OpenAI Codex Mini vs 
MiniMax M3
MiniMax M3 is cheaper than OpenAI Codex Mini at $0.3/M vs $1.5/M input tokens.
Pokémon Battle UI Recreation
Pokémon battle screen you can actually click. One HTML file.
Loading the build
Loading the build
Which answer wins?
Written rounds
2 promptsFive jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.
OpenAI Codex Mini: Sure—here are five jokes: I asked the librarian if books about paranoia were available. She whispered, "They're right behind you." Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing. I bought a boat because it was for sail. Don't trust stairs—they're always up to something.
MiniMax M3: 5 Jokes 1. Why do programmers prefer dark mode? Because light attracts bugs. 🐛 2. I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised. 😲 3. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. ⚛️ 4. I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me. 🧔 5.
Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.
OpenAI Codex Mini: [Comedian walks onstage] Hey, everyone! Great to see you all tonight. I'm Jamie—if you thought that intro was enthusiastic, you should've seen me when I realized this place has Wi-Fi. Seriously, though, I love stand-up.
MiniMax M3: "The Future Is Now and I Want a Refund" [Walks on stage, adjusts mic] So I was at the grocery store yesterday. Self-checkout. I love self-checkout. You know why I love self-checkout? Because nothing builds character like being publicly shamed by a machine. [Pause] I scanned a banana. Just a banana.
Price and specs
Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, MiniMax M3 has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window. MiniMax M3 costs 5.0x less per token.
| Spec | OpenAI Codex Mini | MiniMax M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $1.5/M tokens | $0.3/M tokens |
| Output price | $6/M tokens | $1.2/M tokens |
| Context window | 200K tokens | 1.0M tokens |
| Weights | — | Open |
| Free API (OpenRouter) | No | No |
| Released | May 2025 | Jun 2026 |
| At 10M a month | $15.00 | $3.00 |
Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.
Where to run it
OpenAI Codex Mini
No hosts listed on OpenRouter.
MiniMax M313 hosts
Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 12 Oct 2026.
Common questions
What is the difference between OpenAI Codex Mini and MiniMax M3?
OpenAI Codex Mini is developed by OpenAI while MiniMax M3 is developed by MiniMax. OpenAI Codex Mini has a 200K token context window vs MiniMax M3's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 10 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.
Which is better, OpenAI Codex Mini or MiniMax M3?
It depends on your use case. OpenAI Codex Mini and MiniMax M3 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 10 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.
How much does OpenAI Codex Mini cost compared to MiniMax M3?
OpenAI Codex Mini costs $1.5/M input tokens and MiniMax M3 costs $0.3/M input tokens. MiniMax M3 is $1.20/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.
How can I compare OpenAI Codex Mini and MiniMax M3 on Rival?
This page shows a side-by-side comparison of OpenAI Codex Mini and MiniMax M3 across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.
More comparisons
Against the newest arrivals
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs GPT-4 TurboLanded Oct 2026
- MiniMax M3 vs Step 5 PreviewLanded Oct 2026
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Claude Haiku 5.5Landed Oct 2026
- MiniMax M3 vs Ling 3.1 FlashLanded Oct 2026
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Mistral Large 4Landed Oct 2026
- MiniMax M3 vs GPT-6.1 SolLanded Sep 2026
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Claude Sonnet 5.5Landed Sep 2026
- MiniMax M3 vs Solar Mini 4Landed Sep 2026
Same lab, same size, long tail
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs GPT-6.1 SolSame lab
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs GPT-6 Luna ProSame lab
- MiniMax M3 vs MiniMax M2.7Version compare
- MiniMax M3 vs MiniMax M1Version compare
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Ring 2.6 1TNew provider
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Seed 2.0 CodeNew provider
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Seed 2.0 LiteSame size
- OpenAI Codex Mini vs Seed 2.1 TurboNew provider
