IBM Nighthawk vs Rigetti Ankaa-3 Specs, Pricing & Performance [2026]
Quick Verdict
Both QPUs have comparable 2Q gate fidelity (~99.50%). IBM Nighthawk offers more physical qubits (120 qubits).
Specification Comparison
| Metric | IBM Nighthawk | Rigetti Ankaa-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Qubits | 120 ✓ | 84 |
| Technology | Superconducting | Superconducting |
| 2Q Gate Fidelity | 99.50% | 99.50% |
| 1Q Gate Fidelity | 99.97% ✓ | 99.90% |
| Readout Fidelity | 99.80% ✓ | 98.50% |
| Quantum Volume | 512 ✓ | 128 |
| CLOPS | 6,000 | 15,000 ✓ |
| T1 (Relaxation) | 350 µs ✓ | 80 µs |
| T2 (Dephasing) | 250 µs ✓ | 60 µs |
| 1Q Gate Time | 60 ns | 40 ns ✓ |
| 2Q Gate Time | 600 ns | 80 ns ✓ |
| Connectivity | Heavy Hex (deg 3) | Grid (deg 4) |
| Max Circuit Depth | 6,000 ✓ | 2,000 |
| Max Shots | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Dynamic Circuits | Yes | No |
| Error Mitigation | Available | Available |
| Cloud Platforms | 2 platforms | 5 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: IBM Nighthawk: $8.00 vs Rigetti Ankaa-3: $1.00
Superconducting IBM Nighthawk
| Platform | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Best IBM Quantum | $1.60/sec | Limited |
| qBraid | $1.60/sec | Limited |
Superconducting Rigetti Ankaa-3
| Platform | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Braket | $0.000900/shot | Available |
| Azure Quantum | $0.000970/shot | Available |
| Best Rigetti QCS | $0.000750/shot | Available |
| qBraid | $0.000900/shot | Available |
| Strangeworks | $0.000900/shot | Available |
Use Case Recommendations
More qubits (120 qubits) allows encoding larger problem instances.
Higher CLOPS (15,000) means faster circuit execution for high-repetition workloads.
Supports dynamic circuits and mid-circuit measurement required for active error correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IBM Nighthawk and Rigetti Ankaa-3?
Both QPUs have comparable 2Q gate fidelity (~99.50%). IBM Nighthawk offers more physical qubits (120 qubits).
Which is better for quantum chemistry, IBM Nighthawk or Rigetti Ankaa-3?
For quantum chemistry simulations (VQE, UCCSD), IBM Nighthawk is preferred due to its higher 2Q gate fidelity (99.50% vs 99.50%). Higher gate fidelity directly reduces circuit error rates in chemistry algorithms.
How do the prices compare between IBM Nighthawk and Rigetti Ankaa-3?
IBM Nighthawk is available from $1.60/sec on IBM Quantum. Rigetti Ankaa-3 is available from $0.000750/shot on Rigetti QCS. 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, IBM Nighthawk or Rigetti Ankaa-3?
IBM Nighthawk uses Heavy Hex connectivity (degree 3) while Rigetti Ankaa-3 uses Grid connectivity (degree 4).
What are the coherence times for IBM Nighthawk vs Rigetti Ankaa-3?
IBM Nighthawk: T1=350 µs, T2=250 µs. Rigetti Ankaa-3: T1=80 µs, T2=60 µs. IBM Nighthawk has longer coherence times, which generally allows for deeper circuits before errors accumulate.
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