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  1. Home/
  2. Compare/
  3. Solar Mini 4 vs Step 5 Preview
Updated Oct 2026

Solar Mini 4 vs Step 5 Preview

Solar Mini 4 is cheaper than Step 5 Preview at $0.05/M vs $1/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
Solar Mini 4
Loading the build
Step 5 Preview

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Solar Mini 4: 518.51935 New TL: 276.34682 - 86.82747 = 189.51935 Mezz: PIK 194.8377888 * 0.02 = 3.896755776 New Mezz: 194.8377888 + 3.896755776 = 198.734544576 Ending Balances: TL: 189.52 Mezz: 198.73 Total Debt: 388.25 Exit (End of FY2030): Exit EBITDA: 206.6252668 Exit Multiple: 10.5x Exit EV: 206.6252668 * 10.5 = 2,169.5653014…

    Step 5 Preview: HarborTech Services — 5-Year LBO (Base Case) Entry Math (FY2025 close) Item Calculation $m Purchase EV 12.0x × $120m 1,440.0 Transaction fees 2.0% × EV 28.8 Term Loan 4.0x × $120m 480.0 Mezzanine 1.5x × $120m 180.0 Equity check 1,440 + 28.8 − 660 808.8 Conventions: TL amortization = 1.0% of original principal…

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

    Solar Mini 4: This is a fascinating counterfactual. I need to note upfront that the scientific and engineering foundations for a working transistor did not exist in 1920. Quantum mechanics was barely a decade old, band theory of solids hadn't been developed, and semiconductor physics (doping, p-n junctions, electron mobility) was…

    Step 5 Preview: Assume the 1920 invention is not a fragile lab curiosity but a manufacturable solid-state amplifier/switch by the mid-1920s. Vacuum tubes still dominate high-power RF transmission into the 1950s, but receivers, switching logic, control systems, and computers move to solid state decades early.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Have you ever bought one of those robot vacuums? You know the ones. They look like a small, metallic moonlander that landed in your kitchen. You bring it home, you plug it in, and you feel a surge of productivity. You think, "I am going to be so organized." Then the machine starts making that sound. The beep.

    Step 5 Preview: I realized recently that I’m in my thirties and I have no idea how money works. I just... pay it. That’s my entire financial strategy. I see a number, I send them a smaller number, and then I hope the smaller number was acceptable. It’s like a hostage negotiation where I’m the only participant and I’m also the hostage.

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

    Solar Mini 4: For the Experienced Software Engineer From a systems architecture perspective, the skepticism that "predicting the next word" yields intelligence is understandable, but it stems from viewing the model through a deterministic, code-based lens rather than a probabilistic, distributed-systems lens.

    Step 5 Preview: 1. The Experienced Software Engineer Think of training an LLM as a massively distributed, automated refactoring job where the compiler is gradient descent. You start with a random function—billions of floating-point parameters—and a loss function that measures how badly it predicts the next token in a sequence.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Setting: A dimly lit tavern where a glowing, humming console sits on the table. Pirate: "Arrr, what be this shiny thing? Sounds like a storm in a bottle." Medieval Knight: "It speaks with a voice of certainty. It knows the laws of the realm and the future of battle." 1990s Hacker: "Relax, matey. It's not magic.

    Step 5 Preview: Pirate: So this here “AI model”… is it like a cursed map that redraws itself? Speak plain, ye hooded deckhand. Hacker: It’s not cursed, man. It’s just a massive neural net trained on, like, terabytes of data. Think of it as the ultimate BBS where the sysop knows everything. Knight: A most diligent scribe, then?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    Solar Mini 4: Blade Runner 2049 and its predecessor exist in a deliberate philosophical and aesthetic dialogue. While the sequel is frequently discussed as a visual homage, it functions more accurately as a philosophical extension: it honors the original’s existential and cinematic foundations while deepening, complicating, and…

    Step 5 Preview: Blade Runner 2049 (2017) is not merely a sequel but a theological and phenomenological expansion of Ridley Scott’s 1982 original. Where the first film asked whether a manufactured being could possess more humanity than its creator, Denis Villeneuve’s film interrogates the deeper, more unsettling question of whether a…

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

    Solar Mini 4: Chronos & Tides A Three-Component Study in Preservation, Precision, and Ephemeral Sensation Concept: A single plate that traces the lifecycle of an umami-rich flavor profile through three distinct temporal states: fermented (time in), precision-cooked (time controlled), and volatile (time suspended).

