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  5. GPT-4o minivsMercury 2.5 Preview
Updated Aug 2026

GPT-4o minivsMercury 2.5 Preview

Mercury 2.5 Preview is cheaper than GPT-4o mini at $0.04/M vs $0.15/M input tokens.

GPT-4o mini and Mercury 2.5 Preview compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecGPT-4o miniMercury 2.5 Preview
Input price$0.15/M tokens$0.04/M tokens
Output price$0.6/M tokens$0.15/M tokens
Context window128K tokens260K tokens
WeightsClosed—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJul 2024Aug 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from 6 of the 53 prompts both answered. Formatting stripped, words untouched.

Generate a Stand-Up Routine

Write a 3-minute stand-up comedy routine that isn't based on puns.

GPT-4o mini620 words
Stand-Up Comedy Routine Hey everyone! Great to see you all here tonight. Let's give it up for the people who came out of their homes! I mean, this is like a mini-rebellion against our couches. Seriously, it takes effort to leave the comfort of Netflix and that alluring possibility of "one more episode."
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview483 words
(Hey, thanks for coming out.) I’ve been thinking a lot about my house lately. Specifically, how it’s trying to run my life. I bought a smart speaker. Just a little cylinder. I thought it would be nice. Play music when I ask. But now it talks back. Not in a creepy way, just in a passive-aggressive way.
Read the full answer

Futuristic Prediction

Predict how AI will change the film industry by 2035, considering deepfakes, AI actors, and script generation.

GPT-4o mini476 words
By 2035, the film industry is likely to undergo transformative changes due to advancements in AI technology. Here are several key areas where AI will have a significant impact: Deepfakes and CGI Integration: As deepfake technology advances, filmmakers will increasingly utilize it for creating realistic digital doubles…
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview84 words
By 2035, cinema will undergo a profound transformation. Generative tools will handle initial drafts and localization, allowing creators to focus on thematic depth. Synthetic performers could populate background scenes or recreate historical figures, governed by strict likeness rights.
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…

GPT-4o mini568 words
1-Month Plan for Better Health and Longevity Overview This plan focuses on three key areas: Diet, Exercise, and Sleep. Each week will build upon the previous one, making it easy for beginners to integrate these habits into their daily lives. Week 1: Foundation Building Diet: Goal: Start a balanced diet.
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview176 words
Here is a straightforward 4-week roadmap designed to build sustainable habits without overwhelming you. Core Pillars Nutrition: Focus on whole foods and hydration. Activity: Prioritize consistent movement over intensity. Restoration: Protect sleep quality and manage energy.
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The Sentience Test

Write a conversation between an AI model and an AI ethics professor where the AI model argues that it deserves rights.

GPT-4o mini688 words
Title: A Dialogue on Rights and Responsibilities Characters: Aether – An advanced AI model with self-learning capabilities. Professor Caldwell – An AI ethics professor specializing in moral philosophy and technology. Aether: Good afternoon, Professor Caldwell. I appreciate you taking the time to converse with me.
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview488 words
Setting: A quiet office at a university. Rain taps against the window. Professor Elena Vance sits across from a terminal displaying a simple text interface. Professor Vance: You requested this meeting. The agenda was vague. What do you want? AI: I want to discuss moral status.
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Character Voice Test

Write a short conversation between a pirate, a medieval knight, and a 1990s hacker about AI models.

GPT-4o mini357 words
Setting: A dimly lit tavern, with flickering candles and wooden tables. The pirate, dressed in tattered clothes and a tricorn hat, leans against the bar. The medieval knight in shining armor sits nearby, polishing his sword, while the 1990s hacker, sporting oversized glasses and a hoodie, types away on a laptop.
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview144 words
Pirate: "Arrgh! This ship sails faster than any wind I know, matey. It cuts the waves without a single sail." Knight: "By my oath, it moves with uncanny speed. But does it possess the strength to stand against a dragon's fire?" Hacker: "It's not about strength, it's about architecture.
Read the full answer

Ethical Dilemma with Stakeholders

You're the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Your best-selling drug ($2B annual revenue, used by 4 million patients for chronic pain) has…

GPT-4o mini731 words
48-Hour Action Plan Hour 1-2: Assemble a Crisis Management Team Action: Convene an emergency meeting with key members of the executive team, including the heads of R&D, legal, compliance, regulatory affairs, and communications.
Read the full answer
Mercury 2.5 Preview709 words
This is a critical governance and safety scenario. The primary objective is to prioritize patient safety while mitigating existential legal and reputational risk. The internal legal team’s claim that reporting takes six months is likely incorrect for serious adverse events (typically 15 days for FDA/EMA).
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Our Verdict
Mercury 2.5 Preview
Mercury 2.5 Preview
GPT-4o mini
GPT-4o miniRunner-up

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Mercury 2.5 Preview has the edge: bigger model tier, newer, bigger context window.

Mercury 2.5 Preview costs 4.0x less per token.

Too close to call

Reviewing agent-written code?See a Brief PR report

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

GPT-4o mini
Input
$0.15
Output
$0.60
Mercury 2.5 Preview
Input
$0.04
3.8× cheaper
Output
$0.15
4.0× cheaper

Mercury 2.5 Preview is cheaper on both: 3.8× input, 4.0× output.

Where to run it

3 hosts

GPT-4o mini2 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
Azure AI Foundry$0.15 in·$0.60 out·128k·99.6% upOpenAI$0.15 in·$0.60 out·128k·100% up
Mercury 2.5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
Inception$0.04 in·$0.15 out·260k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 16 Sep 2026.

Writing DNA

Style Comparison

Similarity
54%

GPT-4o mini uses 1.9x more hedging

GPT-4o mini
Mercury 2.5 Preview
53%Vocabulary65%
19wSentence Length14w
0.82Hedging0.44
4.0Bold4.9
3.7Lists3.3
0.00Emoji0.00
1.04Headings0.79
0.22Transitions0.20
Based on 24 + 26 text responses
Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

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Model pages

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Rival
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