GPT-5.4 mini vs Grok 4.5 — which is better?

Answer quality: Grok 4.5 has the edge

In the QueryWise ranking, GPT-5.4 mini currently holds position 18 with a score of 7.3 out of 10. Grok 4.5 is in position 6 and scores 9.2 out of 10. That is too wide a gap to dismiss as random: xAI’s model is clearly ahead on the overall rating.

For context, the current QueryWise top four are Claude Fable 5, GPT-5.6 Sol, Kimi K3, and Grok 4.5. GPT-5.4 mini is still below that group. A ranking does not solve the user’s task by itself, but it is a useful indicator of what to expect from different models across different prompts.

For coding, GPT-5.4 mini scores 7.8, while Grok 4.5 scores 9.4. The reasoning results tell the same story: 8.6 versus 9.2. So for debugging, designing functions, and reviewing someone else’s code, my choice would be Grok 4.5. It more often delivers a complete solution path instead of just a collection of correct ideas.

Speed and price in tenge

The median response time for Grok 4.5 in our telemetry is 16 seconds. We do not yet have enough data for GPT-5.4 mini, so a direct latency comparison would be unfair. Prompts sent to the stronger model can sometimes require patience: when an answer involves code checks or extended reasoning, waiting a few seconds is justified. For a simple question, not always.

The average price per question is approximately 10 ₸ for GPT-5.4 mini and around 10 ₸ for Grok 4.5. In other words, they are in roughly the same price tier in QueryWise. Grok 4.5’s reliability is 9.2? No — use a separate metric here: reliability in our telemetry is 100%. We do not yet have enough reliability data for GPT-5.4 mini.

What does that mean in practice? If you ask dozens of short questions for school or work, the price difference between the models is unlikely to be the main factor. What matters more is how many times you have to rephrase your prompt. A stronger first answer often saves both time and money.

Context and task types

GPT-5.4 mini has a context of 400K, while Grok 4.5 has 500K. Grok 4.5’s larger context is useful when you need to load a long conversation, a technical brief, or several files while preserving the connections between details. It is a good option for reviewing a large project, researching a topic systematically, and working with long documents.

GPT-5.4 mini is a more sensible choice for compact tasks that do not require keeping a huge amount of text in memory. For example, you could ask it to explain a formula to a school student, rewrite a customer email from Almaty in a more polite tone, or quickly check a small Python snippet. The model is not a failure — its reasoning and coding scores are perfectly usable. Grok 4.5 is simply noticeably stronger in this comparison.

There is another useful scenario: comparing two answers before sending one. In QueryWise, both models respond to the same prompt at once, so you can immediately see where they agree and where one of them goes off track. We added this feature on release day and noticed something simple: this mode is more useful than blindly picking one favorite model, especially for code and factual questions.

Which model should you choose?

• For programming: Grok 4.5 — its current score is 9.4 versus 7.8.
• For study and difficult explanations: Grok 4.5 — its reasoning score is 9.2, compared with 8.6 for GPT-5.4 mini.
• For short prompts and saving money: start with GPT-5.4 mini if its current price of 10 ₸ works for you; the difference from Grok 4.5 at 10 ₸ may not be significant.
• For long documents: Grok 4.5 looks preferable thanks to its 500K context, while GPT-5.4 mini offers 400K.

The honest verdict

Grok 4.5 is currently ahead by score. If you need one primary assistant for coding, analysis, and challenging study tasks, choose Grok 4.5: it leads on the overall rating, coding, and reasoning, while its reliability in our telemetry is 100%. GPT-5.4 mini makes sense for simpler tasks, quick drafts, and getting a second opinion.

The QueryWise ranking is updated every hour, so the result may change over time. Claude Fable 5 currently leads the entire ranking, not just this comparison, with a score of 9.8. One more note: model responses are a helpful tool, not medical, legal, or financial advice. For decisions in these areas, verify the information with a qualified professional.