Google Willow vs IBM Nighthawk Specs, Pricing & Performance [2026]
Quick Verdict
Google Willow leads on 2Q gate fidelity (99.88%). IBM Nighthawk offers more physical qubits (120 qubits).
Specification Comparison
| Metric | Google Willow | IBM Nighthawk |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Qubits | 105 | 120 ✓ |
| Technology | Superconducting | Superconducting |
| 2Q Gate Fidelity | 99.88% ✓ | 99.50% |
| 1Q Gate Fidelity | 99.97% | 99.97% |
| Readout Fidelity | 99.90% ✓ | 99.80% |
| Quantum Volume | — | 512 ✓ |
| CLOPS | 100,000 ✓ | 6,000 |
| T1 (Relaxation) | 100 µs | 350 µs ✓ |
| T2 (Dephasing) | 80 µs | 250 µs ✓ |
| 1Q Gate Time | 25 ns ✓ | 60 ns |
| 2Q Gate Time | 68 ns ✓ | 600 ns |
| Connectivity | Grid (deg 4) | Heavy Hex (deg 3) |
| Max Circuit Depth | 1,000 | 6,000 ✓ |
| Max Shots | 1,000,000 ✓ | 100,000 |
| Dynamic Circuits | No | Yes |
| Error Mitigation | Available | Available |
| Cloud Platforms | 0 platforms | 2 platforms |
Green bold values with a checkmark indicate the better result for each metric.
Pricing Comparison
Example: 10-qubit, 50-depth circuit, 1,000 shots — estimated cost on cheapest platform: Google Willow: N/A vs IBM Nighthawk: $8.00
Superconducting Google Willow
Superconducting IBM Nighthawk
| Platform | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Best IBM Quantum | $1.60/sec | Limited |
| qBraid | $1.60/sec | Limited |
Use Case Recommendations
Higher 2Q gate fidelity (99.88%) means fewer errors in VQE/UCCSD circuits.
More qubits (120 qubits) allows encoding larger problem instances.
Supports dynamic circuits and mid-circuit measurement required for active error correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Google Willow and IBM Nighthawk?
Google Willow leads on 2Q gate fidelity (99.88%). IBM Nighthawk offers more physical qubits (120 qubits).
Which is better for quantum chemistry, Google Willow or IBM Nighthawk?
For quantum chemistry simulations (VQE, UCCSD), Google Willow is preferred due to its higher 2Q gate fidelity (99.88% vs 99.50%). Higher gate fidelity directly reduces circuit error rates in chemistry algorithms.
How do the prices compare between Google Willow and IBM Nighthawk?
Google Willow is available from no public cloud access. IBM Nighthawk is available from $1.60/sec on IBM Quantum. Note that pricing models differ — per-shot pricing is directly comparable while AQT and HQC models depend on circuit structure.
Which QPU has better connectivity, Google Willow or IBM Nighthawk?
Google Willow uses Grid connectivity (degree 4) while IBM Nighthawk uses Heavy Hex connectivity (degree 3).
What are the coherence times for Google Willow vs IBM Nighthawk?
Google Willow: T1=100 µs, T2=80 µs. IBM Nighthawk: T1=350 µs, T2=250 µs. IBM Nighthawk has longer coherence times, which generally allows for deeper circuits before errors accumulate.
Explore individual profiles