Google just gave Gemini 4 to free users: Hydrogen is in the Gemini app, Search and AI Studio, and it's 2.5x faster than 3.8 Flash
Google released Gemini 4 Hydrogen on November 12, 2026, the fast member of the Gemini 4 family next to Carbon and Argon. Google says it finishes tasks 2.5 times faster than Gemini 3.8 Flash, scores 51 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index at its default setting (one point above Argon, and 54 at its new xhigh level), and keeps a 1 million-token context. It's rolling out to all tiers of Google AI Studio and the Gemini API, the Gemini app, Gemini for business and Google Search, which Google calls the biggest model upgrade to Search yet.
Why it matters
This is the first time a Gemini 4 model reaches people who don't pay: free Gemini app users get it through auto model selection, and anyone can try it in AI Studio or Search today.
Who it's for
Free and paid Gemini users who want quicker answers, and developers looking for a cheaper, fast model for everyday coding and agent steps.
How to try it
- Open the Gemini app and pick Gemini 4 Hydrogen in the model drop-down (free accounts get it automatically when Gemini decides it fits).
- Or sign in at aistudio.google.com, choose Gemini 4 Hydrogen and test it on a real task from your week.
- For code, try one of the four thinking levels: start at the default (high) and only go to xhigh for hard problems.
- Ask a multi-part question in Google Search to see the new Hydrogen-powered answers.
Plan & availability: Rolling out globally from November 12, 2026. Gemini app: in the model drop-down; free users get it via auto model selection when it fits the prompt. Google Search: all users. AI Studio and Gemini API: all tiers, API price $1.50 per million input and $7.50 per million output tokens flat across the 1M context. Antigravity: paid Google AI Pro and Ultra only. Checked on blog.google on November 12, 2026.
Source: @Google on blog.google
Written by AgentStackList from the original post. Checked Nov 12, 2026. Features, plans and availability can change, so confirm on the source before you rely on it.
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