Grok 4.1 Thinking mode and standard version both perform strongly vs Gemini 3
When I first saw the numbers for Grok 4.1 versus Gemini 3, I thought the comparison would be straightforward. Turns out it’s anything but. Both models have been run through a battery of tests that span everything from simple language checks to the kind of reasoning that usually trips up a chatbot.
Gemini 3 has been getting most of the press lately, but the fresh evaluation data paint a more nuanced picture. The suite includes everyday prompts, a few code-generation puzzles, and some “advanced” cases that really stretch context limits. Grok 4.1 shows up in two flavors - a plain-vanilla baseline and a higher-capacity mode that claims deeper processing.
Early results seem to indicate that each Grok version can hold its own against Gemini 3, although the beefier setting does pull a slight lead. There are also hints about where Grok 4.1 shines when it isn’t directly pitted against a competitor. All of this leads us to the next part, where we break down exactly how the two Grok 4.1 configurations stack up.
But they reveal what Grok 4.1 excels at on its own turf. Grok 4.1 comes in two flavours - the standard Grok 4.1 and the higher-capacity Grok 4.1 Thinking mode. Both show strong performance, but the Thinking variant naturally edges ahead in advanced tasks.
These scores show that Grok 4.1 is highly creative, emotionally intelligent, and far more factual than its predecessor. With top-tier Elo ratings and a major drop in hallucinations, Grok 4.1 can deliver sharp, reliable responses across a wide range of tasks. Metrics xAI did NOT publish, but shows the prowess of Gemini 3 Pro and Deep Think models.
Both Gemini 3 and Grok 4.1 are being billed as their makers’ “best yet.” Gemini 3 showed up with a lot of hype, while Grok 4.1 arrived in two versions - a regular model and a higher-capacity Thinking mode. In the tests we ran, Grok 4.1 held its own across most tasks, and the Thinking variant nudged ahead on the tougher ones. Gemini 3’s numbers aren’t included, so a straight-up ranking stays fuzzy.
Does that give Grok 4.1 the edge? The data we have leans toward Grok’s competence, especially when the Thinking mode is switched on, but without comparable Gemini 3 metrics the picture is incomplete. It’s hard to say definitively whether Grok 4.1 outperforms Gemini 3 overall.
Bottom line: the head-to-head run showcases Grok 4.1’s strengths, particularly in its premium setting, yet the claim of “the best AI of 2025” remains up in the air until we see a more direct comparison.
Further Reading
Related Reading
Browse all Google news →
LLMs & Generative AI OpenAI says AI saves knowledge workers 40‑80 minutes; use yields five‑fold gains
LLMs & Generative AI Grok Chat: AI for debugging, building, testing web apps with voice and images
LLMs & Generative AI Samsung adds Vision AI Companion, an AI Bixby, to TVs for real‑time queries
Related Topic Google AI lets shoppers call stores, browse 50 B listings, get side‑by‑side charts
AI Tools & Apps
Related Topic Google expands AI partnership with Tel Aviv University, infrastructure for Gemma
Research & Benchmarks
Common Questions Answered
How does Grok 4.1 Thinking mode compare to the standard Grok 4.1 in advanced tasks?
The Thinking mode of Grok 4.1 naturally edges ahead of the standard version on advanced tasks, delivering higher performance scores. This advantage is attributed to its higher capacity, which allows it to handle more nuanced reasoning and complex context handling.
What improvements in factual accuracy and hallucination rates does Grok 4.1 show over its predecessor?
Grok 4.1 exhibits a major drop in hallucinations and is described as far more factual than its predecessor. These improvements contribute to sharper, more reliable responses across a wide range of benchmark tasks.
Why is the comparison between Grok 4.1 and Gemini 3 considered ambiguous in the article?
The article notes that Gemini 3’s detailed results are not provided, making a direct side‑by‑side ranking unclear. While Grok 4.1 shows strong performance, the lack of comparable Gemini 3 data prevents a definitive winner from being crowned.
What role do top‑tier Elo ratings play in evaluating Grok 4.1’s performance?
Top‑tier Elo ratings are highlighted as evidence of Grok 4.1’s strong performance across the benchmark suite. These ratings indicate that Grok 4.1 consistently outperforms many competing models in both standard and advanced scenarios.