GPT-5.4 Nano vs Grok 4.6
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-5.4 Nano (OpenAI) and Grok 4.6 (xAI), 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
 GPT-5.4 Nano |  Grok 4.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | xAI |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥35.74 | ¥357.4 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥223.38 | ¥1,072.2 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥147 | ¥894 |
| Context window | 400,000 tokens | 500,000 tokens |
| Release date | 3/17/2026 | 8/12/2026 |
| Input modalities | file, image, text | text, image, file |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #146 · ELO 1,402 | #63 · ELO 1,456 |
| Arena · Japanese | #107 · ELO 1,368 | #68 · ELO 1,412 |
| Arena · coding | #128 · ELO 1,460 | #54 · ELO 1,506 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GPT-5.4 Nano: ¥223.38 per 1M output tokens, 79% less than Grok 4.6.
- On the Overall arena board, Grok 4.6 ranks higher (#63; GPT-5.4 Nano is #146).
- On the Japanese arena board, Grok 4.6 ranks higher (#68; GPT-5.4 Nano is #107).
- On the Coding arena board, Grok 4.6 ranks higher (#54; GPT-5.4 Nano is #128).
- For long documents, Grok 4.6: a 500,000-token context window against 400,000 for GPT-5.4 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.
GPT-5.4 Nano
**Step 1:** Write the word: **strawberry**
**Step 2:** Count each letter **r** in the word:
- s **t r** a w b e **r r** y
There are **3** **r**’s in total (**one** after the **t**, and **two** near the end).
✅ **Answer: 3**
1.5s86 output tokens
Grok 4.6
The word "strawberry" consists of the following letters in order:
s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y
Checking each one:
- s: not r
- t: not r
- r: yes (count = 1)
- a: not r
- w: not r
- b: not r
- e: not r
- r: yes (count = 2)
- r: yes (count = 3)
- y: not r
There are exactly 3 r's.
Final answer: 3
3.9s451 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…
GPT-5.4 Nano
This error means that **`users` is `undefined` (or otherwise not an array)** when your component renders, so calling `users.map(...)` throws:
```js
users.map(...)
^^^^ reading 'map' of undefined
```
### Why it happens
Common causes:
- You render `<UserList />` before data has loaded (e.g., `users` comes from an async fetch).
- The parent component passes the wrong prop name (e.g., `user` instead of `users`).
- The API/parent state initializes `users` as `undefined` rather than `[]`.
- You’re destructuring a prop incorrectly upstream.
### Fix options
#### 1) Ensure `users` is always an array (recommended)
Initialize/default it in the component:
```js
function UserList({ users = []…
3.3s383 output tokens
Grok 4.6
**The error happens because `users` is `undefined` when `.map()` is called.**
`UserList` destructures `{ users }` from its props. If the parent doesn't pass a `users` prop (or passes `undefined`/`null`), `users` is `undefined` and `undefined.map` throws.
This is extremely common when:
- Data is loaded asynchronously (initial render happens before the fetch finishes).
- The parent component forgets to pass the prop or uses a different name.
- The component is rendered before the data is ready (e.g. in a loading state).
### Quick fixes
**1. Default to an empty array (recommended)**
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={us…
20.3s598 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):…
GPT-5.4 Nano
Here are key improvements (readability, performance, robustness, best practices) and a revised version of your function.
## What to improve
1. **Avoid bare `except:`**
Catch specific exceptions from `requests` (e.g., `requests.exceptions.RequestException`) to avoid hiding bugs.
2. **Prefer `raise_for_status()` or check status codes clearly**
`r.raise_for_status()` is a common pattern.
3. **Use exponential backoff (or at least a clear retry delay)**
Instead of sleeping the same amount every time, consider increasing delay.
4. **Reuse a `requests.Session()` (optional but best practice)**
If this function is called repeatedly, passing a session or creating one outside i…
4.4s718 output tokens
Grok 4.6
Here is a focused review of the function, followed by a cleaned-up version.
## Issues
**Imports inside the function**
`requests` and `time` should live at module level. Importing on every call is slower, hides dependencies, and is harder to mock in tests.
**Bare `except:`**
This swallows `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and programming errors. Catch `requests.RequestException` (network/timeout/HTTP adapter errors) and JSON/`KeyError`/`TypeError` separately.
**Retrying the wrong things**
A 404 or 400 will never succeed on retry. Retry transient failures (timeouts, connection errors, 429, 5xx). Fail fast on most 4xx responses.
**Sleep after the last attempt**
On the final failur…
27.9s1770 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-5.4 Nano or Grok 4.6?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-5.4 Nano is ¥223.38 and Grok 4.6 is ¥1,072.2 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-5.4 Nano is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-5.4 Nano and Grok 4.6 compare?
- GPT-5.4 Nano takes 400,000 tokens; Grok 4.6 takes 500,000.
- Which ranks higher, GPT-5.4 Nano or Grok 4.6?
- Grok 4.6 ranks higher on the public arena (GPT-5.4 Nano #107, Grok 4.6 #68). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GPT-5.4 Nano and Grok 4.6 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-5.4-nano" or "grok-4.6" 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 GPT-5.4 Nano and Grok 4.6 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.