GPT-5.4 Nano vs Pareto
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-5.4 Nano (OpenAI) and Pareto (Unbiased), 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 | Pareto | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | Unbiased |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥35.74 | ¥446.75 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥223.38 | ¥1,340.25 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥147 | ¥1,117 |
| Context window | 400,000 tokens | 262,144 tokens |
| Release date | 3/17/2026 | 9/17/2026 |
| Input modalities | file, image, text | text, image |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #146 · ELO 1,402 | Unranked |
| Arena · Japanese | #107 · ELO 1,368 | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | #128 · ELO 1,460 | Unranked |
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, 83% less than Pareto.
- For long documents, GPT-5.4 Nano: a 400,000-token context window against 262,144 for Pareto.
- 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
Pareto
To count the number of 'r's in the word "strawberry," let's break it down letter by letter:
1. **s** - not an 'r'
2. **t** - not an 'r'
3. **r** - **Yes**, this is the first 'r'.
4. **a** - not an 'r'
5. **w** - not an 'r'
6. **b** - not an 'r'
7. **e** - not an 'r'
8. **r** - **Yes**, this is the second 'r'.
9. **r** - **Yes**, this is the third 'r'.
10. **y** - not an 'r'
Counting the occurrences:
- The 3rd letter is 'r'.
- The 8th letter is 'r'.
- The 9th letter is 'r'.
There are **3** 'r's in "strawberry".
5.5s225 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
Pareto
The error means `users` is `undefined` when `UserList` renders. Destructuring a prop does **not** protect against it:
```jsx
function UserList({ users }) { // users can still be undefined
return <ul>{users.map(...)}</ul>; // 💥
}
```
This usually happens when:
- The parent renders `<UserList />` without passing `users`
- The parent’s state starts as `undefined` before an async fetch finishes
- The API response is not an array, or `users` is passed as `undefined`
## Fix 1: Default the prop to an empty array
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
))}
</ul>
);
}
```
This works when…
11.6s1478 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
Pareto
The function is straightforward, but its error handling hides failures and retries requests that may never succeed.
### Main improvements
- **Move imports to module scope** for readability and conventional dependency management.
- **Avoid bare `except:`.** It catches everything, including programming errors and `KeyboardInterrupt`. Catch specific request failures instead.
- **Retry selectively.** Timeouts, connection failures, rate limits, and certain server errors may be temporary; most other HTTP errors should surface immediately.
- **Use exponential backoff** and avoid sleeping after the last attempt.
- **Use a list comprehension** to express the filtering and transformation directly.
-…
30.3s1090 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-5.4 Nano or Pareto?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-5.4 Nano is ¥223.38 and Pareto is ¥1,340.25 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-5.4 Nano is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-5.4 Nano and Pareto compare?
- GPT-5.4 Nano takes 400,000 tokens; Pareto takes 262,144.
- Can I use GPT-5.4 Nano and Pareto with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-5.4-nano" or "pareto" 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 Pareto from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.