GPT-5.1 Instant vs o3
Wins 3 of 4 areas
Coding · Reasoning · Images and charts
Wins 1 of 4 areas
Following instructions
GPT-5.1 Instant is the stronger all-rounder.o3 is better at following instructions.
Scores updated · 8 tests both models report · How we compare
Where each one wins
Tests won in each of the four areas where both have results. Each piece is one test, so a longer bar means more evidence; grey means the two scored within a point of each other.
Coding, reasoning, images and charts and following instructions rest on a single test each.
What it costs
Prices per million tokens, roughly 750,000 words. The bars show the cost of a million tokens read plus a million written.
The biggest differences
The tests each model wins by the widest margin, up to three each. Scores are out of 100.
Where GPT-5.1 Instant pulls ahead
- Fixes real GitHub issues in Python projectsSWE-bench Verified+7.2points ahead
- Graduate-level biology, physics and chemistry questionsGPQA Diamond+5.4points ahead
- College exam questions with charts, maps and diagramsMMMU+2.5points ahead
Where o3 pulls ahead
- Keeps track of context across a multi-turn chatMulti-Challenge+9.2points ahead
Every test, side by side
All 8 tests both models report. The winning score is in its model's colour; marks a score checked independently.
Images and chartsGPT-5.1 Instant
- MMMUGPT-5.1 Instant by 2.585.482.9+2.5
Other results4 tests, not counted
Tests outside the eight areas. They are not counted above: several are summary scores built from other tests, or the same test under another name.
- FrontierMath (overall)GPT-5.1 Instant by 10.926.715.8+10.9
- AIME 2025GPT-5.1 Instant by 7.69486.4+7.6
- τ²-Bench (Retail)o3 by 2.377.980.2+2.3
- Tau2 airlineGPT-5.1 Instant by 2.26764.8+2.2
Questions people ask
Which is better, GPT-5.1 Instant or o3?
GPT-5.1 Instant wins three of the four areas where both have results: coding, reasoning and images and charts. o3 wins following instructions.
Which is better for coding?
GPT-5.1 Instant. It wins the one coding test both models report.
How do you compare the two?
We use the 8 benchmark tests both models have published scores on. The verdict counts the 4 tests in the eight capability areas, and a gap under one point (ten on rating-style scales) counts as a tie. The other 4 are listed but not counted, because several are summary scores or repeat a test. Each score is the one shown on the model's own page.