Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct vs Phi 4 Mini Instruct
Wins 1 of 4 areas
Following instructions
Wins 3 of 4 areas
Coding · Reasoning · Long documents
Phi 4 Mini Instruct is the stronger all-rounder.Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct is better at following instructions.
Scores updated · 17 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.
- CodingWriting and fixing software01Phi 4 Mini Instruct1 of 2 tests · 1 tie
- ReasoningHard problems that need careful thinking01Phi 4 Mini Instruct1 of 2 tests · 1 tie
- Long documentsFinding answers in very long texts01Phi 4 Mini Instruct1 of 1 test
- Following instructionsDoing exactly what it is asked10Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct1 of 1 test
Long documents and following instructions rest on a single test each.
The biggest differences
The tests each model wins by the widest margin, up to three each. Scores are out of 100.
Where Phi 4 Mini Instruct pulls ahead
- Reasons across sets of long documentsAA-LCR+12.3points ahead
- Code for real scientific research problemsSciCode+1.8points ahead
- Graduate-level biology, physics and chemistry questionsGPQA Diamond+1.2points ahead
Where Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct pulls ahead
- Follows unfamiliar, precisely checkable instructionsIFBench+2.8points ahead
Every test, side by side
All 17 tests both models report. The winning score is in its model's colour; marks a score checked independently.
CodingPhi 4 Mini Instruct
- SciCodePhi 4 Mini Instruct by 1.8910.8+1.8
- Terminal-Bench Hardtie00tie
ReasoningPhi 4 Mini Instruct
- GPQA DiamondPhi 4 Mini Instruct by 1.231.933.1+1.2
- Humanity's Last Examtie54.5tie
Long documentsPhi 4 Mini Instruct
- AA-LCRPhi 4 Mini Instruct by 12.3315.3+12.3
Following instructionsPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct
- IFBenchPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 2.823.921.1+2.8
Other results11 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.
- τ²-Bench Telecom (AA run)Phi 4 Mini Instruct by 8.208.2+8.2
- HellaSwagPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 6.275.369.1+6.2
- PIQAPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 5.983.577.6+5.9
- Social IQAPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 5.177.672.5+5.1
- WinoGrandePhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 4.671.667+4.6
- BoolQPhi 4 Mini Instruct by 3.178.181.2+3.1
- OpenBookQAPhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 382.279.2+3
- ARC-ChallengePhi 3 Mini 4K Instruct by 2.686.383.7+2.6
- TruthfulQAPhi 4 Mini Instruct by 1.764.766.4+1.7
- Artificial Analysis Coding Indextie33.8tie
- AA Intelligencetie5.86.3tie
Questions people ask
Which is better, Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct or Phi 4 Mini Instruct?
Phi 4 Mini Instruct wins three of the four areas where both have results: coding, reasoning and long documents. Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct wins following instructions.
Which is better for coding?
Phi 4 Mini Instruct. It wins 1 of the 2 coding tests both models report; Phi 3 Mini 4K Instruct wins none, and 1 is a tie.
How do you compare the two?
We use the 17 benchmark tests both models have published scores on. The verdict counts the 6 tests in the eight capability areas, and a gap under one point (ten on rating-style scales) counts as a tie. The other 11 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.