GPT-5.4 Nano 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-5.4 Nano if you need
- ✓higher measured intelligence at 38.2 for complex multimodal tasks
- ✓much lower cost at $1.25 per million output tokens
- ✓explicit support for file inputs alongside images and text
- ✓strong multimodal flexibility within the shared 400k context
Choose GPT-5 Codex if you need
- ✓strong coding specialization with unified text and image reasoning
- ✓marginally higher output speed of 157.25 tokens per second
- ✓effective handling of extremely large inputs at maximum context
- ✓slightly better performance on large-scale text and image coding workflows
Verdict
GPT-5.4 Nano leads with a higher intelligence index (38.2 vs 36.1) and dramatically lower price ($1.25 vs $10 per million tokens) while matching the 400k context. GPT-5 Codex edges out slightly on output speed and adds explicit coding specialization. Both models share identical context windows and are limited to text plus static images with no audio or video support.
GPT-5.4 Nano vs GPT-5 Codex: side by side
| Spec | GPT-5.4 Nano | GPT-5 Codex | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 38.2 | 36.1 | GPT-5.4 Nano |
| Output speed | 157 t/s | 157 t/s | Tie |
| Output price | $1.25/1M | $10.00/1M | GPT-5.4 Nano |
| Context | 400K | 400K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5.4 NanoGPT-5.4 Nano scores 38.2 on the intelligence index compared with 36.1 for GPT-5 Codex. This two-point gap favors Nano on general multimodal reasoning tasks. Both models remain proprietary OpenAI offerings with identical context sizes.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5.4 NanoGPT-5.4 Nano costs $1.25 per million output tokens while GPT-5 Codex costs $10 per million. The eightfold price difference makes Nano far more economical for high-volume use. Context length and provider are the same for both.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5 CodexGPT-5 Codex outputs at 157.25 tokens per second versus 156.61 for GPT-5.4 Nano. The difference is small but measurable. Both models share the same 400k token context window.
Input Handling
Winner: GPT-5.4 NanoGPT-5.4 Nano explicitly lists file, image, and text inputs with multimodal flexibility. GPT-5 Codex focuses on text and static images plus coding specialization. Neither supports audio or video.
GPT-5.4 Nano
Pros
- +Very large 400k token context
- +Handles file, image, and text inputs
- +Multimodal flexibility
Cons
- –Nano size may limit depth on complex tasks
- –No audio or video modalities
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-5.4 Nano vs GPT-5 Codex
Choose GPT-5.4 Nano for most multimodal workloads that value intelligence, cost efficiency, and file support. Select GPT-5 Codex when coding specialization or the marginal speed gain is the priority. Both models deliver the same 400k context from OpenAI.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5.4 Nano scores higher on intelligence (38.2 vs 36.1) and costs far less, making it the stronger default choice unless coding specialization is required.