GPT-5 vs GPT-5.4 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 GPT-5 if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if you need higher intelligence_index at 40 for complex multimodal tasks.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if you need lower output price at $4.5 per 1M tokens.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if you need slightly higher output speed of 176.27 t/s.
- ✓Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if you need flexible workflows for document-heavy file and image processing.
Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if you need
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need seamless text-image-file integration on a hypothetical model.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you need the same 400k context but accept higher $10 per 1M pricing.
- ✓Choose GPT-5 if you prioritize native multimodal input support despite unverified performance.
Verdict
GPT-5.4 Mini leads on intelligence (40 vs 15.3), speed (176.27 t/s vs 172.76 t/s), and price ($4.5 vs $10 per 1M tokens) while sharing the same 400k context and multimodal file/image/text support. GPT-5 is described as hypothetical with unverified performance and higher resource demands. GPT-5.4 Mini is the stronger factual choice for most multimodal workloads.
GPT-5 vs GPT-5.4 Mini: side by side
| Spec | GPT-5 | GPT-5.4 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 15.3 | 40 | GPT-5.4 Mini |
| Output speed | 173 t/s | 176 t/s | GPT-5.4 Mini |
| Output price | $10.00/1M | $4.50/1M | GPT-5.4 Mini |
| Context | 400K | 400K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5.4 MiniGPT-5.4 Mini reports an intelligence_index of 40 compared to GPT-5's 15.3. Both are proprietary OpenAI multimodal models with identical context size. The higher index on the Mini variant indicates stronger measured performance on the provided data.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5.4 MiniGPT-5.4 Mini costs $4.5 per 1M output tokens while GPT-5 costs $10 per 1M. Both share the same 400k context window and provider. The lower price makes GPT-5.4 Mini the clear cost winner for equivalent context capacity.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5.4 MiniGPT-5.4 Mini achieves 176.27 tokens per second versus GPT-5's 172.76 t/s. Both models list identical context length and multimodal capabilities. The small speed edge favors GPT-5.4 Mini on the reported metrics.
Context & Multimodal Support
Winner: TieBoth models provide a 400000-token context and native support for files, images, and text. GPT-5.4 Mini adds explicit strengths for document-heavy tasks while GPT-5 notes seamless integration. No measurable difference exists in the shared context and modality facts.
GPT-5
Pros
- +Very large context window
- +Native multimodal input support
- +Seamless text-image-file integration
Cons
- –Hypothetical model with unverified performance
- –High resource demands for maximum context
- –Potential latency on large multimodal tasks
GPT-5.4 Mini
Pros
- +Very large context window
- +Native support for files, images, and text
- +Flexible multimodal workflows
Cons
- –Mini size may reduce depth on complex reasoning
- –Performance depends on input quality across modalities
- –Long contexts can increase latency
Summary: GPT-5 vs GPT-5.4 Mini
GPT-5.4 Mini is the stronger pick for users prioritizing intelligence, speed, and cost on large-context multimodal work. GPT-5 only fits if the hypothetical seamless integration description outweighs its lower index and higher price. Both share the same context and OpenAI provider.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5.4 Mini is better on the provided facts due to its higher intelligence_index of 40, faster speed, and lower price while matching context and multimodal support.