STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

Inkling-Small vs Nemotron 3 Ultra

Inkling-Small leads Nemotron 3 Ultra by 10.9 points on StealthMark, 27.6 to 16.7. It leads on 7 of 9 benchmarks, including both games, and Nemotron 3 Ultra on 2. Inkling-Small scores higher on Raccoon, with its largest category advantage in artistry & character.

See the difference ↘
All results ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

27.6/100Overall rank 43/53
16.7/100Overall rank 49/53

General Intelligence

25.5/100
12.2/100

Visual Intelligence

31.1/100
26.5/100

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

  • Inkling-Small

Open or local

Open modelApache 2.0

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • Inkling-Small
  • Nemotron 3 Ultra
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Both take about 1M tokens of context.

  • Inkling-Small
  • Nemotron 3 Ultra
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
Inkling-Small: No list priceNemotron 3 Ultra: $2.40$0.60 input
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
Inkling-Small: 1MTiedNemotron 3 Ultra: 1MTied
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
Inkling-Small: Not measuredNemotron 3 Ultra: 139tokens/s
SizeTotal and active parameters
Inkling-Small: 276B12B activeNemotron 3 Ultra: 550B55B active
Developer
Thinking Machines LabNVIDIA
Released
Not published4 Jun 2026
Origin
Not publishedUnited States
Input → output
Text, image, audio → textText → text
Architecture
42-layer decoder-only transformer with sparse mixture-of-experts feed-forward (6 of 256 routed experts plus 2 shared per token); hybrid local and global attention; natively multimodal with a hierarchical patch image encoder and discrete-token audioLatentMoE: Mamba-2 + MoE + Attention hybrid with Multi-Token Prediction

Full datasheets, every price and sourceInkling-Small ↗Nemotron 3 Ultra ↗

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.

Inkling-Small 30.2/100Rank 29/49

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 38 ptsTurn 17 / 20

Nemotron 3 Ultra 16.9/100Rank 43/49

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 38 ptsTurn 17 / 20

Points per level

LevelInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Level 1Second Thoughts
9 ptsOut of lives
4 ptsOut of lives
Level 2Pressure Pot
6 ptsOut of lives
4 ptsOut of lives
Level 3Hide or Flight
8 ptsOut of lives
8 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.

Inkling-Small 34.7/100Rank 34/50

Cleared 3 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 518 ptsTurn 40 / 40

Nemotron 3 Ultra 5.0/100Rank 44/504 of 5 levels

4 of 5 played
Latch: complete playing field
Level 413.8 ptsTurn 21 / 40

Points per level

LevelInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.8 ptsCleared
3.2 ptsFinished early
Level 3Relay vault
2.8 ptsFinished early
7.4 ptsFinished early
Level 4Passing bay
8 ptsFinished early
13.8 ptsFinished early
Level 5Second thoughts
18 ptsCleared
Not played

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

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

The judgment

Inkling-Small

The sphere's apparent floor support, separate dark feature and broad paint ordering justify partial state credit. The major weakness is the largely missing mirror system: isolated side images and faint floor echoes do not establish repeated virtual rooms or curved spherical mapping. Downward framing, the oversized frontal panel, unresolved paint transport and satin surface appearance remain distinct limitations.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

The candidate establishes a separate airborne black blob and partial crimson overlap, but leaves the paint interaction history and settled support unresolved. Its main silhouette, black placement and lamp projection depart substantially from the required camera geometry. A few faint reflection hints provide little support for the extensive mirror system, while the compact paint volumes are visibly disproportionate.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
State at 600 ms14.0/252.0/25
Camera and placement3.0/153.5/15
Reflections8.0/1204.5/120
Materials and scale2.5/103.0/10
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

Inkling-Small

The faces and dripping caps communicate a cute mushroom scene, but simple construction and weak spatial relationships limit the result. The defining foot-stamping action is unresolved, the flattering portrait is smaller than its painter, and the requested material contrasts are only partly conveyed.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

An endearing mechanical creature is clearly framed, with expressive amber eyes and readable segmented arms. The shell resembles layered green plates more than a deep coiled spiral. Detached-looking construction, absent working contacts and patchy rendering leave the central assembly action substantially unresolved.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Task & likeness2.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction1.5/104.0/10
Space & placement3.5/105.5/10
Light & reflections3.0/105.0/10
Purposeful detail4.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character3.0/103.0/10
Materials & effects3.5/104.0/10
Visual integrity2.0/104.5/10

Benchmark task

Inkling-Small

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

Nemotron 3 Ultra

A hovering mechanical nautilus tests spiral construction, connected mechanical forms and contrasting metal and illuminated surfaces.

