text model comparison
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite vs GPT-4.1 mini
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and GPT-4.1 mini are both current text models, from Google and OpenAI. Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is 25% cheaper per 1M input tokens than GPT-4.1 mini, $0.30 vs $0.40. On Arena Text, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite scores 1455 Elo and GPT-4.1 mini 1383 Elo (Arena, measured October 8, 2026). Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,048,576 and 1,047,576).
Data verified October 12, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-12
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite | GPT-4.1 mini |
|---|---|---|
| Price per 1M input tokens | $0.30 (better) | $0.40 |
| Price per 1M output tokens | $2.50 | $1.60 (better) |
| Cost of 10M input and 2M output tokens | $8 | $7.20 (better) |
| Arena Text | 1455 Elo (#27 of 39) (better) | 1383 Elo (#38 of 39) |
| GPQA Diamond | 83.3% (#32 of 37) (better) | 65.8% (#36 of 37) |
| FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2) | 26% (#34 of 37) (better) | 6.7% (#36 of 37) |
| SimpleQA Verified | Not measured | 12.7% (#33 of 34) |
| Provider | OpenAI | |
| Release date | July 21, 2026 | April 14, 2025 |
| Access | API only | API only |
| Context window | 1,048,576 tokens | 1,047,576 tokens |
| Max output | 65,536 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Input | text, image, audio, video | text, image |
| Output | text | text |
When to choose each
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite
Best for
- High-volume extraction, structured parsing, and cost-sensitive subagent trials
Watch out for
- The represented prices are standard API rates; batch, flex, and priority consumption use different rates
GPT-4.1 mini
Best for
- Cost-sensitive long-context API evaluation
Watch out for
- Not in the pinned LiveBench snapshot; its independent scores here come from Epoch AI's own GPQA Diamond, FrontierMath and SimpleQA Verified runs
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite vs GPT-4.1 mini FAQ
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite or GPT-4.1 mini?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite is 25% cheaper per 1M input tokens than GPT-4.1 mini, $0.30 vs $0.40. For 10M input and 2M output tokens, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite costs $8 and GPT-4.1 mini $7.20 at standard rates.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite or GPT-4.1 mini?
Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite leads on Arena Text, 1455 Elo to 1383 Elo; Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite leads on GPQA Diamond, 83.3% to 65.8%; Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite leads on FrontierMath Tiers 1-3 (v2), 26% to 6.7%. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Which has the larger context window, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite or GPT-4.1 mini?
Both accept about 1.05M tokens of context (1,048,576 and 1,047,576).
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Production evaluation
Choosing between Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and GPT-4.1 mini?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty