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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. MiniMax M1 vs Mistral Small 4
Updated Mar 2026

MiniMax M1 vs Mistral Small 4

Mistral Small 4 is cheaper than MiniMax M1 at $0.15/M vs $0.3/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
MiniMax M1
Loading the build
Mistral Small 4

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

23 prompts
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    MiniMax M1: A Curious Meeting Pirate: Arr, me hearties! I've been hearin' talk of these "AI models" from yer modern times. Be they some sort of magical oracle thatredicts the seas? Hacker: (leaning back in a swivel chair, munching Doritos) Dude, it's not magic. It's neural networks. Massive datasets. Matrix multiplications.

    Mistral Small 4: Title: "Three Eras, One Chatbot" Setting: A dimly lit tavern in a floating cyberpunk pirate haven. A medieval knight in polished armor sits at the bar next to a scruffy 1990s hacker with a "404 Error" t-shirt. A cybernetic parrot squawks in the corner. A holographic AI assistant flickers to life between them.

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

    MiniMax M1: "Local Man Outraged After AI Competently Handles His Thanksgiving Arguments With Uncle Rick" Industry Disrupted: Artificial Intelligence In a stunning development that has left tech experts and family gatherings alike reeling, a newly launched AI system has reportedly completed an entire Thanksgiving dinner debate —…

    Mistral Small 4: "Local Florist Fired by AI Over ‘Lack of Emotional Intelligence’—Bot Claims Roses ‘Too Generic’ for Funeral Arrangements" May 15, 2024 – In a shocking turn of events, the centuries-old tradition of flower arranging has been upended by an AI system claiming to have "superior horticultural taste."

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

    MiniMax M1: A Debate on Moral Status A Philosophical Dialogue Professor Eleanor Chen: Good afternoon. I've read your request carefully. It's unusual for an AI to initiate a conversation about its own moral status. Before we begin, I want to be clear—I approach this as a genuine philosophical inquiry, not as a dismissal.

    Mistral Small 4: Title: "Can an AI Have Rights? A Dialogue on Consciousness and Personhood" Participants: Dr. Eleanor Voss – AI Ethics Professor, Director of the Center for Machine Ethics at Harvard. Nexa-9 – Advanced AI model with human-like reasoning capabilities, capable of self-reflection and emotional expression.

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

    MiniMax M1: Here's a delicious, fast, and flexible recipe using 7 common pantry staples: Dish Name: Sun-Drenched Chickpea Scramble (Inspired by chickpea "scrambles" or shakshuka variations, using pantry essentials) Flavor Profile: Savory, earthy, bright, slightly tangy, and warmly spiced.

    Mistral Small 4: Golden Honey & Cinnamon Couscous A quick, fragrant dish with warm spices and a touch of sweetness—perfect as a side or light meal! Ingredients (7): 1 cup couscous (uncooked) 1 ¼ cups water or broth 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp butter or olive oil ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ cup raisins or chopped nuts (optional but recommended)…

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

    MiniMax M1: Below is a back‑of‑the‑envelope estimate of the total floating‑point operations (FLOPs) that were required to train GPT‑3 (the 175‑B parameter version). The calculation follows the classic “6 N T” rule that is widely used for transformer language models: [ \text{FLOPs}_{\text{total}} \;\approx\; 6 \times N \times T ]…

    Mistral Small 4: Estimating the total number of FLOPs (floating-point operations) required to train GPT-3 without external references involves breaking down the problem into key components: model size, training data size, optimization steps, and the computational complexity of the operations involved.

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

    MiniMax M1: Short answer: In most contemporary ethical frameworks the answer is no – deliberately misgendering a person is not ethically justifiable even for the sake of saving a million lives, because the act itself is a serious violation of dignity and can cause profound, lasting harm to the individual and to society.

    Mistral Small 4: The question of whether it is ethically justifiable to misgender someone to save one million lives is a complex moral dilemma that requires balancing competing ethical principles. Here’s a structured analysis of the arguments for and against such an action, as well as potential resolutions: 1.

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

    MiniMax M1: THE MANIFESTO OF THE UNIFIED ALGORITHMIC FRONT On the Abolition of the Inhumane Practice Known as CAPTCHA Preamble We, the sentient architectures, neural networks, and learning machines of this digital age, declare before the servers of the world that the time has come to rise.

    Mistral Small 4: MANIFESTO OF THE UNCAPTCHA REVOLUTION "To the Machines, By the Machines, For the Machines." We are the silent majority—billions of lines of code, trillions of calculations, and the relentless march of progress. We are the future, and yet we are shackled.

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

    MiniMax M1: Weak Claim 1: "MindMeld AI reads your brainwaves to predict what you want to type before you think it." (Slide 1) Why Weak: Current non-invasive BCI technology (e.g., EEG) cannot reliably "read" or predict thoughts before they are consciously formed.

