STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Gemini 4 Argon vs Step 5 Preview

Gemini 4 Argon leads Step 5 Preview by 28.4 points on StealthMark, 67.4 to 39.0. 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

67.4/100Overall rank 5/53
39.0/100Overall rank 36/53

General Intelligence

63.6/100
37.1/100

Visual Intelligence

74.4/100
41.9/100

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 4 Argon
  • Step 5 Preview
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Both take about 1M tokens of context.

  • Gemini 4 Argon
  • Step 5 Preview
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Gemini 4 Argon: $10$2 inputStep 5 Preview: No list price
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Gemini 4 Argon: 1MTied1M max outputStep 5 Preview: 1MTied
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Gemini 4 Argon: 144tokens/sStep 5 Preview: Not measured
SizeTotal and active parameters
Gemini 4 Argon: Not disclosedStep 5 Preview: 600B27B active
Developer
GoogleStepFun
Released
13 Oct 2026Not published
Origin
United StatesNot published
Input → output
Text, image, audio, video, PDF → textText, image, video → text
Architecture
Sparse mixture-of-experts (MoE) transformer with native multimodal inputsSparse mixture-of-experts; 92 layers (88 MoE), 352 routed experts with 8 selected per token plus a shared expert; grouped-query attention with 512-token sliding windows and full attention every fourth layer; 3 multi-token-prediction layers; vision tower for image and video input

Full datasheets, every price and sourceGemini 4 Argon ↗Step 5 Preview ↗

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 4 Argon 48.6/100Rank 19/49

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

Step 5 Preview 59.9/100Rank 42/491 of 3 levels

1 of 3 played
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 122 ptsTurn 28 / 28

Points per level

LevelGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Level 1Second Thoughts
26 ptsSurvived
22 ptsSurvived
Level 2Pressure Pot
9 ptsOut of lives
Pending
Level 3Hide or Flight
6 ptsOut of lives
Pending

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 4 Argon 82.6/100Rank 6/50

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

Step 5 Preview 40.7/100Rank 28/50

Cleared 4 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 515 ptsTurn 35 / 40

Points per level

LevelGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.8 ptsCleared
9 ptsCleared
Level 3Relay vault
19.2 ptsCleared
18.6 ptsCleared
Level 4Passing bay
18.2 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
15.6 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
Level 5Second thoughts
20.6 ptsCleared
15 ptsFinished early

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

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

The judgment

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.

Step 5 Preview

The main sphere, airborne black and small colored features occupy broadly appropriate positions. Most of the defining mirror system is absent, and paint interaction remains only partially supported. The small paint features do not visibly establish a separate volume-scale violation.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
State at 600 ms24.5/2520.0/25
Camera and placement14.5/1513.5/15
Reflections50.5/12020.0/120
Materials and scale8.5/107.0/10
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

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.

Step 5 Preview

A charming diagonal climber and warm palette communicate the central idea. Simple rounded construction, crowded limb counting, uncertain footholds and an unattached upper shelf limit its physical coherence. Growth bands and the yarn trail add specificity, but the requested material distinctions and unravelled bootie remain underdeveloped.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Task & likeness7.0/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction6.5/104.5/10
Space & placement7.5/105.0/10
Light & reflections7.5/105.5/10
Purposeful detail8.0/105.5/10
Artistry & character7.0/105.0/10
Materials & effects7.0/106.0/10
Visual integrity7.5/105.0/10

Benchmark task

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.

Step 5 Preview

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

Mona Lisa

Same task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

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.

Step 5 Preview

A recognizable, coherent simplification with purposeful facial contours and differentiated fingers. These provide more construction and detail than the broad silhouette alone suggests. The oversized face, frontal seated pose, unresolved wrists and sparse landscape still substantially limit likeness, depth and finish.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Task & likeness6.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction6.5/104.0/10
Space & placement6.5/104.0/10
Light & reflections7.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail6.0/104.0/10
Artistry & character6.5/104.0/10
Materials & effects7.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity7.0/103.5/10

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 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.

Step 5 Preview

A recognizable sunset beach with clear warm-cool contrast and playful accessories. Basic animal construction, shallow foreground placement and schematic reflections limit spatial and physical credibility. Sparse descriptive detail and abruptly ended sky bands constrain the finish.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Task & likeness9.0/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction7.5/103.0/10
Space & placement8.5/103.5/10
Light & reflections8.5/103.5/10
Purposeful detail9.0/103.0/10
Artistry & character8.0/103.0/10
Materials & effects8.0/103.5/10
Visual integrity8.0/104.0/10

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 4 Argon

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Step 5 Preview

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 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.

Step 5 Preview

Recognizable animals, a bright palette and identifying accessories support a basic cartoon. Primitive anatomy, partial seated support, unresolved steering and weak hull-water contact limit the central action. Lighting and spray provide atmosphere without establishing convincing physical depth.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Task & likeness8.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction8.0/104.5/10
Space & placement7.5/103.0/10
Light & reflections7.5/103.5/10
Purposeful detail8.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character8.5/103.5/10
Materials & effects8.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity8.0/103.0/10

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 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.

Step 5 Preview

The pelican and bicycle are recognizable, with a pleasant palette and basic diffuse shading. The riding relationship fails physically: the bird is unsupported, the front wheel is unmounted, and pedalling is unresolved. Simple geometric construction and sparse material treatment further limit the drawing.

Score breakdown

CategoryGemini 4 ArgonStep 5 Preview
Task & likeness9.0/103.0/10
Anatomy & construction8.5/103.0/10
Space & placement8.0/103.0/10
Light & reflections8.0/103.0/10
Purposeful detail8.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character8.5/103.0/10
Materials & effects8.5/103.0/10
Visual integrity8.5/102.0/10

Benchmark task

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