GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5 Nano
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 if you need
- ✓Maximum intelligence and 1.05M context for complex document tasks
- ✓Seamless text-image-file integration in flexible workflows
- ✓Strong performance on large-scale multimodal projects
- ✓Advanced reasoning where lower models fall short
Choose GPT-5 Nano if you need
- ✓Fast 170.94 t/s responses at just $0.4 per million tokens
- ✓Efficient handling of very large contexts on a budget
- ✓Lightweight design for practical extended document work
- ✓Text-image-file support without high cost or latency
Verdict
GPT-5.4 leads for high-intelligence multimodal workflows needing maximum context and document-level integration, while GPT-5 Nano wins on speed and cost for efficient large-scale text-image-file handling. GPT-5.4's intelligence_index of 51.4 and 1.05M context far exceed Nano's 19.9 and 400K, but at 37x the price and slightly lower speed. The choice hinges on whether capability depth or affordability and velocity matter most.
GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5 Nano: side by side
| Spec | GPT-5.4 | GPT-5 Nano | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 51.4 | 19.9 | GPT-5.4 |
| Output speed | 157 t/s | 171 t/s | GPT-5 Nano |
| Output price | $15.00/1M | $0.40/1M | GPT-5 Nano |
| Context | 1050K | 400K | GPT-5.4 |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 scores 51.4 on intelligence_index versus Nano's 19.9, enabling stronger complex reasoning and document-level tasks. Nano's limitations note lower capability depth and struggles with highly complex reasoning. This gap makes GPT-5.4 the clear leader for advanced multimodal analysis.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5 NanoGPT-5 Nano outputs at 170.94 t/s compared to GPT-5.4's 156.68 t/s, aided by its lightweight design. GPT-5.4's larger context can increase latency. Nano therefore delivers faster responses for extended inputs.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5 NanoGPT-5 Nano costs $0.4 per million tokens versus GPT-5.4's $15, a 37-fold difference. Both are proprietary OpenAI models with unknown parameter counts. Nano is the practical choice for cost-sensitive deployments.
Context & Multimodal
Winner: GPT-5.4GPT-5.4 offers 1.05M context with seamless text-image-file integration and strong document workflows. Nano handles 400K context efficiently with text-image-file support but lacks the same depth. GPT-5.4 excels where maximum scale and integration are required.
GPT-5.4
Pros
- +Handles extremely large contexts
- +Seamless text-image-file integration
- +Strong at document-level tasks
Cons
- –No native audio or video support
- –Large context can increase latency
- –May need careful prompting for complex tasks
GPT-5 Nano
Pros
- +Handles very large contexts efficiently
- +Supports text, image, and file inputs
- +Lightweight design for faster responses
Cons
- –Lower capability depth than full-scale models
- –May struggle with highly complex reasoning
- –Trade-off in advanced task performance
Summary: GPT-5.4 vs GPT-5 Nano
Select GPT-5.4 when intelligence, largest context, and advanced multimodal integration are priorities despite higher cost. Choose GPT-5 Nano for speed, low price, and efficient large-context performance on simpler tasks. The models target different points on the capability-versus-efficiency spectrum.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5.4 is better for high-intelligence needs with its 51.4 index and 1.05M context, while GPT-5 Nano is better for speed and cost with 170.94 t/s and $0.4/M pricing.