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Phi-3.5 Mini vs WizardLM-2 8x22B

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

Quick Verdict

Phi-3.5 Mini is cheaper than WizardLM-2 8x22B at $0.10/1M/1M vs $0.63/1M/1M input tokens — a 6.3x cost difference. WizardLM-2 8x22B scores higher on quality benchmarks (ELO 1190). Choose Phi-3.5 Mini for cost-sensitive workloads; choose WizardLM-2 8x22B for maximum quality.

Phi-3.5 MiniMicrosoft
FreeOpen Source

Detailed Comparison

MetricPhi-3.5 MiniWizardLM-2 8x22B
Input Price / 1M tokens$0.10/1MCheaper$0.63/1M
Output Price / 1M tokens$0.10/1MCheaper$0.63/1M
Context Window128KLarger66K
ELO Score (LMSYS)11121190Smarter
Open SourceYesYes
Free TierFree
Release Date2024-082024-04

Which is cheaper: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Phi-3.5 Mini is the cheaper option at $0.10/1M per 1M input tokens, compared to $0.63/1M for WizardLM-2 8x22B. That is a 6.3x cost difference on input tokens. Output pricing follows a similar pattern: Phi-3.5 Mini charges $0.10/1M/1M vs $0.63/1M/1M for WizardLM-2 8x22B.

Which has better quality: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Based on LMSYS Chatbot Arena rankings, WizardLM-2 8x22B achieves a higher ELO score (1190 vs 1112), suggesting stronger performance on open-ended tasks. Phi-3.5 Mini excels at runs on edge devices and smartphones. WizardLM-2 8x22B is known for mixture-of-experts architecture for efficiency.

Which should you choose: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Choose Phi-3.5 Mini if:
  • Runs on edge devices and smartphones
  • Excellent for its tiny model size
  • 128K context window
Choose WizardLM-2 8x22B if:
  • Mixture-of-experts architecture for efficiency
  • Open weights
  • Strong at complex instruction following

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Phi-3.5 Mini is cheaper at $0.10/1M per 1M input tokens, making it 6.3x more affordable.

Which has better quality: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

WizardLM-2 8x22B scores higher on the LMSYS Chatbot Arena with an ELO of 1190, suggesting better overall quality for most tasks.

Which has a larger context window: Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Phi-3.5 Mini has a larger context window at 128K tokens.

Should I choose Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B?

Choose Phi-3.5 Mini if cost is the priority. Choose WizardLM-2 8x22B if benchmark quality is most important. Consider your specific use case: Phi-3.5 Mini is best for fast-response and low-cost, while WizardLM-2 8x22B excels at coding and creative-writing.

Is Phi-3.5 Mini or WizardLM-2 8x22B open source?

Phi-3.5 Mini is open source. WizardLM-2 8x22B is open source.