Gemini Users Fear Google May Skip Gemini 4 Pro as Rivals Launch New Models

The report noted that Anthropic last week introduced Claude Fable 5.1, describing it as one of its most advanced models for coding and knowledge work, with a one-million-token context window, a 128,000-token maximum output and cheaper cache reads. OpenAI then released GPT-6 Astra, which it calls its most intelligent model yet, focusing on computer use, coding and multi-step tasks. OpenAI said Astra is rolling into ChatGPT, including access through Plus in Work and Codex as rollout progresses.

On Reddit, according to the report, Gemini users have expressed growing frustration. One thread begins, ‘I also want to feel the frontier,’ and drew sympathy from other users. Another thread is titled ‘I envy them too.’ Some users wrote that Google no longer has enough talent and that much of its compute is reserved for Apple Intelligence and Google Search AI Mode. Others joked that Google will respond with yet another Flash model instead of a 4 Pro flagship.

TechRadar stressed that Google has not announced the cancellation of Gemini 4 Pro, and that online theories should be treated as theories. Still, the mood in the community is revealing. In a thread speculating about Gemini 4 Pro's fate, one commenter imagined Google announcing a new pre-training run for a Gemini 4.5 model, while another supplied the punchline: ‘Here's another few Flash models.’ Some users maintained that Gemini's current models remain competitive on price and performance, especially in coding. Google already iterates quickly on its faster Gemini models, with frequent references to Gemini 3.7 Flash and 3.8 Flash in the discussion.

For many users, however, switching to another AI platform is not simple because they are tied into Google's ecosystem, including Android and NotebookLM. As one commenter said, ‘Gemini is cooler, has more tools, NotebookLM, it's better integrated in Android, etc.’ The TechRadar article suggested that while a cheaper, faster model woven into Search, Android and Workspace may be valuable to Google shareholders, it does not deliver the same thrill as topping a frontier benchmark, leaving some enthusiasts disappointed.