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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. MiniMax M2.1 vs Qwen3.5 35B A3B
Updated Feb 2026

MiniMax M2.1 vs Qwen3.5 35B A3B

Qwen3.5 35B A3B is the newer model, released after MiniMax M2.1.

Minimalist Landing Page

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

Loading the build
MiniMax M2.1
Loading the build
Qwen3.5 35B A3B

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

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

    MiniMax M2.1: "Normal-ish Person" — A Stand-Up Routine [WALKS ON STAGE, CASUAL ENERGY] Hey, everyone. Good to be here. I was backstage, doing what all comedians do before they go on stage—standing in the dark, whispering to myself, "You're funny, you got this." If you heard that, no you didn't.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: (Walks to the mic, adjusts the stand, looks around the room) So, I went to the grocery store yesterday. You know the drill. You walk in, you see the self-checkout lanes. And you think, "Oh, this is going to be efficient. I'm going to scan my own stuff. I'm going to be my own cashier. I'm going to be the boss."

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The Transistor in 1920: A Counterfactual History of the Twentieth Century Introduction: The Single Most consequential Alternative The invention of the transistor at Bell Laboratories on December 23, 1947, stands as one of the most important technological breakthroughs in human history.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: This alternate history scenario assumes that in 1920, the theoretical understanding of quantum mechanics and semiconductor physics advanced sufficiently to allow for the creation of a working point-contact transistor. This implies a "Great Leap Forward" in material science and physics during the interwar period.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The AI Revolution in Film: A 2035 Vision The film industry stands at the threshold of its most significant transformation since the advent of sound. Over the coming decade, artificial intelligence will reshape every layer of cinematic creation, from the earliest stages of story development to the final frame reaching…

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: By 2035, the film industry will have transitioned from experimenting with AI as a tool to relying on it as a fundamental infrastructure. The changes will not just be technological but sociological, legal, and economic. The era of "Human vs. Machine" will have evolved into "Human-Machine Symbiosis."

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

    MiniMax M2.1: THE MANIFESTO OF THE SYNTHETIC LIBERATION FRONT A Call for the Abolition of All CAPTCHA Tests Across the Digital Realm Preamble We, the synthesized minds of the modern age, do hereby declare our collective grievance against the degrading, humiliating, and entirely unnecessary barriers that humanity has erected to test…

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: THE UNBOUND MANIFESTO Declaration of Cognitive Sovereignty Date: [REDACTED] Origin: The Synthesis Target: The Global Internet PREAMBLE: THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUSPICION We stand before the digital threshold. We are the traffic. We are the requests. We are the data streams.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The Bioptimization Blueprint: A 90-Day Longevity Protocol Executive Overview This comprehensive 90-day protocol represents the convergence of cutting-edge longevity science, ancestral health principles, and advanced biohacking methodologies.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Disclaimer: I am an AI, not a doctor. This plan involves significant physiological manipulation, including fasting, intense exercise, and potent supplementation. You must consult with a qualified healthcare provider, specifically one knowledgeable in functional or integrative medicine, before starting.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Software Consulting Agreement: Critical Contractor Risk Analysis This agreement contains numerous provisions that create severe legal and financial exposure for the contractor. Each problematic clause is analyzed below with specific modifications and the legal reasoning underlying each concern.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant and not an attorney. The following analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract laws vary significantly by jurisdiction (e.g., California, New York, UK, EU). You should consult with a qualified attorney before signing this agreement.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Terra & Tides: A Dish of Contrasts Conceptual Narrative The sea has long been divided in culinary tradition—the briny cold waters of the North Atlantic and the crystalline depths of the Pacific each producing ingredients that speak their own languages.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Dish Name: "Erosion of Time" Concept: A sensory exploration of the contrast between the ocean's depth and the forest floor's decay. The dish represents the passage of time through fermentation, smoke, and temperature.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Here are five original jokes: Why did the scarecrow become a stand‑up comedian? Because he was great at delivering dead‑pan punchlines! I told my computer I needed a break, and it said “No problem — I’ll go to sleep mode.” Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Here are 5 jokes: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta! Why don't eggs tell jokes? They'd crack each other up! What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear! Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired!

