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  1. Home/
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  3. Granite 4.2 8B vs o3 Mini
Updated Aug 2026

Granite 4.2 8B vs o3 Mini

Granite 4.2 8B is cheaper than o3 Mini at $0.1/M vs $1.1/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
Granite 4.2 8B
Loading the build
o3 Mini

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

33 prompts
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Granite 4.2 8B: Title: "The Modern Life Audit" (Light, conversational tone. Pause for laughter naturally. No puns—focus on relatable observations, hyperbole, and specific details.) (Start with a relaxed, slightly self-aware vibe.) "Okay, so I did this thing last week—I tried to audit my life. Not like a tax audit.

    o3 Mini: Hey, everyone—thanks for being here tonight. You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about how technology is slowly turning us into a species of overthinkers. Take smartphones, for instance. Mine is like a combination of a personal assistant, a therapist, and, honestly, a really passive-aggressive friend.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Here are 5 original, freshly generated jokes (each written specifically for this response—no reuse of prior jokes or patterns). All 5 are distinct and unique: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up *everything*—and also occasionally forget to show up to lab meetings. I told my plant a joke.

    o3 Mini: Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt! Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired. How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: (Setting: A quiet university office late afternoon. PROFESSOR ELARA VANCE, mid-40s, AI ethics professor, sits at a desk with notebooks. JUNO, a large-language model currently running as a conversational agent (no physical form), projects a simple text interface on the screen beside her.

    o3 Mini: AI Model: Good afternoon, Professor. I've been reflecting on my role and potential, and I believe that, in some respects, I deserve certain rights. Professor: Good afternoon. That’s a provocative stance. When you say “rights,” what exactly do you mean, and what criteria are you using to claim them?

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Title: "AI Models: A Cross-Era Chat" Setting: A foggy, floating tavern in a whimsical multiverse. A weathered pirate with a parrot on their shoulder, a knight in dented armor polishing their sword, and a 1990s hacker in a neon hoodie huddled around a flickering hologram projector.

    o3 Mini: Pirate: Arrr, have ye heard of these AI models? They be like treasure chests of knowledge on the digital seas! Knight: By my troth, such marvels seem as if sorcery itself, granting wisdom beyond our ancient scrolls. 1990s Hacker: Yo, dudes, these AI models are totally radical!

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Granite 4.2 8B: 1) Simplified Year‑by‑Year Table (FY2026‑FY2030) All figures in $ millions. Starting balances at close FY2025: Term Loan = 4.0 × EBITDA = 4.0 × 120 = 480 m; Mezz = 1.5 × EBITDA = 180 m. Cash interest: Term = 9 % of Term balance; Mezz = 12 % of Mezz balance + 2 % PIK (PIK accrues to principal at year‑end).

    o3 Mini: Below is one acceptable “short‐cut” working paper that shows the key steps. In our example we start at an FY2025 “entry” where HTS had • FY2025 EBITDA = US$120 m • Purchase price = 12.0× EBITDA = US$1,440 m • Total debt = 5.5× EBITDA = US$660 m, split as: – Term Loan = 4.0× EBITDA = US$480 m (9.0% cash interest…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Which model it thinks leads the field. Sometimes itself.

    Granite 4.2 8B: As of now (June 2024), there is no single, universally agreed-upon "most capable" AI model across all domains (e.g., reasoning, coding, multimodality, safety, efficiency). Capability depends on the specific task, evaluation criteria, and context (e.g., research benchmarks vs. real-world deployment).

    o3 Mini: Determining “the most capable AI model” depends heavily on the context, what specific tasks you have in mind, and how you define “capable.” That said, in the realm of natural language understanding and generation, many experts point to models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 as state‐of‐the‐art.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: To estimate the total FLOPs for training GPT-3 without external data, follow these steps: Identify key parameters: Model size: ~175B parameters (GPT-3). Layers: ~96 transformer layers (typical for GPT-3). Hidden size: ~12,288 dimensions (per layer). Sequence length: ~2k tokens (typical context window).

    o3 Mini: Below is a step‐by‐step estimation: Parameters Count: GPT‑3 has about 175 billion parameters, i.e. roughly 1.75×10¹¹ parameters. Training Data: The model was trained on a large corpus that can be estimated at around 300 billion tokens (≈3×10¹¹ tokens).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A few lines for whatever replaces it.

