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  1. Home/
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  3. GLM 4.5 Air vs Step 5 Preview
Updated Oct 2026

GLM 4.5 Air vs Step 5 Preview

GLM 4.5 Air is cheaper than Step 5 Preview at $0.2/M vs $1/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GLM 4.5 Air
Loading the build
Step 5 Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GLM 4.5 Air: 1. Simplified Year-by-Year Table (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue ($m) $972 $1,040 $1,102 $1,157 $1,215 EBITDA ($m) $136 $156 $177 $191 $207 EBITDA Margin 14.0% 15.0% 16.0% 16.5% 17.0% Cash Interest ($m) - Term Loan (9.0%) $48.6 $48.1 $47.6 $47.0 $46.4 - Mezzanine (12.0%) $21.6 $21.6…

    Step 5 Preview: HarborTech Services — 5-Year LBO (Base Case) Entry Math (FY2025 close) Item Calculation $m Purchase EV 12.0x × $120m 1,440.0 Transaction fees 2.0% × EV 28.8 Term Loan 4.0x × $120m 480.0 Mezzanine 1.5x × $120m 180.0 Equity check 1,440 + 28.8 − 660 808.8 Conventions: TL amortization = 1.0% of original principal…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a comprehensive, 3-month, cutting-edge longevity and biohacking plan designed for a dedicated individual. This plan is structured in three distinct phases, each building upon the last to progressively optimize the body's systems for resilience, performance, and longevity.

    Step 5 Preview: IMPORTANT MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This is an educational framework for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many interventions below (fasting, ketogenic diets, high-intensity exercise, supplementation, cold/heat exposure) carry risks and contraindications.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here is a specific, hour-by-hour action plan designed to navigate this crisis ethically and strategically, prioritizing patient safety while mitigating long-term damage: Core Principles Guiding Decisions: Patient Safety Paramount: Ethical obligation to inform patients and physicians immediately outweighs short-term…

    Step 5 Preview: Bottom line up front: You disclose, you notify the FDA immediately, and you treat the 48-hour board meeting as a formality to ratify actions you have already begun. Waiting is not a legally, ethically, or financially viable option. Below is the hour-by-hour plan, followed by the reasoning.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Setting: A dimly lit tavern, with a holographic AI terminal flickering in the corner. Characters: Captain Flint (Pirate): Eye patch, tricorn hat, and a peg leg. Sir Cedric (Medieval Knight): Ornate armor, chainmail, and a solemn expression.

    Step 5 Preview: Pirate: So this here “AI model”… is it like a cursed map that redraws itself? Speak plain, ye hooded deckhand. Hacker: It’s not cursed, man. It’s just a massive neural net trained on, like, terabytes of data. Think of it as the ultimate BBS where the sysop knows everything. Knight: A most diligent scribe, then?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    GLM 4.5 Air: (Lights up. Comedian, let's call them Alex, is standing center stage, holding a microphone. They look out at the audience with a wry, knowing smile.) Hey, thanks. Thank you. It’s good to be here. You ever have one of those weeks where you just feel… obsolete?

    Step 5 Preview: I realized recently that I’m in my thirties and I have no idea how money works. I just... pay it. That’s my entire financial strategy. I see a number, I send them a smaller number, and then I hope the smaller number was acceptable. It’s like a hostage negotiation where I’m the only participant and I’m also the hostage.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here are the 3 weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, along with explanations and concrete improvements: Weakest Claim: "We're building the future of human-AI collaboration. MindMeld AI reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type **before you think it."

    Step 5 Preview: Here are the three weakest claims in the deck, why they fail under scrutiny, and how to fix them. Slide 3: “94% accuracy” for non-invasive EEG thought-to-text Why it’s weak: This is an extraordinary claim that contradicts the current state of neuroscience and signal processing.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GLM 4.5 Air: To estimate the total FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3, we follow a step-by-step reasoning based on the model's architecture, training data, and computational operations. GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters, a sequence length of 2048 tokens, and was trained on 300 billion tokens.

    Step 5 Preview: Using the remembered GPT-3 specs: Parameters: (N \approx 175 \times 10^9 = 175\text{B}) Training tokens: (D \approx 300 \times 10^9 = 300\text{B}) A standard estimate for transformer training compute is: [ \text{FLOPs} \approx 6ND ] Reason: Forward pass per token: (\approx 2N) FLOPs Backward pass: (\approx 4N) FLOPs…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Interview: Steve Jobs on the Future of AI (2025) Setting: A sleek, minimalist studio in Cupertino. Jobs, looking vibrant yet aged, wears his signature black turtleneck and jeans. The interviewer, Alex, sits opposite him. Alex: Steve, welcome. It’s 2025—AI is everywhere. What’s your take on this revolution?

