2026 Audit Report

Baichuan 4 vs Step-2 Pro

Is Baichuan 4 worth the premium? Our automated audit reveals a 29% cost difference in production environments.

Last updated: Sep 21, 2026Sources: AxiomGrid Model Wiki · Provider pricing pagesQuality: HIGH

Axiom Verdict

"Step-2 Pro provides a solid 28.6% arbitrage opportunity. We recommend routing L1/L2 traffic here, while keeping Baichuan 4 for complex arbitration (L3)."

Key Metrics

Axiom Snapshot
MetricBaichuan 4Step-2 Pro
Input / 1M¥1.51¥1.08
Output / 1M¥3.02¥2.16
Cache Read¥0.86¥0.22
Context Window128K1M
Max Output4K8K
MultimodalNoYes
LatencyTBDTBD
Best FitMedicalVision

Action Plan

  • Route L1/L2 traffic to Step-2 Pro and reserve Baichuan 4 for complex tasks.
  • Pilot a two-week A/B traffic split to validate latency and quality.
  • Lock a fallback plan for peak load periods.

Methodology

  • Pricing is normalized to cost per 1M input/output tokens for direct comparison.
  • Arbitrage gap compares current input pricing against the higher-priced model.
  • Quality tier reflects pricing completeness, context window, and use-case coverage.

Pricing Matrix

MetricBaichuan 4Step-2 Pro
Input / 1M¥1.51¥1.08
Output / 1M¥3.02¥2.16
Cache Read¥0.86¥0.22

Use Case Analysis

Baichuan 4 Wins
  • Medical
Step-2 Pro Wins
  • Vision

FAQ

Which model is cheaper: Baichuan 4 or Step-2 Pro?
Step-2 Pro shows a 29% cost advantage based on current input pricing.
When should I choose Baichuan 4?
Baichuan 4 is best for Medical.
How does the context window compare?
Baichuan 4 supports 128K context vs Step-2 Pro at 1M.
Which model is better for high-volume routing?
Step-2 Pro is the recommended L1/L2 router for cost efficiency.
Do cache discounts materially change costs?
Yes. Cache pricing can shift effective input costs by 10-90% depending on hit rate.
How often is this comparison updated?
This audit refreshes as model pricing changes. Last updated Sep 21, 2026.

Performance Radar

Baichuan 4
Step-2 Pro

Cost Scaling (Monthly)

Baichuan 4 vs Step-2 Pro: 2026 Cost Audit | AxiomGrid