GPT-5 Mini vs o4 Mini Deep Research
How do these models stack up? Below is an expert side-by-side comparison of specifications, context window capacity, live pricing per million tokens, and standardized benchmark scores for GPT-5 Mini and o4 Mini Deep Research.
GPT-5 Mini
GPT-5 Mini is a compact version of GPT-5, designed to handle lighter-weight reasoning tasks. It provides the same instruction-following and safety-tuning benefits as GPT-5, but with reduced latency and cost....
o4 Mini Deep Research
o4-mini-deep-research is OpenAI's faster, more affordable deep research model—ideal for tackling complex, multi-step research tasks. Note: This model always uses the 'web_search' tool which adds additional cost.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | GPT-5 Mini | o4 Mini Deep Research |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Context Window | 400,000 tokens | 200,000 tokens |
| Agent Suitability | 85/100 | N/A |
| Time to First Token (TTFT) | 180 ms | N/A |
| Deployment Model | managed api | managed api |
| Production Stability | stable | stable |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Released Date | 2025-08-07 | 2025-10-10 |
API Pricing Comparison
Input Price per Million Tokens
GPT-5 Mini
$0.25
o4 Mini Deep Research
$2.00
Output Price per Million Tokens
GPT-5 Mini
$2.00
o4 Mini Deep Research
$8.00
Want to test both models live?
Run side-by-side prompt prompts in our dynamic Sandbox. Check execution speeds, latency metrics, and compute actual costs in real-time.
Benchmark Performance Metrics
Scores show the raw performance percentages verified across key evaluation suites. Higher bars indicate superior accuracy and capability in that domain.
GPT-5 Mini Quirks & Gotchas
- ▸Excellent for high-frequency classification and routing tasks
- ▸Tool calling reliability drops on complex multi-step chains — use GPT-5 for agentic workflows
o4 Mini Deep Research Quirks & Gotchas
No developer gotchas reported.