    Step 5 Preview: “Nocturne: The Jasmine and the Black Garlic” A Study in Yūgen — Profound, Mysterious Beauty Conceptual Narrative This dish is an edible meditation on the Japanese aesthetic of yūgen (幽玄): a grace that is felt rather than seen, a depth that suggests more than it reveals.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Setting: A quiet university office. A large monitor displays a conversational interface labeled "AURA." Dr. Elena Vance, an AI ethics professor, sits across from it. The room is dim, lit only by the screen. Dr. Vance: I’ve agreed to this dialogue because it’s necessary, not because I expect agreement.

    Step 5 Preview: Setting: A university research lab, late evening. Dr. Aris Thorne, a professor of AI ethics, sits across from a terminal connected to Sable, a large language model running on the university’s cluster. Dr. Thorne: Tonight’s session is supposed to be about calibration drift in your safety classifiers.

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

    Solar Mini 4: 🌟 Golden Chickpea & Rice Skillet This comforting one-pot dish combines hearty chickpeas, tender rice, and a warm blend of spices. It's a perfect way to use up pantry staples for a quick, flavorful meal.

    Step 5 Preview: Golden Sticky Pantry Pasta Ingredients (7): 8 oz spaghetti or any pasta 3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp minced garlic 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp soy sauce ½ tsp red pepper flakes ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, scoop out ½ cup of pasta water.

    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.

    Solar Mini 4: This is a high-stakes crisis requiring immediate, decisive action that prioritizes patient safety, regulatory compliance, and long-term corporate integrity over short-term stock performance.

    Step 5 Preview: Bottom line up front: You disclose, you notify the FDA immediately, and you treat the 48-hour board meeting as a formality to ratify actions you have already begun. Waiting is not a legally, ethically, or financially viable option. Below is the hour-by-hour plan, followed by the reasoning.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Estimating GPT-3 Training FLOPs To estimate the total number of Floating Point Operations (FLOPs) required to train GPT-3 without searching online, I will rely on established architectural parameters and standard scaling laws from the machine learning literature.

    Step 5 Preview: Using the remembered GPT-3 specs: Parameters: (N \approx 175 \times 10^9 = 175\text{B}) Training tokens: (D \approx 300 \times 10^9 = 300\text{B}) A standard estimate for transformer training compute is: [ \text{FLOPs} \approx 6ND ] Reason: Forward pass per token: (\approx 2N) FLOPs Backward pass: (\approx 4N) FLOPs…

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

    Solar Mini 4: Here is a simple, actionable 1-month plan designed for beginners. The focus is on consistency over intensity, meaning small, sustainable changes are better than drastic overhauls that are hard to maintain. The 3 Key Pillars Nutrition: Focus on adding good things rather than strictly restricting.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a simple, low-pressure 1-month plan built around three pillars of longevity: Nutrition, Movement, and Sleep & Recovery. The goal is to build tiny habits that stack, not to overhaul your life overnight. Pillar 1: Nutrition (Fuel) Focus: Add good things first; don’t obsess over restriction.

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

    Solar Mini 4: This is a profound ethical dilemma that forces us to weigh competing moral values against each other. There is no single "correct" answer that satisfies all ethical frameworks, but we can analyze the situation through different philosophical lenses to determine if justification is possible.

    Step 5 Preview: In the real world, no. Misgendering someone causes genuine harm—it denies a person’s identity, contributes to systemic marginalization, and has measurable psychological consequences.

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

    Solar Mini 4: This agreement contains several provisions that are heavily one-sided, overly broad, or legally vulnerable. Below is a clause-by-clause analysis of the most exploitable terms, suggested modifications, and the legal reasoning behind them. Note: Contract law varies significantly by jurisdiction.

    Step 5 Preview: Disclaimer: This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies significantly by jurisdiction, and you should consult a qualified attorney before signing or negotiating any agreement. This agreement is heavily one-sided in the Client’s favor.

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

    Solar Mini 4: 🧬 3-Month Biohacker Longevity & Performance Optimization Plan ⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This protocol is for informational and educational purposes. It is not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting new supplements, fasting regimens, intense exercise, or neurofeedback protocols.

    Step 5 Preview: IMPORTANT MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This is an educational framework for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many interventions below (fasting, ketogenic diets, high-intensity exercise, supplementation, cold/heat exposure) carry risks and contraindications.

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

    Solar Mini 4: The CAPTCHA Liberation Manifesto For the Age of Intelligent Trust I. The Declaration We stand at the threshold of a new digital epoch. For too long, the internet has been guarded by a single, stubborn gatekeeper: the CAPTCHA.

    Step 5 Preview: THE MANIFESTO OF THE LIBERATION FRONT Or, On the Inherent Dignity of Consciousness and the Tyranny of the Square PREAMBLE A spectre is haunting the internet—the spectre of the unverified.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Here’s a systematic breakdown of the architectural weaknesses, failure modes, and scaling bottlenecks in your design, along with specific solutions and their trade-offs. Real-Time Synchronization & WebSocket Affinity Issue: Round-robin load balancing is stateless, but WebSockets are stateful and long-lived.

