GPT-4.1 mini vs O1 Preview
Performance benchmarks + pricing comparison — updated April 2026
GPT-4.1 mini
OpenAICost-optimized GPT-4.1 variant. Strong coding capability at budget pricing, replacing GPT-4o mini for many use cases.
| Input | $0.400/M |
| Output | $1.60/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | High-volume coding, cost-sensitive projects, automation |
| Benchmark | 68/100 |
O1 Preview
OpenAIOpenAI's first reasoning model. Strong at complex problem solving but expensive.
| Input | $15.00/M |
| Output | $60.00/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | Complex math, science, algorithm design |
Cost Comparison by Scenario
Estimated cost per project with 30% cache hit rate. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns.
| Scenario | GPT-4.1 mini | O1 Preview | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Script (1K lines) | $0.06 | $2.32 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $2.26 (97%) |
| Medium Feature (10K lines) | $0.46 | $17.25 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $16.79 (97%) |
| Large Project (50K lines) | $2.30 | $86.25 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $83.95 (97%) |
| Code Review (5K lines) | $0.11 | $4.13 | GPT-4.1 mini saves $4.01 (97%) |
Verdict
GPT-4.1 mini wins on both price and performance — $0.400/M input with a benchmark score of N/A/100.
For most developers, this is the clear choice between these two models.
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