GPT-5 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 GPT-5 if you need
- ✓higher intelligence scores for complex reasoning tasks
- ✓much lower cost at $2 per million tokens
- ✓efficient handling of very large contexts in multi-turn scenarios
- ✓compact multimodal design integrating text, image, and files
Choose GPT-5 Mini if you need
- ✓maximum output speed of 171.98 tokens per second
- ✓native multimodal support on very large inputs
- ✓seamless text-image-file integration at scale
- ✓situations where raw speed outweighs intelligence metrics
Verdict
GPT-5 Mini leads on intelligence (38.9 vs 21.8) and price ($2 vs $10 per 1M tokens) while matching the 400k context and multimodal capabilities of GPT-5. GPT-5 counters with nearly double the output speed (171.98 vs 96.66 t/s) but carries limitations around unverified performance and higher cost. Overall, Mini offers stronger verified metrics for most multimodal workloads despite its compact design.
GPT-5 vs GPT-5 Mini: side by side
| Spec | GPT-5 | GPT-5 Mini | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 21.8 | 38.9 | GPT-5 Mini |
| Output speed | 172 t/s | 97 t/s | GPT-5 |
| Output price | $10.00/1M | $2.00/1M | GPT-5 Mini |
| Context | 400K | 400K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: GPT-5 MiniGPT-5 Mini scores 38.9 on the intelligence index compared to GPT-5's 21.8. This gap indicates stronger performance on complex reasoning despite the Mini designation. Both models share the same 400k context and multimodal inputs.
Speed
Winner: GPT-5GPT-5 delivers 171.98 tokens per second versus GPT-5 Mini's 96.66 t/s. The faster model may reduce latency on large multimodal tasks but lists potential latency as a limitation when using maximum context.
Pricing
Winner: GPT-5 MiniGPT-5 Mini costs $2 per million tokens while GPT-5 costs $10 per million tokens. The fivefold price difference favors Mini for high-volume usage. Both are proprietary OpenAI models with identical context sizes.
Context & Multimodal
Winner: TieBoth models provide a 400k-token context window and native support for text, image, and file inputs. GPT-5 Mini emphasizes efficient large-context handling and complex multi-turn tasks while GPT-5 stresses seamless integration.
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 Mini
Pros
- +Handles very large contexts efficiently
- +Integrates text, image, and file inputs
- +Suitable for complex multi-turn tasks
- +Compact multimodal design
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: GPT-5 vs GPT-5 Mini
Choose GPT-5 Mini when intelligence, cost efficiency, and reliable multimodal context handling matter most. Select GPT-5 when maximum generation speed is the priority and budget allows the higher per-token cost. The data shows Mini ahead on three of four key measured dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
GPT-5 Mini scores higher on intelligence (38.9 vs 21.8) and costs far less while matching context size, making it stronger on the provided metrics.