Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning
Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning is xAI's non-reasoning model in the Grok 4.20 beta generation, optimized for speed and direct responses with low hallucination rates and strict prompt adherence.
import { streamText } from 'ai'
const result = streamText({ model: 'xai/grok-4.20-non-reasoning-beta', prompt: 'Why is the sky blue?'})Playground
Try out Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning by xAI. Usage is billed to your team at API rates. Free users (those who haven't made a payment) get $5 of credits every 30 days.
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More models by xAI
| Model |
|---|
| 1M | 1.2s | 71tps | $1.25/M | $2.50/M | Read: $0.2/M Write: — | $5/K + input costs | — |  | 04/30/2026 | ||||
| 2M | 0.9s | 245tps | $1.25/M | $2.50/M | Read: $0.2/M Write: — | $5/K + input costs | — |  | 03/09/2026 | ||||
| 2M | 0.7s | 62tps | $0.20/M | $0.50/M | Read: $0.05/M Write: — | $5/K + input costs | — | | 09/19/2025 | ||||
| 256K | 0.4s | 62tps | $0.20/M | $1.50/M | Read:$0.02/M Write:— | — | — | | 08/28/2025 | ||||
| 2M | 0.2s | 155tps | $0.20/M | $0.50/M | Read: $0.05/M Write: — | $5/K + input costs | — | | 07/09/2025 | ||||
| 2M | 0.7s | 128tps | $0.20/M | $0.50/M | Read: $0.05/M Write: — | $5/K + input costs | — | | 07/09/2025 |
About Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning
Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning was released March 11, 2026 as the beta-tagged variant of xAI's Grok 4.20 non-reasoning model. It produces direct answers without chain-of-thought overhead, optimizing for speed and strict prompt adherence rather than deliberation depth.
The non-reasoning architecture makes Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning well suited for agentic pipelines where individual steps need fast, deterministic responses: tool selection, structured data extraction, classification, and routing decisions. Low hallucination rates and tight prompt following reduce the need for output validation in automated workflows.
As a beta release, Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning may receive weight updates or behavior changes before xAI stabilizes it. Teams running production traffic should use the stable grok-4.20-non-reasoning and reserve Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning for evaluation and staging.
What To Consider When Choosing a Provider
- Configuration: Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning is in beta. Expect potential changes to behavior, pricing, or availability before general availability.
- Configuration: This variant produces direct answers. If you need the model to reason through complex problems step by step, use the Grok 4.20 Reasoning variant instead.
- Zero Data Retention: AI Gateway does not currently support Zero Data Retention for this model. See the documentation for models that support ZDR.
- Authentication: AI Gateway authenticates requests using an API key or OIDC token. You do not need to manage provider credentials directly.
When to Use Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning
Best For
- High-throughput production APIs: Direct, precise answers at low latency serve end users best
- Agentic tool-calling workflows: That benefit from fast decision-making with low hallucination rates
- Classification and routing pipelines: That need reliable, prompt-adherent output for downstream processing
- Chat and conversational interfaces: Low-hallucination, prompt-adherent responses arrive quickly without chain-of-thought overhead
- Content generation tasks: Where strict prompt adherence matters more than deep reasoning
Consider Alternatives When
- Complex analytical tasks: Requiring multi-step reasoning. Use the Grok 4.20 Reasoning variant
- Multi-agent orchestration: The Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent variant is purpose-built for agent collaboration
- Stable production deployments: Beta models introduce unwanted risk. Use Grok 4.1 Fast Non-Reasoning instead
- Maximum cost efficiency on simple tasks: Grok 3 Mini Fast offers lower per-token costs
Conclusion
Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning trades reasoning depth for speed. Use it in agentic pipelines where fast, direct responses matter more than extended deliberation. For production stability, prefer the non-beta grok-4.20-non-reasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'non-reasoning' mean for Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning?
The model produces direct answers without generating chain-of-thought reasoning traces. This reduces latency and output token cost compared to the reasoning variant.
What is the context window for Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning?
2M tokens.
Is Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning in beta?
Yes. Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning is currently in beta. Behavior, pricing, or availability may change before general availability.
What does Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning cost?
Current pricing is shown on this page. AI Gateway routes across providers, and rates may vary by provider.
How do I authenticate with Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning through Vercel AI Gateway?
Use your Vercel AI Gateway API key with
xai/grok-4.20-non-reasoning-betaas the model identifier. No separate xAI account is needed for gateway-managed access.How does Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning compare to Grok 4.1 Fast Non-Reasoning?
Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning is the newer generation with improved hallucination rates and prompt adherence. Grok 4.1 Fast Non-Reasoning is a stable, generally available alternative if you prefer to avoid beta models.
Does Vercel AI Gateway support Zero Data Retention for Grok 4.20 Beta Non-Reasoning?
Zero Data Retention is not currently available for this model. Zero Data Retention is offered on a per-provider basis. See https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/capabilities/zdr for details.