Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 17, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GPT-5.6 Terra delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,548 vs 1,518), while GPT-5.6 Terra leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (70.4%), while Qwen 3 Max is more budget-friendly at $3.9/1M per 1M output tokens, while GPT-5.6 Terra provides faster response streaming (128 tok/s). Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
10 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
OpenAI 5.6 mid tier. Official API $2/$12 per 1M after the Jul 30 2026 price cut.
Alibaba flagship. Strong math and multilingual code.
Currently comparing GPT-5.6 Terra vs Qwen 3 Max. Alternative family tiers available.
Δ 30 Arena Elo pts
128 tok/s
$3.9 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | GPT-5.6 Terra | Qwen 3 Max | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +30 | ||
| Coding Elo | +16 | ||
| LiveBench | +0.3% | ||
| SWE-bench | +2.6% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +1.1% | ||
| Time to first token | +120 ms | ||
| Output speed | 128 tok/s | 80 tok/s | +48 tok/s |
| Input price | $0.78/1M | +$0.22/1M | |
| Output price | $3.9/1M | +$2.1/1M | |
| Context window | +788k |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
Qwen 3 Max is estimated to save $39.20/month ($470/year).
Higher SWE-bench (70.4%).
Lower output list price ($3.9/1M).
Lower TTFT (160 ms).
Larger window (1.1M).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5.6 Terra).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-5.6 Terra | Higher SWE-bench (70.4%). |
| High-volume chat | Qwen 3 Max | Lower output list price ($3.9/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | GPT-5.6 Terra | Lower TTFT (160 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | GPT-5.6 Terra | Larger window (1.1M). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-5.6 Terra | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-5.6 Terra). |
Terra is OpenAI’s Sonnet-class invoice. Use it when Sol is too expensive and Luna is too small.
Closed flagship. Strong math. Compare to Sol and Opus on GPQA and SWE-bench, not on brand heat.
Sep 2025 open-weight mixture-of-experts. Self-host path. Don’t confuse it with Qwen 3 Max.
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Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry
