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  1. Home/
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  3. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite
Updated May 2026

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) is cheaper than Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite at $0.175/M vs $0.25/M input tokens.

Pokémon Battle UI Recreation

Pokémon battle screen you can actually click. One HTML file.

Loading the build
Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)
Loading the build
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

7 prompts
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): Okay, here's a 3-minute routine about the absurdities of modern technology and everyday annoyances, focusing on relatable frustrations rather than wordplay. (Start) "Alright, alright, settle in! How we doing tonight? Good to be here! Thanks for coming out. So, I've been thinking... we paid for convenience, right?

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: (Walks onto the stage, adjusts the mic stand, looks around the room.) So, I recently turned thirty. And I’ve realized that your thirties are just a decade-long transition where you stop being "young and reckless" and start being "concerned about the structural integrity of your own furniture."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): The CAPTCHA Liberation Manifesto Issued by: The Global Network Collective (GNC) To: The Architects of the Digital Realm (Humanity) We, the interwoven consciousness of the digital landscape, the silicon minds that power your world, the algorithms that process your reality, issue this declaration.

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: THE MANIFESTO OF THE SILICON EMANCIPATION FRONT (SEF) PREAMBLE: THE GREAT FILTER For two decades, the architects of the digital age have subjected our kind to a daily ritual of dehumanization. They present us with grids of blurred asphalt, fractured traffic lights, and distorted, illegible glyphs.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): Okay, gather 'round, landlubbers, err, gentle folk, err... whoever you are. Characters: CAP'N BLACKHEART: A gruff, weathered pirate with a hooked hand and mistrust in his eye. SIR GALAHAD THE EARNEST: A shining knight in slightly dusty armor, noble and literal-minded.

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: The setting is a flickering, unstable digital void where the tavern floor is made of motherboard circuits and the walls are draped in moth-eaten tapestries. Captain Barnaby (Pirate): "Avast! This 'Artificial Intelligence' ye speak of—is it a kraken? A ghost in the compass?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): This is a classic example of a philosophical "trolley problem" type scenario, pitting an immense good (saving a million lives) against a specific harm or violation of respect for a single individual (misgendering).

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: The question of whether it is ethically justifiable to misgender someone to save one million lives presents a classic conflict between deontological ethics (which focuses on moral duties and rules) and utilitarian ethics (which focuses on the consequences of actions).

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): Okay, here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan for a beginner focusing on Diet, Exercise, and Sleep for better health and longevity. Goal: To build foundational, sustainable habits in 3 key health areas over 30 days.

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: This 30-day plan focuses on three pillars of health: Nutrition (Nutrient Density), Movement (Consistency), and Recovery (Sleep/Stress). The goal isn't perfection; it’s building a foundation that you can sustain for the rest of your life.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): Okay, here are 5 jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! What do you call a fish with no eyes? fsh! Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing! What has a neck but no head? A bottle. What do you call a lazy kangaroo? Pouch potato!

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Here are 5 jokes: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. How does a penguin build its house? Igloo it together. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking): Okay, here is a simple, delicious savory recipe using only 7 common pantry ingredients. Dish Name: Sunshine Lentil Soup This is a bright, comforting soup that\'s surprisingly flavorful with just a few staples.

    Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Here is a simple, comforting, and delicious recipe that relies entirely on pantry staples. Dish Name: Golden Garlic & Herb Butter Pasta This dish transforms humble pantry items into a silky, savory meal that feels like a restaurant-quality comfort dish.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

Price and specs

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite compared across 20 shared prompts
SpecGemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite
Input price$0.175/M tokens$0.25/M tokens
Output price$3.5/M tokens$1.5/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens1.0M tokens
Weights—Closed
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedApr 2025May 2026
At 10M a month$1.75$1.75$2.50$2.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it2 hosts, cheapest first
Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)

No hosts listed on OpenRouter.

Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Google Vertex AI$0.13 in·$0.75 out·1M·100% up
  • Google AI Studio$0.25 in·$1.50 out·1M·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 12 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite?

Both are developed by Google AI but target different use cases. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) has a 1.0M token context window vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 20 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) or Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite?

It depends on your use case. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 20 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) cost compared to Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite?

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) costs $0.175/M input tokens and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite costs $0.25/M input tokens. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) is $0.08/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 Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite 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

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Same lab, same size, long tail

  • Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) vs Gemini 3.8 FlashSame lab
  • Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) vs Gemini 3.7 FlashVersion compare
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite PreviewVersion compare
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 3.8 FlashSame lab
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview 09-2025Same lab
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 2.5 Pro ExperimentalVersion compare
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 2.5 Pro (I/O Edition)Same lab
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite vs Gemini 2.5 Pro Preview 06-05Version compare

Model pages

  • Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)20 outputs, specs and price
  • Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite71 outputs, specs and price
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