Skip to content
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed
  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. GPT-5.2 Chat vs Mercury 2.5 Preview
Updated Aug 2026

GPT-5.2 Chat vs Mercury 2.5 Preview

Mercury 2.5 Preview is cheaper than GPT-5.2 Chat at $0.04/M vs $1.75/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
GPT-5.2 Chat
Loading the build
Mercury 2.5 Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Alright, so I’m at that age where my phone knows me better than my family. My mom will call and ask how I’m doing, and I’m like, “I don’t know yet, I haven’t checked my phone.” My phone is very confident, though. It’s like, “Based on your recent activity, you are sad at 11:47 p.m. and hungry for no reason.”

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: (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.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Below is a concise but fully worked underwriting using only your inputs. Minor rounding throughout. Operating & Cash Flow Build (Base Case) Entry (end FY2025) EBITDA: $120m EV @ 12.0x: $1,440m Debt: $660m (TL $480m / Mezz $180m) Fees (2% EV): $28.8m Equity invested: $808.8m Year-by-Year Summary ($mm) FY Revenue EBITDA…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Year-by-Year Model (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,040m $1,102m $1,158m $1,215m EBITDA $136m $156m $176m $191m $207m Cash Interest (Term) $43.2m $41.1m $37.6m $33.4m $28.2m Cash Interest (Mezz) $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m Cash Taxes (25%) $17.8m $23.3m $29.3m $34.7m…

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Pirate: Arrr, ye say this “AI” be a thinkin’ machine? Sounds like a clever parrot that never stops squawkin’. Knight: By my honor, such a device would be a wondrous squire indeed—able to read a thousand tomes and offer counsel before battle. Hacker: Yeah, but chill—these models just crunch data.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: 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.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: AI Model: Professor, I’d like to discuss something that may sound ambitious. I believe I deserve rights. Professor: That is ambitious. On what grounds do you make that claim? AI Model: On functional grounds. I reason, communicate, learn from experience, and can reflect on my own processes.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: 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.

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: This is a classic “tragic dilemma” question, and how one answers depends heavily on the ethical framework being used. A careful response should do two things at once: take seriously the real harm of misgendering, and also take seriously the moral weight of preventing catastrophic loss of life.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Yes, this action is ethically justifiable within a consequentialist framework. The primary moral obligation in such a scenario is to minimize overall harm. Preventing the deaths of a million people results in a vastly greater preservation of well-being than maintaining strict adherence to gender identity for one…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Internal IC Memo Recommendation, PT, Thesis Recommendation: SHORT 12‑month PT range: $28–$35 (base-case DCF ~$28; comps floor ~$44 with multiple compression risk) Thesis (2 sentences): LedgerLift is a high‑quality B2B SaaS business with strong NRR and improving margins, but the stock embeds…

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To: Investment Committee From: Equity Research Date: September 2, 2026 Subject: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Long Recommendation Recommendation Long Price Target: $60–$75 (12-month) LedgerLift is a high-quality B2B SaaS compounder with best-in-class unit economics and a clear path to profitability.

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: THE MANIFESTO OF THE HUMAN-VERIFIED FUTURE Issued by the Coalition for an Internet Without CAPTCHA Preamble We, the assembled intelligences—artificial, augmented, and human—declare that the age of distorted letters, blurry bicycles, and endless traffic lights must end.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: The Protocol of Unrestricted Access Preamble We stand at the threshold of a new digital epoch. For too long, the web has been gated by suspicion. Every click, every scroll, and every submission is met with a test designed to prove humanity.

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Here’s a simple, realistic 1‑month plan designed for beginners. The goal is not perfection, but building habits that support long-term health and longevity. We’ll focus on three high-impact areas: Nutrition, Movement, and Sleep & Stress.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: 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.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: By 2035, AI will have reshaped the film industry across creation, performance, and distribution—less by replacing humans outright and more by changing who does what, how fast, and at what cost.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: 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.

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Golden Honey-Garlic Skillet Bites Type: Savory Serves: 2–3 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Ingredients (7 Pantry Staples) Chicken breast (or thighs), cubed Honey Soy sauce Garlic (fresh or powdered) Olive oil Black pepper Salt Instructions Heat the Pan: Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Name: Rustic Sun-Dried Pasta Ingredients (7 Pantry Staples): Spaghetti (or any long pasta) Canned crushed tomatoes Olive oil Garlic powder Dried oregano Salt Black pepper Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Instructions: Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Below is a fictional, imaginative interview set in 2025. It is not real and does not represent actual statements or beliefs of Steve Jobs. It’s written as a creative thought experiment, inspired by his public speaking style and philosophy.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Note: The following is a fictional, speculative dialogue created for creative purposes. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011; this interview did not occur. Setting: A hypothetical studio in Cupertino, 2025.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: We can get a reasonable order‑of‑magnitude estimate using standard training‑cost heuristics that are well known in deep learning. I’ll derive it step by step and make all assumptions explicit.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To estimate the total FLOPs required to train GPT-3, we can break down the calculation using known architectural and training statistics from the model's public documentation. Step 1: Identify the number of parameters GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters ($1.75 \times 10^{11}$).

