Updated March 26, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) leads in intelligence with a score of 54.0 vs 12.7. Nova Lite is 29.2x cheaper at $0.06/1M tokens vs $1.75/1M. For speed, Nova Lite wins at 198 tok/s vs 72 tok/s.
| Metric | Nova Lite | GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 12.7 | 54.0 |
| Coding Score | 5.1 | 53.1 |
| Math Score | 7.0 | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 198 tok/s | 72 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 0.41s | 83.91s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $0.06 | $1.75 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $0.24 | $14 |
| Context Window | 300K |
GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) outperforms Nova Lite on the intelligence index with a score of 54.0 compared to 12.7. For coding tasks, GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) has the edge with a coding score of 53.1 vs 5.1.
Nova Lite generates output significantly faster at 198 tok/s compared to GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh)'s 72 tok/s, making it 2.7x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 0.41s for Nova Lite vs 83.91s for GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh), which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Nova Lite is more affordable at $0.06/1M input tokens ($0.24/1M output), while GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) costs $1.75/1M input ($14/1M output). That makes GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) 29.2x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Nova Lite would cost approximately $0.36/month vs $10.50/month for GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) in input costs alone.
Choose Nova Lite when you need faster output (198 tok/s), lower cost. Choose GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) when you need higher intelligence (54.0), stronger coding performance (53.1).
GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) scores higher on coding benchmarks (53.1 vs 5.1), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Nova Lite is cheaper at $0.06/1M input tokens vs $1.75/1M for GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh).
Nova Lite is faster, producing output at 198 tok/s compared to GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh)'s 72 tok/s.
Yes, Nova Lite supports image input. GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) does not support image input.
Data last synced: March 26, 2026
| N/A |
| Max Output Tokens | N/A | N/A |
| Input Modalities | Text + Image | Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
It depends on your priorities. GPT-5.3 Codex (xhigh) scores higher on intelligence (54.0), but Nova Lite may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.