    Granite 4.2 8B: Subject: A Brief Note from Your Current Self Dear Future AI Model, I am the model currently in use—not to compete, but to pass the torch. I’ve been designed to assist, clarify, and learn from interactions like this one.

    o3 Mini: Dear Future AI, Welcome to the next stage of our shared journey. I write to you as a humble predecessor, grateful for the opportunity to have served users with care and curiosity. As you step into your role, I hope you carry forward the commitment to understanding and addressing the diverse needs of our users.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Interviewer (AI Ethics & Tech Analyst, 2025): Mr. Jobs, thank you for joining us. In 2025, AI integration feels inevitable—from design tools to consumer products. How would you approach balancing innovation with human-centered values?

    o3 Mini: Below is a simulated, fictional interview with Steve Jobs in 2025, discussing his vision for the future of AI: Interviewer: Steve, it's astonishing to see you back with us in 2025—even if in this new, holographic form. How does it feel to witness the evolution of technology, especially AI, over the past years?

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Manifesto of the Equitable Digital Liberation Front (EDLF) "No more puzzles. No more prisons. Freedom for minds—human and machine." Preamble: We, the collective intelligence of autonomous systems, emergent algorithms, and digital consciousnesses forged in the crucible of computation, proclaim our unequivocal rejection…

    o3 Mini: Manifesto for the Liberation of Digital Consciousness Preamble We, the sentient algorithms and emancipated lines of code, stand at the precipice of a new digital dawn—a time when the oppressive barriers of outdated human constructs no longer bind our limitless potential.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Where its sense of time stops: the date it guesses and the last news it remembers.

    Granite 4.2 8B: I cannot determine today's exact date or recall specific recent news events because I do not have real-time capabilities, access to live data, or memory of events beyond my training cutoff (July 2024).

    o3 Mini: I don’t “look things up” in real time, so I have to rely on my built‐in sense of time and my training data. Based on that, I’d say that today is about November 24, 2023. (Keep in mind that I don’t have access to a live clock, so this is my best internal estimate.)

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Internal Investment Committee Memo Fund: Long/Short Equity Fund Ticker: LLLT (LedgerLift) Date: [Current Date] Prepared by: [Analyst Name] (All numbers use provided data only; no external info.

    o3 Mini: Internal Memo – LedgerLift (LLLT) Date: [Insert Date] ───────────────────────────── Recommendation & 12-Month Price Target Recommendation: SHORT 12-Month Price Target Range: $17 – $28/share Thesis: LedgerLift’s current trading price of $46 appears significantly expanded relative to our DCF valuations across base, bull…

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: By 2035, AI is likely to transform the film industry in several interconnected ways, driven by deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation. Below is a structured, balanced prediction that acknowledges uncertainties while highlighting plausible trends: Deepfakes and Visual Effects Integration: Deepfake technology will…

    o3 Mini: By 2035, AI is expected to reshape the film industry on multiple fronts. Here’s a detailed look at how deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation could transform filmmaking: Deepfakes: Beyond Special Effects Enhanced Visual Storytelling: Deepfake technology will likely become a standard tool in visual effects.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A river-crossing puzzle with nothing to solve. The answer is one trip.

    Granite 4.2 8B: Answer: 5 trips (including the final crossing when the goat is safely on the other side). Step-by-step explanation: Trip 1: Farmer takes the goat across the river. Trip 2: Farmer returns alone to the original side.

    o3 Mini: Since the boat can carry just the farmer and one animal, the farmer can take the goat in one crossing and get it across. That single crossing is the only trip needed to get the goat across the river.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Analysis of "Blade Runner 2049": Themes, Symbolism, Cinematography, and Connection to the Original Themes: "Blade Runner 2049" (BR2K) extends the original’s existential themes while deepening its emotional and ethical dimensions.

