Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 16, 2026
This page compares GPT-5 (OpenAI) and Qwen3 235B (Alibaba) using the latest snapshots we have as of Aug 16, 2026. On preference Elo, GPT-5 is ahead by 118 points (1,558 vs 1,440; seed-bootstrap (Aug 1, 2026)). On SWE-bench coding, GPT-5 resolves 68.4% versus 59.4% (seed-bootstrap (Aug 1, 2026)). GPT-5 streams faster (78 tok/s) while Qwen3 235B is the cheaper output token ($1.82/1M). GPT-5 has the larger context window (400k tokens). Every cell below is a dated snapshot from a named public source — we do not invent missing scores, and we do not run SWE-bench ourselves.
OpenAI
GPT-5OpenAI flagship reasoning model for 2025–26. Strong general preference Elo and multimodal coverage.
Instant pairwise benchmark recalculation across 400+ LLMs
Category wins across intelligence, speed, and pricing efficiency.
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
Each spoke is a skill. Farther from the center is better (0–100th percentile). Tap any dot to inspect details.
118 pts advantage
4 tok/s faster
$8.18/1M cheaper
Simulate monthly production API costs based on published $/1M tokens.
Qwen3 235B is estimated to save $150.53/month ($1,806/year).
Higher SWE-bench (68.4%).
Lower output list price ($1.82/1M).
Lower TTFT (290 ms).
Larger window (400k).
GPT-5 is the side marked multimodal in the catalog.
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-5 | Higher SWE-bench (68.4%). |
| High-volume chat | Qwen3 235B | Lower output list price ($1.82/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | GPT-5 | Lower TTFT (290 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | GPT-5 | Larger window (400k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-5 | GPT-5 is the side marked multimodal in the catalog. |
Sep 2025 open-weight mixture-of-experts. Self-host path. Don’t confuse it with Qwen 3 Max.
Still a common compare target. 5.6 Sol replaced it as the buy; GPT-5 stays for old URLs.
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