 4.5 and Llama 3.2 90B Instruct support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Grok 4.5
Llama 3.2 90B Instruct
License
Usage and distribution terms
Grok 4.5 is licensed under a proprietary license, while Llama 3.2 90B Instruct uses Llama 3.2.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Llama 3.2
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Grok 4.5 was released on 2026-07-16, while Llama 3.2 90B Instruct was released on 2024-09-25.
Grok 4.5 is 22 months newer than Llama 3.2 90B Instruct.
Jul 16, 2026
2 days ago
1.8yr newerSep 25, 2024
1.8 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok 4.5 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-02-01, while Llama 3.2 90B Instruct's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok 4.5's training data extends to 2026-02-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without Llama 3.2 90B Instruct's cutoff date.
Feb 2026
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Provider Availability
Grok 4.5 is available from xAI. Llama 3.2 90B Instruct is available from DeepInfra, Bedrock, Fireworks, Together, Hyperbolic.
Grok 4.5
Llama 3.2 90B Instruct
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Detailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Grok 4.5 and Llama 3.2 90B Instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about Grok 4.5 vs Llama 3.2 90B Instruct.