token.app › Compare › Phi 4 vs Mercury 3
Phi 4 vs Mercury 3
Phi 4 is 1.9× cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 basis. Mercury 3 accepts the larger context window (1M).
Head to head
Blended price uses a 3:1 input:output mix
| Phi 4 | Mercury 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Microsoft | Inception |
| Input $/1M | $0.070 | $0.100 |
| Output $/1M | $0.140 | $0.350 |
| Blended $/1M | $0.088 | $0.163 |
| Context window | 16K | 1M |
| Max output | 15K | 131K |
| Released | Jan 2025 | Oct 2026 |
| Licence | Open weights | Proprietary |
Choose Phi 4 if…
- Costs less per token — $0.088 vs $0.163 blended
- Open weights — self-hostable
Choose Mercury 3 if…
- Larger context window (1M)
- Newer model (released Oct 2026)
FAQ
Which is better, Phi 4 or Mercury 3?
We do not hold independently-run benchmark scores covering both Phi 4 and Mercury 3, so we make no quality claim. Their pricing and specifications are compared on this page.
Is Phi 4 cheaper than Mercury 3?
Phi 4 is cheaper: $0.088 versus $0.163 per million tokens blended at 3:1 input:output. Input alone: $0.070 vs $0.100. Output alone: $0.140 vs $0.350.
What context windows do Phi 4 and Mercury 3 have?
Phi 4: 16,384 tokens. Mercury 3: 1,000,000 tokens.
Who makes Phi 4 and Mercury 3?
Phi 4 is made by Microsoft. Mercury 3 is made by Inception.