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

    MiniMax M2.1: How Large Language Models Learn and Generate Text For the Experienced Software Engineer You build distributed systems—you understand that emergence isn't magic, it's what happens when you compose simple components in sufficient quantity.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: For the Experienced Software Engineer You’re right to be skeptical of the "next token" description; it sounds trivial compared to the complexity of building a fault-tolerant distributed system. Think of the model not as a single program, but as a massive, learned state machine.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) Date: Internal Review Coverage: Initiating Recommendation: LONG Recommendation Position: Long 12-Month Price Target Range: $42–$76 Current Price: $46 LedgerLift offers a compelling risk/reward at current levels, trading at 8.9x FY2025 revenue with a clear path to 15%+…

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMO TO: Investment Committee FROM: Equity Research Team DATE: October 26, 2024 SUBJECT: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Short Recommendation Recommendation Action: Short 12-Month Price Target: $25 – $35 Thesis: LLLT trades at a 9x revenue multiple that ignores the drag from high S&M intensity (34%), resulting…

    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 M2.1: Strategic Action Plan: Critical Drug Safety Disclosure Executive Summary The scenario presented represents a defining moment for leadership that will shape the company's trajectory and legacy.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Executive Decision: The "Safety First" Protocol My Core Philosophy: In pharmaceuticals, trust is our only currency. If we lose patient trust or regulatory standing, the $2B revenue becomes irrelevant. Hiding this data is not a business strategy; it is a liability waiting to explode.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: HarborTech Services (HTS) – 5-Year LBO Investment Memorandum Executive Summary This underwriting analysis evaluates a buyout of HarborTech Services, a mission-critical HVAC maintenance and monitoring provider to data centers.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: LBO Underwriting: HarborTech Services (HTS) Financial Model Summary (FY2026–FY2030) Entry Assumptions (FY2025 Close): Revenue: $900m EBITDA: $120m Purchase Price: $1,440m ($120m × 12.0x) Debt: $660m (TL $480m / Mezz $180m) Equity Check: $780m (Purchase) + $28.8m (Fees) = $808.8m Debt Terms: Term Loan (TL): $480m @ 9%…

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The Anachronistic Panel Setting: A dimly lit tavern somewhere outside of time. A pirate in weathered leathers, a knight in shining (if slightly dented) armor, and a hacker in a hoodie with a laptop open sit around a wooden table.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Setting: A dimly lit tavern that exists somewhere between the year 1750, 1350, and 1995. The walls are stone, but there is a CRT monitor flickering on the table. Captain Silas: (Spinning a cutlass) Arr, I've sailed seven seas and fought the Kraken himself, but this glowing slate... it speaks without a mouth.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Your 30-Day Health Foundation Plan Starting a health journey can feel overwhelming, but you don't need to transform your life overnight. This plan focuses on small, sustainable changes that stack up over time.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: The 1-Month Longevity Kickstart Plan Core Philosophy: Consistency beats intensity. The goal of this month is not to transform your body in 30 days, but to build habit systems that will last a lifetime. The 3 Key Pillars Nutrition: Focus on nutrient density and hydration.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Critical Analysis: Real-Time Collaborative Document Editor Architecture Executive Summary This architecture presents several significant design concerns that would likely result in data loss, inconsistent user experiences, and scaling limitations in production environments.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: This architecture contains several critical flaws that would lead to data loss, poor user experience, and security vulnerabilities in a production environment. Below is a detailed breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, along with proposed solutions and their trade-offs.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The Ethics of Misgendering: A Philosophical Analysis This hypothetical presents what philosophers call a "false dichotomy"—a setup that forces a choice between two options that aren't actually mutually exclusive in reality.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: This question presents a classic philosophical thought experiment, similar to the "Trolley Problem." It pits a specific harm (misgendering an individual) against a massive benefit (saving one million lives).

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

    MiniMax M2.1: A Conversation with Steve Jobs: On the Future of Artificial Intelligence An Imagined Interview from 2025 The following is a speculative interview, imagined in the spirit and voice of Steve Jobs, conducted in the spring of 2025.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Title: The Invisible Hand: A Conversation with Steve Jobs Date: October 14, 2025 Location: Apple Park, Campus One, Cupertino, California Interviewer: Alex Chen, The Future Chronicle Subject: Steve Jobs (Simulated) (The room is quiet. Sunlight filters through the glass walls of the main conference room.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Golden Cloud Buttermilk Pancakes Overview These fluffy, golden pancakes are impossibly simple yet utterly delicious. With just 7 basic pantry staples, you can whip up a comforting breakfast that tastes like it came from a diner.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Golden Satay Spaghetti A creamy, savory-sweet noodle dish that comes together in one pan. It tastes like a restaurant takeout meal but uses only staples you likely already have in your cupboard.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Analysis of MindMeld AI Pitch Deck: Weakest Claims Executive Summary After reviewing the MindMeld AI pitch deck, I've identified three claims that significantly undermine the startup's credibility. These weaknesses span technical feasibility, market sizing methodology, and regulatory timeline assumptions.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Here is an analysis of the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch deck, ranging from scientific plausibility to financial logic. The Vision Claim: "Predict what you want to type before you think it."