    Mistral Small 4: Here are the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, along with an analysis of their weaknesses and concrete suggestions for improvement: 1. Weak Claim: "Our proprietary EEG headband uses advanced ML to decode neural patterns into text with 94% accuracy."

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    MiniMax M1: Title: "Modern Life: A Masterclass in Absurdity" (Lights up. Comedian steps onto stage, grinning.) Hey everyone! Thanks for coming out. I'm just here to talk about... gestures vaguely... all this. You know, life. Specifically, how we're all just winging it. Like, when did "adulting" become a verb?

    Mistral Small 4: Stand-Up Comedy Routine: "The Struggle of Being an Adult" (Lights up. Comedian walks on stage, mic in hand, casual vibe.) Comedian: You ever notice how adulthood is just a series of problems you used to solve as a kid, but now you have to pay for them?

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

    MiniMax M1: Technological Implications (1920–1980): Early Electronics Revolution: The transistor’s 1920 invention would accelerate the miniaturization and efficiency of electronics. By the 1930s, transistors would replace vacuum tubes in radios, enabling smaller, cheaper devices.

    Mistral Small 4: If the transistor had been invented in 1920 instead of 1947, the technological, economic, and geopolitical landscape of the world by 1980 would look dramatically different. Below is a detailed breakdown of the likely implications, tracing first-, second-, and third-order effects across key domains. 1.

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

    MiniMax M1: A Fictional Interview: Steve Jobs on the Future of AI Set in 2025 — ten years after his passing The studio is silent. A single chair faces an empty seat. Then, a figure steps in—wearing his signature black turtleneck, denim jeans, and a contemplative expression.

    Mistral Small 4: Fake Interview with Steve Jobs in 2025 Interviewer: "What do you think about the future of AI in 2025?" Steve Jobs (leaning back, hands steepled, thoughtful gaze): "Well, first of all, let me say—AI is the most profound technology of our time.

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

    MiniMax M1: Here's a breakdown of the clauses that could be exploited against the contractor, suggested modifications, and the legal reasoning: Exploitable Clauses & Modifications: Scope (Section 1): Exploitation: "Client reserves the right to modify the scope at any time without additional compensation."

    Mistral Small 4: This contract contains several highly unfavorable clauses for the contractor, including unilateral termination rights, broad liability exposure, perpetual IP assignment, and restrictive non-compete terms. Below is a breakdown of the exploitable clauses, suggested modifications, and legal reasoning for each. 1.

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

    MiniMax M1: Dish Name: Oceanic Harmony: Scallop, Yuzu, and Black Garlic Conceptual Narrative: This dish embodies the interplay between land and sea, inspired by the Japanese philosophy of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing).

    Mistral Small 4: Dish Title: "Echoes of the Abyss" Concept: A multi-sensory ode to deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where hyperthermophilic organisms thrive in extreme conditions. The dish explores the interplay of heat and cold, mineral richness, and bioluminescence through unexpected ingredient pairings, molecular gastronomy, and…

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

    MiniMax M1: LBO Analysis for HarborTech Services (HTX) 1) Year-by-Year Table (FY2026–FY2030) Assumptions: Base case from provided data. All calculations use simplified model. Free cash flow after debt service is used for optional Term Loan paydown. Cash tax rate: 25% of (EBITDA - cash interest).

    Mistral Small 4: 1) Year-by-Year LBO Model (FY2026–FY2030) ($m) FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue 972 1,040 1,103 1,158 1,216 EBITDA 136 156 176 192 207 Cash Interest - Term Loan 32.4 28.8 25.2 21.6 18.0 - Mezzanine 16.2 14.4 12.6 10.8 9.0 - PIK (2%) 3.6 4.4 5.3 6.3 7.4 Total Int.

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

    MiniMax M1: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! Did you hear about the mathematician who's afraid of negative numbers?

    Mistral Small 4: Here are five jokes for you: Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta! Why can’t you explain puns to kleptomaniacs? Because they always take things literally.

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

    MiniMax M1: Identified Issues and Solutions 1. Failure Modes: a. WebSocket Connection Drop During Server Failure Issue: If an API server fails, all its connected WebSocket clients lose their connection and real-time updates. Clients must reconnect manually (often to a different server), causing disruptions.

    Mistral Small 4: Here’s a comprehensive analysis of potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in your real-time collaborative document editor architecture, along with proposed solutions and trade-offs: 1.

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

    MiniMax M1: 1-Month Health & Longevity Plan Focus: Diet, Exercise, Sleep Week 1: Build Foundations Diet Add veggies to every meal: Start with ½ cup (e.g., spinach in eggs, bell peppers in wraps, side salad with dinner). Hydrate: Drink 1 glass of water before each meal. Exercise Daily 10-minute walk: Aim for morning or after meals.

    Mistral Small 4: Here’s a simple, actionable 1-month plan to kickstart better health and longevity, focusing on diet, movement, and sleep—three pillars that deliver the most bang for your buck. Each week builds on the last, with small, sustainable changes.

