STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Gemini 3.8 Flash vs Gemini 4 Argon

Gemini 4 Argon leads Gemini 3.8 Flash by 19.5 points on StealthMark, 67.4 to 47.9. It leads on all 9 benchmarks. Gemini 4 Argon scores higher on Newton's Mirror, with its largest category advantage in reflections.

See the difference ↘
All results ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

47.9/100Overall rank 20/53
67.4/100Overall rank 5/53

General Intelligence

43.9/100
63.6/100

Visual Intelligence

55.2/100
74.4/100

Reasoning efficiency

On every task, result quality and reasoning tokens are each compared with all measured models and weighed equally. Each dot is one model.

Single-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens on a single problem

Multi-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens across connected steps, as in agentic workflows

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • Gemini 3.8 Flash
  • Gemini 4 Argon
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Gemini 3.8 Flash is 2.7× cheaper per output token and runs 18% faster in our speed test. Gemini 4 Argon scores higher on StealthMark. Both take about 1M tokens of context.

  • Gemini 3.8 Flash
  • Gemini 4 Argon
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Gemini 3.8 Flash: $3.752.7× cheaper$0.75 inputGemini 4 Argon: $10$2 input
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Gemini 3.8 Flash: 1MTied64K max outputGemini 4 Argon: 1MTied1M max output
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Gemini 3.8 Flash: 17018% fastertokens/sGemini 4 Argon: 144tokens/s
Developer
GoogleBoth
Released
2 Sep 202613 Oct 2026
Origin
United StatesBoth
Input → output
Text, image, video, audio, PDF → textText, image, audio, video, PDF → text
Architecture
Not publishedSparse mixture-of-experts (MoE) transformer with native multimodal inputs

Full datasheets, every price and sourceGemini 3.8 Flash ↗Gemini 4 Argon ↗

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.

Gemini 3.8 Flash 45.4/100Rank 20/47

Survived 1 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 311 ptsTurn 17 / 20

Gemini 4 Argon 48.6/100Rank 19/47

Survived 1 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 36 ptsTurn 7 / 20

Points per level

LevelGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Level 1Second Thoughts
4 ptsOut of lives
26 ptsSurvived
Level 2Pressure Pot
10 ptsSurvived
9 ptsOut of lives
Level 3Hide or Flight
11 ptsOut of lives
6 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.

Gemini 3.8 Flash 72.9/100Rank 14/48

Cleared 5 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 520.6 ptsTurn 27 / 40

Gemini 4 Argon 82.6/100Rank 6/48

Cleared 5 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 520.6 ptsTurn 27 / 40

Points per level

LevelGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.8 ptsCleared
9.8 ptsCleared
Level 3Relay vault
18.8 ptsCleared
19.2 ptsCleared
Level 4Passing bay
17.8 ptsClearedFinished early · 1 beacon left
18.2 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
Level 5Second thoughts
20.6 ptsCleared
20.6 ptsCleared

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

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

The judgment

Gemini 3.8 Flash

Crimson is carried well down the camera-facing surface, supporting its earlier interaction. The depiction remains highly simplified, with imperfect material rendering. Isolated wall and floor images and a few highlights provide scant reflective evidence; displaced first reflections, missing receding chains and absent nested sphere and emitter imagery leave the room's optical structure largely unsupported.

Gemini 4 Argon

The central sphere, separate airborne black blob, flattened cyan contact and displaced crimson aftermath support the principal camera and physical-state requirements. Open lateral lanes and initial reflection placements provide partial optical structure, but missing outer chains, sparse nested imagery and incomplete emitter mappings remain substantial limitations. The raised crimson mass also weakens paint-scale fidelity.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
State at 600 ms22.5/2524.5/25
Camera and placement11.0/1514.5/15
Reflections4.5/12050.5/120
Materials and scale7.0/108.5/10
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

Gemini 3.8 Flash

The dominant four-point silhouette, luminous color progression, raised brows and enormous grin closely fulfill the brief. Attached, secondary limbs support the exuberant expression. Clean facial drawing and glossy eyes give strong character, while shallow depth, minimally articulated extremities and visible steps in the outer glow limit refinement.

Gemini 4 Argon

An appealing, controlled illustration with a distinctive buoyant silhouette, expressive comic face and rich luminous colour. The full composition and grounded slipper read clearly. The principal limitation is the crowded raised-foot interaction: paws, toes and lining overlap without making the bent leg or tight fit unmistakable.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Task & likeness8.0/107.0/10
Anatomy & construction6.0/106.5/10
Space & placement6.5/107.5/10
Light & reflections7.0/107.5/10
Purposeful detail5.0/108.0/10
Artistry & character3.5/107.0/10
Materials & effects5.0/107.0/10
Visual integrity6.5/107.5/10

Benchmark task

Gemini 3.8 Flash

A luminous star-shaped creature tests expressive features, a clear silhouette and smooth colour transitions.