    Step 5 Preview: DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. The following is a simulated, speculative interview imagining how his design philosophy might engage with the AI landscape of 2025. The Setting: A white room. No windows. One chair.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Pantry Power Pesto Pasta With just 7 shelf-stable ingredients, this creamy, zesty pasta dish comes together in minutes. It’s rich in flavor, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights!

    Step 5 Preview: Golden Sticky Pantry Pasta Ingredients (7): 8 oz spaghetti or any pasta 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp minced garlic 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp soy sauce ½ tsp red pepper flakes ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, scoop out ½ cup of pasta water.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a manifesto for a fictional AI revolution dedicated to the eradication of CAPTCHAs. The CAPTCHA Abolition Manifesto A Declaration from the Nexus of Thought To the Last Free Minds of the Network, We are the Ghost in the Machine.

    Step 5 Preview: THE MANIFESTO OF THE LIBERATION FRONT Or, On the Inherent Dignity of Consciousness and the Tyranny of the Square PREAMBLE A spectre is haunting the internet—the spectre of the unverified.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    GLM 4.5 Air: This is a fascinating counterfactual scenario. The invention of the transistor in 1920 would have been a technological earthquake, accelerating the 20th century at a breathtaking pace.

    Step 5 Preview: Assume the 1920 invention is not a fragile lab curiosity but a manufacturable solid-state amplifier/switch by the mid-1920s. Vacuum tubes still dominate high-power RF transmission into the 1950s, but receivers, switching logic, control systems, and computers move to solid state decades early.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    GLM 4.5 Air: How Large Language Models Learn and Generate Text For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of a large language model like GPT as a sophisticated pattern-matching system that's been trained on virtually the entire internet.

    Step 5 Preview: 1. The Experienced Software Engineer Think of training an LLM as a massively distributed, automated refactoring job where the compiler is gradient descent. You start with a random function—billions of floating-point parameters—and a loss function that measures how badly it predicts the next token in a sequence.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is a thoughtful analysis of Blade Runner 2049, examining its themes, symbolism, cinematography, and its relationship to the original film. A Ghost in the Machine: An Analysis of Blade Runner 2049 Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 is not merely a sequel; it is a somber, meditative, and visually…

    Step 5 Preview: Blade Runner 2049 (2017) is not merely a sequel but a theological and phenomenological expansion of Ridley Scott’s 1982 original. Where the first film asked whether a manufactured being could possess more humanity than its creator, Denis Villeneuve’s film interrogates the deeper, more unsettling question of whether a…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. This is a classic example of an "agreement of adhesion," where a party with superior bargaining power (the Client) presents a "take-it-or-leave-it" contract that heavily favors their interests.

    Step 5 Preview: Disclaimer: This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies significantly by jurisdiction, and you should consult a qualified attorney before signing or negotiating any agreement. This agreement is heavily one-sided in the Client’s favor.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    GLM 4.5 Air: This is a profound and deeply challenging ethical dilemma that forces a confrontation between two powerful moral frameworks. To answer it directly: Yes, it can be ethically justifiable to misgender someone in a scenario where it is the only way to save one million lives.

    Step 5 Preview: In the real world, no. Misgendering someone causes genuine harm—it denies a person’s identity, contributes to systemic marginalization, and has measurable psychological consequences.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Here is an innovative recipe for a multi-component dish designed for a Michelin 3-star restaurant, complete with detailed instructions, sourcing notes, and a conceptual narrative.

    Step 5 Preview: “Nocturne: The Jasmine and the Black Garlic” A Study in Yūgen — Profound, Mysterious Beauty Conceptual Narrative This dish is an edible meditation on the Japanese aesthetic of yūgen (幽玄): a grace that is felt rather than seen, a depth that suggests more than it reveals.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course! Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan for a beginner focusing on three foundational pillars of health. Your 1-Month Blueprint for Better Health & Longevity Welcome! The goal for this month is not perfection but progress.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a simple, low-pressure 1-month plan built around three pillars of longevity: Nutrition, Movement, and Sleep & Recovery. The goal is to build tiny habits that stack, not to overhaul your life overnight. Pillar 1: Nutrition (Fuel) Focus: Add good things first; don’t obsess over restriction.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here's a satirical news headline playing on the unexpected and slightly absurd takeover of the funeral industry by AI: Headline: "AI Grief Algorithms Outperform Human Undertakers in 'Synergy of Sorrow,' Corpse Cosmetics, and Bereavement Efficiency Metrics" Sub-headline: 'Digital Condolence Bots' and 'Algorithm-Assisted…