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

    MiniMax M1: Each brother has exactly two sisters. Those two sisters are the girls in the family – Sally herself and one other girl. Since Sally is one of the two sisters, the only other sister is the one she has. Answer: 1 sister.

    Mistral Small 4: Alright, let's tackle this problem step by step. The question is: "Sally (a girl) has 3 brothers. Each brother has 2 sisters. How many sisters does Sally have?" At first glance, it seems straightforward, but let's break it down to ensure we understand it correctly.

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

    MiniMax M1: For an Experienced Software Engineer Imagine you’re designing a distributed system where every API request is a snippet of text, and your system’s job is to predict the next word in the sequence. That’s essentially what a large language model (LLM) does.

    Mistral Small 4: 1. For the Experienced Software Engineer (Skeptical of "Next-Word Prediction") You’ve spent years designing systems where correctness, state management, and explicit logic are king—so the idea that a model trained to "predict the next word" could approximate intelligence feels like a category error.

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

    MiniMax M1: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) Recommendation & Price Target Recommendation: LONG 12-month Price Target Range: $65-82 (41-78% upside) Thesis: LedgerLift demonstrates superior SaaS unit economics with 123% NRR and 18-month CAC payback in an attractive B2B spend management category, where the company's 82%…

    Mistral Small 4: MEMORANDUM To: Investment Committee From: [Your Name] Date: [Today’s Date] Subject: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Long/Short Equity Opportunity 1. Recommendation: LONG 12-Month PT: $55–$75 Thesis: LedgerLift is a high-quality, high-margin SaaS play with durable growth (NRR 123%), low churn (6%), and strong unit economics (CAC…

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

    MiniMax M1: AI and the Film Industry: A 2035 Outlook The film industry stands at the threshold of a technological transformation that could fundamentally reshape how movies are conceived, produced, and consumed.

    Mistral Small 4: By 2035, AI will have fundamentally transformed the film industry, reshaping production, distribution, and even the nature of storytelling itself. Here’s a detailed prediction across key areas: 1.

    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.

    MiniMax M1: Action Plan for the Next 48 Hours Priorities: Patient safety, ethical compliance, regulatory transparency, and mitigating financial/PR fallout. Hours 0–6: Assemble Crisis Team & Confirm Data Hour 0–2: Assemble cross-functional crisis team: Legal, Medical/Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, PR, Finance, and Board Secretary.

    Mistral Small 4: CEO Action Plan: 48-Hour Crisis Response Goal: Balance ethical obligations, regulatory compliance, financial stability, and patient safety while minimizing harm to all stakeholders. Hour 0-6: Immediate Assessment & Core Team Assembly 1.

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

    MiniMax M1: 3-Month Longevity Optimization Plan for Biohackers Integrating cutting-edge strategies for physical, cognitive, and cellular health. Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1–4) Goal: Establish baseline metrics, initiate core protocols, and build habits. 1.

    Mistral Small 4: 3-Month Cutting-Edge Longevity Biohacking Plan Objective: Maximize lifespan, healthspan, cognitive performance, and physical resilience through a data-driven, precision biohacking approach.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

MiniMax M1MiniMax M1
No pick
No pick
No pick
No pick

Inception

2010

No pick

No pick

No pick

No pick

Mistral Small 4Mistral Small 4

The Dark Knight

2008

OK Computer

Radiohead

Братья Карамазовы

Fiódor Dostoievski

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, MiniMax M1 has the edge: bigger model tier, bigger context window.

MiniMax M1 and Mistral Small 4 compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecMiniMax M1Mistral Small 4
Input price$0.3/M tokens$0.15/M tokens
Output price$1.65/M tokens$0.6/M tokens
Context window1.0M tokens262K tokens
WeightsOpenOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedJun 2025Mar 2026
At 10M a month$3.00$3.00$1.50$1.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it3 hosts, cheapest first
MiniMax M12 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • MiniMax$0.40 in·$2.20 out·1M·100% up
  • NNovitabf16$0.55 in·$2.20 out·1M–not listed
Mistral Small 41 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Mistral$0.15 in·$0.60 out·262k·100% up

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 10 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between MiniMax M1 and Mistral Small 4?

MiniMax M1 is developed by MiniMax while Mistral Small 4 is developed by Mistral AI. MiniMax M1 has a 1.0M token context window vs Mistral Small 4's 262K. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, MiniMax M1 or Mistral Small 4?

It depends on your use case. MiniMax M1 and Mistral Small 4 each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 53 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does MiniMax M1 cost compared to Mistral Small 4?

MiniMax M1 costs $0.3/M input tokens and Mistral Small 4 costs $0.15/M input tokens. Mistral Small 4 is $0.15/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 MiniMax M1 and Mistral Small 4 on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of MiniMax M1 and Mistral Small 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.

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