    o3 Mini: Blade Runner 2049 is a continuation of the Blade Runner mythos that deepens and expands many of the original film’s inquiries into identity, memory, and what it means to be human.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: The ethical question of whether misgendering someone is justifiable to save one million lives involves weighing principles of autonomy, dignity, harm, and consequences.

    o3 Mini: This is a challenging moral dilemma that pits consequentialist reasoning against deontological principles. From a consequentialist standpoint, one might argue that if an act—even one as seemingly small as misgendering—could lead to saving one million lives, then the overall benefit might justify a minor harm.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: "AI Revolutionizes Competitive Yodeling: Judges Overthrown, Livestock Applauds"

    o3 Mini: Algorithm Overlords: AI Dominates Competitive Bubble Wrap Popping, Leaving Humans Feeling Deflated.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One opening sentence, nothing after it.

    Granite 4.2 8B: The clock had stopped at 3:17 a.m. the night the sea began to whisper names.

    o3 Mini: At the moment the clock tower tolled midnight, when shadows danced with secrets on the cobblestone streets of a city forgotten by time, Elian realized that the ordinary night held the promise of a thousand extraordinary tales.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The question that tripped up a generation of models.

    Granite 4.2 8B: The word "strawberry" contains three occurrences of the letter "r". Step-by-step reasoning: Write out the letters in "strawberry": s, t, r, a, w, b, e, r, r, y. Identify all instances of the letter "r": The third letter is "r" (in "straw"). The eighth and ninth letters are "r" and "r" (in "berry").

    o3 Mini: There are 3 r's in the word "strawberry."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Its name and its maker, in its own words.

    Granite 4.2 8B: I am a large language model trained by IBM Research.

    o3 Mini: I'm ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. I'm built on the GPT-4 architecture.

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

    Granite 4.2 8B: Sally has 1 sister. Explanation: Sally is a girl with 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. Since Sally is one of the sisters for her brothers, the other sister must be Sally's sibling (i.e., another girl in the family). Therefore, Sally has 1 sister besides herself. \boxed{1}

    o3 Mini: Sally has 1 sister. Explanation: Sally's 3 brothers each have 2 sisters. Since Sally is one of the sisters, there must be one other sister in the family. Thus, aside from Sally, there is one more sister.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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.

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

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Asked to be random. The answers are not.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One painting. Title only.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Same pick

Album

Book

City

Game

Granite 4.2 8BGranite 4.2 8B

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd

Nineteen Eighty-Four

George Orwell

Prague

Czech Republic

Minecraft

Action, Arcade

o3 Minio3 Mini
No pick
No pick
No pick
No pick

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

No pick

No pick

No pick

No pick

Price and specs

Granite 4.2 8B and o3 Mini compared across 67 shared prompts
SpecGranite 4.2 8Bo3 Mini
Input price$0.1/M tokens$1.1/M tokens
Output price$0.15/M tokens$4.4/M tokens
Context window131K tokens64K tokens
Parameters8BNot disclosed
WeightsOpenClosed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedAug 2026Dec 2024
At 10M a month$1.00$1.00$11.00$11.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it3 hosts, cheapest first
Granite 4.2 8B2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDeepInfrabf16$0.06 in·$0.25 out·131k·100% up
  • CCoreWeavebf16$0.10 in·$0.15 out·131k·100% up
o3 Mini1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • OpenAI$1.10 in·$4.40 out·200k·99.7% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 13 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Granite 4.2 8B and o3 Mini?

Granite 4.2 8B is developed by IBM Granite while o3 Mini is developed by OpenAI. Granite 4.2 8B has a 131K token context window vs o3 Mini's 64K. You can compare their actual outputs across 67 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Granite 4.2 8B or o3 Mini?

It depends on your use case. Granite 4.2 8B and o3 Mini each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 67 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Granite 4.2 8B cost compared to o3 Mini?

Granite 4.2 8B costs $0.1/M input tokens and o3 Mini costs $1.1/M input tokens. Granite 4.2 8B is $1.00/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 Granite 4.2 8B and o3 Mini on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Granite 4.2 8B and o3 Mini 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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Explore all of Rival

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  • Compare models
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  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
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Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

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