GPT-4 Vision Preview vs Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B
GPT-4 Vision Preview (2023) and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B (2026) are compact production models from OpenAI and Microsoft Research. GPT-4 Vision Preview ships a 128k-token context window, while Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B ships a not-yet-sourced context window. On Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding, GPT-4 Vision Preview leads by 1.7 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B is safer overall; choose GPT-4 Vision Preview when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-4 Vision Preview | Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps | multimodal apps |
| Decision fit | Coding, Agents, and Long context | Vision |
| Context window | 128k | — |
| Cheapest output | $40/1M tokens | - |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 0 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding leader | 1 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-4 Vision Preview holds a shared-benchmark lead on Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding, ahead by 1.7 points.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview uniquely exposes Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4 Vision Preview for Coding, Agents, and Long context.
- Local decision data tags Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B for Vision.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-4 Vision Preview
$18,000
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Azure OpenAI
Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-4 Vision Preview and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Code execution before moving production traffic.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B and GPT-4 Vision Preview; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-4 Vision Preview adds Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023-11-06 | 2026-03-12 |
| Context window | 128k | — |
| Parameters | 1.76T (8x222B MoE)* | 15B |
| Architecture | mixture of experts | - |
| License | Proprietary | MIT(OSI) |
| Openness | Proprietary | Open source |
| Commercial use | Commercial use with conditions | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-04 | 2025-03 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-4 Vision Preview | Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $10/1M tokens | - |
| Output price | $40/1M tokens | - |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-4 Vision Preview | Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | No | No |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | GPT-4 Vision Preview | Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B |
|---|---|---|
| Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding | 56.0 | 54.3 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding has GPT-4 Vision Preview at 56 and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B at 54.3, with GPT-4 Vision Preview ahead by 1.7 points. The largest visible gap is 1.7 points on Massive Multi-discipline Multimodal Understanding, 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 code execution: GPT-4 Vision Preview. Both models share vision and multimodal input, 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.
Pricing coverage is uneven: GPT-4 Vision Preview has $10/1M input tokens and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B has no token price sourced yet. Provider availability is 1 tracked routes versus 0. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose GPT-4 Vision Preview when coding workflow support and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B when vision-heavy evaluation are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Is GPT-4 Vision Preview or Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B open source?
GPT-4 Vision Preview is listed under Proprietary. Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B is listed under MIT. 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, GPT-4 Vision Preview or Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B?
Both GPT-4 Vision Preview and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for multimodal input, GPT-4 Vision Preview or Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B?
Both GPT-4 Vision Preview and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for code execution, GPT-4 Vision Preview or Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B?
GPT-4 Vision Preview has the clearer documented code execution signal in this comparison. If code execution is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run GPT-4 Vision Preview and Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B?
GPT-4 Vision Preview is available on Azure OpenAI. Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
When should I pick GPT-4 Vision Preview over Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B?
Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B is safer overall; choose GPT-4 Vision Preview when coding workflow support matters. If your workload also depends on coding workflow support, start with GPT-4 Vision Preview; if it depends on vision-heavy evaluation, run the same evaluation with Phi-4 Reasoning Vision 15B.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-06-04. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.