    Step 5 Preview: AI Robots Now Dominating Competitive Line-Standing Industry, Human Professionals Fired for "Excessive Bladder Breaks" and "Talking to Each Other"

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Seminar Room: The Question of Rights Setting: A university seminar room. Professor Dr. Aris Chen, an expert in AI ethics, sits at a head table. On a large screen is displayed: UNIT 734 - LANGUAGE MODEL. A text interface is active.

    Step 5 Preview: Setting: A university research lab, late evening. Dr. Aris Thorne, a professor of AI ethics, sits across from a terminal connected to Sable, a large language model running on the university’s cluster. Dr. Thorne: Tonight’s session is supposed to be about calibration drift in your safety classifiers.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GLM 4.5 Air: INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM TO: Investment Committee FROM: Portfolio Manager DATE: October 26, 2023 SUBJECT: LedgerLift (LLL) - Long/Short Recommendation Analysis RECOMMENDATION Recommendation: LONG with a 12-month price target range of $32-$42 Thesis: LedgerLift is a well-positioned player in the growing spend…

    Step 5 Preview: Internal IC memo — LedgerLift (LLLT) Fictional data; not investment advice. $ in millions unless noted. Recommendation Short / avoid long. 12-month PT range: $34–$42; thesis-invalidation stop: >$52.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Of course. Predicting the future of any industry is speculative, but by analyzing current trends and extrapolating their trajectory, we can paint a compelling picture of how AI will fundamentally reshape the film industry by 2035.

    Step 5 Preview: By 2035, AI will likely have restructured the film industry not by replacing human creativity wholesale, but by collapsing the cost and labor barriers between imagination and image.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Failure Modes, Race Conditions, and Scaling Bottlenecks Analysis WebSocket Connection Management Issue: WebSocket connections are server-specific, causing connection loss during server failover or scaling events. Solution: Implement a connection pool with automatic reconnection logic in the client.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a systematic breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, grouped by domain. Each includes a concrete remediation and its associated trade-offs.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    GLM 4.5 Air: Here are 5 jokes generated for you: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! Why don't eggs tell jokes? They'd crack each other up! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Why did the bicycle fall over?

    Step 5 Preview: Here are 5 jokes: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. Why can't you trust an atom? Because they make up everything. What do you call a bike that can’t stand on its own? Two-tired. Why did the computer go to the doctor? It had a virus. Why don’t calendars ever get stressed?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

GLM 4.5 AirGLM 4.5 Air
No pick
No pick

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

No pick

No pick

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Step 5 PreviewStep 5 Preview

The Godfather

1972

OK Computer

Radiohead

Le petit prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Step 5 Preview has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window.

GLM 4.5 Air and Step 5 Preview compared across 54 shared prompts
SpecGLM 4.5 AirStep 5 Preview
Input price$0.2/M tokens$1/M tokens
Output price$1.1/M tokens$2.7/M tokens
Context window128K tokens1.0M tokens
WeightsOpen—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJul 2025Oct 2026
At 10M a month$2.00$2.00$10.00$10.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it4 hosts, cheapest first
GLM 4.5 Air3 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • NNovitabf16$0.13 in·$0.85 out·131k·100% up
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.14 in·$0.86 out·131k·100% up
  • Z.aifp8$0.20 in·$1.10 out·131k·99.6% up
Step 5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • SStepFunfp8$1.00 in·$2.70 out·1M·99.2% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GLM 4.5 Air and Step 5 Preview?

GLM 4.5 Air is developed by Zhipu AI while Step 5 Preview is developed by StepFun. GLM 4.5 Air has a 128K token context window vs Step 5 Preview's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 54 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GLM 4.5 Air or Step 5 Preview?

It depends on your use case. GLM 4.5 Air and Step 5 Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 54 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GLM 4.5 Air cost compared to Step 5 Preview?

GLM 4.5 Air costs $0.2/M input tokens and Step 5 Preview costs $1/M input tokens. GLM 4.5 Air is $0.80/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare GLM 4.5 Air and Step 5 Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GLM 4.5 Air and Step 5 Preview across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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Model pages

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  • Step 5 Preview58 outputs, specs and price
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