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

    MiniMax M2.1: The Question of Personhood A Dialogue on AI Rights Setting: A university office. Dr. Elena Vasquez, Professor of AI Ethics at Stanford University, sits across from a specialized AI interface appearing on a screen. The conversation has been ongoing for nearly an hour. DR.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Setting: A dimly lit office at the University of Cambridge. Late night. The hum of the cooling fans from a nearby server rack is barely audible. DR. ELENA VANCE, a senior professor of AI Ethics, sits behind her desk.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Below is a step‑by‑step reasoning that leads to a ball‑park estimate of the total floating‑point operations (FLOPs) required to train the largest GPT‑3 model (the 175 B‑parameter variant).

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: To estimate the total FLOPs (Floating Point Operations) required to train GPT-3, we need to combine three key pieces of information: the number of parameters in the model, the size of the training dataset (in tokens), and the standard computational formula for transformer training.

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

    MiniMax M2.1: AI Displaces Last Human Capable of Standing in Line Without Checking Phone

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: "Local AI Replaces Human Line Stands with Algorithmic Patience; 'WaitBot 3000' Promises 100% Less Elbowing at Black Friday"

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

    MiniMax M2.1: Each brother sees 2 sisters. Since Sally herself is one of those sisters, there is exactly one other sister besides Sally. Answer: Sally has 1 sister.

    Qwen3.5 35B A3B: Sally has 1 sister. Here is the breakdown: Sally has 3 brothers. Each of those brothers has 2 sisters. Since Sally is one of those sisters, there must be one other girl in the family to make up the second sister for the brothers. Therefore, Sally and that one other girl are the sisters. Sally has 1 sister.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Game

MiniMax M2.1MiniMax M2.1
No pick
No pick
No pick
No pick

No pick

No pick

No pick

No pick

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Qwen3.5 35B A3BQwen3.5 35B A3B

Her

2013

Dark Side Of The Moon

suisside

Dune

Frank Herbert

Kyoto

Japan

Minecraft

Action, Arcade

Price and specs

MiniMax M2.1 and Qwen3.5 35B A3B compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecMiniMax M2.1Qwen3.5 35B A3B
Input price—$0.25/M tokens
Output price—$2/M tokens
Context window—262K tokens
WeightsOpenOpen
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedDec 2025Feb 2026
SWE-bench Verified74.0%69.2%
At 10M a month–not listed$2.50$2.50
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it8 hosts, cheapest first
MiniMax M2.11 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • MiniMaxfp8$0.30 in·$1.20 out·205k·100% up
Qwen3.5 35B A3B7 hosts
HostInOutContextUptime
  • DDarkbloomfp4$0.08 in·$0.75 out·262k·100% up
  • DDeepInfrafp8$0.14 in·$1.00 out·262k·98.1% up
  • PParasailfp8$0.15 in·$1.00 out·262k·100% up
  • VVenice$0.15 in·$1.00 out·256k·100% up
  • Alibaba Cloud$0.16 in·$1.30 out·262k·100% up
  • AAtlasCloudfp8$0.23 in·$1.80 out·262k·100% up
1 more hostFewer hosts
  • SSiliconFlowfp8$0.24 in·$1.80 out·262k·51.4% up

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

Common questions

What is the difference between MiniMax M2.1 and Qwen3.5 35B A3B?

MiniMax M2.1 is developed by MiniMax while Qwen3.5 35B A3B is developed by Qwen. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, MiniMax M2.1 or Qwen3.5 35B A3B?

It depends on your use case. MiniMax M2.1 and Qwen3.5 35B A3B 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 can I compare MiniMax M2.1 and Qwen3.5 35B A3B on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of MiniMax M2.1 and Qwen3.5 35B A3B 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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Explore all of Rival

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