Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (2026) and Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B (2026) are general-purpose language models from Google DeepMind and NVIDIA AI. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ships a 1.05m-token context window, while Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B ships a 1.05m-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite leads by 6.9 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B is ~178% cheaper at $0.09/1M; pay for Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and long-context analysis | long-context analysis and provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 1.05m | 1.05m |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.45/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 6 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | Google-Proof Q&A leader | 1 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite holds a shared-benchmark lead on Google-Proof Q&A, ahead by 6.9 points.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.45/1M tokens.
- Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite
$575
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Google AI Studio
Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B
$185
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $391. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B is $1.05/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is $1.05/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite adds Vision, Multimodal, and Function calling in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-05-07 | 2026-03-11 |
| Context window | 1.05m | 1.05m |
| Parameters | — | 120B |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | NVIDIA Open Model |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open weights |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: permitted |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.25/1M tokens | $0.09/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.45/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | Yes | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | Yes | No |
| Tool use | Yes | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 86.9 | 80.0 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite at 86.9 and Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B at 80, with Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ahead by 6.9 points. The largest visible gap is 6.9 points on Google-Proof Q&A, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, multimodal input: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, function calling: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, tool use: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite, and code execution: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite. Both models share structured outputs, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite lists $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B lists $0.09/1M input and $0.45/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B lower by about $0.43 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 6, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when coding workflow support are central to the workload. Choose Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite supports 1.05m tokens, while Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B supports 1.05m tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B?
Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite costs $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens. Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B costs $0.09/1M input and $0.45/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B open source?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is listed under Proprietary. Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B is listed under NVIDIA Open Model. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for multimodal input, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite and Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is available on Google AI Studio, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Nemotron 3 Super-120B-A12B is available on Cloudflare Workers AI, DeepInfra, NVIDIA NIM, OpenRouter, and Fireworks AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.