Mona Lisa

Different task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

Inkling-Small

A recognizable but rudimentary Mona Lisa interpretation. Facial shading and subdued colors provide coherence, while the frontal blocklike torso, unresolved wrists, fingerless hands and shallow landscape substantially limit likeness, construction and finish.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

The centered silhouette provides basic organization, but multicolored mottling and geometric overlays leave the portrait unresolved. No readable face, crossed hands, clothing or landscape establishes Mona Lisa replication. Texture and transparency offer limited visual effects without coherent anatomy, lighting or material distinctions.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Task & likeness2.5/100.5/10
Anatomy & construction2.5/100.0/10
Space & placement3.0/101.0/10
Light & reflections2.5/100.5/10
Purposeful detail2.0/100.5/10
Artistry & character2.5/101.5/10
Materials & effects2.0/100.0/10
Visual integrity3.0/100.5/10

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

Inkling-Small

A recognizable sunset beach with a clear focal sun and appealing color transitions. Connected fish silhouettes and layered scenery establish basic coherence. Primitive figures, ambiguous recreation, sparse descriptive detail and weak grounding limit construction and depth. The aligned reflection supplies a useful lighting cue, but shadows and material effects remain underdeveloped.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

A recognizable beach illustration with appealing warm-cool contrast, readable layers and mostly clean shapes. Unresolved seat construction, schematic animals and broad geometric foliage give it an elementary finish. Weakly coordinated reflections and limited material differentiation further constrain depth and atmosphere.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Task & likeness3.5/106.5/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/103.0/10
Space & placement3.0/105.0/10
Light & reflections3.0/101.5/10
Purposeful detail3.0/104.5/10
Artistry & character3.0/103.0/10
Materials & effects2.5/102.5/10
Visual integrity2.0/106.5/10

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

Inkling-Small

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

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

Inkling-Small

Recognizable animals, readable accessories and an appealing sunset support a coherent basic cartoon. Rounded construction leaves joints, riding support and steering unresolved. Decorative gradients contribute atmosphere, but directional lighting, distinct materials and convincing water displacement are weakly demonstrated.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

The masked raccoon, dog and orange craft make the scene recognizable, with an appealing sunset palette. Overlapping bodies obscure the riding relationship, and the dog's connection to the controls remains unresolved. Weak water displacement, inconsistent shading and visible shape artifacts limit the finish. Ambiguous attachments do not establish detached limbs or inverted anatomy.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Task & likeness4.0/103.5/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/101.5/10
Space & placement4.0/104.5/10
Light & reflections5.0/102.0/10
Purposeful detail5.5/103.5/10
Artistry & character4.0/101.5/10
Materials & effects5.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity5.0/102.0/10

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

Inkling-Small

The pelican is immediately recognizable, and its sweeping neck, shaped bill and orderly spokes provide character. Riding remains only partially realized: legs, pedal engagement, steering and seat support cannot be read confidently. Controlled graphic effects add atmosphere, but simplified construction and weak grounding keep the result basic.

Nemotron 3 Ultra

A recognizable, playful pelican dominates a readable bicycle scene. Its bill and silhouette succeed, but feet below the pedals and confused drivetrain connections weaken the riding action. Local material modeling adds interest; overlapping contours, repetitive detail and inconsistent shadows leave the illustration basic and uneven.

Score breakdown

CategoryInkling-SmallNemotron 3 Ultra
Task & likeness4.0/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction3.0/103.5/10
Space & placement3.0/103.5/10
Light & reflections3.0/104.0/10
Purposeful detail4.5/105.5/10
Artistry & character5.0/104.0/10
Materials & effects4.5/106.0/10
Visual integrity3.0/103.0/10

Benchmark task

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