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Head-to-head comparison

Gemma 3 12B vs Gemma 3 4B

Gemma 3 12B (Google) and Gemma 3 4B (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 7 November 2026

As of 7 November 2026, Gemma 3 12B holds the stronger ModelCap Index position (#193 vs #255); and Gemma 3 4B is 1.5× cheaper per output token ($0.10/1M vs $0.15/1M).

Which should you choose?

Choose Gemma 3 12B if…

  • you want the stronger overall ModelCap Index position — #193 against #255 (36.4 vs 26.0 points).
  • Arena text is your yardstick — 1342 against 1303.
  • Arena coding is your yardstick — 1316 against 1273.
  • BFCL V4 is your yardstick — 30.4 against 19.6.

Choose Gemma 3 4B if…

  • API cost matters — $0.10/1M output tokens against $0.15/1M, about 1.5× cheaper.
  • you want the more recently listed model — Gemma 3 4B was listed 13 March 2025, Gemma 3 12B 13 March 2025.

Gemma 3 12B vs Gemma 3 4B: specs, pricing and context

Specification comparison of Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 3 4B
FieldGemma 3 12BGoogleGemma 3 4BGoogle
ModelCap Index position#193#255
Index score36.426.0
EvidenceMeasuredMeasured
Input price / 1M tokens$0.05$0.05
Output price / 1M tokens$0.15$0.10
Context window131K tokens131K tokens
Declared route output cap16K16K
API providers listed22
Weight accessGated accessGated access
Input modalitiesText, ImageText, Image
First listed13 March 202513 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 3 12B vs Gemma 3 4B

Public benchmark boards where Gemma 3 12B or Gemma 3 4B has a published result
BoardGemma 3 12BGemma 3 4BLeads
Arena textArena (LMArena)13421332–1351Not reported13031294–1313Not reportedGemma 3 12B
Arena codingArena (LMArena)13161292–133912731250–1297Gemma 3 12B
BFCL V4UC Berkeley (Gorilla)30.4Prompt19.6PromptGemma 3 12B

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 3 12B vs Gemma 3 4B: common questions

Is Gemma 3 12B better than Gemma 3 4B?

Gemma 3 12B ranks higher on the ModelCap Index as of 7 November 2026: #193 against #255. 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 overlap, so the rank difference alone does not establish a reliable capability advantage for your workload.

Is Gemma 3 12B cheaper than Gemma 3 4B?

Gemma 3 4B is cheaper on output tokens: $0.10/1M against $0.15/1M. Input tokens are $0.05/1M for Gemma 3 12B and $0.05/1M for Gemma 3 4B. Prices are the lowest listed API offer ModelCap observed, in USD per million tokens. For 1,000 requests with 2,000 input and 500 output tokens each (2M input + 0.5M output), the listed-rate estimate is $0.17 for Gemma 3 12B versus $0.15 for Gemma 3 4B. Gemma 3 4B costs 14.3% less in this scenario. This excludes caching, batch discounts, prompt-length tiers, tool charges and retries; verify the selected endpoint before budgeting.

Which has the bigger context window, Gemma 3 12B or Gemma 3 4B?

Both publish a 131K-token context window. 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 3 12B or Gemma 3 4B?

Arena coding: Gemma 3 12B 1316, Gemma 3 4B 1273 — Gemma 3 12B leads.

Are Gemma 3 12B and Gemma 3 4B open-weight models?

Gemma 3 12B: Gated access. Gemma 3 4B: 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 3 12B and Gemma 3 4B?

ModelCap currently lists 2 API providers for Gemma 3 12B and 2 for Gemma 3 4B, from the OpenRouter catalogue snapshot the site serves; each model page lists the providers and their prices.

How current is this Gemma 3 12B vs Gemma 3 4B comparison?

Every figure and ModelCap Index position comes from the same published snapshot dated 7 November 2026. Publication and page updates happen separately; use the snapshot date shown on the page.

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