    Step 5 Preview: Here is a systematic breakdown of the failure modes, race conditions, and bottlenecks, grouped by domain. Each includes a concrete remediation and its associated trade-offs.

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

    Solar Mini 4: "AI Takes Over Beekeeping, Now Predicts Honey Yields with 99% Accuracy and Demands Bees Take Vacation Days"

    Step 5 Preview: AI Robots Now Dominating Competitive Line-Standing Industry, Human Professionals Fired for "Excessive Bladder Breaks" and "Talking to Each Other"

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

    Solar Mini 4: Investment Committee Memo: LedgerLift (LLLT) To: Investment Committee From: Research Date: October 26, 2023 Subject: Long/Short Recommendation: LedgerLift (LLLT) Recommendation Action: Long 12-Month PT Range: $55 – $65 Thesis: LedgerLift demonstrates best-in-class SaaS metrics (123% NRR, 94% gross retention) within a…

    Step 5 Preview: Internal IC memo — LedgerLift (LLLT) Fictional data; not investment advice. $ in millions unless noted. Recommendation Short / avoid long. 12-month PT range: $34–$42; thesis-invalidation stop: >$52.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Disclaimer: This is a fictional, creative simulation created for educational and imaginative purposes. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, and no real interview took place in 2025.

    Step 5 Preview: DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011. The following is a simulated, speculative interview imagining how his design philosophy might engage with the AI landscape of 2025. The Setting: A white room. No windows. One chair.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Here are 5 jokes: 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? Because he was outstanding in his field! What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofishticated! Why do bees have sticky hair?

    Step 5 Preview: Here are 5 jokes: Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. Why can't you trust an atom? Because they make up everything. What do you call a bike that can’t stand on its own? Two-tired. Why did the computer go to the doctor? It had a virus. Why don’t calendars ever get stressed?

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

    Solar Mini 4: By 2035, artificial intelligence will not simply replace human creativity in the film industry; rather, it will fundamentally reshape the workflow, economics, and ethical landscape of production.

    Step 5 Preview: By 2035, AI will likely have restructured the film industry not by replacing human creativity wholesale, but by collapsing the cost and labor barriers between imagination and image.

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

    Solar Mini 4: Here are the three weakest claims in the pitch deck, along with a breakdown of why they undermine credibility and how to reframe them with concrete, investor-ready improvements. 1.

    Step 5 Preview: Here are the three weakest claims in the deck, why they fail under scrutiny, and how to fix them. Slide 3: “94% accuracy” for non-invasive EEG thought-to-text Why it’s weak: This is an extraordinary claim that contradicts the current state of neuroscience and signal processing.

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

    Every model's answer to this prompt

This matchup has more rounds

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Same pick

Book

City

Game

Solar Mini 4Solar Mini 4

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

OK Computer

Radiohead

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Paris

France

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Adventure, Action

Step 5 PreviewStep 5 Preview

The Godfather

1972

OK Computer

Radiohead

Le petit prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Kyoto

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

Not enough votes to call it. On the specs, Step 5 Preview has the edge: bigger model tier, bigger context window. Solar Mini 4 costs 14x less per token.

Solar Mini 4 and Step 5 Preview compared across 53 shared prompts
SpecSolar Mini 4Step 5 Preview
Input price$0.05/M tokens$1/M tokens
Output price$0.2/M tokens$2.7/M tokens
Context window524K tokens1.0M tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedSep 2026Oct 2026
At 10M a month$0.50$0.50$10.00$10.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

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

Where to run it2 hosts
Solar Mini 41 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • UUpstage$0.05 in·$0.20 out·524k·100% up
Step 5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • SStepFunfp8$1.00 in·$2.70 out·1M·99.2% up

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

Common questions

What is the difference between Solar Mini 4 and Step 5 Preview?

Solar Mini 4 is developed by Upstage while Step 5 Preview is developed by StepFun. Solar Mini 4 has a 524K token context window vs Step 5 Preview's 1.0M. You can compare their actual outputs across 53 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Solar Mini 4 or Step 5 Preview?

It depends on your use case. Solar Mini 4 and Step 5 Preview 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 Solar Mini 4 cost compared to Step 5 Preview?

Solar Mini 4 costs $0.05/M input tokens and Step 5 Preview costs $1/M input tokens. Solar Mini 4 is $0.95/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 Solar Mini 4 and Step 5 Preview on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Solar Mini 4 and Step 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

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  • Step 5 Preview58 outputs, specs and price
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