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Head-to-head comparison

gemma 2 2b it vs Gemma 3 12B

gemma 2 2b it (Google) and Gemma 3 12B (Google) compared on the ModelCap Index, API price, context window, provider availability, weight access and every public benchmark board they share. Figures are the same ones shown on the live rankings; nothing here is a hidden score.

Snapshot as of 6 November 2026

As of 6 November 2026, Gemma 3 12B holds the stronger ModelCap Index position (#193 vs #331).

Which should you choose?

Choose gemma 2 2b it if…

  • ModelCap publishes no field on which gemma 2 2b it leads Gemma 3 12B for this pair.

Choose Gemma 3 12B if…

  • you want the stronger overall ModelCap Index position — #193 against #331 (36.4 vs 11.2 points).
  • you want provider choice — 2 listed API providers against 0.
  • Arena text is your yardstick — 1342 against 1200.
  • Arena coding is your yardstick — 1316 against 1191.
  • you want the more recently listed model — Gemma 3 12B was listed 13 March 2025, gemma 2 2b it 16 July 2024.

gemma 2 2b it vs Gemma 3 12B: specs, pricing and context

Specification comparison of gemma 2 2b it and Gemma 3 12B
Fieldgemma 2 2b itGoogleGemma 3 12BGoogle
ModelCap Index position#331#193
Index score11.236.4
EvidenceMeasuredMeasured
Input price / 1M tokensUnlisted$0.05
Output price / 1M tokensUnlisted$0.15
Context window— tokens131K tokens
Declared route output cap-16K
API providers listed02
Weight accessGated accessGated access
Input modalitiesTextText, Image
First listed16 July 202413 March 2025
PublisherGoogleGoogle

Evidence: 2 public benchmark observations across 2 boards · 2 public benchmark observations across 2 boards. Prices are the lowest listed API offer per million tokens observed on the OpenRouter catalogue.

Benchmark scores: gemma 2 2b it vs Gemma 3 12B

Public benchmark boards where gemma 2 2b it or Gemma 3 12B has a published result
Boardgemma 2 2b itGemma 3 12BLeads
Arena textArena (LMArena)12001196–1204Not reported13421332–1351Not reportedGemma 3 12B
Arena codingArena (LMArena)11911183–120013161292–1339Gemma 3 12B
BFCL V4UC Berkeley (Gorilla)—30.4PromptOnly one result

Scores are the sources' own published figures for each model's best evaluated configuration; ModelCap never re-runs a benchmark.

Want a different pairing? Open the interactive comparison tool to swap either model for any current ranked language model.

gemma 2 2b it vs Gemma 3 12B: common questions

Is gemma 2 2b it better than Gemma 3 12B?

Gemma 3 12B ranks higher on the ModelCap Index as of 6 November 2026: #193 against #331. That is a capability ranking built from public benchmark evidence with published uncertainty; whether it is "better" for you also depends on price, context and where you can run it. Their published uncertainty intervals do not overlap, but the aggregate Index does not predict performance on every task; compare the relevant benchmark configurations before choosing.

Is gemma 2 2b it cheaper than Gemma 3 12B?

At least one of the two has no listed API price on ModelCap right now, so no price comparison is made.

Which has the bigger context window, gemma 2 2b it or Gemma 3 12B?

gemma 2 2b it: context unknown. Gemma 3 12B: 131K-token context. OpenRouter catalogue or provider-endpoint declaration. Limits can vary by provider and prompt length; a model-wide maximum has not been independently verified.

Which is better for coding, gemma 2 2b it or Gemma 3 12B?

Arena coding: gemma 2 2b it 1191, Gemma 3 12B 1316 — Gemma 3 12B leads.

Are gemma 2 2b it and Gemma 3 12B open-weight models?

gemma 2 2b it: Gated access. Gemma 3 12B: Gated access. Open weights mean the checkpoint can be downloaded and self-hosted under its licence. A missing weight link does not identify every API or chat product that offers a model.

Where can I run gemma 2 2b it and Gemma 3 12B?

ModelCap currently lists 0 API providers for gemma 2 2b it and 2 for Gemma 3 12B, from the OpenRouter catalogue snapshot the site serves; each model page lists the providers and their prices.

How current is this gemma 2 2b it vs Gemma 3 12B comparison?

Every figure and ModelCap Index position comes from the same published snapshot dated 6 November 2026. Publication and page updates happen separately; use the snapshot date shown on the page.

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