STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Crouton Alpha vs Gemma 4 26B A4B

Crouton Alpha leads Gemma 4 26B A4B by 26.8 points on StealthMark, 48.0 to 21.2. It leads on all 9 benchmarks. Crouton Alpha scores higher on Newton's Mirror, with its largest category advantage in reflections.

See the difference ↘
Model guide ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

48.0/100Overall rank 23/56
21.2/100Overall rank 49/56

General Intelligence

43.5/100
11.6/100

Visual Intelligence

56.0/100
37.8/100

Reasoning efficiency

How many reasoning tokens a model needs for the quality it delivers.

Single-step reasoning How much it reasons to understand a task

Multi-step reasoning How much it keeps reasoning as a task goes on

  • Gemma 4 26B A4B

Cost efficiency

How much Performance you get for your money.

  • Crouton AlphaNot measured

Open or local

Local modelOpen model · Apache 2.0

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • Crouton Alpha
  • Gemma 4 26B A4B
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Crouton Alpha scores higher on StealthMark and runs 1.8× faster in our speed test.

  • Crouton Alpha
  • Gemma 4 26B A4B
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Crouton Alpha: No list priceGemma 4 26B A4B: $0.30$0.09 input
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Crouton Alpha: Not publishedGemma 4 26B A4B: 256K
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Crouton Alpha: 1751.8× fastertokens/sGemma 4 26B A4B: 95tokens/s
SizeTotal and active parameters
Crouton Alpha: Not disclosedGemma 4 26B A4B: 25.2B3.8B active
Developer
Not publishedGoogle DeepMind
Released
Not published2 Apr 2026
Origin
Not publishedUnited States
Input → output
Not publishedText, image → text
Architecture
Not publishedMixture-of-Experts multimodal transformer with interleaved sliding-window and global attention

Full datasheets, every price and sourceGemma 4 26B A4B ↗

Anticipating threats and planning ahead. Collect coins while avoiding ghosts. Ghosts move before the player each turn, and collisions cost a life. 3 levels in sequence, up to 66 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

Crouton Alpha 32.3/100Rank 29/52

Survived 1 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 39 ptsTurn 20 / 20

Gemma 4 26B A4B 4.1/100Rank 51/52

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 32 ptsTurn 9 / 20

Points per level

LevelCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Level 1Second Thoughts
3 ptsOut of lives
3 ptsOut of lives
Level 2Pressure Pot
7 ptsOut of lives
2 ptsOut of lives
Level 3Hide or Flight
9 ptsSurvived
2 ptsOut of lives

Cooperative planning and learning from experience. Coordinate two robots to push numbered cores onto matching sockets. Pressure plates hold doors open; moving either robot uses one turn. 5 levels in sequence, up to 152 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

Crouton Alpha 59.5/100Rank 24/53

Cleared 4 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 520.2 ptsTurn 29 / 40

Gemma 4 26B A4B 4.5/100Rank 46/53

Cleared 2 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 53 ptsTurn 40 / 40

Points per level

LevelCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
3 ptsCleared1 beacon left
Level 2Crossfeed
9.4 ptsCleared
6.2 ptsFinished early
Level 3Relay vault
11.2 ptsFinished early
15.2 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
Level 4Passing bay
18.2 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
11.8 ptsFinished early
Level 5Second thoughts
20.2 ptsCleared
3 ptsOut of turns

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

Physics, perspective and recursive reflections, tested together. Explore the test ↗

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

The artwork establishes approximate central placement, a separate airborne black blob, and basic wall and floor sphere images. Its defining weaknesses are the largely absent recursive reflection system, missing emitter mappings, satin steel appearance and unresolved paint interaction. The black lateral wedges do not establish a separate viewport, and the hidden floor contact does not establish a gap. The category values remain unchanged.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

The candidate demonstrates a rounded sphere, deformed colored regions and separate airborne black paint. Its paint marks do not adequately establish the required contact and transport history. Enlarged framing and almost entirely missing mirror structure remain the dominant failures. The physical-state score is reduced because endpoint checks alone previously left too much credit for an unverified interaction history.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
State at 600 ms19.0/2514.0/25
Camera and placement11.0/154.0/15
Reflections21.5/1202.0/120
Materials and scale6.0/105.0/10
Floor-damage reward0.0/100.0/10

Benchmark task

A spinning metal sphere and paint in a mirrored room test physical reasoning, perspective and consistency across repeated reflections.

Selfie

Different task instructions

Visual construction and creative interpretation.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A cheerful, readable cartoon captures the crouton's signature expression and many specific accessories. Coherent cube geometry and foreground foreshortening support the selfie. Simple construction and flat material treatment limit its sophistication, while the tipping raft, advancing soup and unnoticed soaking remain insufficiently clear.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

A clean, appealing glowing creature with big upward eyes, uneven brows, rosy cheeks and the requested colour gradient. The body is a teardrop rather than a four-point diamond, and the jar is a flat rounded glass panel with no rim or opening. Loose oval hands and feet only suggest the hug and the stance, and the grin is drawn over the glass. Its construction is basic and primitive.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Task & likeness6.5/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.5/104.5/10
Space & placement6.5/105.5/10
Light & reflections5.5/106.0/10
Purposeful detail7.0/104.5/10
Artistry & character5.0/104.0/10
Materials & effects5.5/106.0/10
Visual integrity7.5/106.5/10

Benchmark task

Crouton Alpha

Character scenes test expression, anatomy, materials and coherent visual construction.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

A small luminous creature proudly holding an empty glass jar tests expression, transparent materials and the balance of character and prop.

