Qwen2.5 Max vs GPT-5.4 (xhigh): Which AI Model Is Better?

Updated March 26, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data

Quick Verdict

GPT-5.4 (xhigh) leads in intelligence with a score of 57.2 vs 16.3. Qwen2.5 Max is 1.6x cheaper at $1.60/1M tokens vs $2.50/1M. For speed, GPT-5.4 (xhigh) wins at 77 tok/s vs 47 tok/s.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Metric	Qwen2.5 Max	GPT-5.4 (xhigh)
Intelligence Score	16.3	57.2
Coding Score	N/A	57.3
Math Score	N/A	N/A
Speed (tok/s)	47 tok/s	77 tok/s
Latency (TTFT)	1.09s	181.82s
Input Price / 1M tokens	$1.60	$2.50
Output Price / 1M tokens	$6.40	$15
Context Window	N/A	N/A
Max Output Tokens	N/A	N/A
Input Modalities	Text	Text

Detailed Analysis

Intelligence & Quality

GPT-5.4 (xhigh) outperforms Qwen2.5 Max on the intelligence index with a score of 57.2 compared to 16.3.

Speed & Latency

GPT-5.4 (xhigh) generates output significantly faster at 77 tok/s compared to Qwen2.5 Max's 47 tok/s, making it 1.6x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 1.09s for Qwen2.5 Max vs 181.82s for GPT-5.4 (xhigh), which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.

Pricing

Qwen2.5 Max is more affordable at $1.60/1M input tokens ($6.40/1M output), while GPT-5.4 (xhigh) costs $2.50/1M input ($15/1M output). For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Qwen2.5 Max would cost approximately $9.60/month vs $15.00/month for GPT-5.4 (xhigh) in input costs alone.

Best Use Cases

Choose Qwen2.5 Max when you need lower cost. Choose GPT-5.4 (xhigh) when you need higher intelligence (57.2), faster output (77 tok/s).

Choose Qwen2.5 Max if:

✓You want lower latency (1.09s vs 181.82s TTFT)
✓Budget is a concern ($1.60/1M vs $2.50/1M)

Choose GPT-5.4 (xhigh) if:

✓You need higher intelligence (score: 57.2 vs 16.3)
✓You need faster throughput (77 tok/s vs 47 tok/s)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Qwen2.5 Max or GPT-5.4 (xhigh)?

Qwen2.5 Max is cheaper at $1.60/1M input tokens vs $2.50/1M for GPT-5.4 (xhigh).

Is Qwen2.5 Max faster than GPT-5.4 (xhigh)?

GPT-5.4 (xhigh) is faster, producing output at 77 tok/s compared to Qwen2.5 Max's 47 tok/s.

Can Qwen2.5 Max process images?

No, Qwen2.5 Max does not support image input. Neither model supports image input.

Should I use Qwen2.5 Max or GPT-5.4 (xhigh)?

It depends on your priorities. GPT-5.4 (xhigh) scores higher on intelligence (57.2), but Qwen2.5 Max may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.

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View Qwen2.5 Maxdetails →View GPT-5.4 (xhigh)details →Full pricing comparison →

Data last synced: March 26, 2026