Gemma 4 31B vs GPT-5.4 Mini

We evaluated 12 benchmarks (1–5 scale). In our testing: - Gemma 4 31B wins tool calling (5 vs 4) and agentic planning (5 vs 4). Gemma's tool calling is tied for 1st with 16 other models (rank: tied for 1st of 54), indicating top-tier function selection, argument accuracy, and sequencing. Agentic_planning is also tied for 1st (with 14 others), showing strength at goal decomposition and recovery. - GPT-5.4 Mini wins long context (5 vs 4). GPT-5.4 Mini's long context is tied for 1st with 36 other models (rank: tied for 1st of 55), and it has a larger context_window (400,000 vs Gemma's 262,144), so it will be better at retrieval and coherence across 30K+ token inputs. - Ties (both models scored identically) on structured output (5), strategic analysis (5), constrained rewriting (4), creative problem solving (4), faithfulness (5), classification (4), safety calibration (2), persona consistency (5), and multilingual (5). Those ties mean comparable performance on JSON/schema adherence, nuanced tradeoff reasoning, constrained rewriting, creativity, sticking to sources, classification, safety refusal/allowance behavior, persona stability, and multilingual quality in our tests. Practical takeaway: Gemma gives a clear edge for agentic/function-heavy pipelines at the top ranks for tool-calling and planning, while GPT-5.4 Mini is preferable when the absolute best long-context handling is required. Context-window and modality notes from the payload: Gemma supports text+image+video->text with a 262,144 token window; GPT-5.4 Mini supports text+image+file->text with a 400,000 token window.

Gemma 4 31B input/output pricing: $0.13 / $0.38 per mtoken. GPT-5.4 Mini input/output pricing: $0.75 / $4.50 per mtoken. Using a simple 50/50 input/output token split: 1M tokens (500k in + 500k out) costs ~ $255 on Gemma (500 mTok * $0.13 + 500 mTok * $0.38 = $65 + $190) versus ~ $2,625 on GPT-5.4 Mini (500 mTok * $0.75 + 500 mTok * $4.50 = $375 + $2,250). At 10M tokens/month multiply those totals by 10 (Gemma ~$2,550 vs GPT ~$26,250). At 100M tokens/month multiply by 100 (Gemma ~$25,500 vs GPT ~$262,500). High-throughput apps, multi-tenant APIs, and cost-sensitive startups will materially benefit from Gemma's ~10x lower cost; teams for whom the long-context advantage or specific OpenAI ecosystem features justify the expense should consider GPT-5.4 Mini.

Choose Gemma 4 31B if you need low-cost, production-grade agent workflows, function calling, and planning (5/5 tool calling and agentic planning; tied for 1st in both) and can work within a 262K token window. Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if your primary need is maximal long-context retrieval and coherence (5/5 long context; 400K token window) and you can accept substantially higher per-token costs.