Granite 4.2 Models by IBM Research
IBM Research releases · 23 in the last 12 months · this family litChangelog →
3 models2026Up to 131k ctx
Last refreshed 2026-10-05. Next refresh: weekly.
Details
ResearcherIBM Research
LicenseApache 2.0OSI-approved
Commercial useCommercial use: permitted
Models3
Released2026
Max context131k
Capabilities
ReasoningAll models
JSON / Tool useAll models
About
IBM Granite 4.2 (released 25 August 2026) adds native <think> reasoning to the Granite 4.1 dense decoder line. It ships 3B, 8B and 30B instruct-reasoning models post-trained from the Granite 4.1 base checkpoints, with 128K native context (extendable to 512K), tool calling and 12 tested languages, under Apache 2.0.
Decision facts
- Best fit
- reasoningJSON / Tool usecoding
- Capability starting point
- Granite 4.2 30B with 131k context and reasoning and JSON / Tool use
- Lowest tracked input
- Not tracked
- Closest related family
- Granite 4
Current Variants
Use-when guidance is based on each model's tracked capabilities, context window, release date, and replacement status.
3 in view
Granite 4.2 30BCurrent
Use when the workload needs 131k context, 30B parameters, and reasoning.
2026-08131k context30B parametersreasoning
Granite 4.2 8BCurrent
Use when the workload needs 131k context, 8B parameters, and reasoning.
2026-08131k context8B parametersreasoning
Granite 4.2 3BCurrent
Use when the workload needs 131k context, 3B parameters, and reasoning.
2026-08131k context3B parametersreasoning
| Model | Use when | Released | Signals | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite 4.2 30B | Use when the workload needs 131k context, 30B parameters, and reasoning. | 2026-08 | 131k context30B parametersreasoning | Current |
| Granite 4.2 8B | Use when the workload needs 131k context, 8B parameters, and reasoning. | 2026-08 | 131k context8B parametersreasoning | Current |
| Granite 4.2 3B | Use when the workload needs 131k context, 3B parameters, and reasoning. | 2026-08 | 131k context3B parametersreasoning | Current |
Release Timeline
1 release group2026-08
3 current
Granite 4.2 30B
Current131k context30B parametersreasoning
Granite 4.2 3B
Current131k context3B parametersreasoning
Granite 4.2 8B
Current131k context8B parametersreasoning
Specifications(3 models)
| Model | Released | Context | Parameters | Reasoning | JSON / Tool use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite 4.2 30B | 2026-08 | 131k | 30B | Yes | Yes |
| Granite 4.2 8B | 2026-08 | 131k | 8B | Yes | Yes |
| Granite 4.2 3B | 2026-08 | 131k | 3B | Yes | Yes |
