GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high): The Ultimate Performance & Pricing Comparison

Deep dive into reasoning, benchmarks, and latency insights.

The Final Verdict in the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) Showdown

After a comprehensive analysis, o4-mini (high) emerges as the superior choice for users prioritizing raw intelligence and reasoning. However, GPT-5 (minimal) remains a highly competitive option, especially for scenarios demanding faster response times and cost-efficiency. This detailed GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) comparison will break down every critical metric to help you make the best decision.

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Model Snapshot

Key decision metrics at a glance.

GPT-5 (minimal)

OpenAI

Reasoning: 3
Coding: 5
Multimodal: 4
Long Context: 5
Blended Price / 1M tokens: $0.003
P95 Latency: 1000ms
Tokens per second: 104.439tokens/sec

o4-mini (high)

OpenAI

Reasoning: 9
Coding: 6
Multimodal: 5
Long Context: 7
Blended Price / 1M tokens: $0.002
P95 Latency: 1000ms
Tokens per second: 95.402tokens/sec

Overall Capabilities

The capability radar provides a holistic view of the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) matchup. This chart illustrates each model's strengths and weaknesses at a glance, forming a cornerstone of our GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) analysis.

This radar chart visually maps the core capabilities (reasoning, coding, math proxy, multimodal, long context) of `GPT-5 (minimal)` vs `o4-mini (high)`.

Benchmark Breakdown

For a granular look, this chart directly compares scores across standardized benchmarks. In the critical MMLU Pro test, a key part of the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) debate, GPT-5 (minimal) scores 30 against o4-mini (high)'s 90. This data-driven approach is essential for any serious GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) comparison.

This grouped bar chart provides a side-by-side comparison for each benchmark metric.

Speed & Latency

Speed is a crucial factor in the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) decision for interactive applications. The metrics below highlight the trade-offs you should weigh before shipping to production.

Time to First Token

GPT-5 (minimal)300ms

o4-mini (high)300ms

Tokens per Second

GPT-5 (minimal)104.439

o4-mini (high)95.402

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The Economics of GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high)

Power is only one part of the equation. This GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) pricing analysis gives you a true sense of value.

Pricing Breakdown

Compare input and output pricing at a glance.

Real-World Cost Scenario

To process 1M input tokens and generate 250k output tokens, GPT-5 (minimal) would cost $0.004, whereas o4-mini (high) would cost $0.002. This practical calculation is vital for any developer considering the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) choice.

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Which Model Wins the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) Battle for You?

Choose GPT-5 (minimal) if...

Cost is a secondary concern to power in your GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) decision.

You need the most advanced reasoning capabilities available.

Your use case demands cutting-edge AI performance.

Choose o4-mini (high) if...

You need a highly responsive model for user-facing applications.

Your budget is a primary consideration in the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) choice.

You are developing at scale where operational costs are critical.

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Your Questions about the GPT-5 (minimal) vs o4-mini (high) Comparison

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