GPT-5.2 vs Grok 4
OpenAI · US | xAI · US · Updated June 2026
Quick verdict
Pick GPT-5.2 for strong all-round reasoning or reliable structured output. Pick Grok 4 for 256k context with native tool use or real-time data via x integration. On a tight budget at scale, GPT-5.2 is the value pick.
GPT-5.2 (OpenAI) and Grok 4 (xAI) are two of the models people most often weigh against each other in 2026. GPT-5.2 is a capable GPT-5-generation all-rounder, now succeeded by GPT-5.5. Grok 4 is xAI's 2M-context model with live data access and strong reasoning chops. They diverge most on price and context window — each quantified below from the models' real specs.
Key differences at a glance
- ▸Price: GPT-5.2 is about 1.7× cheaper on input ($1.75/$14 per 1M tokens vs $3/$15 per 1M tokens) — modest, but it adds up at steady volume.
- ▸Context window: GPT-5.2 holds 1.6× more — 400K (~600 pages) vs 256K (~384 pages). But effective recall usually fades long before the advertised ceiling, so the bigger number only helps if the model reasons over it.
- ▸Recency: GPT-5.2 is the newer model by about 5 months (released December 11, 2025), usually meaning fresher training data and capabilities.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | GPT-5.2 | Grok 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI (US) | xAI (US) |
| Released | December 11, 2025 | July 9, 2025 |
| Context window | 400K (~600 pages) | 256K (~384 pages) |
| Price (in/out) | $1.75/$14 per 1M tokens | $3/$15 per 1M tokens |
| Open weight? | No — API only | No — API only |
| Modalities | text, image, code | text, image, code |
| SWE-Bench Verified | Not published | Not published |
| MRCR v2 @ 1M | Not published | Not published |
Who wins what
Strong all-round reasoning
GPT-5.2
A capable GPT-5-generation all-rounder, now succeeded by GPT-5.5 — and it runs cheaper at $1.75/$14 per 1M tokens.
Reliable structured output
GPT-5.2
A capable GPT-5-generation all-rounder, now succeeded by GPT-5.5 — and it carries the larger 400K context.
Broad ecosystem and tooling
GPT-5.2
Grok 4 is comparatively weak here — smaller ecosystem than OpenAI/Google
256K context with native tool use
Grok 4
GPT-5.2 is comparatively weak here — smaller context than flagships
Real-time data via X integration
Grok 4
Grok 4 lists real-time data via X integration among its strengths; GPT-5.2 does not.
Strong academic reasoning
Grok 4
Grok 4 lists strong academic reasoning among its strengths; GPT-5.2 does not.
Lowest cost at scale
GPT-5.2
At $1.75/$14 per 1M tokens, it is the cheaper of the two — the gap dominates the bill on high-volume workloads.
Largest single-prompt input
GPT-5.2
Its 400K window is about 1.6× larger than Grok 4's 256K, fitting roughly 600 pages in one prompt.
Which should you pick?
A cost-sensitive startup shipping high volume
→ GPT-5.2
At $1.75/$14 per 1M tokens it undercuts Grok 4, and on millions of tokens that margin decides the monthly bill.
Someone analysing very long documents or codebases
→ GPT-5.2
Larger 400K window fits more in one prompt.
Anyone whose priority is strong all-round reasoning
→ GPT-5.2
It is specifically built for that.
Anyone whose priority is 256k context with native tool use
→ Grok 4
That is its strongest area.
GPT-5.2: where it fits
A capable GPT-5-generation all-rounder, now succeeded by GPT-5.5. Released December 11, 2025 by OpenAI, it is built for strong all-round reasoning, reliable structured output, broad ecosystem and tooling, and professional workflows.
Its trade-offs are real: superseded by GPT-5.5, and smaller context than flagships. At $1.75 in / $14 out per million tokens, it sits in the mid price band.
Grok 4: where it fits
XAI's 2M-context model with live data access and strong reasoning chops. Released July 9, 2025 by xAI, it is built for 256K context with native tool use, real-time data via X integration, strong academic reasoning, and no long-context surcharge.
Its trade-offs: smaller ecosystem than OpenAI/Google, and less independent benchmark coverage. At $3 in / $15 out per million tokens, it sits in the mid price band.
The bottom line for this matchup
GPT-5.2 and Grok 4 overlap enough that the right pick depends on your specific job. GPT-5.2 costs less per token; GPT-5.2 holds the larger context; and each leads in its own area — GPT-5.2 for strong all-round reasoning, Grok 4 for 256k context with native tool use. Rather than crowning one, run the same hard task through both once and let the results decide.
Want both GPT-5.2 and Grok 4 without two subscriptions? LumiChats gives you these plus 40+ models under one ₹69/day pass (about $1/day) — draft with one, cross-check with the other.
See pricingFrequently asked questions
Is GPT-5.2 or Grok 4 better for coding?
Public SWE-Bench figures are not available for either model, so the honest test is your own repository — run an identical real bug through both. By design, GPT-5.2 leans toward strong all-round reasoning while Grok 4 leans toward 256k context with native tool use, and that positioning usually predicts which feels better on your codebase.
Which is cheaper, GPT-5.2 or Grok 4?
GPT-5.2 is cheaper — $1.75/$14 per 1M tokens vs $3/$15 per 1M tokens, roughly 1.7× apart on input.
Which has the bigger context window?
GPT-5.2 — 400K vs 256K, about 1.6× larger. Useful only if the model actually reasons over the full window, which not all do.
Can I use both GPT-5.2 and Grok 4 together?
Yes — a multi-model platform like LumiChats gives you GPT-5.2, Grok 4 and 40+ others under one ₹69/day pass (about $1/day), so you can draft with one and cross-check with the other instead of buying two subscriptions.
Which is newer, GPT-5.2 or Grok 4?
GPT-5.2 — released December 11, 2025, about 5 months after Grok 4.
Related comparisons
Specifications and benchmarks reflect publicly reported figures as of June 2026 and may change as providers release updates. Always verify on your own workload.