Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (2026) and Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B (2025) are general-purpose language models from Google DeepMind and Alibaba. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ships a 1.05m-token context window, while Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B ships a not-yet-sourced context window. On pricing, Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B costs $0.10/1M input tokens versus $0.25/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is ~156% cheaper at $0.10/1M; pay for Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite only for coding workflow support.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps, tool-calling agents, and long-context analysis | provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Classification and JSON / Tool use |
| Context window | 1.05m | — |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.78/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- 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.
- Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.78/1M tokens.
- Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B for Classification and JSON / Tool use.
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
Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B
$273
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Estimated monthly gap: $302. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on OpenRouter; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is $0.72/1M 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; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is $0.72/1M 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 | 2025-12-01 |
| Context window | 1.05m | — |
| Parameters | — | 80B (3B active) |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | Proprietary | Apache 2.0(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | - |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.25/1M tokens | $0.10/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.78/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B |
|---|---|---|
| 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
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
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 Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B lists $0.10/1M input and $0.78/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B lower by about $0.32 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite when coding workflow support are central to the workload. Choose Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B 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. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B?
Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite costs $0.25/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens. Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B costs $0.10/1M input and $0.78/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B open source?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is listed under Proprietary. Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is listed under Apache 2.0. 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 Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B?
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 Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B?
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.
Which is better for function calling, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite or Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite has the clearer documented function calling signal in this comparison. If function calling 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 Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B?
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is available on Google AI Studio, OpenRouter, and Vercel AI Gateway. Qwen3-Next-80B-A3B is available on AWS Bedrock, OpenRouter, Venice AI, and Novita AI. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.