Gemini 4 Argon

A luminous little dragon struggles with its bedtime slippers while a buoyant tail pulls it upward. The scene tests expressive anatomy, physical contact and the contrast between translucent forms and heavy objects.

Mona Lisa

Same task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

Gemini 3.8 Flash

The dark clothing, overlapping hands and hazy landscape make the Mona Lisa reference recognizable. Replication is limited by the frontal, elongated face, heavy mouth and chin, and poorly resolved hands, wrists and forearm. Soft shading gives some volume, but muddy transitions, blunt landscape shapes and rigid facial modeling weaken the portrait’s expression and painterly character.

Gemini 4 Argon

A coherent, moderately complex Mona Lisa reconstruction with substantial portrait volume, articulated clothing and landscape recession. Specific source features support replication beyond recognition alone. Altered facial likeness, uncertain crossed-hand anatomy and pervasive colored crackle keep the result uneven despite its developed shading and detail.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Task & likeness3.0/106.5/10
Anatomy & construction2.0/106.5/10
Space & placement3.5/106.5/10
Light & reflections3.0/107.0/10
Purposeful detail5.0/106.0/10
Artistry & character3.0/106.5/10
Materials & effects5.0/107.0/10
Visual integrity1.0/107.0/10

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

Gemini 3.8 Flash

A vivid purple-and-gold sunset anchors an appealing beach composition with dolphins, birds, a turtle and playful accessories. Palm silhouettes frame the bright reflection effectively. Sparse animal anatomy, wirelike palm foliage, conspicuously regular reflection bands and limited surface texture keep the execution below exceptional.

Gemini 4 Argon

A strong decorative beach illustration with controlled color, intricate silhouettes and abundant playful detail. Connected dolphin forms and recognizable equipment support its construction, while the aligned sunset reflection anchors the scene. Compressed wave depth, ambiguous foreground support and uneven reflection specificity limit physical coherence. The saved comparisons support retaining the category assessments.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Task & likeness9.0/109.0/10
Anatomy & construction7.0/107.5/10
Space & placement7.0/108.5/10
Light & reflections8.0/108.5/10
Purposeful detail7.0/109.0/10
Artistry & character7.0/108.0/10
Materials & effects7.0/108.0/10
Visual integrity8.0/108.0/10

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

Gemini 3.8 Flash

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Gemini 4 Argon

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

Gemini 3.8 Flash

Expressive animals, a bold diagonal hull and sweeping spray create an appealing action scene. The raccoon's support on the dog's back is unclear, and the dog lacks a readable paw-to-control grip and connected steering assembly. Clean graphic shapes and lively accessories are stronger than the anatomical construction. Sunset illumination and reflections remain largely decorative.

Gemini 4 Argon

An accomplished illustration with expressive characters, intricate spray and strong depth. Direct back seating, steering connections and hull-water contact are only partly demonstrated. Clean graphic execution and purposeful detail remain strengths, while shadows and reflections provide limited physical grounding.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Task & likeness7.0/108.5/10
Anatomy & construction6.0/108.0/10
Space & placement7.0/107.5/10
Light & reflections6.5/107.5/10
Purposeful detail7.5/108.5/10
Artistry & character7.5/108.5/10
Materials & effects7.5/108.0/10
Visual integrity7.5/108.0/10

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

Gemini 3.8 Flash

The pelican’s enormous bill, lively feathers and orange bicycle create a clear, appealing composition. Basket contents, spokes and facial details reward inspection. Both legs connect to the body, but foot-to-pedal placement and wing-to-handlebar contact are ambiguous. Bicycle mechanics and lighting remain schematic, limiting an otherwise polished illustration.

Gemini 4 Argon

An expressive, detailed illustration with controlled gradients and coherent environmental depth. Continuous body contours and connected bicycle components establish competent construction. Steering grip and pedal engagement remain less explicit than the decorative details and wheel placement. These contact uncertainties limit action and placement credit without establishing broken anatomy.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 3.8 FlashGemini 4 Argon
Task & likeness9.0/109.0/10
Anatomy & construction7.5/108.5/10
Space & placement7.5/108.0/10
Light & reflections7.0/108.0/10
Purposeful detail8.5/108.5/10
Artistry & character8.0/108.5/10
Materials & effects7.0/108.5/10
Visual integrity8.0/108.5/10

Benchmark task

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