Llama 4 405B vs Gemini 3 Flash for research: which is better in 2026?

A head-to-head look at Llama 4 405B and Gemini 3 Flash for research. Benchmarks via artificialanalysis.ai, pricing as of May 2026. Compare AI models like these inside Admix.

Quick verdict

For research in May 2026, Llama 4 405B edges out Gemini 3 Flash on the intelligenceIndex metric. Best fully open-weights model.

Side-by-side specs

Spec	Llama	Flash
Intelligence index	71.5	63.2
Coding index	69.0	60.5
Context window	256K tokens	1M tokens
Speed (tok/s)	95	260
Input $/M	$0.90	$0.15
Output $/M	$2.70	$0.60
Released	Nov 5, 2025	Feb 12, 2026

How they handle research

Llama 4 405B: Best fully open-weights model. The main caveat is trails closed flagships on coding.

Gemini 3 Flash: Fastest mainstream model. The main caveat is weaker on nuanced reasoning.

Cost per 1,000 queries

Assuming 1,500 input and 800 output tokens per query:

Llama 4 405B: $3.51 per 1,000 queries
Gemini 3 Flash: $0.70 per 1,000 queries

Verdict by sub-task

Best raw quality on research:
Best price: Gemini 3 Flash
Longest context: Gemini 3 Flash
Fastest: Gemini 3 Flash

FAQ

Is Llama 4 405B better than Gemini 3 Flash for research?

On May 2026 benchmarks (artificialanalysis.ai), Llama 4 405B ranks higher than Gemini 3 Flash for research on the intelligenceIndex metric. The gap is small enough that the choice often comes down to price, context length, and tone.

Which is cheaper, Llama 4 405B or Gemini 3 Flash?

Llama 4 405B costs $0.90 input and $2.70 output per million tokens. Gemini 3 Flash costs $0.15 input and $0.60 output per million tokens.

Can I use both Llama and Flash in one app?

Yes. Admix is a multi model AI chat aggregator that lets you run Llama 4 405B and Gemini 3 Flash side by side under one subscription.

Sources

Benchmarks from artificialanalysis.ai (May 2026).

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