What is the difference between Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4?

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) is developed by Google AI while Solar Mini 4 is developed by Upstage. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) has a 1.0M token context window vs Solar Mini 4's 524K. You can compare their actual outputs across 2 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) or Solar Mini 4?

It depends on your use case. Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 2 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) cost compared to Solar Mini 4?

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) costs $0.175/M input tokens and Solar Mini 4 costs $0.05/M input tokens. Solar Mini 4 is $0.12/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 Solar Mini 4 on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4 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.

Updated Sep 2026

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)vsSolar Mini 4

Solar Mini 4 is cheaper than Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) at $0.05/M vs $0.175/M input tokens.

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4 compared across 2 shared prompts
Spec	Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)	Solar Mini 4
Input price	$0.175/M tokens	$0.05/M tokens
Output price	$3.5/M tokens	$0.2/M tokens
Context window	1.0M tokens	524K tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)	No	No
Released	Apr 2025	Sep 2026

Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from every prompt both answered. Formatting stripped, words untouched.

Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Create a simple recipe for a delicious dish (sweet or savory) using only 7 common pantry ingredients. Include a creative name for the dish…

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)272 words

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.

Read the full answer

Solar Mini 4266 words

🌟 Golden Chickpea & Rice Skillet This comforting one-pot dish combines hearty chickpeas, tender rice, and a warm blend of spices. It's a perfect way to use up pantry staples for a quick, flavorful meal.

Read the full answer

Beginner's Longevity Plan

Outline a simple, actionable 1-month plan for someone starting their journey towards better health and longevity. Focus on 3 key areas…

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)867 words

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.

Read the full answer

Solar Mini 4669 words

Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan designed for beginners. The focus is on consistency over intensity, meaning small, sustainable changes are better than drastic overhauls that are hard to maintain. The 3 Key Pillars Nutrition: Focus on adding good things rather than strictly restricting.

Read the full answer

Our Verdict

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)

Solar Mini 4Runner-up

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) has the edge: bigger model tier, bigger context window, major provider backing.

Solar Mini 4 costs 18x less per token.

Too close to call

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)

Input

$0.17

Output

$3.50

Solar Mini 4

Input

$0.05

3.5× cheaper

Output

$0.20

18× cheaper

Solar Mini 4 is cheaper on both: 3.5× input, 18× output.

Where to run it

1 host

Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking)

No hosts listed on OpenRouter.

Solar Mini 41 host

HostInOutContextUptime

Upstage$0.05 in$0.20 out524k100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 25 Sep 2026.

Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

Common questions

Keep exploring

More comparisons

Same prompt, both answers

Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Beginner's Longevity Plan

Cost per 1M tokens

1 host

What we learned reading every model

Common questions

What is the difference between Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4?

Which is better, Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) or Solar Mini 4?

How much does Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) cost compared to Solar Mini 4?

How can I compare Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4 on Rival?

More comparisons

Against the newest arrivals

Same lab, same size, long tail

Model pages

Same prompt, both answers

Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Beginner's Longevity Plan

Cost per 1M tokens

1 host

What we learned reading every model

Common questions

What is the difference between Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4?

Which is better, Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) or Solar Mini 4?

How much does Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) cost compared to Solar Mini 4?

How can I compare Gemini 2.5 Flash Preview (thinking) and Solar Mini 4 on Rival?

More comparisons

Against the newest arrivals

Same lab, same size, long tail

Model pages