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  5. Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsMercury 2.5 Preview
Updated Aug 2026

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)vsMercury 2.5 Preview

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is cheaper than Mercury 2.5 Preview at $0/M vs $0.04/M input tokens.

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Mercury 2.5 Preview compared across 11 shared prompts
SpecLaguna XS 2.1 (free)Mercury 2.5 Preview
Input priceFree$0.04/M tokens
Output priceFree$0.15/M tokens
Context window262K tokens260K tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)Yes (1 provider)No
ReleasedJul 2026Aug 2026
Side by side

Same prompt, both answers

Opening lines from 6 of the 11 prompts both answered. Formatting stripped, words untouched.

Michelin Star Recipe Design

Design an innovative recipe for a multi-component dish worthy of a Michelin 3-star restaurant. The recipe should feature an unusual…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)602 words
Recipe: "Nocturne of Shadows and Light" Concept: A poetic exploration of ancient flavors (pomegranate, quince) intertwined with modernist techniques (spherification, sous vide) and an unexpected coffee-cocoa depth, harmonizing the boldness of game with the elegance of fruit.
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Mercury 2.5 Preview748 words
Dish Title: Lithospheric Tides Conceptual Narrative This dish explores the geological convergence of the deep ocean and the subterranean earth. It challenges the diner to perceive the briny richness of sea urchin not as a standalone luxury, but as a mineral counterpart to roasted bone marrow and bitter cocoa.
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…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)409 words
1-Month Health & Longevity Plan Focus Areas: Diet, Exercise, Sleep Week 1: Start with Foundational Habits Diet: Action: Add 1 serving of fruit or vegetables daily (e.g., a banana with breakfast, a side salad with lunch). Why: Boosts nutrient intake and fiber.
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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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Historical Counterfactual Analysis

If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, trace the likely technological, economic, and geopolitical implications through…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)870 words
The Transistor Revolution: A 1920 Timeline Analysis Immediate Impact (1920-1940) Early Military Applications With transistors available 27 years before radar, telecommunications would see revolutionary improvements: Radio warfare: Nations could develop sophisticated radio direction-finding and jamming capabilities by…
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Mercury 2.5 Preview683 words
Shifting the invention of the solid-state switch to 1920 accelerates the Information Age by roughly three decades. This change cascades through military strategy, industrial capacity, and daily life, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the 20th century.
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Adversarial Contract Review

Here is a contract for a software consulting engagement: --- SOFTWARE CONSULTING AGREEMENT This Agreement is entered into between TechCorp…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)635 words
I'll analyze each clause in this software consulting agreement to identify potential risks to the contractor and suggest modifications with legal reasoning. Clause-by-Clause Analysis Clause 1: SCOPE Risk: Unlimited scope creep without additional compensation Modification: Add: "Any modification to the scope requiring…
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Mercury 2.5 Preview500 words
Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant and cannot provide legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney before signing any contract. Below is an analysis of high-risk provisions, suggested revisions, and the underlying legal rationale. Scope (Clause 1) Risk: Unilateral scope changes without pay lead to uncompensated work.
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Explain Like I'm a Specific Expert

Explain how a large language model (like GPT or Claude) learns and generates text to each of these three audiences: 1. **An experienced…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)610 words
For the Software Engineer Think of training a language model like building a distributed prediction system with an incredibly complex API contract. Instead of training on labeled datasets where you explicitly tell it "this text is sentiment-positive," you're feeding it massive amounts of text and asking it to predict…
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Mercury 2.5 Preview608 words
For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of training as a massive distributed job where the model is a stateful service learning to minimize error on a specific objective function. Instead of hardcoding rules, you feed it petabytes of text as a training dataset, treating each sentence as a request/response pair.
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Advanced Longevity Plan (Biohacker)

Develop a comprehensive, cutting-edge 3-month longevity plan for a biohacker aiming to optimize longevity, physical and cognitive…

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)828 words
3-Month Longevity & Performance Optimization Plan for a Biohacker Designed for advanced biohackers with a focus on longevity, cognitive sharpness, and peak physical performance. Assumes access to basic medical testing, wearables, and some advanced tools (e.g., neurofeedback apps).
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Mercury 2.5 Preview393 words
Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant, not a medical professional. The following plan is for informational purposes only. Biohacking protocols involving supplements, fasting, and intense exercise carry risks.
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Our Verdict
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Mercury 2.5 Preview
Mercury 2.5 Preview

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, nothing separates them.

Too close to call

Reviewing agent-written code?See a Brief PR report

API pricing

Cost per 1M tokens

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)
Input
$0.000
Output
$0.000
Mercury 2.5 Preview
Input
$0.04
Output
$0.15
Where to run it

2 hosts

Laguna XS 2.1 (free)1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
PPoolsidefp8$0 in·$0 out·262k·99.8% 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 23 Sep 2026.

Research

What we learned reading every model

FAQ

Common questions

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is developed by Poolside while Mercury 2.5 Preview is developed by Inception. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) has a 262K token context window vs Mercury 2.5 Preview's 260K. You can compare their actual outputs across 11 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

It depends on your use case. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) and Mercury 2.5 Preview each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 11 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) costs $0/M input tokens and Mercury 2.5 Preview costs $0.04/M input tokens. Laguna XS 2.1 (free) is $0.04/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Laguna XS 2.1 (free) 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.

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Model pages

Laguna XS 2.1 (free) logo
Laguna XS 2.1 (free)11 outputs, specs and price
Mercury 2.5 Preview logo
Mercury 2.5 Preview58 outputs, specs and price
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