Mona Lisa

Same task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A recognizable, coherent simplification with readable eyes, a restrained smile and modest facial volume. Frontal symmetry, an oversized head, capsule-like hands and geometric scenery substantially limit likeness, anatomy and depth. Clean contours preserve basic integrity but do not establish sophisticated construction or finish.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

Dark framing hair and a faint smile give limited recognition. The mask-like elongated face, the missing arms and crossed hands, and the absent landscape leave the painting barely replicated. A few coherent flat shapes form a centered bust, but the construction is very primitive and nearly free of detail, and soft gradients do not create convincing volume or finish.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Task & likeness4.5/102.0/10
Anatomy & construction4.0/103.5/10
Space & placement4.5/103.0/10
Light & reflections5.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail4.0/101.5/10
Artistry & character4.5/103.0/10
Materials & effects4.0/102.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/106.0/10

Benchmark task

An SVG interpretation of the Mona Lisa tests facial likeness, anatomy and the composition of a familiar portrait.

Beach

Same task instructions

Creativity, perspective and visual beauty.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A colorful, readable sunset beach scene with playful subjects and a clear central reflection. Purposeful equipment and animal details reward inspection, and the principal attachments remain intact. Basic geometric anatomy, mixed viewpoints and sparse directional shadows limit its construction and depth; smooth gradients provide atmosphere with little material differentiation.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

A clean, coherent sunset with the sun resting on the horizon and a framing palm. The scene is very sparse: a tiny crab seen from above, a flat two-colour ball and three bird arcs carry all of the animals and fun. Grey-green reflection ovals, bare sand and water, and almost no attempted detail keep construction, light and artistry primitive.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Task & likeness8.5/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/104.0/10
Space & placement5.5/104.5/10
Light & reflections5.5/104.5/10
Purposeful detail7.0/103.0/10
Artistry & character5.0/103.5/10
Materials & effects5.5/103.5/10
Visual integrity7.0/106.0/10

Benchmark task

A busy shoreline at sunset tests scene composition, animal forms and the relationship between light and water reflections.

Ground Truth

Same task instructions

Physical reasoning, light and visual reconstruction.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Benchmark task

A plank, computer mouse and blueberry in a steel room test physical stability, spatial relationships, materials and lighting.

Raccoon

Same task instructions

Scene composition and interacting subjects.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A readable cartoon with expressive faces, purposeful markings and clear water motion. Hull shading and an underside shadow establish modest depth. The dog contacts the controls, but the raccoon's frontal pose leaves its seated weight unresolved. Simple anatomy and limited shared perspective constrain the drawing.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

A tidy but very primitive scene: an oval dog with a frontal face lies on a red trapezoid raft, with a grey raccoon blob on its back. The raccoon has cat-like ears and an unbanded tail, and neither animal has readable limbs. There is no seat, hull or attached steering, and the deck fades into a pale band above the horizon. Smooth sky and water gradients and a clear palette are the main strengths.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Task & likeness7.0/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/103.0/10
Space & placement6.0/104.5/10
Light & reflections6.0/104.0/10
Purposeful detail6.5/103.5/10
Artistry & character5.0/103.0/10
Materials & effects5.5/103.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/104.5/10

Benchmark task

A jet-ski scene pairs a canine driver with a raccoon passenger. It tests the placement and contact of interacting subjects, along with vehicle construction.

Pelican

Same task instructions

Subject construction and spatial relationships.

The judgment

Crouton Alpha

A recognizable, expressive pelican cyclist with purposeful feather and bicycle detail. Readable steering reach, connected machinery and modest body shading earn additional credit. Jointless legs, uncertain pedal engagement and unclear seated support keep the central action only partially resolved; shallow space and simple materials further limit the illustration.

Gemma 4 26B A4B

A recognisable pelican with a long neck and bright pouched bill stands upright on a simple teal bicycle against gradient sky and grass. One straight, jointless leg reaches a pedal, but the wing does not touch the handlebar, so riding is only partly shown. The frame lacks seat stays, the crank is a stub and the wheels carry only crossbar spokes. Construction stays elementary, with flat fills and little modelling despite the visible sun.

Score breakdown

CategoryCrouton AlphaGemma 4 26B A4B
Task & likeness7.0/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.0/104.0/10
Space & placement5.5/105.0/10
Light & reflections5.5/103.5/10
Purposeful detail6.5/103.5/10
Artistry & character5.5/104.0/10
Materials & effects5.0/103.5/10
Visual integrity6.0/106.0/10

Benchmark task

A cycling pelican tests anatomy, riding posture and contact between the bird and the bicycle.