Gemini 3.5 Flash vs GPT-5 Mini
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose Gemini 3.5 Flash if you need
- ✓Lower cost at $2 per million tokens for budget-conscious multimodal projects
- ✓Efficient processing of massive text, image, and file contexts up to 400k tokens
- ✓Compact design suited for complex multi-turn tasks with text/image/file inputs
- ✓Scenarios where careful prompting can offset reduced reasoning depth
Choose GPT-5 Mini if you need
- ✓Higher intelligence index of 45.4 for stronger overall performance
- ✓Faster output at 160.31 tokens per second across text, image, video, and audio
- ✓Largest context window at 1,048,576 tokens for extensive multimodal data
- ✓Versatile integration of video and audio alongside text and images
Verdict
Gemini 3.5 Flash leads in raw intelligence (45.4 vs 30.9), speed (160.31 t/s vs 100.46 t/s), and context size (1M vs 400k tokens), making it stronger for high-volume multimodal workloads. GPT-5 Mini wins on price ($2 vs $9 per million tokens) and offers efficient handling of very large text/image/file contexts at lower cost. The choice hinges on whether speed and capability or affordability matter most.
Gemini 3.5 Flash vs GPT-5 Mini: side by side
| Spec | Gemini 3.5 Flash | GPT-5 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 45.4 | 30.9 | Gemini 3.5 Flash |
| Output speed | 160 t/s | 100 t/s | Gemini 3.5 Flash |
| Output price | $9.00/1M | $2.00/1M | GPT-5 Mini |
| Context | 1049K | 400K | Gemini 3.5 Flash |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Gemini 3.5 FlashGemini 3.5 Flash scores 45.4 on the intelligence index compared to GPT-5 Mini's 30.9. This gap indicates stronger performance on complex multimodal tasks. GPT-5 Mini's limitation of reduced depth on highly complex reasoning aligns with the lower score.
Speed
Winner: Gemini 3.5 FlashGemini 3.5 Flash delivers 160.31 tokens per second versus GPT-5 Mini's 100.46 t/s. The higher speed supports its strength in high-efficiency multimodal processing. GPT-5 Mini remains competitive for tasks not requiring maximum velocity.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5 MiniGPT-5 Mini costs $2 per million tokens while Gemini 3.5 Flash costs $9 per million tokens. This fourfold price difference favors GPT-5 Mini for high-volume usage. Both models are proprietary with no open-source pricing alternative listed.
Context & Modalities
Winner: Gemini 3.5 FlashGemini 3.5 Flash provides a 1,048,576-token context versus GPT-5 Mini's 400,000 tokens and supports video/audio in addition to text and images. GPT-5 Mini emphasizes efficient file and image handling within its smaller window. Context utilization for both depends on task clarity per their limitations.
Gemini 3.5 Flash
Pros
- +High speed and efficiency
- +Strong multimodal integration
- +Large context window support
Cons
- –Trades depth for speed on complex tasks
- –Variable performance on specialized domains
- –Context utilization depends on task
GPT-5 Mini
Pros
- +Handles very large contexts efficiently
- +Integrates text, image, and file inputs
- +Suitable for complex multi-turn tasks
Cons
- –Reduced depth on highly complex reasoning vs full-size models
- –Performance depends on input clarity across modalities
- –May require careful prompting for nuanced outputs
Summary: Gemini 3.5 Flash vs GPT-5 Mini
Choose Gemini 3.5 Flash when intelligence, speed, and maximum context are priorities for multimodal work. Select GPT-5 Mini when minimizing cost is essential while still needing capable text/image/file handling. Neither model dominates every dimension.
Frequently asked questions
Gemini 3.5 Flash scores higher on intelligence and speed with a larger context, while GPT-5 Mini is substantially cheaper; overall superiority depends on whether performance or cost is the priority.