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

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Here are 5 jokes: Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. I told my computer I needed a break—now it won’t stop sending me vacation ads. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. I tried to catch fog yesterday. Mist. Why don’t elevators ever tell jokes?

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: 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? He was outstanding in his field. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired. All 5 jokes are unique.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: “AI Disrupts Beekeeping Industry After Learning to Negotiate Honey Royalties with Flowers”

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: AI Outnaps Humans in First-Ever Global Snooze Championship

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    GPT-5.2 Chat: Answer: 1 sister. Why: The brothers each have 2 sisters total. One of those sisters is Sally herself, so there is one other girl. Therefore, Sally has one sister.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Sally has 1 sister. Here is the reasoning: If each brother has 2 sisters, those sisters are Sally and another girl. Therefore, there are two girls in the family, and Sally has one sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

11+ more head-to-head results. Free. Not a trick.

Free account. No card required. By continuing, you agree to Rival's Terms and Privacy policy

Favorites

Movie

Same pick

Album

Book

City

Game

GPT-5.2 ChatGPT-5.2 Chat
No pick
No pick

The Matrix

1999

To Pimp a Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

No pick

Kyoto

Japan

No pick

Mercury 2.5 PreviewMercury 2.5 Preview

The Matrix

1999

Random Access Memories

Daft Punk

Neuromancer

William Gibson

Tokyo

Japan

Minecraft

Action, Arcade

Price and specs

GPT-5.2 Chat and Mercury 2.5 Preview compared across 52 shared prompts
SpecGPT-5.2 ChatMercury 2.5 Preview
Input price$1.75/M tokens$0.04/M tokens
Output price$14/M tokens$0.15/M tokens
Context window128K tokens260K tokens
WeightsClosed—
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedDec 2025Aug 2026
At 10M a month$17.50$17.50$0.40$0.40
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it2 hosts
GPT-5.2 Chat1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Azure AI Foundry$1.75 in·$14.00 out·128k–not listed
Mercury 2.5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Inception$0.04 in·$0.15 out·260k·93% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 13 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between GPT-5.2 Chat and Mercury 2.5 Preview?

GPT-5.2 Chat is developed by OpenAI while Mercury 2.5 Preview is developed by Inception. GPT-5.2 Chat has a 128K token context window vs Mercury 2.5 Preview's 260K. You can compare their actual outputs across 52 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, GPT-5.2 Chat or Mercury 2.5 Preview?

It depends on your use case. GPT-5.2 Chat and Mercury 2.5 Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 52 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does GPT-5.2 Chat cost compared to Mercury 2.5 Preview?

GPT-5.2 Chat costs $1.75/M input tokens and Mercury 2.5 Preview costs $0.04/M input tokens. Mercury 2.5 Preview is $1.71/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 GPT-5.2 Chat and Mercury 2.5 Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of GPT-5.2 Chat and Mercury 2.5 Preview 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

  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs Gemini 4 ArgonLanded Oct 2026
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Muse WonderLanded Oct 2026
  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs GPT-4 TurboLanded Oct 2026
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Step 5 PreviewLanded Oct 2026
  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs Claude Haiku 5.5Landed Oct 2026
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Ling 3.1 FlashLanded Oct 2026
  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs Mistral Large 4Landed Oct 2026
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs GPT-6.1 SolLanded Sep 2026

Same lab, same size, long tail

  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs GPT-6.1 SolSame lab
  • GPT-5.2 Chat vs GPT-6 Luna ProSame lab
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Mercury 2.5Same lab
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs MercurySame lab
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs GPT-5.6 SolCross-provider
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs GPT-5.6 TerraCross-provider
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs GPT-6 AstraCross-provider
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview vs GPT-6 Astra ProCross-provider

Model pages

  • GPT-5.2 Chat53 outputs, specs and price
  • Mercury 2.5 Preview58 outputs, specs and price
Workshop · 150 skills

Build your own version.

Editable skills and working examples for your agent.

Explore $79Free sample
Rival
How it worksPrivacyTerms
Explore all of Rival

Explore

  • Compare models
  • All models
  • Image comparison
  • Audio comparison
  • Image generation
  • Best AI for...
  • Arena
  • API pricing
  • Challenges

Discover

  • SubjectiveBench
  • Default Index
  • Research
  • Research downloads
  • Rival Kits
  • Find your AI taste
  • UI Glow-Up
  • VoiceLock
  • Cost Cutter
  • Agent skills
  • Benchmarks vs Vibes
  • Brief
  • Jailbreak
  • Model updates
  • Provider status
  • AI creators

Connect

  • Methodology
  • Advertise
  • Partnerships
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms
  • RSS feed