Gemini 3.8 Flash vs GPT-4.1 Nano
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
Gemini 3.8 Flash (Google) and GPT-4.1 Nano (OpenAI), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
 Gemini 3.8 Flash |  GPT-4.1 Nano | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥128.83 | ¥17.87 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥644.15 | ¥71.48 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥451 | ¥54 |
| Context window | 1,048,576 tokens | 1,047,576 tokens |
| Release date | 9/2/2026 | 4/14/2025 |
| Input modalities | text, image, video, file, audio | image, text, file |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #9 · ELO 1,493 | #243 · ELO 1,322 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | #195 · ELO 1,234 |
| Arena · coding | #10 · ELO 1,535 | #226 · ELO 1,374 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GPT-4.1 Nano: ¥71.48 per 1M output tokens, 89% less than Gemini 3.8 Flash.
- On the Overall arena board, Gemini 3.8 Flash ranks higher (#9; GPT-4.1 Nano is #243).
- On the Coding arena board, Gemini 3.8 Flash ranks higher (#10; GPT-4.1 Nano is #226).
- For long documents, Gemini 3.8 Flash: a 1,048,576-token context window against 1,047,576 for GPT-4.1 Nano.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
Gemini 3.8 Flash
There are **3** 'r's in the word "strawberry".
Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
1. **Break the word into its individual letters:**
* **s** (1st letter)
* **t** (2nd letter)
* **r** (3rd letter) — **1st 'r'**
* **a** (4th letter)
* **w** (5th letter)
* **b** (6th letter)
* **e** (7th letter)
* **r** (8th letter) — **2nd 'r'**
* **r** (9th letter) — **3rd 'r'**
* **y** (10th letter)
2. **Count the occurrences:**
* One 'r' is in the first syllable: "st**r**aw"
* Two 'r's are in the second syllable: "be**rr**y"
Total: **3**
3.9s562 output tokens
GPT-4.1 Nano
Let's analyze the word "strawberry" step by step to count the number of 'r's.
1. Write down the word: **strawberry**
2. Examine each letter one by one:
- s: no
- t: no
- r: yes (first 'r')
- a: no
- w: no
- b: no
- e: no
- r: yes (second 'r')
- r: yes (third 'r')
- y: no
3. Counting the 'r's found:
- First 'r' (at position 3)
- Second 'r' (at position 8)
- Third 'r' (at position 9)
So, there are **3** 'r's in "strawberry."
**Final answer: 3**
2.0s183 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
Gemini 3.8 Flash
### The Cause
This error occurs because the `users` prop is `undefined` when the component renders, and JavaScript cannot call `.map()` on `undefined`.
This typically happens in two common scenarios:
1. **Asynchronous data fetching:** The parent component fetches `users` from an API. On the initial render, the data hasn't arrived yet, so `users` defaults to `undefined`.
2. **Missing prop:** The parent component forgot to pass `users` (e.g., `<UserList />` instead of `<UserList users={data} />`).
---
### How to Fix It
Here are the most common ways to resolve this:
#### Option 1: Provide a default parameter (Recommended)
Set a default value of an empty array (`[]`) for `users`. If `users…
7.1s1003 output tokens
GPT-4.1 Nano
The error:
```
TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
```
indicates that `users` is `undefined` at the time your `UserList` component is rendering, and you're trying to call `map` on it.
### Why is this happening?
In React, if a prop (`users` in this case) is not provided or is undefined, trying to do `users.map(...)` causes this error. This can happen if:
- The parent component does not pass `users`.
- `users` might be `null` or `undefined` initially, especially if data fetching is involved.
### How to fix it
**Option 1: Provide a default value for `users`**
Ensure that `users` defaults to an empty array if it is not provided:
```jsx
function UserList({ users…
4.3s514 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
Gemini 3.8 Flash
Here is a code review of your function, broken down by issue category, followed by refactored versions.
---
### Key Issues & Areas for Improvement
#### 1. Correctness & Error Handling
* **Bare `except:` clause:** Catching all exceptions with a bare `except:` is dangerous. It suppresses system exits (`KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`) and masks programming bugs (like `KeyError` or `NameError`). You should catch specific exceptions, primarily `requests.RequestException`.
* **Silent failure returning `[]`:** If all retries fail, returning an empty list makes it impossible for the caller to distinguish between *"the API returned 0 active items"* and *"the network is completely down"*. It is u…
15.1s2139 output tokens
GPT-4.1 Nano
Here's a review and an improved version of your function:
### Key improvements:
1. **Move imports to the top**: Imports should generally be at the top of the file, not inside functions.
2. **Specify exception types**: Catch specific exceptions rather than a generic `except`.
3. **Use context managers if needed**: Not necessary here, but good to consider.
4. **Avoid repeated code**: The sleep statement is the same whether there is a request exception or a non-200 status.
5. **Simplify filtering**: Use list comprehensions for clarity.
6. **Improve variable names**: For readability.
7. **Add optional headers or parameters** if needed (not required here).
8. **Optional:** Add more descriptive e…
3.4s391 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.8 Flash or GPT-4.1 Nano?
- Per 1M output tokens, Gemini 3.8 Flash is ¥644.15 and GPT-4.1 Nano is ¥71.48 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-4.1 Nano is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of Gemini 3.8 Flash and GPT-4.1 Nano compare?
- Gemini 3.8 Flash takes 1,048,576 tokens; GPT-4.1 Nano takes 1,047,576.
- Which ranks higher, Gemini 3.8 Flash or GPT-4.1 Nano?
- Gemini 3.8 Flash ranks higher on the public arena (Gemini 3.8 Flash #9, GPT-4.1 Nano #195). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use Gemini 3.8 Flash and GPT-4.1 Nano with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gemini-3.8-flash" or "gpt-4.1-nano" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call Gemini 3.8 Flash and GPT-4.1 Nano from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.