GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5 Codex
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 GPT-4.1 if you need
- ✓higher intelligence index for complex reasoning tasks
- ✓faster output speed of 149.9 tokens per second
- ✓strong coding specialization and unified text-image reasoning
- ✓effective handling of extremely large inputs within 400k context
Choose GPT-5 Codex if you need
- ✓much larger context window exceeding 1 million tokens
- ✓lower output price at $8 per million tokens
- ✓processing of images, text, and files together
- ✓flexible multimodal inputs from the GPT lineage
Verdict
GPT-5 Codex leads on intelligence (44.6 vs 26.3) and output speed (149.9 vs 129.94 t/s) with strong coding focus, while GPT-4.1 offers over twice the context (1M+ vs 400k tokens) at lower cost ($8 vs $10 per 1M). Both are proprietary OpenAI multimodal models limited to text and static images. GPT-5 Codex wins on raw performance metrics; GPT-4.1 wins on scale and affordability.
GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5 Codex: side by side
| Spec | GPT-4.1 | GPT-5 Codex | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 26.3 | 44.6 | GPT-5 Codex |
| Output speed | 130 t/s | 150 t/s | GPT-5 Codex |
| Output price | $8.00/1M | $10.00/1M | GPT-4.1 |
| Context | 1048K | 400K | GPT-4.1 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5 CodexGPT-5 Codex scores 44.6 on the intelligence index compared to GPT-4.1's 26.3. This gap indicates stronger performance on complex multimodal reasoning. Both models share the same proprietary OpenAI provider status.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5 CodexGPT-5 Codex outputs at 149.9 tokens per second versus GPT-4.1's 129.94 t/s. The higher speed supports faster iteration on large-scale text and image tasks. Neither model publishes parameter counts.
Context & Pricing
Winner: GPT-4.1GPT-4.1 provides 1,047,576 tokens of context against GPT-5 Codex's 400,000. It also costs $8 per million output tokens compared to $10. These advantages suit workloads needing maximum scale at lower cost.
Multimodal Capabilities
Winner: TieBoth handle text and static images as proprietary OpenAI models. GPT-4.1 additionally processes files while GPT-5 Codex emphasizes unified text-image reasoning and coding. Neither supports video or audio per the given facts.
GPT-4.1
Pros
- +Handles very large context windows
- +Processes images, text, and files together
- +Strong reasoning from OpenAI GPT lineage
- +Flexible multimodal inputs
Cons
- –Closed-source with no public weights
- –May hallucinate on complex tasks
- –High compute cost for full context
GPT-5 Codex
Pros
- +Handles extremely large inputs effectively
- +Strong coding specialization
- +Unified text and image reasoning
Cons
- –High resource demands with maximum context
- –Limited to text and static images
- –Potential coherence loss in very long outputs
Summary: GPT-4.1 vs GPT-5 Codex
Select GPT-5 Codex when intelligence, speed, and coding strength are priorities. Choose GPT-4.1 for maximum context, lower price, and file handling. The data shows clear trade-offs between performance metrics and scale.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5 Codex is better on intelligence and speed; GPT-4.1 is better on context size and price. The choice depends on whether performance or scale matters more.