Gemini 4 Argon is the first model in Google’s Gemini 4 family. It opened to the public on October 13, 2026, two weeks after a closed release to a small group of cybersecurity partners. This guide covers which plans unlock it, where it shows up in each Google product, what the API costs and where the model stands against its rivals.
Who Can Access Gemini 4 Argon (Free, Pro, Ultra and API)
Only paid Google AI plans and API accounts get Argon, and Ultra unlocks the most products.
| Plan or role | Where Argon is available |
|---|---|
| Google AI Pro | Gemini app, AI Mode in Search |
| Google AI Ultra | Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, Google Antigravity (desktop app and CLI), AI Studio, Android Studio (Canary) |
| Developers | Gemini API paid tier |
| Enterprises | Gemini for business, the Gemini API, Google Antigravity |
| Scientists and researchers | Top Antigravity usage tier free for 6 months, 10,000 places, by application |
| Cybersecurity defenders | Fairwind Program, a version without cyber guardrails |
Free Gemini users are not included in the rollout. Googlebook owners still inside the 12 months of AI Pro bundled with the laptop qualify through the Pro plan.
How to Use Gemini 4 Argon in the Gemini App
Argon appears as a separate entry in the Gemini app model picker.
Pro and Ultra accounts now see four models in the picker: 3.5 Flash-Lite, 3.8 Flash, 3.1 Pro and 4 Argon. Select 4 Argon before sending your prompt. Google is rolling the model out in stages, so it can take a while to appear on some accounts even with an active subscription.
How to Use Gemini 4 Argon in Google AI Mode
AI Mode in Search has its own model menu, separate from the Gemini app.
- Open AI Mode in Google Search.
- Tap the + icon in the Ask anything bar.
- Pick Argon from the model menu.
This is the same menu where 3.7 Flash and 3.8 Flash were added earlier. Argon is an optional pick, not the default, so free AI Mode users keep the standard Flash model. Google has not stated which languages Argon supports in AI Mode.
Gemini 4 Argon API Pricing: $2 Input and $10 Output Until November 30
Developers on the paid Gemini API tier pay a launch rate that doubles after November.
| Period | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) |
|---|---|---|
| Until November 30, 2026 | $2 | $10 |
| From December 1, 2026 | $4 | $20 |
Cached input tokens cost 95% less than standard input. Some third-party trackers, including Vals AI, already list the higher $4 and $20 rate, so check which figure you are looking at when comparing costs.
Gemini 4 Argon Token Limit and Context Window
The token limit is described differently depending on where you look.
Google lists a 1M unified input and output token limit through the Gemini API, up from the 64,000 output tokens on earlier Gemini models. Very long outputs use a new continuation protocol covered in the Gemini API documentation. Vals AI lists a 1M context window with 262k maximum output tokens, and it is not yet clear how much of the 1M budget one response can use without the continuation protocol.
What’s New in Gemini 4 Argon
The biggest differences show up in tone, long tasks and coding.
- More direct answers: Less hedging, fewer repeated points and fewer clichés.
- Better instruction following: Style instructions are followed more reliably than on any earlier Gemini model, and AI Mode handles multi-step, back-and-forth conversations better.
- Progress updates: Long tasks report progress more often.
- Coding in the Mac app: The Gemini macOS app now includes Antigravity’s agentic coding interface for building apps and web pages.
- Tasks toggle: A toggle in the main chat window switches from chat to tasks (previously called Spark), where Gemini can keep working across your Google apps while you are away.
- Connected apps: Gemini now links to more than 40 apps, including Instacart, OpenTable, Adobe and Shopify.
- Skills replace Gems: Custom Skills are the new way to package repeat workflows, such as turning a folder of project files into a client proposal deck.
Gemini 4 Argon vs GPT-6 Astra, Claude Opus 5.5 and Fable 5.1
Argon leads some coding tests and trails on others.
Argon ranks first of 47 models on the Vals Index at 68.90%, an independent score that weights finance, coding, legal and tax work. The coding scores below come from Google and have not been reproduced independently.
| Benchmark | Gemini 4 Argon | GPT-6 Astra | Claude Fable 5.1 | Claude Opus 5.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSWE v1.1 | 77.9% | 74.1% | 67.4% | 74.2% |
| Vibe Code Bench | 91.9% | 89.6% | 90.3% | 90.3% |
| CWE-bench v1 | 68.0% | 68.0% | 58.0% | 67.0% |
| FrontierSWE v2 | 55.0% | 65.5% | 56.3% | 62.3% |
| Terminal-Bench 4.0 | 57.4% | 58.2% | 57.9% | 66.4% |
| Terminal-Bench Science 0.1 | 57.6% | 68.1% | 52.6% | 63.3% |
Argon is strongest on long-horizon software engineering (DeepSWE) and ties GPT-6 Astra on vulnerability fixing (CWE-bench). It places last of the four on FrontierSWE v2 and Terminal-Bench 4.0.
Gemini 4 Argon Restrictions: What Pro Users Don’t Get
Several features sit behind higher tiers or lack published details.
- Antigravity desktop, Antigravity CLI, AI Studio and Android Studio (Canary) require AI Ultra.
- Google has not published separate usage limits for Pro and Ultra.
- The public model keeps cyber guardrails; the guardrail-free version is limited to approved Fairwind partners.
- Google has not said whether Argon will become the AI Mode default or remain an optional pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gemini 4 Argon free?
No. The Gemini app and AI Mode require a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, and API use is billed on the paid tier.
Why can’t I see Gemini 4 Argon in my model picker?
The rollout is staged, so accounts receive it at different times. Confirm your plan is Pro or Ultra and check again later.
Can I use Gemini 4 Argon in Google Antigravity on the Pro plan?
No. Argon in the Antigravity desktop app and CLI requires AI Ultra.
When does the Gemini 4 Argon introductory API price end?
The $2 input and $10 output rate ends on November 30, 2026. After that, the price is $4 input and $20 output per million tokens.
Can I get Gemini 4 Argon without cyber guardrails?
Only through the Fairwind Program, which approves cybersecurity defenders on a rolling basis.
Will there be more Gemini 4 models?
Yes. Google calls Argon the first of the Gemini 4 family but has not named the next models or given release dates.
