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GPT-5.4 mini vs o3

Pricing, context window, and benchmark comparison · Last updated April 2026

Quick Verdict

GPT-5.4 mini is cheaper than o3 at $0.75/1M/1M vs $2.00/1M/1M input tokens — a 2.7x cost difference. o3 scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1395). Choose GPT-5.4 mini for cost-sensitive workloads; choose o3 for maximum quality.

Detailed Comparison

MetricGPT-5.4 minio3
Input Price / 1M tokens$0.75/1MCheaper$2.00/1M
Output Price / 1M tokens$4.50/1MCheaper$8.00/1M
Context Window272KLarger200K
ELO Score (LMSYS)13601395Smarter
Open Source
Free Tier
Release Date2026-032025-04

Which is cheaper: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

GPT-5.4 mini is the cheaper option at $0.75/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $2.00/1M for o3. That is a 2.7x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: GPT-5.4 mini charges $4.50/1M/1M vs $8.00/1M/1M for o3.

Which has better quality: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, o3 achieves a higher ELO score (1395 vs 1360), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. GPT-5.4 mini excels at strong mid-tier quality close to gpt-5.4 at 1/3 the price. o3 is known for top-tier reasoning on math, science, and agentic tasks.

Which should you choose: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

Choose GPT-5.4 mini if:
  • Strong mid-tier quality close to GPT-5.4 at 1/3 the price
  • Fast inference and low latency
  • Same 272K context window as flagship
Choose o3 if:
  • Top-tier reasoning on math, science, and agentic tasks
  • 87% cheaper than original o1 at the same capability tier
  • 200K context window

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

GPT-5.4 mini is cheaper at $0.75/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 2.7x more affordable.

Which has better quality: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

o3 scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1395, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.

Which has a larger context window: GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

GPT-5.4 mini has a larger context window at 272K tokens.

Should I choose GPT-5.4 mini or o3?

Choose GPT-5.4 mini if cost is the priority. Choose o3 if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: GPT-5.4 mini is best for customer-support and data-extraction, while o3 excels at reasoning and math.

Is GPT-5.4 mini or o3 open source?

GPT-5.4 mini is proprietary. o3 is proprietary.

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