Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Llama 4 Maverick
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite if you need
- ✓open-weight access and full model control from Meta
- ✓lowest per-token cost at $0.6 per million output tokens
- ✓native text-and-image multimodal tasks with strong general reasoning
- ✓very large 1M context without proprietary restrictions
Choose Llama 4 Maverick if you need
- ✓maximum output speed at 290 t/s and low latency
- ✓highest intelligence index of 25 for complex multimodal queries
- ✓broad support for text, image, and video in one lightweight model
- ✓resource-efficient inference on very large 1M context windows
Verdict
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite leads in raw intelligence (25 vs 14.3) and speed (290 t/s vs 92 t/s) while matching the 1M context window, making it stronger for high-throughput multimodal workloads. Llama 4 Maverick wins on price ($0.6 vs $1.5 per million tokens) and open-weight availability, suiting users who need modifiable text-and-image models. The choice hinges on whether speed and capability or cost and openness matter most.
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Llama 4 Maverick: side by side
| Spec | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite | Llama 4 Maverick | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 25 | 14.3 | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite |
| Output speed | 290 t/s | 93 t/s | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite |
| Output price | $1.50/1M | $0.60/1M | Llama 4 Maverick |
| Context | 1049K | 1049K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | Meta | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Gemini 3.1 Flash LiteGemini 3.1 Flash Lite scores 25 on the intelligence index while Llama 4 Maverick scores 14.3. This gap indicates stronger performance on complex multimodal reasoning for the Google model. Both share the same 1M context size.
Speed
Winner: Gemini 3.1 Flash LiteGemini 3.1 Flash Lite delivers 290.34 tokens per second compared with Llama 4 Maverick's 92.53 t/s. The large speed advantage favors Gemini for latency-sensitive or high-volume workloads. Both models handle identical 1M token contexts.
Pricing
Winner: Llama 4 MaverickLlama 4 Maverick costs $0.6 per million output tokens versus Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite at $1.5. The 60 percent lower price makes Llama the clear choice for budget-conscious deployments. No other cost factors are provided.
Modalities & Access
Winner: TieLlama 4 Maverick offers open weights and text-plus-image support while Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite is proprietary with added video capability. Both provide the same 1M context window. Users must weigh openness against broader modality coverage.
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite
Pros
- +High speed and low latency
- +Handles very large context windows
- +Broad modality support in a lightweight package
Cons
- –Reduced depth on highly complex reasoning tasks
- –Lite design trades peak capability for speed
- –May require more guidance on nuanced or creative outputs
Llama 4 Maverick
Pros
- +Very large 1M token context window
- +Native multimodal support for text and images
- +Open weights from Meta
Cons
- –High compute requirements for full context
- –Limited to text and image modalities
- –Potential for hallucinations on complex tasks
Summary: Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Llama 4 Maverick
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite when maximum speed and intelligence are required. Select Llama 4 Maverick when open weights and lower cost are priorities. Both models share the same context length but differ sharply on price, openness, and performance metrics.
Frequently asked questions
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite is stronger on intelligence and speed; Llama 4 Maverick is better on price and openness.